Patent ID: 7209544
Filing Date: 2007-04-24
Classification: B23K,H01J

Abstract:
1. A method for bonding cathode components of an x-ray tube together, the method comprising: providing a support arm comprising a first metal; providing a ceramic insulator having a first metalized surface; assembling a sandwich structure including the support arm and ceramic insulator by placing a first member of filler material between the support arm and the first metalized surface of the ceramic insulator, the first member of filler material comprises at least a second metal wherein a first alloy system comprising the first and second metals includes an alloy minimum point percentage composition of the first and second metals having a first alloy system minimum melting point for the alloy minimum point percentage composition that is lower than both of the melting point of the first metal and second metal; heating the assembled sandwich structure causing diffusion between the first metal and second metal thereby forming a varying percentage composition of the first and second metals of the first alloy system across a bonding region, the bonding region having at least one diffusion layer having the alloy minimum point percentage composition of the first and second metals, the heating of the assembled sandwich structure continuing to a bonding temperature of at least the first alloy system minimum melting point and holding the sandwich structure at the bonding temperature for a desired period of time to melt a desired portion of the bonding region comprising at least the alloy minimum point percentage composition of the first and second metals; and allowing the assembled sandwich structure to cool to a steady state temperature below first alloy system minimum melting point temperature.