JPH07303629A - Slip ring production method, slip ring, and ct device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize the reduction of assembling man-hour and cost by using an insulating substrate on which conductive patterns with different diameters have been created simultaneously when producing a slip ring in which power feeding or signal transmission/reception is carried out between the rotary side which has a radiation generating means and the no-rotary side which has a power feeding means. CONSTITUTION:A housing 31, which is made of an insulating material and has multiple concentric circle grooves 31a divided with walls, is composed of four housing units 31b with central angle of 90 deg. that combine to form a circle, and notches 31c are provided at the walls of the grooves 31a of each unit 31b. An insulating substrate 32 is composed of a circular part 32a on which conductive patterns 33 for the power feeding line and signal line are formed, and which is to be fitted into between grooves 31a of the housing 31, and connection parts 32b that connects adjacent circular parts 32a and that are to be fitted into notches 31c of the housing 31. Insulating fitting members are fitted into notches 31c of the housing 31 on which the insulating substrate 32 is mounted to prevent discharging between adjacent conductive patterns 33.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A method for manufacturing a slip ring in which power is supplied or signals are exchanged between a rotating side equipped with a radiation generating means or a radiation detecting means and a non-rotating side equipped with a means for supplying power to the radiation generating means. , Slip ring and CT
Regarding the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An X-ray CT apparatus irradiates a patient with X-rays, detects a difference in X-ray absorption rate of human tissues such as organs, blood, and gray matter, and processes them by computer processing. The configuration is such that an image of the tomographic plane (slice plane) of the imaging target site is obtained. In such an X-ray CT system, the necessary data is collected while rotating the X-ray tube and the detector, which are installed opposite to each other with the patient in between during imaging, but the continuous rotation type X-ray is used. In the case of a CT device, equipment (X-ray tube,
Transmission and reception of signals and power supply between a detector and the like) and a device power supply unit provided on the non-rotating side, a computer, a display unit and the like) are performed via a slip ring and a brush.

Among the slip rings used for X-ray CT, a disk type slip ring in which conductive lines of concentric circles are provided on an insulating disk plate has a gantry thickness.
(Depth) can be made small, and there is an advantage that the feeling of pressure on the patient is small and the technician can easily access the patient.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a gantry of an X-ray CT having a disk type slip ring, FIG. 9 is a left side view of FIG. 8, FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a housing 11, and FIG.
1 is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 10, and FIG. 12 is a configuration perspective view of the ring in FIG.

In FIGS. 8 and 9, reference numeral 1 denotes a ray tube for irradiating a patient with X-rays. The X-ray tube 1 is rotated through a bearing 3 with respect to a frame 2 which is a non-rotating side (fixed side). It is attached to a rotating casing 4 that is a rotatable casing that is possible. The frame 2 is composed of an upper frame 2a and a lower frame 2b, a roller guide 5 is provided on the lower frame 2b, and an arcuate surface 2c abutting the roller guide 5 is provided on the surface of the upper frame 2a facing the lower frame 2b. Formed, the upper frame 2b is the lower frame 2
It is swingable in the front-back direction with respect to b. The rotating casing 4 is provided with a large pulley 6 while the lower frame 2b is provided with a motor 7.
The rotary casing 4 is driven to rotate by a belt 9 wound around a small pulley 8 and a large pulley 6 attached to the output shaft of the motor 7. The rotating casing 4 faces the X-ray tube 1 and is exposed to the X-rays from the X-ray tube 1.
A detector 10 for detecting lines is provided. Further, the rotating casing 4 is provided with a slip ring housing 11 adjacent to the large pulley 6.

The housing 11 is made of an insulating material and is shown in FIG.
Also, as shown in FIG. 11, a plurality of concentric grooves 11a are formed. Rings 12 having different diameters are arranged in the grooves 11a of the housing 11.

As shown in FIG. 12, the ring 12 is formed by processing a belt-shaped conductive plate material 14 into an annular shape, welding both ends, and projecting stud bolts 13 on the lower surface. A nut 14 is used. And is fixed to each groove 11a of the housing 11.

