Improved Apparatus for Making Observations by Means of Röntgen or "X" Rays.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 26th Feb.,
1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Making Observations by Means of Röntgen
or "X" Rays.
(A communication from JACQUES WERTHEIMER, of Paris, in the Republic of
France, Engineer).
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111, Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
acertained in and by the following statement:-
-
This invention relates to improvements on the arrangements described in my
correspondent's prior Patent No. 15878 dated 3rd July 1897 and has for its object
the construction of a simple and practical apparatus for making observations
by means of "Röntgen" or X" rays.
66
This improved apparatus is shown in the accompanying drawing in which
Figure 1 is a front elevation in vertical section seen from the left hand side.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal front elevation in vertical section seen from the
right hand side some parts being shown broken away.
Figure 3 is a plan according to Figure 1 in horizontal section on the line X-Y
of said figure.
These figures are supplemented by a diagrammatic view Figure 4, showing the
connection of the essential parts in their combined movements.
As may be readily seen from an examination of these figures the apparatus
according to the present invention comprises two casings A and B mounted on a
common base C: the casing or chamber A in which the screen D works is secured
at one end of the said base C, while the other casing B in which the tube or
bulb E is placed may be moved longitudinally on the base towards and from the
casing A as desired. For this purpose the casing B is mounted on rollers F
carried on lateral brackets G, outside of and on each side of the casing B, the
said rollers Fresting and rolling on corresponding rails G on the base of the
stand C.
Underneath the casings A and B a movable platform H is arranged and moves
longitudinally in the base C: this platform is mounted on wheels or rollers I
rolling on rails J provided with stops R at their ends these rails being symmetri-
cally arranged in a longitudinal direction in the base C and secured to the
latter in any convenient manner. This movable platform H which is intended to
receive the objects to be examined comprises longitudinal rollers L and trans-
verse rollers M intended to facilitate the management positioning or removal of
heavy articles placed on them.
The movement or adjustment of the casing B which causes its approach to or
retirement from the casing A is produced by an endless chain N and a chain
wheel the spindle P of which is secured in the front part of the base C and a
chain wheel the spindle R of which is secured at a suitable height on the
Jateral wall of the casing A, the rotation of the said wheel Q in one or in the other

page_text: direction as well as the corresponding movement of the chain N inside or out-
side the casing A being produced by crank handles S arranged preferably at each
end of the spindle R, one outside and the other inside the said casing A.
A fixed rod U depending from the bottom of the casing B to which its upper
end is secured is connected by its lower end to the chain N in such a manner as to
partake in the movements of the said chain and consequently to transmit these
movements to the casing B to which it is connected.
In the casing B are arranged the movable bulb or fluorescent tube E pro-
ducing the X rays, the accumulators P2 supplying the electric current to the said
bulb and the transformer P³ inserted in the circuit between the said bulb E and
the accumulators P2. In the casing A as previously stated the movable screen D
is arranged. These two essential parts, namely the screen D and the bulb E
which are both movable must move exactly together so that the rays emitted by
the bulb are always exactly projected on the screen at whatever height these
two parts happen to be placed. Furthermore these two parts, namely the screen
and the bulb should never be affected by the movements of the casing B relatively
to the casing A, and the manipulation of the screen and tube must be perfectly
independent of the mechanism causing the movement of the casing B.
With a view to attaining this object, these two parts are connected and operated
as hereinafter described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3.
The diagrammatic view in Figure 4 illustrates the arrangement in a more
complete manner, the transverse walls one in front of the casing A and one at
the back of the casing B-being both removed in said Figure in order to facilitate
the understanding of the arrangement.
A chain A one end of which is secured to a fixed hook A2 on the inner side
of the transverse front wall of the base C passes horizontally under a guide-
roller A³ arranged in any desired position on the bottom of the casing B, then
passes upwards, then again horizontally over rollers A4 A5 A6 A7 and A8 in the
casing B, and then passes horizontally along the base C from whence it enters the
casing A and passes round the roller A operating pinion B² and guide
rollers B4 135 136 fixed rollers B and B8 and is secured to the fixed point 139
(Figures 1 and 4). The operating pinion B² is rotated by means of a handle B³
secured to its spindle.
The tube E is arranged in a frame or casing Eª carrying the terminals and
its guiding parts so as to be effectively protected from all shocks by means of a
loose pulley E3 on the chain A¹ between the upper horizontal guide rollers A5
and A. On the other hand the screen D is also suspended by means of a loose
roller D¹ to the portion of the cord or chain D2 between the fixed point of attach-
ment D3 of the latter and a guide pulley D round which said cord is guided and
passes to the roller B³ of the chain A¹ to which chain the cord D2 is secured so
as to partake in all its movements.
Between the roller B8 and the point of attachment B9 of the chain A¹ there is
suspended on said chain and consequently on the end D2 which is connected to it
by means of a loose roller E a balance weight Es serving to ensure the chain A¹
being always maintained stretched during the vertical movements of the tube E
and screen D, from top to bottom or vice versa, said motions generally producing
a lengthening or shortening of the operative portion of said chain.
