Liquid metal bearing with backflow channel and X-ray tube

Abstract

The utility model relates to a liquid metal bearing with a backflow channel. The liquid metal bearing comprises a shaft and a rotating assembly, a gap between the shaft and the rotating assembly is filled with liquid metal; the shaft comprises a shaft body and a shaft bulge annularly arranged on the shaft body; the rotating assembly comprises a shaft sleeve arranged at one end of the shaft body in a sleeving mode, a sealing partition plate arranged at one end of the shaft sleeve and a sealing flange arranged on one side of the sealing partition plate. The shaft sleeve and the sealing flange abut against the shaft protrusion, and the outer side of the shaft protrusion is sleeved with the sealing partition plate. A liquid storage groove communicated with the gap is formed in the inner surface of the sealing flange; a spiral backflow channel is arranged in the sealing flange or on the outer surface, close to the liquid storage tank, of the shaft body, and the spiral backflow channel is communicated with the liquid storage tank and the gap. The utility model also relates to an X-ray tube. According to the X-ray tube, leakage of liquid metal can be avoided, and the reliability of the X-ray tube is effectively improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of X-ray tubes, in particular to a liquid metal bearing with a reflux channel and an X-ray tube. Background Art

[0002] The rotating anode X-ray tube is one of the core components of a CT imaging diagnosis system, and its performance parameters directly affect the accuracy and imaging rate of CT images. The X-ray tube mainly consists of several parts such as an electron gun assembly, an anode target disc assembly, and a tube shell assembly. Among them, the bearing in the anode target disc assembly is a key component, which has a direct impact on the performance parameters, reliability, and service life of the X-ray tube.

[0003] Currently, high-performance X-ray tubes usually use a liquid metal sliding bearing structure. The liquid metal sliding bearing mainly includes a rotating component and a fixed shaft component, and liquid metal is filled as a lubricating medium in the gap between the rotating component and the fixed shaft component. Liquid metal is generally composed of gallium, indium, tin, or an alloy of these metals. It is usually in a liquid state at room temperature and has a relatively low saturation vapor pressure at the working temperature, making it suitable for use in X-ray tubes that require a high-vacuum environment. Since the liquid metal is connected to the vacuum space inside the X-ray tube, during the transportation and start-stop operation of the bearing, the liquid metal may migrate along the gaps of the bearing components, thereby leaking into the vacuum space inside the X-ray tube, which may lead to the problem of the X-ray tube failing due to arcing under high voltage. At the same time, after the liquid metal leaks, the components inside the bearing may also come into contact or wear due to insufficient lubrication. Summary of the Utility Model

[0004] Based on this, the utility model provides a liquid metal bearing with a reflux channel and an X-ray tube, aiming to solve the problems that the liquid metal bearing in the prior art leaks liquid metal into the vacuum space inside the X-ray tube during operation, resulting in the X-ray tube failing due to arcing under high voltage, and component contact or even wear inside the bearing.

[0005] To achieve the above object, on the one hand, an embodiment of the utility model provides a liquid metal bearing with a reflux channel, including a shaft and a rotating component; a liquid metal is filled in the gap between the shaft and the rotating component;

[0006] The shaft includes a shaft body and a shaft protrusion disposed around the shaft body; the rotating component includes a shaft sleeve sleeved at one end of the shaft body, a sealing partition disposed at one end of the shaft sleeve, and a sealing flange disposed on one side of the sealing partition; the shaft sleeve and the sealing flange respectively abut against the shaft protrusion, and the sealing partition is sleeved outside the shaft protrusion; a liquid storage tank communicating with the gap is disposed on the inner surface of the sealing flange;

[0007] A spiral reflux channel is provided inside the sealing flange or on the outer surface of the shaft body close to the liquid storage tank, and the spiral reflux channel is respectively communicated with the liquid storage tank and the gap.

[0008] As a preferred embodiment, along the axial direction of the shaft body, the gap includes a bearing load-bearing area, a thrust seal area, and a leakage suppression area that are sequentially communicated; the liquid metal is poured into the bearing load-bearing area and the thrust seal area; the liquid storage tank is communicated with the leakage suppression area; the spiral reflux channel is communicated with the thrust seal area.