The ring 12 is fitted into the groove 11 of the housing 11.
The reason for providing in a is that the power supplied to the X-ray tube and the detector is a high voltage, so a creepage distance is secured and each ring 1
This is to prevent the discharge phenomenon between the two.

Returning to FIG. 8, the brushes 15 are provided on the non-rotating frame 2 so as to face the respective rings 12.
Is provided. The brush 15 includes a brush piece 16 slidingly contacting each ring 12 and a brush piece pressing means 17 pressing the brush piece 16 to the ring 12.

By the sliding contact between the brush piece 16 of the brush 15 and the ring 12, the devices (X-ray tube 1, detector 10, etc.) provided in the rotating casing 4 on the fixed side and the frame 2 on the non-rotating side. Power supply or signal transmission / reception with a device power supply unit, computer, display unit, etc.

[0011]

However, in the slip ring having the above-described structure, the ring 12 is manufactured as a separate component having a different diameter, which causes a problem that the cost is increased.

Further, each ring 12 has to be assembled to the housing 11, which requires a lot of man-hours. Furthermore, for example, if an electrical component such as a connector required for electrical processing is to be installed near the slip ring, it is necessary to newly provide a substrate for the electrical component, which results in cost increase and There is a problem that the physical characteristics are not good.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a slip ring manufacturing method, a slip ring, and a CT apparatus having a simple structure.

[0014]

[Means for Solving the Problems] First to solve the above problems
The invention of claim 1 is a method for manufacturing a slip ring in which power is supplied or signals are exchanged between a rotating side provided with a radiation generating means or a radiation detecting means and a non-rotating side provided with a means for supplying power to the radiation generating means. An insulative housing having grooves of concentric circles, and at least one notch formed in the wall between the grooves, and an annular portion to be fitted into each groove of the housing, and fitted into the notch, A slip ring having a connecting portion for connecting adjacent annular portions, wherein an insulating substrate on which a conductive pattern is formed is disposed in each of the annular portions, and the notch is closed by an insulating fitting member. It is a manufacturing method.

A second aspect of the invention is a slip ring in which electric power is supplied or signals are exchanged between a rotating side equipped with a radiation generating means or a radiation detecting means and a non-rotating side equipped with means for supplying electric power to the radiation generating means. , A slip ring using an insulating substrate on which a plurality of concentric conductive patterns are formed.

A third aspect of the present invention is a slip ring in which electric power is supplied or signals are exchanged between a rotating side equipped with a radiation generating means or a radiation detecting means and a non-rotating side equipped with means for supplying electric power to the radiation generating means. , An insulative housing having a plurality of concentric circular grooves and at least one notch formed in the wall of the groove, an annular portion fitted into each groove of the housing, and the notch fitted into the notch. A slip ring having a connecting portion that connects adjacent annular portions, each of the annular portions including an insulating substrate on which a conductive pattern is formed, and an insulating fitting member that closes the cutout. is there.

Here, from the viewpoint of obtaining good electric characteristics and from the viewpoint of cost, a through hole is provided in the housing, and the electrical component which is fitted into the through hole and electrically connected to the conductive pattern is insulated. It is desirable to provide it on the substrate.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is a slip ring in which power is supplied or signals are exchanged between a rotating side equipped with a radiation generating means or a radiation detecting means and a non-rotating side equipped with means for supplying power to the radiation generating means. , An insulating substrate on which a plurality of concentric conductive patterns are formed, an insulating plate fixed on the surface of the insulating substrate opposite to the surface on which the conductive patterns are formed, and the insulating plate fixed to the insulating substrate A conductive plate fixed to a surface opposite to the surface, the insulating substrate, a housing in which the insulating plate and the conductive plate are provided, and connection means for attaching the housing and the insulating substrate, the insulating plate and the conductive plate It is a slip ring having.

Here, the connecting means includes a bolt that is erected on the surface of the conductive plate opposite to the insulating plate fixing surface, a hole formed in the housing, and a hole through which the bolt is inserted, and a hole of the housing. It is desirable that it is composed of a nut that is screwed into the bolt that has been inserted.

