US2653245A - X-ray apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 22, 1953 w. H. HAUPT X-RAY APPARATUS Filed March 21, 1951 3nventor WALTER H. HAUPT In .I. nm L Gttornegs Patented Sept. 22, 1953 X-RAY APPARATUS Walter H. Haupt, Kenton Hills, Ky., assignor to Keleket X-Ray Corporation, Cincinnati, Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio Application March 21, 1951, Serial No. 216,688

This invention relates to X-ray apparatus, and more particularly to an adjustable support for mounting an X-ray device such as a film tunnel or fluorescent screen in operative relation with an X-ray table.

8 Claims. 7 (Cl. 250-58) The invention has special application to the mounting of a tunnel or screen in such manner that it can be quickly and easily moved into and out of operative position with minimum effort by the operator. For example, in its operative position the tunnel or screen extends substantially completely across the table and generally parallel with the table top, and when the patient is to be moved, it is desirable to shift the tunnel or screen out of the way. If the table is horizontal, this may be accomplished by means of a support mounting the tunnel or screen for swinging movement on a vertical axis, but if such a mounting is employed with a tilting table, when the table is not horizontal, provision must be made for holding or locking the tunnel or screen in inoperative position.

If the tunnel or screen is mounted for pivoting on a horizontal axis, the relation of this axis to the center of gravity of the device is important. Both the tunnel and screen are of con siderable weight owing to the quantity of lead or lead glass necessarily included therein for shielding purposes, with this weight ranging from -20 pounds in the case of a fluorescent screen to as much as 60 pounds for a tunnel, and thus in either case minimum effort is required of the operator if the pivotal axis of the device is located substantially at its center of gravity. However, this would normally result in locating the axis too far forwardly of the table top for convenience, so that even with the tunnel or screen tilted perpendicularly to the table top, it would still interfere with the desired free access to the table. On the other hand, if the axis is located between the back end of the device and its center of gravity, the operator would be re- 7 quired to lift a substantial part of the weight of the tunnel or screen in shifting it between its operative and inoperative positions. Furthermore, if this condition were corrected by counterweighting, the result would be a further increase in the weight of an article which is already necessarily heavier than is desired, and if a spring counterbalance were used, it would produce an objectionable force tending to move the tunnel away from the table top in tilted positions of the table.

It is accordingly one of the principal objects of the present invention to provide an adjustable support for mounting an X-ray device such as a film tunnel or a fluorescent screen in operative relation with an X-ray table for movement between an operative position generally parallel with the top of the table and an inoperative position generally perpendicular to the table top which will support the device for pivotal movement about an axis extending longitudinally of the table top and located sufliciently near the rear end of the device so that in its operative position the device will be substantially clear of the table top to provide free access thereto, which does not require lock to hold the tunnel or screen in inoperative position, and which is so constructed that the center of gravity of the tunnel or screen travels substantially parallel with the table top while the device is being moved between its operative and inoperative positions to minimize the effort required of the operator.

An additional object of the invention is to provide such an adjustable support for an X-ray device which includes a simple combination of links proportioned and arranged in such relation with each other and with the center of gravity of the device supported thereby that the device will move quickly and easily between an operative position parallel with the table top and an inoperative position perpendicular with the table top without requiring lifting of the weight of the device and without requiring a lock to hold the device in its inoperative position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawing and the appended claims.

In the drawing- Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a supporting device for an X-ray film tunnel constructed and arranged in accordance with the invention, with the tunnel being shown in operative position parallel with an X-ray table top;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to Fig. 1 and showing the tunnel in its inoperative or vertical position perpendicular to the table top;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in side elevation illustrating the operation of the adjustable support;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly broken away in section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view looking into the direction indicated by the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section showing the manually operated lock for holding the tunnel in its operative position.

