IP Library Granted Patent US 8,218,730
Granted Patent B2
US 8,218,730 · App. 12/663,716 · Granted Jul 10, 2012

Mechanism and X-ray tube apparatus

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,218,730
App. No.
12/663,716
Granted
Jul 10, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A mechanism to which a liquid-repellent structure hard to be exfoliated is applied. The tip of each of microprojections has a generally spherical surface. When a liquid metal ( 8 ) comes into contact with such a surface, the liquid metal ( 8 ) cannot enter the spaces among microprojections and is supported by the surfaces of the tips only with point contact. Therefore, the liquid metal ( 8 ) neither wets the surface of the base material nor spread over the surface. The liquid-repellent surface ( 11 ) has a structure such that the liquid metal ( 8 ) is supported by point contact of the many microprojections and repelled by the surface ( 11 ), and does not wet the surface ( 11 ).

Claims (13)

1. A mechanism having a non-wetting and liquid-repellent surface structure which repels liquid metal for sealing the liquid metal, characterized in that

multiple microprojections which point contact the liquid metal are provided on a base material surface so as to hold surface tension of the liquid metal, and

a basal side of the microprojections has greater content of chrome than a tip side thereof.

2. An X-ray tube device having a non-wetting and liquid-repellent structure which repels liquid metal to be applied to a boundary portion between a bearing gap and vacuum in a fluid slide bearing for a rotary anode, characterized in that

multiple microprojections which point contact the liquid metal are provided on a base material surface so as to hold surface tension of the liquid metal, and

a basal side of the microprojections has greater content of chrome than a tip side thereof.

3. The X-ray tube device according to claim 2 , characterized in that the liquid metal is formed by an alloy of gallium/ indium/stannum.

4. The X-ray tube device according to claim 3 , characterized in that the tip of the microprojections are formed in a generally spherical shape.

5. The X-ray tube device according to claim 3 , characterized in that the width and height of the microprojections are in the range of 0.5˜3.0 μm.

6. The X-ray tube device according to claim 3 , characterized in that the multiple microprojections are formed all over the base material surface.

7. A method for manufacturing a mechanism including a non-wetting and liquid-repelling surface structure which repels liquid metal, the method comprising:

forming multiple microprojections on a base material surface, a basal side of the microprojections having greater content of chrome than a tip side thereof; and

causing said multiple microprojections to point contact the liquid metal so as to hold surface tension of the liquid metal.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 2, 2016
From: HITACHI MEDICAL CORPORATION
To: HITACHI, LTD.
Reel/Frame 040545/0254 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 9, 2009
From: OKAMURA, HIDEFUMI
To: HITACHI MEDICAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 023626/0483 →