[0009] As a preferred embodiment, the bearing load-bearing area is arranged between the shaft sleeve and the shaft body; the thrust seal area is arranged between the shaft protrusion and the shaft sleeve, between the shaft protrusion and the sealing partition plate, and between the shaft protrusion and the sealing flange; the leakage suppression area is arranged between the sealing flange and the shaft body.

[0010] As a preferred embodiment, when the spiral reflux channel is arranged inside the sealing flange, the spiral reflux channel is arranged on the inner surface of the sealing flange, or the spiral reflux channel is arranged below the inner surface of the sealing flange.

[0011] As a preferred embodiment, when the spiral reflux channel is arranged below the inner surface of the sealing flange, the spiral reflux channel is a round hole-shaped channel.

[0012] As a preferred embodiment, when the spiral reflux channel is arranged inside the sealing flange, the degree of the spiral angle formed by the spiral direction of the spiral reflux channel and the linear velocity direction of the rotation of the rotating assembly (the starting point of the spiral angle is the connection part of the spiral reflux channel and the thrust seal area) is 15° to 75°.

[0013] As a preferred embodiment, when the spiral reflux channel is arranged on the outer surface of the shaft body close to the liquid storage tank, the degree of the spiral angle formed by the spiral direction of the spiral reflux channel and the linear velocity direction of the rotation of the rotating assembly is 105° to 165°.

[0014] As a preferred embodiment, herringbone grooves are arranged on the surface of the shaft body close to the bearing load-bearing area. By arranging herringbone grooves here, radial bearing capacity is provided during rotation to ensure the stability of rotation.

[0015] As a preferred embodiment, the shaft sleeve and the sealing partition plate, and the sealing partition plate and the sealing flange are both fixedly connected by screws.

[0016] As a preferred embodiment, the liquid metal bearing with a reflux channel further includes a motor rotor, the motor rotor is sleeved on the outer side of the rotating assembly near one end of the axon, and one end of the motor rotor is fixed on the shaft sleeve.

[0017] On the other hand, an embodiment of the present application further provides an X-ray tube, and the X-ray tube includes the liquid metal bearing with a reflux channel.

[0018] The beneficial effects achieved by the present utility model: By setting a spiral reflux channel in the leakage suppression area and controlling the spiral angle of the spiral reflux channel in the present application, the liquid metal leaking through the gap returns to the inside of the bearing through the spiral reflux channel, thereby preventing the liquid metal from leaking into the vacuum space inside the X-ray tube and effectively improving the reliability of the X-ray tube. At the same time, the leaked liquid metal returns to the inside of the bearing through the spiral reflux channel, effectively ensuring the lubrication of the bearing load-bearing area and avoiding the problem of wear caused by insufficient lubrication due to liquid metal leakage. The structure of the present application has high practicability and economy and can be produced and used as a general-purpose product. Description of the Drawings

[0019] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present utility model or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments or the prior art. Obviously, the following drawings are only some embodiments of the present utility model. For those of ordinary skill in the art, without creative efforts, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings.

[0020] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the overall structure of the liquid metal bearing with a reflux channel according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0021] Figure 2 For Figure 1 Exploded structure diagram of the liquid metal bearing with a reflux channel;

[0022] Figure 3 For Figure 1 Cross-sectional structure diagram of the liquid metal bearing with a reflux channel (connected to the anode target disc) according to the present utility model;

[0023] Figure 4 For Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the spiral reflux channel structure;

[0024] Figure 5 For Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the liquid metal flow of the liquid metal bearing with a reflux channel;

[0025] Figure 6Schematic structural diagram of the spiral reflux channel of the liquid metal bearing with a reflux channel according to another embodiment of the present application.

[0026] The realization of the purpose, functional characteristics and advantages of the present utility model will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings in conjunction with the embodiments. Detailed implementation manners

[0027] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present utility model. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present utility model, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without making creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0028] It should be noted that if there are directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, top, bottom...) involved in the embodiments of the present utility model, the directional indications are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement conditions between components in a specific posture (as shown in the accompanying drawings). If the specific posture changes, the directional indications will also change accordingly.

