Patents by Inventor Michael Scott Hebert
Michael Scott Hebert 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: 10533608Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2017Date of Patent: January 14, 2020Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ian Strider Hunt, Andrew Thomas Triscari, Donald Allen, Gregory Steinlage, Michael Scott Hebert
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Patent number: 10468223Abstract: An X-ray tube is provided. The X-ray tube includes a bearing configured to couple to an anode. The bearing includes a stationary member, a rotary member configured to rotate with respect to the stationary member during operation of the X-ray tube, and a support feature configured to minimize bending moment along a surface of the stationary member to reduce deflection of the stationary member relative to the rotary member due to radial loads during operation of the X-ray tube.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2019Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: John James McCabe, Michael Scott Hebert, Ian Strider Hunt, Andrew Thomas Triscari, Kevin Shane Kruse, Alxander Thomas Ryan, Adolfo Delgado Marquez
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Publication number: 20190139732Abstract: An X-ray tube is provided. The X-ray tube includes a bearing configured to couple to an anode. The bearing includes a stationary member, a rotary member configured to rotate with respect to the stationary member during operation of the X-ray tube, and a support feature configured to minimize bending moment along a surface of the stationary member to reduce deflection of the stationary member relative to the rotary member due to radial loads during operation of the X-ray tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2019Publication date: May 9, 2019Inventors: John James McCabe, Michael Scott Hebert, Ian Strider Hunt, Andrew Thomas Triscari, Kevin Shane Kruse, Alxander Thomas Ryan, Adolfo Delgado Marquez
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Patent number: 10283312Abstract: An X-ray tube is provided. The X-ray tube includes a bearing configured to couple to an anode. The bearing includes a stationary member, a rotary member configured to rotate with respect to the stationary member during operation of the X-ray tube, and a support feature configured to minimize bending moment along a surface of the stationary member to reduce deflection of the stationary member relative to the rotary member due to radial loads during operation of the X-ray tube.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2016Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: John James McCabe, Michael Scott Hebert, Ian Strider Hunt, Andrew Thomas Triscari, Kevin Shane Kruse, Alexander Thomas Ryan, Adolfo Delgado Marquez
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Publication number: 20180223908Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2017Publication date: August 9, 2018Inventors: Ian Strider Hunt, Andrew Thomas Triscari, Donald Allen, Gregory Steinlage, Michael Scott Hebert
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Publication number: 20180061611Abstract: An X-ray tube is provided. The X-ray tube includes a bearing configured to couple to an anode. The bearing includes a stationary member, a rotary member configured to rotate with respect to the stationary member during operation of the X-ray tube, and a support feature configured to minimize bending moment along a surface of the stationary member to reduce deflection of the stationary member relative to the rotary member due to radial loads during operation of the X-ray tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2016Publication date: March 1, 2018Inventors: John James McCabe, Michael Scott Hebert, Ian Strider Hunt, Andrew Thomas Triscari, Kevin Shane Kruse, Alexander Thomas Ryan, Adolfo Delgado Marquez
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Patent number: 9607801Abstract: A structure and associated process for joining dissimilar materials to form various components of an x-ray tube is illustrated that utilizes one or more intermediate or interfacial filler material members positioned between the primary welding or mating surfaces of the base material components to be joined. The use of the interfacial or intermediate filler material preserves the multiple benefits of friction welding, as well as enabling the joining of highly dissimilar material components, decreasing the required joining temperature, and providing increased microstructural control of the resulting weld or joint.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2014Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ben David Poquette, Michael Scott Hebert, Kirk Alan Rogers, Michael Louis Szugye, Gregory Alan Steinlage, Donald Robert Allen
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Patent number: 9449782Abstract: An x-ray tube includes a frame enclosing a high vacuum, a cathode positioned within the enclosure, and a target assembly. The target assembly includes a target cap, a focal track material positioned on the target cap to receive electrons from the cathode, and a foam material positioned within a cavity of the target cap and positioned proximate the focal track. The x-ray tube also includes a bearing assembly attached to the frame and configured to support the target assembly.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2012Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Ben David Poquette, Thomas Carson Tiearney, Jr., Gregory Alan Steinlage, Michael Scott Hebert, Donald Robert Allen, Christian Bennett Fuller