Further, for positioning the insulating substrate, the insulating plate, and the conductive plate, a long hole formed in the surface of the conductive plate opposite to the insulating plate fixing surface and extending in the radial direction,
It is desirable to provide a pin that is erected on the housing and that engages with the elongated hole.

In the second to fourth inventions, the conductive pattern is preferably formed by an etching method or a plating method. A fifth aspect of the present invention is a CT apparatus having a slip ring for supplying or receiving power between a rotating side provided with a radiation generating means or a radiation detecting means and a non-rotating side provided with a means for feeding power to the radiation generating means. In the above, the slip ring is a CT apparatus including an insulating substrate on which a plurality of concentric conductive patterns are formed.

[0022]

In the method for manufacturing a slip ring according to the first aspect of the invention, since the insulating substrate on which the conductive patterns having different diameters are formed at once is used, the number of assembling steps can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.

In the slip rings of the second to fourth aspects of the invention, the conductive patterns having different diameters are formed at once, so that the structure is simplified. In the slip ring according to the third aspect of the invention, since the electric component can be attached to the insulating substrate, the electrical characteristics are good, there is no need to provide a new substrate, and the cost is low.

In the slip ring of the fourth aspect of the present invention, by fixing the insulating plate and the conductive plate to the insulating substrate, the rigidity of the insulating substrate is increased and the carrying and mounting becomes easy.

In the CT apparatus of the fifth aspect of the present invention, the structure is simplified by using the insulating substrate on which the conductive patterns having different diameters are formed at once in the slip ring.

[0026]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a view for explaining the assembly in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an X-ray CT apparatus provided with the first embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the second embodiment.

First, a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The overall configuration will be described with reference to FIG. still,
In this figure, the same parts as those in FIG.
Descriptions thereof are omitted. 100 is the subject is placed,
The table is provided so as to be vertically movable. A cradle 101 is provided on the table 100 so as to be movable in the gantry direction.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 31 is a housing made of an insulating material and having a plurality of concentric grooves 31a partitioned by walls. Housing 3 of this embodiment
In No. 1, four housing units 31b having a circular shape with a central angle of 90 ° are configured so that the housing unit can be replaced at the time of replacement for cost reduction.

Of course, the housing 31 may be integrally formed, and the central angle of the housing unit 31b is not limited to 90 °, but may be a divisor of 360 °, or 360 ° for all units. .

Further, one notch 31c is provided on the wall between the grooves 31a of each housing unit 31b. Reference numeral 32 is a disk-shaped insulating substrate. The insulating substrate 32 is composed of an annular portion 32a fitted in each groove 31a of the housing 31, and a connecting portion 32b fitted in each notch 31c of the housing 31 and connecting adjacent annular portions 32a.

Then, conductive patterns 33 for feeding lines to the X-ray tube, detectors, etc. and signal lines from the detectors are formed on each annular portion 32a by etching or plating.

Housing 3 in which the insulating substrate 32 is set
The insulating fitting member 34 is fitted into the first cutout 31c, and the cutout 31c is closed to close the cutout 31c.
This prevents the discharge phenomenon between the adjacent conductive patterns 33 generated via the.

In this embodiment, standing grooves 31d are formed on the standing wall surfaces on both sides of the cutout 31c, which face each other. On the other hand, the fitting member 34 fitted into the cutout 31c is
A protrusion 34a that fits into the upright groove 31d is formed to prevent the fitting member 34 from coming off the notch 31c. Further, when the standing groove 31d and the protrusion 34a are not provided, the fitting member 34 can be prevented from being separated from the notch 31c by a method such as bonding or press fitting.

Next, a method of manufacturing the above structure will be described. (1) The four housing units 31b are positioned using a jig, and the housing units 31b are connected to each other to form the housing 31.

(2) The insulating substrate 32 on which the conductive pattern 33 is formed is set in the housing 31. (3) Fit the fitting member 34 into the notch 31c.