Referring to the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention, Figs. 1 and 2 show fragments of the top ID of an X-ray table, and the tower l I is mounted as indicated at l2 for sliding movement longitudinally and laterally of the table top, as well as for tilting with the table top in the case of a tilting table. A spot film tunnel I 3 is mounted for purposes of fluoroscopic and radiographic examination of a patient lying on the table top it, the tunnel being shown as including a fluorescent screen 15 and having a cassette I6 carried therein for movement in the tunnel laterally of the table top into and out of an exposure position between the screen I and the table top.

The invention provides an adjustable support for mounting this tunnel l3 for movement between the operative and inoperative positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2, respectively, without requiring lifting of the weight of the tunnel or a lock for holding it in inoperative position. The support includes a main frame member 2!) of tubular construction which extends longitudinally of the table and is provided with a supporting post 2| adapted to be received in an extension portion 22 of the usual carriage (not shown) mounted for vertical adjustment with suitable counterbalance within tower H. The frame is approximately equal in length to the width of tunnel l3, and a downwardly extending arm 24 is rigidly secured to each end thereof. At each side of the tunnel is a pair of links 2523 and 2'|-28 respectively, and the ends of these arms are pivoted to the adjacent arm 24 and to a boss on the side of the tunnel l3 located at a position intermediate the rearward end of the tunnel and the center of gravity of the tunnel, which is indicated at 33.

The upper links 25 and 21 of each pair are shown as straight, and they are provided with pivot bolts 34 and 35 so positioned that these links extend substantially parallel with the tunnel in its operative position. The links 26 and 28 are shown as including a straight forward portion and a curved rearward portion designed to provide maximum clearance under the tunnel for a patient. These links 26 and 28 are maintained in outwardly spaced relation with the links 25 and 21 by means of boss portions 36 and 31 on the links and the arms 24 respectively through which their respective pivot bolts '38 and 39 extend. As shown, the pivot bolts 38 are located at the lower ends of the arms 24 in vertically spaced relation with the pivot bolts 34, and the pivot bolts 39 are located both below and in rearwardly spaced relation with the pivot bolts 35 for the links 25 in the horizontal position of the tunnel as shown in Fig. 3,

The respective links and pivot positions of the links in each pair are so selected and. proportioned that in its inoperative position the tunnel 5 will be substantially clear of the table top it as shown in Fig. 2 and also that during the movement .of the tunnel between its operative and inoperative positions, the center of gravity 24 .and the tunnel.

cation of the tunnel laterally of the table in its inoperative position. These conditions, together with the requirement that the center of gravity of the tunnel be at substantially the same height in both the horizontal and vertical positions of the tunnel, determine the length of one set of links, for example links 25 and El, and the relative positions of their pivot points on the arms It will be apparent that if the " links 25 and 21 were held stationary and the tunnel were pivoted about the bolts the center of gravity 33 would rise through 90 about a radius equal to the distance between it and the pivot bolts 33. Accordingly, the links 26 and 28 and their respective pivot positions are selected to counteract this rising movement of the center of gravity, and to provide a guiding action such that the desired substantially horizontal movement of the center of gravity of the tunnel is necessarily obtained as the tunnel moves between horizontal and vertical positions.

Stops are provided for limiting the angular movement of the tunnel to approximately 90. With the several links arranged as shown, a suitable stop for preventing over-travel of the tunnel beyond its vertical position comprises a stud or other projection i l on one or both of the links 26 and 28 which is positioned to abut the under side of the adjacent link 25 or 27 when the tunnel reaches vertical position, as shown in Fig. 2 and in dotted lines in Fig. 3. Over-travel of the tunnel substantially beyond its horizontal position is prevented by the arrangement of the pivots for the links on the bosses 36, since if the tunnel should start to move counterclockwise beyond the horizontal as viewed in Fig. 3, the bosses 33 on the links 26 and 28 will abut the under side of the links 25 and 2? to prevent such further movement.

