A liquid metal bearing for a CT tube

Abstract

This application relates to the technical field of X-ray tubes. Specifically, it relates to a liquid metal bearing for a CT tube, which includes a shaft core, a bushing, and an interception mechanism. The bushing is coaxially and rotatably arranged outside the shaft core, and the end of the bushing is slidably sealed with the shaft sleeve through a sealing ring. An isosceles trapezoidal annular groove is provided at the center of the inner wall of the bushing, and multiple rectangular through grooves are provided on the inner wall of the isosceles trapezoidal annular groove. There are multiple groups of interception mechanisms, and the interception mechanisms are arranged in the corresponding rectangular through grooves and can intercept debris as the bushing rotates. Each group of interception mechanisms includes a hollow block and a partition plate. The hollow block is arranged in the corresponding rectangular through groove, and a strip-shaped groove communicating with the inside of the hollow block is provided at the center of one side of each hollow block close to the shaft core. A rectangular frame is arranged in the corresponding strip-shaped groove, and a partition plate is provided at the center of the inside of each rectangular frame. Through the cooperation of the isosceles trapezoidal annular groove and the right trapezoidal annular groove, this application can gradually intercept debris, thereby ensuring the stability of the bearing operation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of X-ray tubes, and in particular to a liquid metal bearing for a CT tube. Background Art

[0002] The X-ray tube consists of a cathode and an anode located in a high vacuum closed shell. Under the action of a high voltage electric field, the electrons in the cathode of the X-ray tube bombard the anode target at high speed, thereby generating bremsstrahlung and characteristic radiation, namely, forming X-rays.

[0003] Currently, commercial tubes on the market are mainly composed of two types of bearings: liquid metal bearings and ball bearings. Among them, liquid metal bearings are the preferred accessories for high heat capacity CT tubes due to their many advantages such as high speed, long life and quietness.

[0004] The basic principle of liquid metal bearings is that when the rotor rotates, the liquid metal between the rotor and the stator gathers to the gap between the stator and the rotor through the herringbone groove texture on the surface of the stator and finally forms a liquid with a certain film thickness, which greatly reduces the friction between the stator and the rotor. In the existing liquid metal structure, when the bearing rotates at a high speed, the liquid metal stored in the guide groove will eventually gather in the middle of the herringbone groove through the pumping effect of the herringbone groove. The faster the speed, the more obvious the pumping effect. However, when the bearing speed is not enough, the debris caused by the rigid friction between the stator and the rotor will spread to the rotor end along with the liquid metal due to the centrifugal force, which can easily cause the bearing to get stuck. Summary of the invention

[0005] The main purpose of the present application is to provide a liquid metal bearing for a CT tube, which can gradually intercept debris through the cooperation of isosceles trapezoidal annular grooves and right-angled trapezoidal annular grooves, thereby ensuring the stability of the bearing operation.

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present application provides a liquid metal bearing for a CT tube, comprising a shaft core, a shaft sleeve and an interception mechanism; the shaft sleeve is coaxially and rotatably arranged outside the shaft core, and the end of the shaft sleeve is slidably sealed with the shaft sleeve through a sealing ring; a cavity for storing liquid metal is formed between the shaft sleeve, the shaft core and the sealing ring; an isosceles trapezoidal annular groove is arranged at the center of the inner wall of the sleeve, and a plurality of rectangular through grooves are equidistantly arranged on the inner wall of the isosceles trapezoidal annular groove along the axial direction, and there are multiple groups of interception mechanisms, which are arranged in corresponding rectangular through grooves and can intercept debris as the shaft sleeve rotates; each group of interception mechanisms includes a hollow block and a partition plate; the hollow block is arranged in the corresponding rectangular through groove, and a strip groove connected to the inside of the hollow block is arranged at the center of one side of each hollow block close to the shaft core, and a rectangular frame is arranged in the corresponding strip groove, and a partition plate is arranged at the center of the inner part of each rectangular frame.

[0007] Preferably, arc-shaped guiding plates are arranged on both sides of one end of the partition plate close to the hollow block, and one end of each arc-shaped guiding plate away from the partition plate faces the outer wall of the corresponding rectangular frame.

[0008] Preferably, a plurality of herringbone flow guiding grooves are arranged on the outer wall of the shaft core along the axial direction.

[0009] Preferably, a plurality of right-angled trapezoidal annular grooves are arranged on the inner wall of the bushing in a mirror image manner. The right-angled trapezoidal annular grooves are located on both sides of the isosceles trapezoidal annular groove, and the inclined surface of each right-angled trapezoidal annular groove faces the corresponding inclined surface of the isosceles trapezoidal annular groove.