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Publication number: 20160086760Abstract: A structure and associated process for joining dissimilar materials to form various components of an x-ray tube is illustrated that utilizes one or more intermediate or interfacial filler material members positioned between the primary welding or mating surfaces of the base material components to be joined. The use of the interfacial or intermediate filler material preserves the multiple benefits of friction welding, as well as enabling the joining of highly dissimilar material components, decreasing the required joining temperature, and providing increased microstructural control of the resulting well or joint.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2014Publication date: March 24, 2016Inventors: Ben David Poquette, Michael Scott Hebert, Kirk Alan Rogers, Michael Louis Szugye, Gregory Alan Steinlage, Donald Robert Allen
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Patent number: 8971480Abstract: A mounting structure for mounting an x-ray tube on a CT rotatable gantry is disclosed. The mounting structure includes base plates that are boltable to the CT rotatable gantry and have bearing strut connections formed thereon. Spherical bearing struts are provided in the mounting structure to mechanically couple the x-ray tube to the base plates, with the spherical bearing struts each having a first end secured in a respective bearing strut connection of the x-ray tube casing and a second end secured in a respective bearing strut connection of the base plates. The spherical bearing struts constrain a gantry-load direction displacement of the x-ray tube and enable rotation and displacement of the x-ray tube around at least one axis of rotation or in one direction other than a gantry load direction, so as to accommodate thermal displacements in the x-ray tube created during operation thereof.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2013Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ron Kent Hockersmith, Michael Scott Hebert, Kenwood P. Dayton, Alexander Thomas Ryan
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Publication number: 20140362969Abstract: A mounting structure for mounting an x-ray tube on a CT rotatable gantry is disclosed. The mounting structure includes base plates that are boltable to the CT rotatable gantry and have bearing strut connections formed thereon. Spherical bearing struts are provided in the mounting structure to mechanically couple the x-ray tube to the base plates, with the spherical bearing struts each having a first end secured in a respective bearing strut connection of the x-ray tube casing and a second end secured in a respective bearing strut connection of the base plates. The spherical bearing struts constrain a gantry-load direction displacement of the x-ray tube and enable rotation and displacement of the x-ray tube around at least one axis of rotation or in one direction other than a gantry load direction, so as to accommodate thermal displacements in the x-ray tube created during operation thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2013Publication date: December 11, 2014Inventors: Ron Kent Hockersmith, Michael Scott Hebert, Kenwood P. Dayton, Alexander Thomas Ryan
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Publication number: 20140056404Abstract: An x-ray tube includes a frame enclosing a high vacuum, a cathode positioned within the enclosure, and a target assembly. The target assembly includes a target cap, a focal track material positioned on the target cap to receive electrons from the cathode, and a foam material positioned within a cavity of the target cap and positioned proximate the focal track. The x-ray tube also includes a bearing assembly attached to the frame and configured to support the target assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2012Publication date: February 27, 2014Inventors: Ben David Poquette, Thomas Carson Tiearney, JR., Gregory Alan Steinlage, Michael Scott Hebert, Donald Robert Allen, Christian Bennett Fuller
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Patent number: 8654928Abstract: A target for generating x-rays includes a target substrate comprising molybdenum and having a beveled surface according to a desired track angle, a track comprising tungsten and configured to generate x-rays from high-energy electrons impinging thereon, wherein the track comprises a brazing surface having an area that is less than an area of the beveled surface of the target substrate, and a braze joint attaching the brazing surface of the track to the beveled surface of the target substrate.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2012Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Gregory Alan Steinlage, Michael Scott Hebert
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Patent number: 8428222Abstract: An x-ray tube target and method of repairing a damaged x-ray tube target. The x-ray tube target includes an original substrate and a portion of the original substrate that includes a new portion of a substrate and a new target track that is attached to a void in the original substrate. The method includes removal and replacement of damaged materials on used anode targets of x-ray tubes, thereby enabling recovery of used anode targets without the use of expensive and time consuming layer deposition methods. The method also avoids the high costs and long development cycles associated with known repair and refabrication methods for anode targets of x-ray tubes.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2009Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Gregory Alan Steinlage, Michael Scott Hebert