Combined with the hereinbefore described arrangement of the chain A' a
brake O is used acting on said chain and its driving pinion B2 as shown in
Figure 2, for the purpose of stopping the said pinion and consequently ensuring
the tube E and the screen D being maintained stationary during the movement
of the casing B relatively to the casing A. In fact the result of the action of
said brake which is not strong enough to prevent the pinion B2 from being
driven by the handle B³--is that only that part of the chain which is contained in
the casing B will move on its guide rollers during the relative movement of the
casing A and B the portion of said chain from the point of attachment A² to the
point A³ becoming longer if the casing B move towards the casing A or shorter

page_text: in case the movement be in the opposite direction, while the reverse takes place
for the portion of the chain A¹ on the side of the roller A° (from A to A³), said
chain A being on this side prevented from moving by the brake O¹. The result
of such working is, as will be readily understood, for the two portions of the chain A¹
constituting the means of suspension (by means of the roller E³) of the tube E,
the shortening of one and the equal lengthening of the other according to the
direction of movement of the casing B, and consequently the passing of the
chain A¹ round its guide-rollers in the casings B and roller E³ the tube E as well
as the screen D remaining perfectly stationary.
It will be seen that with the arrangements and combinations described of the
chains N and A¹, the action of one does not in any way interfere with the action
of the others, and that they work independently of each other, the tension of the
chain N operating the casing B remaining a constant one without any additional
device, while the tension of the chain A is maintained constant by means of a
balance-weight E5 compensating for the shortening or lengthening of the opera-
tive portion of the chain A¹ during the ascent or descent of the tube E and
screen D.
The operator takes his place in the casing A which forms a dark chamber and
observes the projections on the screen D. The chamber A may be provided with
everything required for the comfort of the operator.
This chamber is closed at the back by a door F¹ with a red-glass window F2
which can be covered by a sliding shutter F³ and a folding table F4 may be
added. The side walls of the casing are if desired provided at suitable height
with other windows F5 of red-glass with shutters F6. The top or ceiling G¹ is
arranged so as to leave free passage for air at G2 without admitting light from
the outside. A movable or swing seat G³ may be suspended to the ceiling or
arranged in any other desired manner. The operator they shut up in the
chamber A has within his reach the crank-handles operating the chain N and A¹
cords H1 H2 (Fig. 2) with handles H3 H4 for operating the switch H5 arranged in
the casing B and effecting the lighting or extinguishing of the tube E.
The cords H1 H2 are provided with balance weights H° H7 for the purpose of
maintaining them uniformly taut during the movement of the casing B relatively
to the casing A. These. weights act in the same manner as the weights E5 of the
chain A¹.
In the casing B the frame E2 of the tube E is guided in its vertical move-
ments by means of two lateral pins J¹ J2 (Fig. 3) symmetrically arranged about the
middle of its height and engaging with fixed vertical guides J3 J4.
In order to enable the direction of the projection of the rays from the tube E
to be varied, the frame E2 and consequently the tube itself are capable of oscil-
lating forward or backwards to a greater or smaller extent, owing to the double
guiding of said frame E constituted by a vertical bar I' pivotted at either end on
pins I I³, the vertical rib of said bar I' being placed between two stops I5 I6 on
the casing so that these stops, arranged one above and the other below the guide-
pins JJ by means of which the casing E2 is guided in the guides J3 J4, in co-
operation with the pins J¹ J2 produce the oscillation of the casing E³
about the pins J¹ J2 in one or in the other direction, by moving the bar I¹
in a corresponding direction about its pivots. The bar is caused to turn to the
desired extent and in the desired direction so as to obtain the desired inclination
of the tube E, by means of cords L1 L2 attached to either side of a plate L
(Fig. 3) connected to the bar I¹. These cords pass over guide-pulleys in the
base C and enter the casing A where they are respectively attached to fixed
points L L and provided with balance-weights L6 L' for maintaining their
tension uniform, in the same manner as has already been explained with regard
to the cords H1 H2 operating the switch H5, whereby their tension is maintained
constant whatever be the movement of the casing B relatively to the casing A.
The handles M' M² (Fig. 1) arranged at any desired height on the cords L' L²
enable the latter to be easily operated by the person in the chamber A.

page_text: In order to enable those objects to be conveniently examined which are too
small to be placed on the movable platform H, there is arranged between the
casings A and B a movable platform N¹ constituted by a band of fabric or other
suitable material of any desired length and width, the ends of which are secured
in any desired manner, one outside to the front wall N2 of the casing A the other
at N on the base C under the casing B, said band passing over transverse
rollers NN5 carried by said casing A. The upper roller N ensures the
horizontal position of the portion N¹ of the band which receives the objects to be
examined, whereas the lower one N combined with N ensures the constant
tension of said fabric N¹ whatever be the movements of the casing B relatively
to the casing A.
It is obvious that the screen D may be made sufficiently large to make its move-
ment unnecessary if the tube E remains movable. Then the apparatus would
comprise a fixed screen and movable tube in combination with the parts described.