[0010] Preferably, arc-shaped guiding surfaces are arranged on both sides of one end of each partition plate away from the hollow block.

[0011] Preferably, a first annular plate is arranged at the edge of the sealing ring. A second annular plate is arranged at one end of the first annular plate away from the sealing plate, and the second annular plate abuts against the outer wall of the bushing.

[0012] Preferably, an annular retaining groove is arranged on the inner wall of the sealing ring.

[0013] Preferably, a heat dissipation hole is arranged at the center of the shaft core.

[0014] The beneficial effects of the present application compared with the prior art are as follows:

[0015] 1. In the present application, an isosceles trapezoidal annular groove is arranged at the center of the inner wall of the bushing. The isosceles trapezoidal annular groove can not only store the liquid metal, but also, when the bushing rotates, utilize the centrifugal force of the liquid metal to discharge the debris generated by the rigid friction between the bushing and the shaft core at low rotational speeds into the isosceles trapezoidal annular groove, reducing the content of debris during the liquid metal circulation and avoiding the accumulation of debris; and the debris can follow the liquid metal along the rectangular frame into the interior of the hollow block, thereby realizing the interception of the debris and further avoiding the debris from participating in the liquid metal circulation, ensuring the stability of the bushing rotation.

[0016] 2. In the present application, a plurality of right-angled trapezoidal annular grooves are arranged. When there is a large amount of debris, during the liquid metal circulation, the metal debris will be pressed into the right-angled trapezoidal grooves by the centrifugal force, and due to the large tangential flow resistance in the right-angled trapezoidal annular grooves, the metal debris is prevented from continuing to move with the liquid metal flow and not entering the next liquid metal flow cycle, thereby gradually intercepting the debris and ensuring the stability of the bearing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The accompanying drawings constituting a part of the present application are used to provide a further understanding of the present application, making other features, objects, and advantages of the present application more obvious. The schematic embodiments and descriptions of the present application are used to explain the present application and do not constitute an improper limitation to the present application. In the drawings:

[0018] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 is a right view of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 3 is Figure 2 a plane cross-sectional view along the A-A direction;

[0021] Figure 4 is Figure 3 a partially enlarged view at B in

[0022] Figure 5 is a front view of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 6 is Figure 5 a partially enlarged view at C in

[0024] Figure 7 is Figure 6 a partially enlarged view at D in

[0025] The reference numerals in the above figures are:

[0026] 1 - shaft core; 11 - cavity; 12 - herringbone flow guiding groove; 13 - heat dissipation hole;

[0027] 2 - shaft sleeve; 21 - sealing ring; 211 - first annular plate; 212 - second annular plate; 213 - annular retaining groove; 22 - isosceles trapezoidal annular groove; 23 - rectangular through groove; 24 - right trapezoidal annular groove;

[0028] 3 - interception mechanism; 31 - hollow block; 311 - strip-shaped groove; 32 - rectangular frame; 33 - partition plate; 331 - arc-shaped guiding plate; 332 - arc-shaped guiding surface. Detailed implementation manners

[0029] In order to enable those skilled in the art of the present technology to better understand the solution of the present application, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0030] See Figures 1 to 7As shown in the figure, a liquid metal bearing for a CT tube includes a shaft core 1, a shaft sleeve 2, and an interception mechanism 3. The shaft sleeve 2 is coaxially and rotatably arranged outside the shaft core 1. The end of the shaft sleeve 2 is slidably sealed with the shaft sleeve 2 through a sealing ring 21. A cavity 11 for storing liquid metal is formed between the shaft sleeve 2, the shaft core 1, and the sealing ring 21. An isosceles trapezoidal ring groove 22 is provided at the center of the inner wall of the shaft sleeve 2. A plurality of rectangular through grooves 23 are equidistantly arranged along the axial direction on the inner wall of the isosceles trapezoidal ring groove 22. There are multiple groups of interception mechanisms 3, and the interception mechanisms 3 are arranged in the corresponding rectangular through grooves 23 and can intercept debris as the shaft sleeve 2 rotates. Each group of interception mechanisms 3 includes a hollow block 31 and a partition plate 33. The hollow block 31 is arranged in the corresponding rectangular through groove 23. A strip-shaped groove 311 communicating with the inside of the hollow block 31 is provided at the center of one side of each hollow block 31 close to the shaft core 1. A rectangular frame 32 is arranged in the corresponding strip-shaped groove 311, and a partition plate 33 is provided at the center of the inside of each rectangular frame 32.