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Patent number: 8121259Abstract: An apparatus includes an electron collector includes a body having an internal bore formed therethrough along a first direction and a window side having an aperture formed in a first portion thereof along a second direction different from the first direction. The apparatus also includes a cover plate having a bottom surface coupled to a second portion of the first surface of the electron collector, and an x-ray transmission window coupled to the cover plate and aligned with the aperture along the second direction, wherein a recess is formed along the second direction in one of the first portion of the first surface of the electron collector and a portion of the bottom surface of the cover plate, and wherein a gap is formed between the bottom surface of the cover plate and the first surface of the electron collector.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2009Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Michael Scott Hebert, Gregory Alan Steinlage, Madhusudhana T. Subraya, Donald Robert Allen, James J. Van Bogart
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Patent number: 7974384Abstract: An x-ray tube includes a vacuum enclosure, a shaft having a first end and a second end, a flange attached to the first end of the shaft, the flange having an outer perimeter, and a ferrofluid seal assembly having an inner bore, the inner bore having an outer perimeter smaller than the outer perimeter of the flange. The shaft is inserted through the bore of the ferrofluid seal assembly such that the ferrofluid seal assembly is positioned between the first end of the shaft and the second end of the shaft and such that the first end extends into the vacuum enclosure, and the ferrofluid seal is configured to fluidically seal the vacuum enclosure from an environment into which the second end of the shaft extends.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2009Date of Patent: July 5, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Edwin L. Legall, Mark Alan Frontera, Michael Scott Hebert
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Publication number: 20110135067Abstract: An apparatus includes an electron collector includes a body having an internal bore formed therethrough along a first direction and a window side having an aperture formed in a first portion thereof along a second direction different from the first direction. The apparatus also includes a cover plate having a bottom surface coupled to a second portion of the first surface of the electron collector, and an x-ray transmission window coupled to the cover plate and aligned with the aperture along the second direction, wherein a recess is formed along the second direction in one of the first portion of the first surface of the electron collector and a portion of the bottom surface of the cover plate, and wherein a gap is formed between the bottom surface of the cover plate and the first surface of the electron collector.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2009Publication date: June 9, 2011Inventors: Michael Scott Hebert, Gregory Alan Steinlage, Madhusudhana T. Subraya, Donald Robert Allen, James J. Van Bogart
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Publication number: 20110007872Abstract: An x-ray tube target and method of repairing a damaged x-ray tube target. The x-ray tube target includes an original substrate and a portion of the original substrate that includes a new portion of a substrate and a new target track that is attached to a void in the original substrate. The method includes removal and replacement of damaged materials on used anode targets of x-ray tubes, thereby enabling recovery of used anode targets without the use of expensive and time consuming layer deposition methods. The method also avoids the high costs and long development cycles associated with known repair and refabrication methods for anode targets of x-ray tubes.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2009Publication date: January 13, 2011Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Gregory Alan Steinlage, Michael Scott Hebert
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Publication number: 20100260323Abstract: An x-ray tube includes a vacuum enclosure, a shaft having a first end and a second end, a flange attached to the first end of the shaft, the flange having an outer perimeter, and a ferrofluid seal assembly having an inner bore, the inner bore having an outer perimeter smaller than the outer perimeter of the flange. The shaft is inserted through the bore of the ferrofluid seal assembly such that the ferrofluid seal assembly is positioned between the first end of the shaft and the second end of the shaft and such that the first end extends into the vacuum enclosure, and the ferrofluid seal is configured to fluidically seal the vacuum enclosure from an environment into which the second end of the shaft extends.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2009Publication date: October 14, 2010Inventors: Edwin L. Legall, Mark Alan Frontera, Michael Scott Hebert
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Publication number: 20100128848Abstract: An x-ray tube having a liquid lubricated bearing assembly and a liquid cooled anode target. The anode target and bearing assembly having increased lubrication and cooling to withstand higher power, higher temperature and higher load applications.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2008Publication date: May 27, 2010Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Liangheng Qiu, Gregory Alan Lehmann, Thomas Dean Scaefer, Michael Scott Hebert, Edwin L. Legall