EP0351225A2 — A bearing assembly for a rotating anode X-ray tub…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 144 words

A bearing assembly comprising: a first cylindrical member (27, 76); a second member (26, 74) partially concentrically disposed in an axial chamber in said first member (27, 76); at least one ball bearing (28, 29) interposed between said first (27, 76) and second member (26, 74) for supporting a relative rotating motion therebetween; characterised in that said ball bearing (28, 29) is a separation type ball bearing having separable inner (33,35) and outer races (38, 45), one of said inner (33, 35) and said outer race (38, 45) being openable at an axial end thereof, and a through-hole (44, 89, 92) serving as a ball introduction passageway during assembly, said through-hole (44, 89, 92) leading from a position near the openable end of the one race to a radially outer surface of at least said first (27, 76) or said second member (26, 74).

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 144 words

A bearing assembly comprising: a first cylindrical member (27, 76); a second member (26, 74) partially concentrically disposed in an axial chamber in said first member (27, 76); at least one ball bearing (28, 29) interposed between said first (27, 76) and second member (26, 74) for supporting a relative rotating motion therebetween; characterised in that said ball bearing (28, 29) is a separation type ball bearing having separable inner (33,35) and outer races (38, 45), one of said inner (33, 35) and said outer race (38, 45) being openable at an axial end thereof, and a through-hole (44, 89, 92) serving as a ball introduction passageway during assembly, said through-hole (44, 89, 92) leading from a position near the openable end of the one race to a radially outer surface of at least said first (27, 76) or said second member (26, 74).

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 34 words

A bearing assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that said bearing assembly further includes two separation-type ball bearings (28, 29) disposed symmetrically about a line drawn perpendicular to said second member (26, 74).

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 53 words

A bearing assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that said one race is an outer race (38, 45), and said through-hole (44, 89, 92) extends radially from a position near said openable end of said outer race (38, 45) to the outside surface of said first member (27, 76).

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 61 words

A bearing assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that said one race is an inner race (33, 35), and said through-hole (44, 89, 92) extends from a position near said openable end of said inner race (33, 35) radially inwardly and then in the axial direction to an axially outer surface of said second member (26, 74).

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 54 words

A bearing assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that said bearing assembly further includes a ball introduced between said inner (33, 35) and outer race (38, 45), said outer race (38, 45) being slidable in the axial direction, thereby producing an axial force on the ball (43, 46).

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 45 words

A bearing assembly according to claim 5, characterised in that said bearing assembly further includes a loading mechanism (51, 86) for imparting a loading force to said outer race (38, 45), said loading force acting in a direction so as to increase said axial force.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 33 words

A bearing assembly according to any one preceding claim, characterised in that said inner race (33, 35) of said separation-type ball bearing (28, 29) and said second member (26, 74) are integrally formed.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 21 words

A bearing assembly according to any one preceding claim, characterised in that said through-hole (44, 89, 92) is closed after assembly.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 47 words

A bearing assembly according to claim 5, characterised in that said bearing assembly further includes means for preventing dispersion of said balls (43, 46) in the axial direction when said balls (43, 46) are introduced between said inner race (33, 35) and said outer race (38, 45).

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 200 words

A rotating anode-type X-ray tube device comprising: a vacuum envelope (11) for maintaining an internal vacuum; a cathode (16) disposed in said vacuum envelope (11); a rotating anode (17) disposed in said vacuum envelope (11) facing said cathode (16) and being spaced therefrom; a support member (19) for supporting said rotating anode (17); a cylindrical rotor (23) co-operating with a stator (21), said stator (21) being disposed externally of the vacuum envelope (11); a cylindrical first member (27, 76) disposed radially inwardly of said rotor (23); a second member (26, 74) partially concentrically received in an axial chamber provided in said first member (27); at least one separation type ball bearing means (28, 29) interposed between said first (27, 76) and second members (26, 74) for supporting a rotating motion therebetween; said ball bearing means (28, 29) having separable inner (33, 35) and outer races (38, 45), one of said inner (33 , 35) and said outer race (38, 45) being open at an axial end thereof, and a through-hole (44, 89, 92) leading from a position near the openable end of the one race to an outer surface of said first (27, 76) or said second member (26, 74).

