Patents by Inventor Hironori Nakamuta
Hironori Nakamuta has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 8582722Abstract: A rotary anode X-ray tube apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a stationary shaft, a cooling bath that is provided in the stationary shaft, a rotary cylinder that is rotatably supported to the stationary shaft, a target that is provided in the rotary cylinder, a cathode that is disposed to face the target, and a vacuum enclosure that stores these components. The stationary shaft has a large-diameter portion provided in a portion thereof and is provided with a flow passage through which a cooling fluid flows. The cooling bath is provided by thinning the wall thickness of the large-diameter portion to increase the flow passage diameter of a portion of the flow passage. The rotary cylinder covers an area of the stationary shaft including the large-diameter portion through a liquid metal and is rotatably supported to the stationary shaft. The target has a hollow circular plate shape that is provided on an outer circumferential surface of the rotary cylinder.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2010Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electron Tubes & Devices Co., LtdInventors: Chiharu Tadokoro, Yasutaka Ito, Hitoshi Hattori, Ryoichi Takahashi, Tetsuya Yonezawa, Hironori Nakamuta
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Publication number: 20110058654Abstract: A rotary anode X-ray tube apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a stationary shaft, a cooling bath that is provided in the stationary shaft, a rotary cylinder that is rotatably supported to the stationary shaft, a target that is provided in the rotary cylinder, a cathode that is disposed to face the target, and a vacuum enclosure that stores these components. The stationary shaft has a large-diameter portion provided in a portion thereof and is provided with a flow passage through which a cooling fluid flows. The cooling bath is provided by thinning the wall thickness of the large-diameter portion to increase the flow passage diameter of a portion of the flow passage. The rotary cylinder covers an area of the stationary shaft including the large-diameter portion through a liquid metal and is rotatably supported to the stationary shaft. The target has a hollow circular plate shape that is provided on an outer circumferential surface of the rotary cylinder.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2010Publication date: March 10, 2011Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRON TUBES & DEVICES CO., LTD.Inventors: Chiharu Tadokoro, Yasutaka Ito, Hitoshi Hattori, Ryoichi Takahashi, Tetsuya Yonezawa, Hironori Nakamuta
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Patent number: 7801278Abstract: In an X-ray tube, a rotary anode formed into a hollow disk-like shape is fixedly supported by a rotating body formed into a hollow cylindrical shape. A fixed shaft has fixed ends, columnar bearing portions and a disk part, and a flow path of a cooling medium formed along a central axis thereof. The bearing portions are inserted into the rotating body with a first gap between the columnar bearing portion and the rotating body, so that the rotating body is rotatably supported. The disk part is arranged in the rotary anode with a second gap between the disk part and the rotary anode. The first and second gaps are filled with a lubricant, bearing grooves are formed in the bearing portion, thereby forming dynamic pressure bearings, and a center of gravity of the rotary anode is arranged between the first and second dynamic pressure bearings.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2009Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Yasutaka Ito, Hitoshi Hattori, Yasuo Yoshii, Chiharu Tadokoro, Hironori Nakamuta, Tetsuya Yonezawa
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Patent number: 7746982Abstract: In a rotary anode X-ray tube, a disc portion is fitted into a rotary anode with a first gap therebetween and a fixed shaft is fitted into a rotary shaft to support the anode with a second gap therebetween. The disc portion and the fixed shaft are formed integral with each other to have a hollow portion therein. A cooling liquid is allowed to flow through the hollow portion. A liquid metal is filled in the first and second gaps. Dynamic pressure type bearings is formed in the second gap. A passage is formed to directly communicate the first gap to the second gap, whereby the liquid metal being directly supplied from the second gap to the first gap. Thus, the liquid metal can be fed rapidly and surely into the gap between the anode target and a cooling vessel.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2008Date of Patent: June 29, 2010Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Yasuo Yoshii, Chiharu Tadokoro, Yasutaka Ito, Hitoshi Hattori, Hironori Nakamuta, Tetsuya Yonezawa
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Patent number: 7697665Abstract: A rotating anode X-ray tube includes a fixed body having a radial sliding bearing surface and a channel therein through which a coolant flows, a rotor including a discoid large-diameter portion, which has a recess fitted with one end portion of the fixed body with a clearance therebetween and constitutes an anode target, and a small-diameter portion, which has on an inner surface thereof a radial sliding bearing surface which faces the aforesaid radial sliding bearing surface with a clearance, and is united with the large-diameter portion at one end portion thereof, a lubricant filling the clearances, a cathode arranged opposite to the anode target, and a vacuum envelope which contains the fixed body, the rotor, the lubricant and the cathode, and fixes the fixed body at another end portion of the fixed body situated opposite the one end portion of the fixed body fitted in the recess.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2009Date of Patent: April 13, 2010Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electron Tubes & Devices Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tetsuya Yonezawa, Hironori Nakamuta, Ryoichi Takahashi, Yasuo Yoshii, Hitoshi Hattori, Yasutaka Ito
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Publication number: 20090245469Abstract: In an X-ray tube, a rotary anode formed into a hollow disk-like shape is fixedly supported by a rotating body formed into a hollow cylindrical shape. A fixed shaft has fixed ends, columnar bearing portions and a disk part, and a flow path of a cooling medium formed along a central axis thereof. The bearing portions are inserted into the rotating body with a first gap between the columnar bearing portion and the rotating body, so that the rotating body is rotatably supported. The disk part is arranged in the rotary anode with a second gap between the disk part and the rotary anode. The first and second gaps are filled with a lubricant, bearing grooves are formed in the bearing portion, thereby forming dynamic pressure bearings, and a center of gravity of the rotary anode is arranged between the first and second dynamic pressure bearings.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2009Publication date: October 1, 2009Inventors: Yasutaka Ito, Hitoshi Hattori, Yasuo Yoshii, Chiharu Todokoro, Hironori Nakamuta, Tetsuya Yonezawa
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Publication number: 20090225950Abstract: A rotating anode X-ray tube includes a fixed body having a radial sliding bearing surface and a channel therein through which a coolant flows, a rotor including a discoid large-diameter portion, which has a recess fitted with one end portion of the fixed body with a clearance therebetween and constitutes an anode target, and a small-diameter portion, which has on an inner surface thereof a radial sliding bearing surface which faces the aforesaid radial sliding bearing surface with a clearance, and is united with the large-diameter portion at one end portion thereof, a lubricant filling the clearances, a cathode arranged opposite to the anode target, and a vacuum envelope which contains the fixed body, the rotor, the lubricant and the cathode, and fixes the fixed body at another end portion of the fixed body situated opposite the one end portion of the fixed body fitted in the recess.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2009Publication date: September 10, 2009Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, Toshiba Electron Tubes & Device Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tetsuya Yonezawa, Hironori Nakamuta, Ryoichi Takahashi, Yasuo Yoshii, Hitoshi Hattori, Yasutaka Ito
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Publication number: 20090080616Abstract: In a rotary anode X-ray tube, a disc portion is fitted into a rotary anode with a first gap therebetween and a fixed shaft is fitted into a rotary shaft to support the anode with a second gap therebetween. The disc portion and the fixed shaft are formed integral with each other to have a hollow portion therein. A cooling liquid is allowed to flow through the hollow portion. A liquid metal is filled in the first and second gaps. Dynamic pressure type bearings is formed in the second gap. A passage is formed to directly communicate the first gap to the second gap, whereby the liquid metal being directly supplied from the second gap to the first gap. Thus, the liquid metal can be fed rapidly and surely into the gap between the anode target and a cooling vessel.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2008Publication date: March 26, 2009Inventors: YASUO YOSHII, Chiharu Tadokoro, Yasutaka Ito, Hitoshi Hattori, Hironori Nakamuta, Tetsuya Yonezawa
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Patent number: 7391852Abstract: An X-ray apparatus includes a rotation-anode type X-ray tube which is configured such that a rotatable anode target and a cathode that is disposed to be opposed to the anode target are accommodated within a vacuum envelope, a stator which generates an induction electromagnetic field for rotating the anode target, a housing which accommodates and holds at least the rotation-anode type X-ray tube, a circulation path which is provided near at least a part of the rotation-anode type X-ray tube, and through which a water-based coolant is circulated, and a cooling unit including a circulation pump, which is provided at a position along the circulation path and forcibly feeds the water-based coolant, and a radiator which radiates heat of the water-based coolant, wherein at least a part of a surface of a metallic component is coated with a coating member to prevent contacting with the water-based coolant.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2006Date of Patent: June 24, 2008Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electron Tubes & DevicesInventors: Hidero Anno, Koichi Kitade, Takayuki Kitami, Hironori Nakamuta, Manabu Sato
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Patent number: 7324629Abstract: In a rotary anode type X-ray tube, a rotary anode and a rotary structure supporting the anode are arranged within the vacuum envelope. A stationary shaft has a middle section which is fitted into a cylindrical portion of the rotary structure, and a dynamic pressure type radial bearing is arranged between the cylindrical portion and the middle section. The stationary shaft also has a first section between one end of the middle section and one end of the stationary shaft, and a second section between the other end of the middle section and the other end of the stationary shaft, which are fixed to the vacuum envelope. A transverse stiffness of the second section is set to be larger than a transverse stiffness of the first section, and a center of gravity is positioned in the middle section.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2006Date of Patent: January 29, 2008Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Harunobu Fukushima, Yasuo Yoshii, Hitoshi Hattori, Koichi Kitade, Mitsuo Iwase, Hironori Nakamuta
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Patent number: 7215740Abstract: In a rotary anode type X-ray tube, a rotary anode and a rotary structure supporting the anode are arranged within the vacuum envelope. A stationary shaft has a middle section which is fitted into a cylindrical portion of the rotary structure, and a dynamic pressure type radial bearing is arranged between the cylindrical portion and the middle section. The stationary shaft also has a first section between one end of the middle section and one end of the stationary shaft, and a second section between the other end of the middle section and the other end of the stationary shaft, which are fixed to the vacuum envelope. A transverse stiffness of the second section is set to be larger than a transverse stiffness of the first section, and a center of gravity is positioned in the middle section.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2004Date of Patent: May 8, 2007Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Harunobu Fukushima, Yasuo Yoshii, Hitoshi Hattori, Koichi Kitade, Mitsuo Iwase, Hironori Nakamuta
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Publication number: 20070092063Abstract: In a rotary anode type X-ray tube, a rotary anode and a rotary structure supporting the anode are arranged within the vacuum envelope. A stationary shaft has a middle section which is fitted into a cylindrical portion of the rotary structure, and a dynamic pressure type radial bearing is arranged between the cylindrical portion and the middle section. The stationary shaft also has a first section between one end of the middle section and one end of the stationary shaft, and a second section between the other end of the middle section and the other end of the stationary shaft, which are fixed to the vacuum envelope. A transverse stiffness of the second section is set to be larger than a transverse stiffness of the first section, and a center of gravity is positioned in the middle section.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2006Publication date: April 26, 2007Inventors: Harunobu Fukushima, Yasuo Yoshii, Hitoshi Hattori, Koichi Kitade, Mitsuo Iwase, Hironori Nakamuta
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Patent number: 7206380Abstract: An X-ray apparatus includes a rotation-anode type X-ray tube which is configured such that a rotatable anode target and a cathode that is disposed to be opposed to the anode target are accommodated within a vacuum envelope, a stator which generates an induction electromagnetic field for rotating the anode target, a housing which accommodates and holds at least the rotation-anode type X-ray tube, a circulation path which is provided near at least a part of the rotation-anode type X-ray tube, and through which a water-based coolant is circulated, and a cooling unit including a circulation pump, which is provided at a position along the circulation path and forcibly feeds the water-based coolant, and a radiator which radiates heat of the water-based coolant, wherein an amount of dissolved oxygen at 25° C. in the water-based coolant is 5 mg/liter or less.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2006Date of Patent: April 17, 2007Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electron Tubes & Devices, Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hidero Anno, Koichi Kitade, Takayuki Kitami, Hironori Nakamuta, Manabu Sato
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Patent number: 7203280Abstract: The present invention relates to an X-ray apparatus comprising an electron radiation source which generates an electron to an anode, a shaft which rotatably supports the anode, a stator which generates a force to rotate a rotor shaft, an enclosure which maintains at least the anode, electron radiation source and rotor shaft in vacuum, and a housing which contains a cooling medium around the enclosure. The X-ray apparatus is characterized in that an electric wire material to supply power to the electron radiation source and stator, or a connector used for connection with the electric wire material is molded by a material having an electrical insulating property.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2006Date of Patent: April 10, 2007Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electron Tubes & Devices Co, Ltd.Inventors: Hidero Anno, Koichi Kitade, Takayuki Kitami, Hironori Nakamuta, Manabu Sato
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Patent number: 7197118Abstract: The present invention is characterized by supporting a stator to generate a magnetic field and an anode target by a dynamic pressure plain bearing using a liquid metal, and cooling at least the inside of the dynamic pressure plain bearing and an enclosure containing an anode target by circulating one kind of cooling medium, in a rotary X-ray tube apparatus which obtains X-rays by impinging an electron on an anode by rotating an anode target.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2006Date of Patent: March 27, 2007Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electron Tubes & DevicesInventors: Hidero Anno, Koichi Kitade, Takayuki Kitami, Hironori Nakamuta, Manabu Sato
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Publication number: 20060193439Abstract: The present invention is characterized by supporting a stator to generate a magnetic field and an anode target by a dynamic pressure plain bearing using a liquid metal, and cooling at least the inside of the dynamic pressure plain bearing and an enclosure containing an anode target by circulating one kind of cooling medium, in a rotary X-ray tube apparatus which obtains X-rays by impinging an electron on an anode by rotating an anode target.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2006Publication date: August 31, 2006Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, Toshiba Electron Tubes & Devices Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hidero Anno, Koichi Kitade, Takayuki Kitami, Hironori Nakamuta, Manabu Sato
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Publication number: 20060188069Abstract: The present invention relates to an X-ray apparatus comprising an electron radiation source which generates an electron to an anode, a shaft which rotatably supports the anode, a stator which generates a force to rotate a rotor shaft, an enclosure which maintains at least the anode, electron radiation source and rotor shaft in vacuum, and a housing which contains a cooling medium around the enclosure. The X-ray apparatus is characterized in that an electric wire material to supply power to the electron radiation source and stator, or a connector used for connection with the electric wire material is molded by a material having an electrical insulating property.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2006Publication date: August 24, 2006Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, Toshiba Electron Tubes & Devices Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hidero Anno, Koichi Kitade, Takayuki Kitami, Hironori Nakamuta, Manabu Sato
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Publication number: 20060188068Abstract: An X-ray apparatus includes a rotation-anode type X-ray tube which is configured such that a rotatable anode target and a cathode that is disposed to be opposed to the anode target are accommodated within a vacuum envelope, a stator which generates an induction electromagnetic field for rotating the anode target, a housing which accommodates and holds at least the rotation-anode type X-ray tube, a circulation path which is provided near at least a part of the rotation-anode type X-ray tube, and through which a water-based coolant is circulated, and a cooling unit including a circulation pump, which is provided at a position along the circulation path and forcibly feeds the water-based coolant, and a radiator which radiates heat of the water-based coolant, wherein an amount of dissolved oxygen at 25° C. in the water-based coolant is 5 mg/liter or less.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2006Publication date: August 24, 2006Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, Toshiba Electron Tubes & Devices Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hidero Anno, Koichi Kitade, Takayuki Kitami, Hironori Nakamuta, Manabu Sato
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Publication number: 20060182222Abstract: An X-ray apparatus includes a rotation-anode type X-ray tube which is configured such that a rotatable anode target and a cathode that is disposed to be opposed to the anode target are accommodated within a vacuum envelope, a stator which generates an induction electromagnetic field for rotating the anode target, a housing which accommodates and holds at least the rotation-anode type X-ray tube, a circulation path which is provided near at least a part of the rotation-anode type X-ray tube, and through which a water-based coolant is circulated, and a cooling unit including a circulation pump, which is provided at a position along the circulation path and forcibly feeds the water-based coolant, and a radiator which radiates heat of the water-based coolant, wherein at least a part of a surface of a metallic component is coated with a coating member to prevent contacting with the water-based coolant.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2006Publication date: August 17, 2006Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRON TUBES & DEVICES CO., LTD.Inventors: Hidero Anno, Koichi Kitade, Takayuki Kitami, Hironori Nakamuta, Manabu Sato
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Publication number: 20050089144Abstract: In a rotary anode type X-ray tube, a rotary anode and a rotary structure supporting the anode are arranged within the vacuum envelope. A stationary shaft has a middle section which is fitted into a cylindrical portion of the rotary structure, and a dynamic pressure type radial bearing is arranged between the cylindrical portion and the middle section. The stationary shaft also has a first section between one end of the middle section and one end of the stationary shaft, and a second section between the other end of the middle section and the other end of the stationary shaft, which are fixed to the vacuum envelope. A transverse stiffness of the second section is set to be larger than a transverse stiffness of the first section, and a center of gravity is positioned in the middle section.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2004Publication date: April 28, 2005Inventors: Harunobu Fukushima, Yasuo Yoshii, Hitoshi Hattori, Koichi Kitade, Mitsuo Iwase, Hironori Nakamuta