Patent Number: 042257905
Section: description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In FIGS. 2 to 5, inclusive, a reel 20 of a known configuration has two oval-shaped rails 21, 22 fixed to spanner bars 23 between them on the exterior of which the coupler guide tube 6A can be coiled when the system is not in use. As shown, this guide tube is uncoiled and laid out between the reel 20 and a storage unit 2, to which it is disconnectibly coupled at one end by a coupler 10. The coupler 10 is one that is suitable for coupling a single guide tube and the drive cable 5 (not shown) within it to the storage unit, and a suitable couple is described and claimed in the copending application of the same inventors executed concurrently with this application, Ser. No. 964,078, filed Nov. 27, 1978. The exposure guide tube 6C leading to the snout 8 is also laid out, so that the system, as illustrated in FIG. 2, is prepared for use to make a radiograph. The third or storage guide tube section 6B is permanently coiled under a platform 25, within the spanner bars 23, as illustrated in dashed line. The crank 7 and a direction selector ratchet 24 are shown on the platform 25. The ratchet has a direction change lever 26 which enables the crank to be latched in either of its extreme positions--i.e., radiographic material source 1 fully out into the snout 8, or radiographic material source 1 fully retracted into the storage unit 2. The platform 25 covers a shell-like housing 27 fitted within the spanner bars 23 and closed at the bottom (in FIGS. 4 and 5) with a second cover 28. The storage tube 6B is permanently coiled against the inner wall of the housing 27, and retained in place by several clamps 30 which are each affixed at one end to the bottom cover 28 and the other end to the housing 27. The coupler tube 6A passes from a reel 35 within the housing 27 out through a hole 38 in the housing wall. The storage tube 6B remains at all times inside the housing 27. The reel 35 may be of any suitable kind known to the art; the coupler tube 6A and storage tube 6B are each connected at one end to it, so that a drive cable 5 (not shown in FIGS. 2-5) can be moved from one tube to the other during operation as is shown in FIG. 1. A revolution counter 39, with indicia 42 visible through a window 44 in the top cover 25, but otherwise of known form, is also provided. The permanently-coiled storage tube 6B can take any convenient configuration. One consideration in choosing a configuration is the torque in inch-pounds that will be required to force the flexible cable 5 around the curves of the permanently-coiled storage tube. FIG. 6 illustrates several possible configurations, at A, B, C, D and E, respectively. Assuming that the storage tube 6B is made of "Teflon" (trademark for a tetrafluoroethylene polymer), inside diameter 0.250 inch., wall thickness 0.030 inch, and that for reference it requires 10 inch-pounds of torque at the crank 7 to force the flexible cable through two (2) straight sections of this tube each 25 feet long (i.e.: one section being equivalent to tube 6B and the other being equivalent to tube 6A) the torque characteristics of each illustrated shape are as follows: A--Circle PA1 B--Spiral--inside diameter of coil=9 inches, and 71/2 turns of coil--25 inch-pounds PA1 C--Square--with corners curved on 41/2 inch radius--20 inch-pounds PA1 D--Oval--two ends semi-cricular on 41/2 inch radii, and intervening straight lengths "9"--25 inch-pounds PA1 E--Triangle-equilateral--with corners curved on 41/2 inch radii and straight sections "9" between corners--25 inch pounds. 16 inch diameter--12 inch-pounds PA2 14 inch diameter--15 inch-pounds PA2 12 inch diameter--25 inch-pounds The oval configuration shown in FIG. 6 at D is essentially the configuration that is illustrated in FIGS. 2-5, inclusive, that being the configuration which is closest to the shape of reels that have heretofore been used in the art for storing cables and both tubes 6A, 6B on the outside. In the present invention the housing 27 supports and protects the comparatively frail storage tube 30 at its outer periphery, especially at the curved-linear portions where the drive-cable 5 can exert force on it tending to straighten the curve.