(4) Attach the completed slip ring to the rotating casing. In the slip ring having the above structure, since the conductive patterns 33 having different diameters are formed on the insulating substrate 32 at one time by a method such as an etching method or a plating method, the cost is low and the structure is simple.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. (1) As shown in FIG. 4, each conductive pattern 33 can be easily guided to the opposite surface of the insulating substrate 32 through the through hole 40. Therefore, it is possible to form a through hole in the housing 31 and directly attach an electrical component such as a connector, which is fitted into the through hole of the housing 31, on the surface opposite to the insulating substrate 32.

The attachment of such an electric component has good electric characteristics and does not require a separate substrate, so that the cost can be reduced. (2) If there is at least one notch 31c provided in the groove 31a, the annular portions 32a of the insulating substrate 32 are connected,
The number is not limited to four.

(3) Since the conductive pattern 33 of the slip ring having the above structure is a high voltage, high current X-ray tube or a feeder line for a detector, in order to prevent a discharge phenomenon between the conductive patterns, the housing 31 A groove 31a was provided in each groove, and a conductive pattern 33 was arranged in each groove 31a. However, when all the conductive patterns 33 are low voltage and low current lines like signal lines, the discharge phenomenon is unlikely to occur, so that the grooved housing 31 is unnecessary and the insulating substrate 32 is a flat insulating plate. It is enough to attach to the housing.

(4) In the above embodiment, an example in which an X-ray tube is used as the radiation generating means has been described, but other means such as γ rays or positron may be used. Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the slip ring of the third embodiment, FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the slip ring assembly in FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is a view for explaining the attachment of the housing and the slip ring in FIG. . The slip ring of this embodiment is a slip ring for low voltage and low current lines such as signal lines.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 50 denotes a disk-shaped housing made of an insulating material. Reference numeral 51 is a slip ring assembly attached to the housing 50. As shown in FIG. 6, the slip ring assembly 51 has an insulating substrate 52 on which a plurality of concentric conductive patterns 53 for signal lines from the detector are formed by an etching method and a plating method, and the insulating substrate 52 is electrically conductive. On the surface opposite to the surface where the pattern 53 is formed and the surface opposite to the surface where the insulating plate 54 made of an insulating material (for example, polyethylene film) is adhered and the insulating substrate 52 is adhered to the surface opposite to the surface. Bonded metal conductive plate 55
It has become.

The slip ring assembly 51 and the housing 50 are attached to each other as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7.
The stud bolt 60 is erected on the conductive plate 55 of the slip ring assembly 51, and the stud bolt 60 is attached to the housing 50.
This is done by forming a hole 61 through which the nut is inserted and screwing a nut 62 into the stud bolt 60 inserted through the hole 61.

Further, the housing 5 of the slip ring 51
Positioning with respect to 0 is performed by forming a long hole 65 extending in the radial direction in the conductive plate 55 and arranging a pin 65 that engages with the long hole 65 in the housing 50.

The conductive plate 55 is connected to the ground on the rotating side. In the slip ring having the above configuration,
Since the conductive patterns 53 having different diameters are formed once on the insulating substrate 52 by a method such as an etching method or a plating method, the cost is low and the configuration is simple.

Further, the insulating substrate 32 of the first embodiment is not rigid and is difficult to carry and install. However, in this embodiment, the slip is formed by laminating the insulating substrate 52, the insulating plate 54 and the conductive plate 55. The ring assembly 53 facilitates transportation and mounting.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. In the above embodiment, the insulating film 54 made of polyethylene film is provided between the insulating substrate 52 and the conductive plate 55.
It is not always necessary if the insulating substrate 52 can secure sufficient insulation.

Further, in the above embodiment, the pin 66 is provided on the housing 50 side and the elongated hole 65 is provided on the conductive plate 55 side, but the pin may be provided on the conductive plate side and the elongated hole may be provided on the housing side.

[0048]

According to the slip ring manufacturing method of the first aspect of the invention, since the insulating substrate on which the conductive patterns having different diameters are formed at once is used, the number of assembling steps can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.