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 200 words

A rotating anode-type X-ray tube device comprising: a vacuum envelope (11) for maintaining an internal vacuum; a cathode (16) disposed in said vacuum envelope (11); a rotating anode (17) disposed in said vacuum envelope (11) facing said cathode (16) and being spaced therefrom; a support member (19) for supporting said rotating anode (17); a cylindrical rotor (23) co-operating with a stator (21), said stator (21) being disposed externally of the vacuum envelope (11); a cylindrical first member (27, 76) disposed radially inwardly of said rotor (23); a second member (26, 74) partially concentrically received in an axial chamber provided in said first member (27); at least one separation type ball bearing means (28, 29) interposed between said first (27, 76) and second members (26, 74) for supporting a rotating motion therebetween; said ball bearing means (28, 29) having separable inner (33, 35) and outer races (38, 45), one of said inner (33 , 35) and said outer race (38, 45) being open at an axial end thereof, and a through-hole (44, 89, 92) leading from a position near the openable end of the one race to an outer surface of said first (27, 76) or said second member (26, 74).

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 47 words

A rotating anode X-ray tube device according to claim 10, characterised in that said first member (27) is fixed and has one axial end connected to a stationary member (15) and said second member (26) rotates and has one axial end connected to said support member (19).

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 42 words

A rotating anode X-ray tube device according to claims 10, characterised in that said first member (27) has one axial end connected to the said support member (19) and second member (26) has one axial end fixed to said stationary member (15).

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 42 words

A rotating anode X-ray tube device according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterised in that said rotating anode X-ray tube device includes two separation-type ball bearings (28, 29) disposed symmetrically about a line drawn perpendicular to said second member (26).

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 56 words

A rotating anode X-ray tube device according to one of claims 10, to 13, characterised in that said one race is an outer race (38, 45), and said through-hole (44, 89, 92) extends from a position near said openable end of said outer race (38, 45) to an outer surface of said first member (27, 76).

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 61 words

A rotating anode X-ray tube device according to one of claims 10 to 13, characterised in that said one race is an inner race (33, 35), and said through-hole (44, 89, 92) extends from a position near said inner race (33, 35) radially inwardly and then in the axial direction to an axially outer surface of said second member (26, 74).

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 53 words

A rotating anode X-ray tube device according to one of claim 10 to 15, characterised in that a ball is introduced between said inner (33, 35) and said outer race (38, 45), said outer race (38, 45) being slidable in the axial direction, thereby producing an axial force on the ball (43, 46).

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 45 words

A rotating anode X-ray tube device according to claim 16, characterised in that a loading mechanism (51, 86) is provided for imparting a loading force to said outer race (38, 45), said loading force acting in a direction so as to increase said axial force.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 34 words

A rotating anode X-ray tube device according to one of claims 10 to 17, characterised in that said through-hole (44, 89, 92) is closed off after said separation-type ball bearing (28, 29) is assembled.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 51 words

A rotating anode X-ray tube device according to one of claims 16 or 17, characerised in that means is provided for preventing dispersion of said balls (43, 46) in an axial direction when said balls (43, 46) are introduced between said inner race (33, 35) and said outer race (38, 45).

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 32 words

A rotating anode X-ray tube device according to one of claims 10 to 19, characterised in that at least one separation-type ball bearing (28, 29) is installed near said rotating anode (170.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 28 words

A rotating anode X-ray tube device according to one of claims 10 to 20, characerised in that said support member and said second member (19) are integrally formed.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 28 words

A rotating anode X-ray tube device according to one of claims 10 to 21, characrerised in that said rotor (23a) and said first member (76) are integrally formed.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 36 words

A rotating anode X-ray tube device according to one of claims 16 to 22, characterised in that said rotor (23, 23a) is formed with a through-hole (52, 91, 93) for permitting said ball to be introduced.

A bearing assembly for a rotating anode X-ray tube device

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