[0029] In the present application, unless otherwise clearly defined and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", "connected to", "fixed" and other terms should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or integrated; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium. It can be the internal communication of two components or the interaction relationship between two components, unless otherwise clearly defined. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present application can be understood according to specific situations.

[0030] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "disposed on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there can also be an intermediate element. When an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intermediate element at the same time.

[0031] In addition, if the descriptions such as "first", "second", etc. are involved in the embodiments of the present utility model, the descriptions of "first", "second", etc. are only for descriptive purposes and cannot be understood as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the quantity of the indicated technical features. Thus, the features defined with "first", "second" can explicitly or implicitly include at least one such feature. In addition, the technical solutions between the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but it must be based on the fact that those of ordinary skill in the art can implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection required by the present utility model.

[0032] Specifically, on the one hand, as Figures 1 to 4 shown, the embodiment of the present utility model provides a liquid metal bearing with a reflux channel, including a shaft 10 and a rotating assembly 20; a liquid metal 40 is filled in the gap 30 between the shaft 10 and the rotating assembly 20;

[0033] The shaft 10 includes a shaft body 11 and shaft protrusions 12 annularly arranged on the shaft body 11; the rotating assembly 20 includes a shaft sleeve 21 sleeved on one end of the shaft body 11, a sealing partition plate 22 arranged at one end of the shaft sleeve 21, and a sealing flange 23 arranged on one side of the sealing partition plate 22; the shaft sleeve 21 and the sealing flange 23 respectively abut against the shaft protrusions 12, and the sealing partition plate 22 is sleeved on the outside of the shaft protrusions 12; a liquid storage tank 231 communicated with the gap 30 is arranged on the inner surface of the sealing flange 23;

[0034] A spiral reflux channel 50 is arranged on the inner surface of the sealing flange 23 or on the outer surface of the shaft body 11 close to the liquid storage tank 231, and the spiral reflux channel 50 is respectively communicated with the liquid storage tank 231 and the gap 30.

[0035] The number of the liquid storage tanks 231 (one, two, or more can be set), the shape of the liquid storage tanks 231, and the depth of the liquid storage tanks 231 can be set according to actual needs to facilitate the storage of the liquid metal. The number of the spiral reflux channels 50 (one, two, or more can be set), the shape of the spiral reflux channels 50, and the depth of the spiral reflux channels 50 can be set according to actual needs to facilitate the reflux of the liquid metal.

[0036] As a preferred embodiment, along the axial direction of the shaft body 11, the gap 30 includes a bearing load-bearing area 31, a thrust sealing area 32, and a leakage suppression area 33 that are sequentially communicated; the liquid metal 40 is filled in the bearing load-bearing area 31 and the thrust sealing area 32; the liquid storage tank 231 is communicated with the leakage suppression area 33; the spiral reflux channel 50 is communicated with the thrust sealing area 32.

[0037] As a preferred embodiment, the bearing load - bearing area 31 is arranged between the bushing 21 and the shaft body 11; the thrust - seal area 32 is arranged between the shaft projection 12 and the bushing 21, between the shaft projection 12 and the seal partition 22, and between the shaft projection 12 and the seal flange 23; the leakage - suppression area 33 is arranged between the seal flange 23 and the shaft body 11.

[0038] Through the liquid - storage tank, it is convenient to store the liquid metal flowing from the thrust - seal area into the leakage - suppression area, avoiding the leakage of liquid metal into the vacuum environment outside the bearing. As the operation time increases, when a large amount of liquid metal migrates to the liquid - storage tank, the liquid - storage tank is connected to the thrust - seal area through the spiral return channel, so that the liquid metal in the liquid - storage tank returns to the inside of the bearing again, ensuring the lubrication of the bearing load - bearing area and the dynamic balance of the rotating assembly, and thus ensuring the normal operation of the X - ray tube.