A releasable lock is provided for positively retaining the tunnel in its operative position. Referring particularly to Figs. 4 and a striker plate 59 is riveted or otherwise secured to the 1 front of the frame 26 at one end thereof and is 33 of the tunnel will travel as nearly as possible i in a plane parallel with the table top. This movement is illustrated diagrammatically in 3, in which the path traveled by the center of gravity 33 is represented by the broken line 43 which shows that while the tunnel is moving through approximately 90 from a horizontal to a vertical position, its center of gravity moves in a relatively fiat curve such that its total vertical travel is relatively slight. Furthermore, Fig. 3 shows that as the tunnel approaches a vertical position, the path 40 of its center of gravity is substantially horizontal, and thus a sufficiently balanced condition is obtained to cause the tunnel to remain in or near a vertical position without requiring a lock or other Ittaining means and irrespective of the tilted p051? tion which the table top In and column ll may assume.

The proper proportions of the links and the relative positions of their pivot points may be determined by first establishing the desired 10- provided with a bore Eljand a yoke shaped member 52 overhanging this bore. The tunnel 53 carries a spring loaded plunger 55 adapted to be received in the bore 5! to lock the tunnel with respect to the frame. The plunger 55 is mounted for reciprocating movement in a hollow bolt 53 threaded in the rearward end of the tunnel l3 and having a spring 5'5 therein adapted to urge the plunger 55 towards the frame 253. The plunger 55 is connected by means such as a nut 58 and wire 59 with a handle knob 68 at the front end of the tunnel which includes a bolt portion 6| mounted for axial movement in a hollow bolt 62 threaded in the forward end wall of the tunnel.l3.

With this construction, it will be seen that when the tunnel is being moved from verticai to horizontal position, the plunger 55 will protrude from the rearward end of the tunnel as shown in Fig. 2 so that as the tunnel approaches horizontal position, the plunger will be camrned inwardly as it slides up the lower surface of the striker plate 5t until it reaches enters the bore 5| to lock the tunnel against further movement, the part 52 serving as a guide to prevent the plunger from moving past bore 55. The other end of the frame 23 is shown as provided with another striker plate similar to the striker plate 53 and similarly provided with a yoke shaped portion, but having no bore therethrough. This striker plate cooperates with a fixed pin on the rearward end of the tunnel to act as a stop but without locking action. To move the tunnel from operative position, it is merely necessary to pull the knob 60 sufiiciently to release the plunger 55 from bore 5|, after which the tunnel may be swung to its vertical position as shown in Fig. 3.

It will be apparent that the particular proportions and pivoting arrangements of the several links may be varied as desired to produce the above operating characteristics, and further that tunnels and screens of different proportions and weight distributions may require different link arrangements. By way of illustrative example, specific dimensions will be given for a support found satisfactory for use with a tunnel approximately 30 inches in overall length having its center of gravity located approximately 14 /4 inches from its rearward end. For this tunnel, the links 25 and 21 may be inches in length between their pivot points and the links 26 and 28 may be proportioned as shown with a straight line spacing of 9% inches between their pivot points. The pivot bolts 34 and 38 may then be substantially 3% inches between centers, and the centers of the pivot bolts 35 and 39 may be 1%; inches in vertical spacing and %s inch in horizontal spacing. With the links proportioned and arranged in these dimensional relationships, it will be .found that the total vertical travel of the center of gravity of the tunnel in moving between horizontal and vertical positions is not more than approximately inch.