According to the slip rings of the second to fourth inventions, since the conductive patterns having different diameters are formed at once, the structure becomes simple. According to the slip ring of the third aspect of the invention, since the electric component can be attached to the insulating substrate, the electrical characteristics are good, there is no need to provide a new substrate, and the cost is low.

According to the slip ring of the fourth aspect of the present invention, by fixing the insulating plate and the conductive plate to the insulating substrate, the rigidity of the insulating substrate is higher than that of the insulating substrate alone, and it is easy to carry and install.

According to the CT apparatus of the fifth aspect of the invention, the structure is simplified by using the insulating substrate on which the conductive patterns having different diameters are formed at once in the slip ring.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining assembly in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an X-ray CT apparatus provided with the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a slip ring according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the slip ring assembly in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating how the housing and the slip ring in FIG. 5 are attached.

FIG. 8: X-ray C with disk-type slip ring
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of a T gantry.

9 is a left side view of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the housing in FIG.

11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.

12 is a configuration perspective view of the ring in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 31 housing 31a groove 31c notch 32 insulating substrate 33 conductive pattern

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A method of manufacturing a slip ring, wherein power is supplied or signals are transferred between a rotating side equipped with a radiation generating means or a radiation detecting means and a non-rotating side equipped with means for supplying power to the radiation generating means. An insulative housing having a plurality of concentric circular grooves and at least one notch formed on the wall between the grooves, an annular portion to be fitted into each groove of the housing, and the notch to be fitted. ,
It has a connecting portion for connecting adjacent annular portions, and an insulating substrate on which a conductive pattern is formed is disposed in each of the annular portions, and the notch is closed by an insulating fitting member. And a method for manufacturing a slip ring. 2. A slip ring in which power is supplied or signals are exchanged between a rotating side equipped with radiation generating means or radiation detecting means and a non-rotating side equipped with means for supplying power to the radiation generating means. A slip ring characterized by using an insulating substrate on which a concentric conductive pattern is formed. 3. A slip ring in which power is supplied or signals are exchanged between a rotating side equipped with a radiation generating means or a radiation detecting means and a non-rotating side equipped with means for supplying power to the radiation generating means. An insulative housing having one or more notches formed on the wall of the groove, an annular portion fitted into each groove of the housing, and an adjacent circle fitted into the notch. A slip having a connecting part for connecting ring parts, and each of the ring parts having an insulating substrate on which a conductive pattern is formed, and an insulating fitting member for closing the notch. ring. 4. The slip according to claim 3, wherein a through hole is provided in the housing, and an electrical component fitted into the through hole and electrically connected to the conductive pattern is provided on the insulating substrate. ring. 5. A slip ring in which power is supplied or signals are exchanged between a rotating side equipped with radiation generating means or radiation detecting means and a non-rotating side equipped with means for supplying power to the radiation generating means An insulating substrate having a concentric conductive pattern formed thereon, an insulating plate fixed to the surface of the insulating substrate opposite to the surface having the conductive pattern formed thereon, and an insulating plate opposite to the surface fixed to the insulating substrate. A conductive plate fixed to the surface of the housing, the insulating substrate, a housing in which the insulating plate and the conductive plate are provided, and connecting means for mounting the housing and the insulating substrate, the insulating plate and the conductive plate. Slip ring characterized by. 6. The connecting means includes a bolt that is erected on a surface of the conductive plate opposite to an insulating plate fixing surface, a hole formed in the housing, and through which the bolt is inserted, and a hole of the housing. The slip ring according to claim 5, comprising: a nut that is screwed into the inserted bolt. 7. An elongated hole formed on a surface of the conductive plate opposite to the insulating plate fixing surface and extending in a radial direction, and a pin standing on the housing and engaging with the elongated hole. The slip ring according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that. 8. The conductive pattern is formed by an etching method or a plating method.
Slip ring according to any one. 9. A CT apparatus having a slip ring for supplying or receiving power between a rotating side equipped with radiation generating means or radiation detecting means and a non-rotating side equipped with means for supplying power to the radiation generating means. The CT device is characterized in that the slip ring comprises an insulating substrate on which a plurality of concentric conductive patterns are formed.