[0031] The cavity 11 is filled with liquid metal, which can form a liquid with a certain film thickness between the shaft sleeve 2 and the shaft core 1 when the shaft sleeve 2 rotates, thereby reducing the friction between the shaft sleeve 2 and the shaft core 1. However, when the bearing speed is insufficient, rigid friction will occur between the shaft sleeve 2 and the shaft core 1, and the resulting debris will spread towards the shaft core 1 end with the liquid metal due to the centrifugal force, and it is very easy to cause the problem of bearing jamming.

[0032] Based on this situation, by providing an isosceles trapezoidal ring groove 22 at the center of the inner wall of the shaft sleeve 2, the isosceles trapezoidal ring groove 22 can not only store the liquid metal, but also use the centrifugal force of the liquid metal to discharge the debris generated by the rigid friction at low speed between the shaft sleeve 2 and the shaft core 1 into the isosceles trapezoidal ring groove 22 when the shaft sleeve 2 rotates, thereby reducing the content of debris in the liquid metal circulation, concentrating the debris, and avoiding the accumulation of debris. And during the rotation of the shaft sleeve 2, the liquid metal can contact the partition plate 33 and enter the inside of the hollow block 31 along the partition plate 33, so that the debris can follow the liquid metal and enter the inside of the hollow block 31 along the rectangular frame 32. And under the action of the centrifugal force of the liquid metal, the debris can be attached to the inner wall of the side of the hollow block 31 away from the shaft core 1, thereby realizing the interception of the debris, further avoiding the debris from participating in the liquid metal circulation, ensuring the stability of the rotation of the shaft sleeve 2, and when the liquid metal enters the inside of the hollow block 31, the original liquid metal in the hollow block 31 is squeezed, so that it can be discharged through the other side of the partition plate 33, thereby timely supplementing the liquid metal in the cavity 11 and ensuring the filling degree of the liquid metal in the cavity 11.

[0033] See Figure 7 As shown in the figure, arc-shaped guiding plates 331 are provided on both sides of one end of the partition plate 33 close to the hollow block 31, and one end of each arc-shaped guiding plate 331 away from the partition plate 33 faces the outer wall of the corresponding rectangular frame 32.

[0034] Each arc-shaped guide plate 331 has a certain gap with the corresponding outer wall of the rectangular frame 32. When the liquid metal carrying debris enters the interior of the hollow block 31 through the gap between the arc-shaped guide plate 331 and the rectangular frame 32, since one end of each arc-shaped guide plate 331 away from the partition plate 33 faces the corresponding outer wall of the rectangular frame 32, it can avoid the flow of the incoming liquid metal and the discharged liquid metal from affecting each other. And during the flow of the liquid metal, the arc-shaped guide plate 331 can block the debris in the liquid metal, thereby reducing the loss of debris inside the hollow block 31, retaining the debris in the hollow block 31 to the greatest extent, and reducing the circulation of debris with the liquid metal.

[0035] See Figure 4 As shown, a plurality of herringbone flow guiding grooves 12 are arranged on the outer wall of the shaft core 1 along the axial direction.

[0036] By arranging a plurality of herringbone flow guiding grooves 12, the liquid metal located in the cavity 11 can be guided. The herringbone grooves push the liquid metal to move in the cavity 11, making the liquid metal concentrate towards the middle section and flow back and circulate towards both ends of the shaft core 1 along the isosceles trapezoidal ring groove 22 (as Figure 4 shown by the arrow). This can not only make the distribution of the liquid metal more uniform, but also improve the fluidity of the liquid, enhance the heat dissipation effect, and the flowing liquid metal can better contact the partition plate 33, thereby intercepting and collecting the remaining debris in the liquid metal, and improving the rotational stability of the bearing.

[0037] See Figure 4 As shown, a plurality of right trapezoidal ring grooves 24 are arranged on the inner wall of the bushing 2 in a mirror image manner. The right trapezoidal ring grooves 24 are located on both sides of the isosceles trapezoidal ring groove 22, and the inclined surface of each right trapezoidal ring groove 24 faces the corresponding inclined surface of the isosceles trapezoidal ring groove 22.

[0038] By arranging a plurality of right trapezoidal ring grooves 24, when there is a large amount of debris, during the circulation of the liquid metal, the metal debris will be pressed into the right trapezoidal grooves by the centrifugal force, and due to the large tangential flow resistance in the right trapezoidal ring grooves 24, it prevents the metal debris from continuing to move with the liquid metal flow. It does not enter the next liquid metal flow cycle, thereby gradually intercepting the debris, improving the interception efficiency, and preventing the metal debris from accumulating in the gap between the bushing 2 and the shaft core 1, resulting in bearing jamming.