As pointed out, this adjustable support is simple in construction, and it may be be readily adapted to tunnels, fluorescent screens and other X-ray devices which it is desired to mount for movement between horizontal and vertical positions with relation to an X-ray table top. It is particularly advantageous for use in X-ray examination work in which it is desirable for the operator to have one hand free for possible manipulation of the patient or other purposes, since it makes it possible to swing the tunnel or other device into and out of operative position with minimum effort and without requiring manipulation of a lock or other retainer beyond the simple act of pulling the knob 50 when it is desired to release the tunnel to its inoperative position, and this is true whether the table is horizontal or is tilted in either direction. At the same time, this support ofiers the further practical advantage of light weight and minimum bulk, both of which are important considerations in connection with X-ray equipment.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: r

1.. An adjustable support for mounting an X- ray device in operative relation with an X-ray table for movement between an operativeposition generally parallel with the top of said table and an inoperative position generally perpendicular tosaid table top and at the back thereof, comprising a main supporting frame adapted for mounting at the back of said table, a first link at each side of said frame pivoted at one end to said frame on a first axis parallel with said table top, means pivoting the other end of each said link to said device on a second axis parallel with said first axis and located between the center of gravity of said device and the rearward end thereof, a second link at each side of said frame pivoted at one end thereof to said frame on a third axis parallel with said first axis, and means pivoting the other end of each said second link to said device on an axis parallel with said third axis and spaced from said second axis, the length and axes of said second link being proportioned to maintain the center of gravity of said device substantially in a plane parallel with said table top as said device moves between said operative and inoperative positions providing for uncounterweighted movement of said device between said positions with minimum efiort on the part of the operator.

2. An adjustable support for mounting an X- ray device in operative relation with an X-ray table for movement between an operative position generally parallel with the top of said table and an inoperative position generally perpendicular to said table top and at the back thereof, comprising a main supporting frame adapted for mounting at the back of said table, a first link at each side of said frame pivoted at one end to said frame on a first axis parallel with said table top, means pivoting the other end of each said link to said device on a second axis parallel with said first axis and located between the center of gravity of said device and the rearward end thereof, a second link at each side of said frame pivoted to said frame and to said device on axes parallel with and spaced from the pivotal axes of said first link and proportioned to guide the center of gravity of said device in a path substantially parallel with said table top as said device moves between said operative and inoperative positions providing for uncounterweighted movement of said device between said positions with minimum effort on the part of the operator, and cooperating portions on said links arranged for abutting contact upon movement of said device beyond said positions parallel with and perpendicular to said table top to form stops limiting said movement of said device.

3.' An adjustable support for mounting an X- ray device in operative relation with an X-ray table for movement between an operative position generally parallel with the top of said table and an inoperative position generally perpendicular to said table top, comprising a main supporting frame adapted for mounting at the back of said table, a pair of links at either side of said frame, means pivoting the rearward ends of said links in each said pair to said frame on a pair of spaced axes parallel with said table top, means pivoting the forward ends of said links to said device on a second pair of spaced axes parallel with said first pair of axes and located between the center of gravity of said device and the rearward end thereof to provide four axes for each said pair of links arranged to cause the center of gravity of said device to travel in a path substantially parallel with said table top as said device moves between said operative and inoperative positions providing for uncounterweighted movement of said device between said positions with minimum effort on the part of the operator.

4. An adjustable support for mounting an X- ray device in operative relation with a horizontal X-ray table for movement between a generally horizontal operative position above said tableand a generally vertical inoperative position at the back of said table, comprising a main Supporting frame adapted for mounting at the back of said table, a pair of links at either side of said frame, means pivoting the rearward ends of said links in each said pair to said frame on a pair of horizontal and vertically spaced axes, and means pivoting the forward ends of said links to said device on a second pair of horizontal spaced axes located between the center of gravity of said device and the rearward end thereof providing for uncounterweighted movement of said device between said horizontal and vertical positions while maintaining the center of gravity thereof in a substantially horizontal plane.

5. An adjustable support for mounting an X- ray device in operative relation with a horizontal X-ray table for movement between a generally horizontal operative position above said table and a generally vertical inoperative positionat the back .of said table, comprising a main supporting frame adapted for mounting at the back of said table, a pair of links at either side of said frame, means pivoting the rearward ends of said links in each said pair to said frame on a pair of horizontal and vertically spaced axes, means pivoting the forward ends of said links to said device on a second pair of horizontal spaced axes located between the center of gravity of said device and the rearward end thereof providing for uncounterweighted movement of said device between said horizontal and vertical positions while maintaining the center of gravity thereof in a substantially horizontal plane, complementary releasable locking means on said device andsaid frame for locking said device in fixed relation with said frame in said operative position, and means for guiding said locking means into locking engagement upon movement of said device to said operative position.

