Patent GB-675065-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to x-ray apparatus
IPC: A61B6/00
Filed: 1950-05-26
Abstract: 675,065. X-ray apparatus. NEWTON VICTOR, Ltd. May 26, 1950 [May 27, 1949], No. 13367/50. Class 98 (i). X-ray apparatus for adjustably supporting an X-ray source relatively to a table, comprising a pedestal which has a mounting for the X-ray source arranged thereon for vertical movement and is rotatable about a vertical axis on a carriage which is movable along a trackway longitudinally of the horizontal position of the table, together with a control arm which is mounted on the vertically movable mounting and from which the positioning of the X-ray source relative to the table may be controlled, the control arm being provided near its end with manual controls for selectively operating through mechanical linkages devices for locking movable members of the supporting apparatus for the X-ray source. As shown, Fig. 2, X-ray apparatus includes an X-ray tilting table 21 and an X-ray tube support 54. The table 21 has adjustably mounted thereon an X-ray cassette holder and a fluorescent screen, and possibly also a second X-ray tube. The X-ray tube on support 54 is adjustable to move and to rotate in two directions; it is supplied through cables from a transformer and is controlled from a control panel. The tilting table is of the kind described in Specification 657,166 and has a frame with hollow rectangular-section sides 24, 25, 26, see also Fig. 3, on which a panel 28 is mounted, and which is pivotally supported at one side only on an upright support 31 for movement from a horizontal position to a vertical position in one direction and to an inclined position in the other direction. The table may be tilted manually, or hydraulically by means of a cylinder 50 containing a piston connected by rod 51 to the table and operated by a pressure liquid admitted into the cylinder and controlled by foot pedals 50<SP>1</SP>. Support 31 has levelling feet 35, and is connected by a transverse leg 32 to an elongated box 57 resting on adjustable feet 59. A carriage 36 for an X-ray cassette runs on longitudinal rails just below the table top, and may also carry a grid for suppressing secondary radiation and means for moving the grid during an exposure. A second carriage 37 is movable on a second pair of longitudinal rails under the table top, and carries a frame 38 movable transversely to the table. This frame may carry an X-ray tube (not shown) under the table, and has an arm 39 on which slides a sleeve 40 carrying a fluorescent screen 41, and possibly also a second X-ray cassette. Carriages 36, 37 may be movable by hydraulic means, and, together with sleeve 40 and the parts attached thereto. The main X-ray tube column 68 is movable along a trackway 60, of which one end rests on an adjustable foot 66 and the other end travels on rails carried by the elongated box 57, to form an extensible trackway on which a carriage 71 travels. Column 68 which is tubular is mounted on a mounting plate 70 rotatable in roller bearings 73 on carriage 71, and locking means lock the column in an adjusted position and also lock the carriage on trackway 60. A bolt 77, Fig. 6, is slidable in a bracket to pass through a hole in plate 70 and is urged by a spring 80 into one of a number of holes in a raised circular rib 75 on carriage 71. Plate 70 turns about a bearing boss 72 in carriage 71, and a shaft 89 sliding in this boss carries a plate 88 urged by a spring 90 against the top surface of trackway 60, to hold the carriage by friction in position along the trackway. A shaft 94 journalled in brackets on the mounting plate carries a cam 95. When the shaft 94 is rocked clockwise in Fig. 6, as later described, cam 95 engages a shoulder 81 on bolt 77, lifting the bolt out of the hole in rib 75 so that column 68 can be turned. A lever 91 is pivoted on a bracket on the mounting plate 70 and carries a roller 96. When shaft 94 is rocked anticlockwise in Fig. 6, cam 95 engages roller 96 and rocks lever 91, which raises plate 88 from engagement with trackway 60 so that carriage 71 is free to move. The X-ray tube carriage 100, Figs. 3, 14, moves along the column 68, guided by rollers 102 moving in inwardly facing channel members 97 mounted on the front of the column. The carriage and the parts which it carries are counterweighted by a weight 104, connected to the carriage by a cord passing over a pulley 106 and moving within the column. The cord is connected to a spring-loaded cam 108; if the cord breaks the cam is pressed against column 68 so that the carriage does not fall. The carriage consists of an outer channel member 101 and an inner channel member 112. A member 114 is welded to the upper end of member 112 and has a transverse pin 115 which is journalled in member 101. The lower end of member 112 is fixed to member 101 by means of an adjustable bolt. A pair of parallel bars 118 are connected at both ends, the connecting piece 119 at one end being pivoted on an extension of member 114 to rotate about an approximately horizontal axis. A lever 124, pivoted in the member 119, has a bar 125 threaded into one end, so that when the bar is turned by means of a handle 126, the other end of lever 124 bears on a disc 122 fixed to member 114 to stop members 119, 118 from turning. A mounting frame 127 slides on trackways formed in bars 118, and the shock-proof casing 130 of an X-ray tube is adjustably mounted in the frame. Clamping means. A rod 169 and a tube 167, Fig. 9, are concentrically and independently journalled in tube 165 and have handles 171, 168 respectively mounted at the outer end and bevel gears 170, 166 respectively mounted at the other end, within a casing forming a rotatable extension of tube 132 fixed to the carriage 100. The gears mesh with other gears 160, 148 on a similar tube and rod concentrically journalled in tube 132. The tube which carries gear 148 has a threaded end engaging a nut 151 capable of limited rotation, so that when this tube is turned by turning handle 168, nut 151 is moved towards a pinion 154 which is clamped thereby against the mount of tube 132. Pinion 154 engages a rack 94 on column 68 (see also Figs. 2, 3) and when clamped, prevents movement of the X-ray carriage. Handle 171 rotates a rod 159 through gears 170, 160. A bevel gear 158 on rod 159 meshes with bevel gear 155 sliding on a square sectioned rod 161 (see also Fig. 2) mounted on column 68. A bevel gear 164 at its lower end meshes with another gear on shaft 94, Fig. 6. Thus handle 171 controls the unclamping of carriage 71 and of mounting plate 70. Tube 165 may be swung into the most convenient position for the operator, and may be counterbalanced by an internal spring.