The applications of the apparatus according to the present invention are very
numerous. Among the most important may be mentioned the use for custom-
house purposes, anthropometric purposes, radiography, &c. For all these
operations the operator is placed in the casing A and the objects or persons to
be examined on the lower platform H or on the upper movable platform N¹. The
observer can then easily and quickly light or extinguish the tube E by means of
the cords H1 H2, bring the casing B within a desired distance from the casing A.
by means of the chain N, the object or person to be examined remaining between
the two casings, so that the projections on the screen D become very sharp. Then
he can raise or lower the tube E and the screen I) by means of the chain A¹
and adjust the position of the tube E by means of the cords L1 L2, all these opera-
tions being, as previously explained, perfectly independent of each other.
it
For radiographic operations it will be sufficient to arrange between the screen D
and the corresponding wall of the casing A a perfectly stretched and fixed sensi-
tive sheet or film, so as to enable a person or object to be radiographed on
single sheet without the necessity of joining sheets together, and this operation
to be observed on the screen, which will enable each part to be exposed the desired
length of time, leaving the tube and the screen in position for the desired length
of time, the times of exposing varying of course according to the thickness and
nature of the parts radiographed. In this way a uniformly good radiograph will
be obtained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:--
or
1. Apparatus for making observations and radiographs by means of Röntgen
or "X" rays comprising two vertical casings mounted on the same base one
casing being movable longitudinally relatively to the other which serves as an
observing chamber and forms a dark chamber and contains a vertically adjust-
able screen while the movable casing contains an adjustable vacuum of fluorescent
tube projecting its rays on to the screen said rays passing through
the corresponding walls of said casings and through the object
person placed between said walls on an adjustable platform in the base of the
apparatus or on a raised movable platform N¹ arranged at a suitable height
between said casings and attached on one side to the wall of the movable casing
and on the other side to a fixed point on the base and combined with transverse
rollers N N carried on the movable casing and ensuring the horizontal position
and uniform tension of the platform N¹ during the movements of the movable
casing relatively to the stationary casing substantially as described.
2. In apparatus of the character described a chain A¹ connecting the frame con-
taining the tube E to the screen D with horizontal and vertical guide-rollers suit-
ably arranged in the casings and base said chain being attached at its ends to
fixed points as A³ B9 and provided with a balance-weight E5 for maintaining

page_text: a constant tension the frame of the tube E being suspended by means of a loose
roller E on the chain A in the movable casing while in the stationary casing
the screen is connected to the same chain by a cord as D2 with a fixed point of
attachment as 13 by means of a roller D¹ said cord D2 being secured at the other
end to the chain A following partaking in the movements of the latter produced
by turning an operating pinion B2 arranged in the stationary casing and provided
with a crank-handle placed within reach of the observer for effecting the parallel
rising or lowering of the screen and tube substantially as described.
3. In apparatus of the character described a chain N by means of which is
effected the movement of the movable casing on the base said chain being connected
to the casing by a depending rod and passing over a roller arranged in the base
at one end of the latter beneath the movable casing then over vertical guide-
pulleys in the base then upwards over an operating pinion as Q in the stationary
casing the rotation of which pinion can be effected by the operator by means of
a handle S within his reach or from outside by means of a second handle
secured to the end of the spindle of the operating pinion projecting outside the
casing substantially as described.
4. In apparatus of the character described for the purpose of obtaining an
independent action of the chains for use in effecting the movement of the movable
casing and of the vacuum tube and screen or either of them so as to avoid the
operation of one of the parts affecting the other, the arrangement of a brake O₁
acting on the pinion 133 and chain A¹ for moving the screen and the tube said
brake O allowing the pinion B2 to be operated by its handle but preventing its
rotation by the tension exercised on the chain A¹ by the action of the chain N,
for the purpose of ensuring the immobility of the screen and tube in their respec-
tive casings during the movement of the movable casing relatively to the
stationary casing substantially as described.
5. 1 apparatus of the character described in order to enable the inclination
of the frame containing the vacuum tube means for guiding the frame com-
prising pins J1 J³ about which said frame can oscillate said oscillation being
effected by means of a bar I¹ pivotted at each end and acting according to the
direction in which it is desired to incline the tube, on a corresponding pin 1³ 16
secured to the frame between which pins is arranged the operative rib of the bar I'
which is operated from within the stationary casing by means of cords as L' L³
with operating handles M¹ M³ said cords being provided with balance weights L6 L7
which serve to ensure a constant tension on said cords during the movements of
the movable casing B relatively to the stationary casing substantially as described.
6. In apparatus of the character described the arrangement in the movable
casing B in combination with a vacuum tube and means for supplying the electric
current to the latter of a switch as H5 operated for lighting or extinguishing
the tube from within the stationary casing A by means of cords as H¹ H² con-
nected to said switch and provided with handles as H³ H the tension of said cords
being maintained constant during the relative movement of the casings by means
of balance-weights substantially as described.
7. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete
apparatus for effecting observations or records by means of Röntgen or "X" rays
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 4th day of November 1897.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.