-6. An adjustable support for mounting an X- ray device in operative relation with an X-ray table for movement between an operative position generally parallel with the top of said table and an inoperative position generally perpendicular to said table top, comprising a main supporting frame adapted for mounting at the back of said table, a pair of links at either side of said frame, means pivoting the rearward ends of r said links in each said pair to said frame on a pair of spaced axes parallel with said table top, means pivoting the forward ends of said links to said device on a second pair of spaced axes parallel with said first pair of axes and located between the center of gravity of said device and the rearward end thereof, said links being proportioned to cause the center of gravity of said device to travel in a path substantially parallel with said table top as said de- Vice moves between said operative and inoperative positions providing for uncounterweighted movement of said device between said positions with minimum effort on the part of the operator, means forming a spacer at the pivotal connection between said device and one of said links in each said pair, said pivotal connection being spaced with relation to the other said link of each said pair to abut said other link upon movement of said device beyond one of said positions to form a stop limiting said movement of said device, and a projection on one of said links arranged for abutting contact with the other said link of the same pair to limit movement of said device beyond the other said position.

'7. An adjustablesupportfor mounting an X- ray device in operative relation with a horizontal Xray table for movement between a hori ontal operative position above the top of said table and a vertical inoperative position at the back of said table, comprising a main supporting frame adapted for mounting at the back of said table, a pair of upper and lower links at either side of said frame, means pivoting the rearward ends of said links in each said pair to said frame on a pair of horizontal and vertically spaced axes, means pivoting the upper link of each said pair to said device on a horizontal axis located between the center of gravity of the device and the rearward end thereof, means pivoting the lower link of each said pair to said device on a horizontal axis located below and nearer the rearward end of said device thanthe pivotal connection of said upper links to said device in the horizontal posi tion thereof, the length and axes of said links being proportioned and arranged to guide the center of gravity of said device in a substantiallv horizontal path as said device moves between horizontal and vertical positions providing for uncounterweighted movement of said device between said positions with minimum efiort on the part of the operator, and a spacer at said connection of each said lower link to said device located for abutting contact with the adjacent said upper link upon movement of said device beyond said horizontal position.

'8. An adjustable support for mounting an X- ray device in operativ relation with a horizontal X-ray table for movement between a horizontal 4 operative position above the top of said table and a vertical inoperative position at the back of said table, comprising a main supporting frame adapted for mounting at the back of said table, a pair of upper and lower links at either side of said frame, means pivoting the rearward ends of said links in each said pair to said frame on a pair of horizontal and vertically spaced axes, means pivoting the upper link of each said pair to said device on a horizontal axis located between. the center of gravity of the device and the rearward end thereof, means pivoting the lower link of each said pair to said device on a horizontal axis located below and nearer the rearward end of said device than the pivotal connection of said upper links to said device in the horizontal position thereof, the length and axes of saidlinks being proportioned and arranged to guide the center of gravity of said device in a substantially horizontal path as said device moves between said horizontal and vertical positions providing for uncounterweighted movement of said device between said positions with minimum effort on the part of the operator, a spacer at said connection of each said lower link to said device located for abutting contact with the adjacent said upper link upon movement of said device beyond said horizontal position, and a projection on one of said lower links arranged for contact with the adjacent said upper link to limit movement of said device beyond said vertical position.

W'ALTER H. HAUPI'.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,179,357 Stava Nov. 7, 1939 2,504,687 lollstein Apr. 18, 1950 2,508,449 Davis et a1. es May 23, 1950

Images