[0039] As a preferred embodiment, in this embodiment, as Figures 4 - 5 shown, when the spiral return channel 50 is arranged in the seal flange 23, the spiral return channel 50 is arranged on the inner surface of the seal flange 23.

[0040] It can be understood that, as Figure 6 shown, in other embodiments, according to the actual use requirements, when the spiral return channel 50 is arranged in the seal flange 23, the spiral return channel 50 is arranged below the inner surface of the seal flange 23.

[0041] As a preferred embodiment, when the spiral return channel 50 is arranged below the inner surface of the seal flange 23, the spiral return channel 50 is a round - hole - shaped channel.

[0042] As a preferred embodiment, when the spiral return channel 50 is arranged in the seal flange 23, the degree of the spiral angle θ formed by the spiral direction of the spiral return channel 50 and the linear velocity direction of the rotation of the rotating assembly 20 (the starting point of the spiral angle is the connection point of the spiral return channel and the thrust - seal area) is 15° - 75°. According to actual needs, the degree of the spiral angle can be set to 15°, or set to 35°, or set to 75°, etc. Controlling the degree of the spiral angle within 15° - 75° can make the spiral return channel 50 and the liquid - storage tank 231, and the spiral return channel 50 and the thrust - seal area 32 have better connection and ensure the maximum reflux rate of the liquid metal.

[0043] As Figure 5As shown, when the rotating component 20 moves, there is a relative velocity between the liquid metal 30 and the spiral return channel 50. This flow velocity enables some of the liquid metal to return to the inside of the bearing through the spiral return channel 50, thus avoiding a large amount of migration of the liquid metal.

[0044] As a preferred embodiment, when the spiral return channel 50 is arranged on the outer surface of the shaft body 11 close to the liquid storage tank 23, the degree of the spiral angle θ formed by the spiral direction of the spiral return channel 50 and the linear velocity direction of the rotation of the rotating component 20 is 105° - 165°. According to actual needs, the degree of the spiral angle can be set to 105°, or set to 135°, or set to 165°, etc. Controlling the degree of the spiral angle within 105° - 165° can enable better connection and communication between the spiral return channel 50 and the liquid storage tank 23, and between the spiral return channel 50 and the thrust seal area 32, ensuring the maximum reflux rate of the liquid metal.

[0045] As a preferred embodiment, a chevron groove 111 is arranged on the surface of the shaft body 11 close to the bearing load area 31. By arranging the chevron groove 111 here, it is used to provide radial bearing capacity during rotation to ensure the stability of rotation.

[0046] As a preferred embodiment, both between the shaft sleeve 21 and the sealing partition 22 and between the sealing partition 22 and the sealing flange 23 are fixedly connected by screws 60.

[0047] As a preferred embodiment, the liquid metal bearing with a return channel further includes a motor rotor 70. The motor rotor 70 is sleeved on the outer side of the rotating component 20 close to one end of the shaft projection 12, and one end of the motor rotor 70 is fixed on the shaft sleeve 21.

[0048] In the embodiment of the present application, the shaft body 11 and the shaft projection 12 are integrally formed. The shaft sleeve 21, the sealing partition 22, and the sealing flange 23 are all sleeved on the shaft body, that is, the rotating component 20 is sleeved on the shaft body. During use, the anode target disk 80 can be sleeved and fixed on the end of the shaft sleeve 21 away from the shaft projection 12.

[0049] On the other hand, the embodiment of the present application also provides an X-ray tube, and the X-ray tube includes the liquid metal bearing with a return channel.

[0050] In this application, by setting a spiral reflux channel in the leakage suppression area and controlling the spiral angle of the spiral reflux channel, the liquid metal leaking through the gap can return to the inside of the bearing through the spiral reflux channel, thus preventing the liquid metal from leaking into the vacuum space inside the X-ray tube and effectively improving the reliability of the X-ray tube. At the same time, the leaked liquid metal returns to the inside of the bearing through the spiral reflux channel, effectively ensuring the lubrication of the bearing load-bearing area and avoiding the problem of bearing wear caused by insufficient lubrication due to liquid metal leakage.

