An X-ray tube device capable of preventing a holder holding a bearing from suffering damage, and an X-ray CT apparatus including the X-ray tube device are provided. The X-ray tube device includes: a cathode that produces an electron beam; an anode that produces X rays upon irradiation with the electron beam; a rotating portion that supports and rotates the anode; bearings that are placed at a predetermined distance from each other in a direction of a rotation axis of the rotating portion, each of the bearings having an outer ring and an inner ring between which rolling elements are sandwiched; and a holder that holds the outer rings. The holder has an inner wall that is spaced from an edge of the outer ring.

A bearing structure for an X-ray tube is provided that includes a journal bearing shaft with a radially protruding thrust bearing encased within a sleeve. The structure of sleeve is formed with enlarged traps or voids in the sleeve that are disposed adjacent various rotating anti-wetting seals/seal surfaces formed between the sleeve and the shaft. The geometry of the traps is formed to retain liquid metal/lubricating fluid within the gap defined by the bearing assembly and to direct to liquid metal flowing outwardly from the gap defined between the sleeve and the shaft away from the rotating anti-wetting seals and back towards the gap. This geometry allows the centrifugal forces exerted on the liquid metal by the rotation of the bearing structure to move the outflowing liquid metal away from the rotating anti-wetting seals to significantly reduce contact of the liquid metal with the seals.

The disclosure relates, inter alia, to a rotary anode bearing assembly for an X-ray tube comprising at least one bearing outer ring and rolling elements arranged within the at least one bearing outer ring, which rolling elements roll on the at least one bearing outer ring and enclose a radially inner receiving space for receiving a rotor of an X-ray tube; comprising a bearing housing in which the at least one bearing outer ring is mounted, wherein the bearing housing circumferentially surrounds the at least one bearing outer ring.

The rotary anode bearing assembly according to the disclosure is characterized in that an end face of at least one bearing outer ring or of a caulking ring axially adjoining the bearing outer ring is caulked to an end face of the bearing housing by plastic deformation of material of the bearing housing and/or of the bearing outer ring and/or of the caulking ring.

A bearing structure for an X-ray tube is provided that includes a journal bearing shaft with a radially protruding thrust bearing encased within a sleeve. The structure of sleeve is formed with enlarged traps or voids in the sleeve that are disposed adjacent various rotating anti-wetting seals/seal surfaces formed between the sleeve and the shaft. The geometry of the traps is formed to retain liquid metal/lubricating fluid within the gap defined by the bearing assembly and to direct to liquid metal flowing outwardly from the gap defined between the sleeve and the shaft away from the rotating anti-wetting seals and back towards the gap. This geometry allows the centrifugal forces exerted on the liquid metal by the rotation of the bearing structure to move the outflowing liquid metal away from the rotating anti-wetting seals to significantly reduce contact of the liquid metal with the seals.

A bearing structure for an X-ray tube is provided that includes a journal bearing shaft with a radially protruding thrust bearing encased within a sleeve. The structure of sleeve is formed with enlarged traps or voids in the sleeve that are disposed adjacent various rotating anti-wetting seals/seal surfaces formed between the sleeve and the shaft. The geometry of the traps is formed to retain liquid metal/lubricating fluid within the gap defined by the bearing assembly and to direct to liquid metal flowing outwardly from the gap defined between the sleeve and the shaft away from the rotating anti-wetting seals and back towards the gap. This geometry allows the centrifugal forces exerted on the liquid metal by the rotation of the bearing structure to move the outflowing liquid metal away from the rotating anti-wetting seals to significantly reduce contact of the liquid metal with the seals.

A rolling bearing device includes a rotary shaft; a housing; a pair of rolling bearings; an outer ring spacer; an elastic member provided in a bottom side of the housing, the bottom side of the housing being a second axial side of the housing, and the elastic member being configured to urge the rolling bearings, the outer ring spacer, and the rotary shaft toward a first axial side; and a retaining ring that is fitted into a circumferential groove provided on an inner periphery in the first axial side of the housing, the retaining ring being in axial contact with the outer ring of the rolling bearing located on the first axial side, and the retaining ring including at least three arc members arranged in a circumferential direction.

A rolling bearing device includes a rotary shaft; a housing; a pair of rolling bearings; an outer ring spacer; an elastic member provided in a bottom side of the housing, the bottom side of the housing being a second axial side of the housing, and the elastic member being configured to urge the rolling bearings, the outer ring spacer, and the rotary shaft toward a first axial side; and a retaining ring that is fitted into a circumferential groove provided on an inner periphery in the first axial side of the housing, the retaining ring being in axial contact with the outer ring of the rolling bearing located on the first axial side, and the retaining ring including at least three arc members arranged in a circumferential direction.

The present specification discloses a high power continuous X-ray source having a rotating target assembly that is cooled by circulation of a liquid material in contact with the target assembly, whereby the target assembly has a front surface being impinged by electrons and a mechanism for rotating the target assembly. The cooling liquid is always in contact with at least one surface of the target for dissipating the heat generated by the energy deposited by the stream of electrons, thereby lowering the temperature of the target to allow for continuous operation.

A bearing structure for an X-ray tube is provided that includes a journal bearing shaft with a radially protruding thrust bearing encased within a sleeve. The structure of sleeve is formed with enlarged traps or voids in the sleeve that are disposed adjacent various rotating anti-wetting seals/seal surfaces formed between the sleeve and the shaft. The geometry of the traps is formed to retain liquid metal/lubricating fluid within the gap defined by the bearing assembly and to direct to liquid metal flowing outwardly from the gap defined between the sleeve and the shaft away from the rotating anti-wetting seals and back towards the gap. This geometry allows the centrifugal forces exerted on the liquid metal by the rotation of the bearing structure to move the outflowing liquid metal away from the rotating anti-wetting seals to significantly reduce contact of the liquid metal with the seals.

The present specification discloses a high power continuous X-ray source having a rotating target assembly that is cooled by circulation of a liquid material in contact with the target assembly, whereby the target assembly has a front surface being impinged by electrons and a mechanism for rotating the target assembly. The cooling liquid is always in contact with at least one surface of the target for dissipating the heat generated by the energy deposited by the stream of electrons, thereby lowering the temperature of the target to allow for continuous operation.