US3694685A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for conducting heat from an electrode rotating in a vacuum
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1971-06-28
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Granted: 1972-09-26
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Expires: 1991-06-28
Abstract
Abstract Heat is conducted from an electrode moving in an evacuated enclosure and subject to heating by an electron beam by interposing a film of liquid metal between stationary and moving parts of the thermal path between the moving electrode and a stationary metal surface and cooling the stationary metal surface.
Inventors
- 👤 John M Houston
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 23:38
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J35/00; H01J35/02; H01J35/04; H01J35/08; H01J35/10; H01J35/105; H01J35/106; H01J35/107; H01J2235/00; H01J2235/12; H01J2235/1225; H01J2235/1262; H01J2235/1287
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
57 words
The combination in an evacuated electric discharge device comprising a rotatable electrode structure subject to heating, a supporting structure for said electrode structure, means for cooling said supporting structure, and means for conducting heat from said electrode structure to said supporting structure comprising a film of liquid metal interposed between said electrode structure and said supporting structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
57 words
The combination in an evacuated electric discharge device comprising a rotatable electrode structure subject to heating, a supporting structure for said electrode structure, means for cooling said supporting structure, and means for conducting heat from said electrode structure to said supporting structure comprising a film of liquid metal interposed between said electrode structure and said supporting structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination of claim 1 in which the liquid metal is an alloy having a low vapor pressure at the normal operating temperature of the device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination of claim 2 in which the liquid metal is an alloy which is liquid at ambient temperature.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination of claim 2 in which the liquid metal has a low viscosity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination of claim 2 in which said liquid metal is an alloy of gallium, indium and tin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination of claim 2 in which said device is an X-ray tube, said electrode structure comprises an anode and a supporting shaft, and said supporting structure contains a passageway for receiving a cooling fluid from a source external to said device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination of claim 6 in which a bearing is interposed between said rotating electrode structure and said supporting structure and said liquid metal comprises a material which does not alloy readily with the materials of said bearing and said rotating structure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination of claim 7 in which the liquid metal comprises an alloy of gallium, indium and tin, said bearings are ball bearings and are formed of material from the group consisting of steel and aluminum oxide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination of claim 6 in which said supporting structure includes a centrally positioned hollow cylinder and means for providing a cooling fluid to the interior of said cylinder.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination of claim 6 in which said supporting structure includes a centrally positioned hollow cylinder and heat pipe means are included in said hollow cylinder.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
65 words
The combination of claim 6 in which said supporting structure has a closed end which is opposed to said anode to form a region therebetween for receiving liquid metal, said supporting shaft has a liquid metal trap on the inner surface thereof spaced from said supporting structure and said supporting structure includes a passageway for returning liquid metal from said closed region to said trap.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
52 words
The method of conducting heat from a moving electrode subject to heating by an electron beam in an evacuated enclosure which comprises interposing a film of liquid metal between stationary and moving parts of a thermal path between the moving electrode and a stationary metal surface and cooling the stationary metal surface.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
52 words
The method of conducting heat from a moving electrode subject to heating by an electron beam in an evacuated enclosure which comprises interposing a film of liquid metal between stationary and moving parts of a thermal path between the moving electrode and a stationary metal surface and cooling the stationary metal surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
85 words
The method of claim 12 in which the moving electrode is the anode of an X-ray tube, the moving part is a shaft supporting the anode, the stationary part is a bearing structure for the shaft, and which includes the steps of interposing a film of liquid metal between the shaft and the bearing structure, trapping any liquid which escapes from the region between the shaft and bearing structure during non-use periods of the tube and returning it to the region during periods of use.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2468942A
Cited
US3546511A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-26 | 1976-03-27 | 1976-09-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-26 | 1980-03-27 | 1980-09-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-26 | 1984-03-27 | 1984-09-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |