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).

  • Patent number: 8582722
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electron Tubes & Devices Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Chiharu Tadokoro, Yasutaka Ito, Hitoshi Hattori, Ryoichi Takahashi, Tetsuya Yonezawa, Hironori Nakamuta
  • Publication number: 20110058654
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRON TUBES & DEVICES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chiharu Tadokoro, Yasutaka Ito, Hitoshi Hattori, Ryoichi Takahashi, Tetsuya Yonezawa, Hironori Nakamuta
  • Patent number: 7801278
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yasutaka Ito, Hitoshi Hattori, Yasuo Yoshii, Chiharu Tadokoro, Hironori Nakamuta, Tetsuya Yonezawa
  • Patent number: 7746982
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yasuo Yoshii, Chiharu Tadokoro, Yasutaka Ito, Hitoshi Hattori, Hironori Nakamuta, Tetsuya Yonezawa
  • Patent number: 7697665
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electron Tubes & Devices Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Yonezawa, Hironori Nakamuta, Ryoichi Takahashi, Yasuo Yoshii, Hitoshi Hattori, Yasutaka Ito
  • Publication number: 20090245469
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Yasutaka Ito, Hitoshi Hattori, Yasuo Yoshii, Chiharu Todokoro, Hironori Nakamuta, Tetsuya Yonezawa
  • Publication number: 20090225950
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, Toshiba Electron Tubes & Device Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Yonezawa, Hironori Nakamuta, Ryoichi Takahashi, Yasuo Yoshii, Hitoshi Hattori, Yasutaka Ito
  • Publication number: 20090080616
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: YASUO YOSHII, Chiharu Tadokoro, Yasutaka Ito, Hitoshi Hattori, Hironori Nakamuta, Tetsuya Yonezawa
  • Patent number: 7391852
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electron Tubes & Devices
    Inventors: Hidero Anno, Koichi Kitade, Takayuki Kitami, Hironori Nakamuta, Manabu Sato
  • Patent number: 7324629
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Harunobu Fukushima, Yasuo Yoshii, Hitoshi Hattori, Koichi Kitade, Mitsuo Iwase, Hironori Nakamuta
  • Patent number: 7215740
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Harunobu Fukushima, Yasuo Yoshii, Hitoshi Hattori, Koichi Kitade, Mitsuo Iwase, Hironori Nakamuta
  • Publication number: 20070092063
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Publication date: April 26, 2007
    Inventors: Harunobu Fukushima, Yasuo Yoshii, Hitoshi Hattori, Koichi Kitade, Mitsuo Iwase, Hironori Nakamuta
  • Patent number: 7206380
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electron Tubes & Devices, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidero Anno, Koichi Kitade, Takayuki Kitami, Hironori Nakamuta, Manabu Sato
  • Patent number: 7203280
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electron Tubes & Devices Co, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidero Anno, Koichi Kitade, Takayuki Kitami, Hironori Nakamuta, Manabu Sato
  • Patent number: 7197118
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electron Tubes & Devices
    Inventors: Hidero Anno, Koichi Kitade, Takayuki Kitami, Hironori Nakamuta, Manabu Sato
  • Publication number: 20060193439
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2006
    Publication date: August 31, 2006
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, Toshiba Electron Tubes & Devices Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidero Anno, Koichi Kitade, Takayuki Kitami, Hironori Nakamuta, Manabu Sato
  • Publication number: 20060188069
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2006
    Publication date: August 24, 2006
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, Toshiba Electron Tubes & Devices Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidero Anno, Koichi Kitade, Takayuki Kitami, Hironori Nakamuta, Manabu Sato
  • Publication number: 20060188068
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Publication date: August 24, 2006
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, Toshiba Electron Tubes & Devices Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidero Anno, Koichi Kitade, Takayuki Kitami, Hironori Nakamuta, Manabu Sato
  • Publication number: 20060182222
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRON TUBES & DEVICES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidero Anno, Koichi Kitade, Takayuki Kitami, Hironori Nakamuta, Manabu Sato
  • Publication number: 20050089144
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Publication date: April 28, 2005
    Inventors: Harunobu Fukushima, Yasuo Yoshii, Hitoshi Hattori, Koichi Kitade, Mitsuo Iwase, Hironori Nakamuta