[0051] In the description of this specification, the description referring to terms such as "one embodiment", "example", etc. means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in connection with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present utility model. In this specification, the schematic representation of the above terms does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example.

[0052] In addition, it should be understood that although this specification is described in terms of embodiments, not every embodiment only includes an independent technical solution. This narrative way of the specification is only for clarity. Those skilled in the art should regard the specification as a whole, and the technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0053] The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present utility model, and do not limit the patent scope of the present utility model accordingly. Any equivalent structural transformation made under the inventive concept of the present utility model by using the content of the specification and drawings of the present utility model, or any direct / indirect application in other related technical fields is included in the patent protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A liquid metal bearing with a reflux channel, characterized in that, It includes a shaft and a rotating assembly; a liquid metal is filled in the gap between the shaft and the rotating assembly; The shaft includes a shaft body and shaft protrusions annularly arranged on the shaft body; the rotating assembly includes a shaft sleeve sleeved on one end of the shaft body, a sealing partition plate arranged at one end of the shaft sleeve, and a sealing flange arranged on one side of the sealing partition plate; the shaft sleeve and the sealing flange respectively abut against the shaft protrusions, and the sealing partition plate is sleeved on the outside of the shaft protrusions; a liquid storage tank communicating with the gap is arranged on the inner surface of the sealing flange; A spiral reflux channel is arranged in the sealing flange or on the outer surface of the shaft body close to the liquid storage tank, and the spiral reflux channel is respectively communicated with the liquid storage tank and the gap.

2. The liquid metal bearing having a reflux channel according to claim 1, characterized in that, Along the axial direction of the shaft body, the gap includes a bearing load-bearing area, a thrust sealing area and a leakage suppression area which are sequentially communicated; the liquid metal is filled in the bearing load-bearing area and the thrust sealing area; the liquid storage tank is communicated with the leakage suppression area; the spiral reflux channel is communicated with the thrust sealing area.

3. The liquid metal bearing with a reflux channel according to claim 2, wherein, The bearing load-bearing area is arranged between the shaft sleeve and the shaft body; the thrust sealing area is arranged between the shaft protrusions and the shaft sleeve, between the shaft protrusions and the sealing partition plate, and between the shaft protrusions and the sealing flange; the leakage suppression area is arranged between the sealing flange and the shaft body.

4. The liquid metal bearing with a reflux channel according to claim 1, characterized in that When the spiral reflux channel is arranged in the sealing flange, the spiral reflux channel is arranged on the inner surface of the sealing flange, or the spiral reflux channel is arranged under the inner surface of the sealing flange.

5. The liquid metal bearing with a reflux channel according to claim 4, characterized in that, When the spiral reflux channel is arranged under the inner surface of the sealing flange, the spiral reflux channel is a round hole-shaped channel.

6. The liquid metal bearing having a reflux channel according to claim 1, wherein When the spiral reflux channel is arranged in the sealing flange, the degree of the spiral angle formed by the spiral direction of the spiral reflux channel and the linear velocity direction of the rotation of the rotating assembly is 15°-75°.

7. The liquid metal bearing having a reflux channel according to claim 1, wherein, When the spiral reflux channel is arranged on the outer surface of the shaft body close to the liquid storage tank, the degree of the spiral angle formed by the spiral direction of the spiral reflux channel and the linear velocity direction of the rotation of the rotating assembly is 105°-165°.

8. The liquid metal bearing having a reflux channel according to claim 2, wherein, Chevron grooves are arranged on the surface of the shaft body close to the bearing load-bearing area; The shaft sleeve and the sealing partition plate, and between the sealing partition plate and the sealing flange are both fixedly connected by screws.

9. The liquid metal bearing with a reflux channel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The liquid metal bearing with a reflux channel further includes a motor rotor, the motor rotor is sleeved on the outside of one end of the rotating assembly close to the shaft protrusion, and one end of the motor rotor is fixed on the shaft sleeve.

10. An X-ray tube, characterized in that, The X-ray tube includes the liquid metal bearing with a reflux channel according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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