A hydrostatic bearing assembly or structure for an x-ray tube and associated process for manufacturing and operating the bearing assembly is provided to reduce and potentially eliminate wear from landing or takeoff of the rotating component of the bearing assembly on the non-rotating component. The shaft and sleeve are separated by a gap in which an amount of a liquid metal is placed in order to provide the sleeve with the ability to rotate about the shaft, or vice versa. The non-rotating component of the hydrostatic bearing assembly is formed with a number of fluid channels extending through the component and in communication with the gap. The liquid metal is pumped into and out of the gap via the channels under pressure supplied by a magnetohydrodynamic pump to maintain the separation of the rotating and non-rotating components of the bearing assembly.

An X-ray tube bearing assembly may include a bearing housing including an accommodating cavity; and a bearing core accommodated in the accommodating cavity. The bearing housing may include first and second portions. The second portion surrounds and forms a portion of the accommodating cavity to accommodate the bearing core. The first portion extends out of the second portion and surrounds and forms another portion of the accommodating cavity, and the other portion of the accommodating cavity forms an accommodating hollow cavity. The first portion may have a different structural rigidity to that of the second portion.

A structure and method of operation of a journal bearing is disclosed that minimizes contact of the shaft with the sleeve during start up and slow down of the rotation of the shaft relative to the sleeve, or vice versa. The bearing assembly includes a gravitational load reduction mechanism with magnets disposed on the sleeve and on the shaft in alignment with one another. The magnet(s) on the shaft interacts with the magnet(s) disposed on the sleeve to provide a force against the pressure of the shaft towards the sleeve generated by gravity acting on the rotating component. The magnets enable centering of the rotating component within the stationary component during low rotation and non-rotation. This prevents rubbing of the rotating journal bearing component surfaces, e.g., sleeve, against the stationary journal bearing component, e.g., shaft, during assembly, ramp-up, and coast-down when the journal bearing fluid provides minimal or no bearing centering capability.

Systems and methods related to hydrodynamic bearings for use in X-ray sources are provided. In one aspect, a hydrodynamic bearing system includes a sleeve assembly including a cross-member fluidically dividing a first interior cavity from a second interior cavity, a first shaft positioned in the first interior cavity, and a second shaft positioned in the second interior cavity. The hydrodynamic bearing system may further include a first journal bearing including a first fluid interface surrounding at least a portion of the first cantilever shaft and configured to support radial loads and a second journal bearing including a second fluid interface surrounding at least a portion of the second cantilever shaft and configured to support radial loads.

A ring seal is engaged with a liquid metal bearing assembly and operates to contain metal fluid lubricant leaking through the primary compression seals of a liquid metal bearing to prevent the fluid from entering the high voltage space within the x-ray tube and causing high voltage instability. The ring seal engages the existing configuration for the bearing assembly without deforming the bearing, including effects of thermal expansion and inertial body forces, thus maintaining the tight tolerances for the proper operation of the component parts of the bearing structure. The ring seal retains the leaking liquid metal within the ring seal regardless of the operating state and/or condition of the bearing assembly, such as during operating conditions. i.e., rotation of the bearing assembly or gantry, and non-operating conditions, e.g., shipping and stand-by, and regardless of the corresponding pressures and their locations exerted on the ring seal by the liquid metal.

An X-ray emitter has a rotating anode rotatably mounted inside an X-ray tube by way of a multi-sliding surface bearing. The multi-sliding surface bearing has an inner and an outer sliding surface which are mounted so they can rotate relative to each other about an axis of rotation such that a gap is formed between the inner and outer sliding surfaces. A contour of the inner sliding surface, in a plane running perpendicular to the axis of rotation, is formed at least in certain sections by arc-shaped segments which are each centered around center points that are offset from each other.

A structure and associated method for forming a liquid metal or spiral groove bearing assembly for an x-ray tube is illustrated that utilizes a unitary sleeve and a thrust ring or seal each formed of a weldable, non-refractory material. The sleeve and the thrust seal are welded to one another to provide an improved construction for minimizing leaks of the liquid metal bearing fluid. The structure of the sleeve and the thrust seal are formed with deformation restricting features that maintain the integrity of the bearing surfaces of the assembly when the thrust seal is secured within the sleeve and welded thereto to form the bearing assembly.

An X-ray emitter has a rotating anode rotatably mounted inside an X-ray tube by way of a multi-sliding surface bearing. The multi-sliding surface bearing has an inner and an outer sliding surface which are mounted so they can rotate relative to each other about an axis of rotation such that a gap is formed between the inner and outer sliding surfaces. A contour of the inner sliding surface, in a plane running perpendicular to the axis of rotation, is formed at least in certain sections by arc-shaped segments which are each centered around center points that are offset from each other.

A liquid metal bearing includes at least one first bearing part and at least one second bearing part that have a non-positive fit connection to one another. At least one first ductile sealing layer is disposed at least partly between at least a first bearing part of the at least one bearing and a second bearing part of the at least one second bearing part.

Various methods and systems are provided for a liquid metal bearing assembly. In one embodiment, a liquid metal bearing assembly includes a fill port fluidly coupled to a liquid metal reservoir of the liquid metal bearing assembly, the fill port comprising an inlet diameter and an outlet diameter, the outlet diameter smaller than the inlet diameter, and a pin formed to fit inside the fill port and prevent liquid metal from leaving the liquid metal reservoir via the fill port.