[0039] See Figure 7 As shown, arc-shaped guide surfaces 332 are arranged on both sides of one end of each partition plate 33 away from the hollow block 31.

[0040] Through the arc-shaped guiding surface 332 provided at the end of the partition plate 33, the liquid metal and debris entering the isosceles trapezoidal annular groove 22 can be guided so that they can flow along the curvature of the arc-shaped guiding surface 332, thereby increasing the flow rate of the liquid metal and ensuring that the debris can enter the interior of the hollow block 31.

[0041] See Figure 3 As shown, a first annular plate 211 is provided at the edge of the sealing ring 21. A second annular plate 212 is provided at the end of the first annular plate 211 away from the sealing plate, and the second annular plate 212 abuts against the outer wall of the bushing 2.

[0042] By providing the first annular plate 211 and the second annular plate 212, the liquid metal overflowing from between the plugging ring and the bushing 2 can be blocked so that it can be retained in the space formed by the first annular plate 211, the second annular plate 212 and the bushing 2.

[0043] See Figure 3 As shown, an annular retaining groove 213 is provided on the inner wall of the sealing ring 21.

[0044] By providing the annular retaining groove 213 on the inner wall of the sealing ring 21, the annular retaining groove 213 can block the liquid metal overflowing from between the plugging ring and the shaft core 1, further preventing the liquid metal from overflowing and ensuring the overall stability of the bearing.

[0045] See Figure 3 As shown, a heat dissipation hole 13 is provided at the center of the shaft core 1.

[0046] By providing the heat dissipation hole 13, the heat dissipation efficiency of the shaft core 1 can be further improved, and the stability of the bearing operation can be improved.

[0047] The above is only a preferred specific embodiment of the present invention, but the protection scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed by the present invention, according to the technical solution of the present invention and its inventive concept, makes equivalent substitutions or changes, and should be covered by the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A liquid metal bearing for a CT tube, characterized in that: It includes a shaft core, a shaft sleeve and an interception mechanism; The shaft sleeve is coaxially rotatably arranged outside the shaft core, and the end of the shaft sleeve is slidably sealed with the shaft sleeve through a sealing ring; a cavity for storing liquid metal is formed between the shaft sleeve, the shaft core and the sealing ring; An isosceles trapezoidal annular groove is arranged at the center of the inner wall of the sleeve, and a plurality of rectangular through grooves are arranged equidistantly along the axis direction on the inner wall of the isosceles trapezoidal annular groove, and there are multiple groups of interception mechanisms, which are arranged in the corresponding rectangular through grooves and can intercept the debris as the sleeve rotates; Each set of interception mechanisms includes a hollow block, a rectangular frame and a partition plate; the hollow block is arranged in a corresponding rectangular through groove, a strip groove connected to the inside of the hollow block is arranged at the center of one side of each hollow block close to the shaft core, the rectangular frame is arranged in the corresponding strip groove, and a partition plate is arranged at the center of each rectangular frame; arc-shaped guide plates are arranged on both sides of one end of the partition plate close to the hollow block, and one end of each arc-shaped guide plate away from the partition plate faces the outer wall of the corresponding rectangular frame; The outer wall of the shaft core is provided with a plurality of herringbone guide grooves along the axis direction; The inner wall of the sleeve is mirror-imaged with a plurality of right-angled trapezoidal ring grooves, which are located on both sides of the isosceles trapezoidal ring groove, and the inclined surface of each right-angled trapezoidal ring groove faces the corresponding inclined surface of the isosceles trapezoidal ring groove.

2. The liquid metal bearing for a CT tube according to claim 1, characterized in that: Arc-shaped guiding surfaces are arranged on both sides of one end of each partition plate away from the hollow block.

3. The liquid metal bearing for a CT tube according to claim 1, characterized in that: A first annular plate is arranged at the edge of the sealing ring, a second annular plate is arranged at one end of the first annular plate away from the sealing plate, and the second annular plate abuts against the outer wall of the shaft sleeve.

4. The liquid metal bearing for a CT tube according to claim 3, characterized in that: An annular retaining groove is arranged on the inner wall of the sealing ring.

5. The liquid metal bearing for a CT tube according to claim 1, characterized in that: A heat dissipation hole is arranged at the center of the shaft core.

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