KR101790111B1 - Cooling water exchange apparatus and method for CT device - Google Patents

Abstract

The cooling water exchanging device for a CT apparatus of the present invention provides a quick and simple replacement method of discharging cooling water and insulating oil of a CT tube and a circulator and injecting new cooling water. The water-cooled cooling operation can be easily performed, the cooling efficiency is high, and the lifetime of the CT device product can be extended.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cooling water exchanging apparatus and a CT apparatus,

The present invention relates to a cooling water exchanging apparatus and an exchanging method of a CT apparatus.

Computer tomography (CT) is one of the medical image processing methods using tomography produced by computer processing. In CT imaging, a one-dimensional array of X-ray emitting devices and a one-dimensional array of X-ray detectors are rotated facing the object to be examined. The tissue to be inspected receives X-rays from the X-ray emitting device, absorbs a part of the X-rays, and transmits the remainder. The transmitted X-rays reach and record on the opposite X-ray detecting device. The device records a one-dimensional X-ray absorptivity distribution in each direction as it rotates 180 degrees. Then, the computer reconstructs the one-dimensional space and the rotation angle image into a two-dimensional human image, and a three-dimensional stereoscopic image is obtained by stacking a series of two-dimensional images obtained while moving the patient.

The CT apparatus has a CT tube 4 as shown in Fig. The CT tube 4 includes an X-ray detecting device. In order to cool the high-temperature state of the high-temperature CT tube 4, particularly the rotating anode, air-cooling and water-cooling methods have been conventionally employed. In the case of the air cooling type, it is sufficient to perform cooling by repeating the inflow, circulation, and discharge cycles of circulating air by circulating air using a blowing fan.

In the case of the water-cooled type, as shown in the figure, a circulator 2 and a CT tube 4 are connected by, for example, three pipes 8 and circulation of the cooling water is performed by the operation of the circulator 2 I am taking. The circulator 2 includes a movable pump, a condenser, a heat exchanger, and a compressor, and circulates cooling water by using water as a refrigerant to cool the CT tube 4. The operator can set and change the cooling temperature and time through the control panel of the circulator 2.

However, in the case of the water-cooling type, the coolant may be replaced only when the CT tube 4 or the circulator 2 is exchanged because the cooling water is not exchanged and the cooling water is not discharged smoothly. There is a problem that the cooling water circulates between the two members to cause corrosion or trouble of the parts.

On the other hand, the applicant proposed in Korean Patent No. 10-1651611 an insulating oil replacing device and a replacing method that can change the state of the buffer unit attached to the X-ray tube module to supply or discharge the insulating oil.

Therefore, if the cooling water is also supplied or discharged in the same or similar manner to the above patent, it is possible to implement a water-cooled cooling water exchanging apparatus and an exchanging method in the CT apparatus. The present invention is based on this finding.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cooling water exchanging apparatus for a CT apparatus including a cooling water exchanging module for exchanging cooling water in a CT apparatus.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cooling water exchanging apparatus for a CT apparatus including a circulator; CT tube; A pipe connecting the circulator and the CT tube, through which the cooling water circulating between the circulator and the CT tube passes through the circulator; A chamber connected to the CT tube via a first flow path and connected to the circulator through a second flow path, the chamber being connected to a driving pump and a vacuum pump, and a fluid filled in the chamber by selective driving of the driving pump or the vacuum pump, A circulation path, a second flow path, a circulator, a pipe, a CT tube, and a first flow path.

The chamber, the first flow path, the second flow path, the drive pump, and the vacuum pump may be mounted or separated between the CT tube and the circulator by forming independent cooling water exchange modules.

At the tail of the first flow path, a plurality of filters for filtering foreign matter may be installed.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cooling water exchanging apparatus for a CT apparatus, comprising: a circulator; CT tube; A pipe connecting the circulator and the CT tube, through which the cooling water circulating between the circulator and the CT tube passes through the circulator; A chamber filled with cooling water therein and having one end of the flow path connected to the circulator or the CT tube; And a control valve provided on an upper surface of the chamber and having an adjusting cap provided on an upper portion thereof, a discharge port formed on a side surface thereof, compressed air introduced from the other side thereof, and an inside of the chamber being switched to a pressurized state or a vacuum state, The present invention also provides a cooling water exchanging apparatus for a CT apparatus including a reversing pump.

The reversible pump is connected to a discharge port facing the inside of the chamber, and the discharge port can communicate with the inside of the chamber through the discharge slot.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of exchanging a coolant of a CT apparatus, comprising: connecting a flow path connected to a chamber to a circulator and a CT tube; Mixing the tank of the chamber with distilled water and rust preventive remover, and operating the drive pump connected to the chamber for 10 to 20 minutes; Placing the distilled water in the tank of the chamber, operating the driving pump, and washing the interior of the CT apparatus with distilled water; Performing a cleaning operation by operating the drive pump for a predetermined time after filling the chamber with a protective liquid such as an oxidizing agent or an anticorrosive agent; Mixing the distilled water and the antifreeze into the tank of the chamber and operating the drive pump for 10 to 20 minutes to inject new cooling water; And operating the vacuum pump connected to the chamber to converge the chamber into a vacuum state to thereby remove bubbles of the cooling water.

The method may further include rotating the vacuum pump in the other direction after the first cleaning step and injecting high-pressure compressed air into the chamber to perform secondary cleaning using compressed air.

According to the present invention, it is possible to easily and quickly discharge the contaminated fluid and the insulating oil remaining between the CT device, particularly the circulator and the CT tube, and to replace the cooling water, thereby improving the cooling efficiency and enhancing the durability and service life of the CT device parts.

1 is an exploded front view of a CT apparatus showing a CT tube and a circulator;
FIG. 2 is an overall configuration view of a cooling water exchanging apparatus of a CT apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG.
3 is an overall configuration diagram of a cooling water exchanging apparatus of a CT apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention; And
4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of exchanging a coolant using the apparatus of FIG.

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that, in the drawings, like reference numerals are used to denote like elements in the drawings, even if they are shown in different drawings. In the following description of the present invention, detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present disclosure rather unclear.

In describing the constituent elements of this embodiment, first, second, etc.), a), b) and the like can be used. Such a code is intended to distinguish the constituent element from other constituent elements, and the nature of the constituent element, the order or the order of the constituent element is not limited by the code. It is also to be understood that when an element is referred to as being "comprising" or "comprising", it should be understood that it does not exclude other elements unless explicitly stated to the contrary, do. In addition, when referring to "connection", "installation" or "attachment" in the specification, this does not mean direct connection or direct installation or attachment between components but includes indirect, or connection, installation or attachment through other components And should be interpreted as broadly as possible.

Fig. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of a cooling water exchanging apparatus 1 of a CT apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The cooling water exchanger (1) includes a circulator (2) and a CT tube (4). The circulator 2 and the CT tube 4 are connected by pipes 8a and 8b. The piping 8a is an inlet pipe from the circulator 2 toward the CT tube 4 and the pipe 8b is an outlet pipe from the CT tube 4 to the circulator 2. [ The pipes 8a and 8b are connected to each other in the CT tube 4 to communicate with each other. Likewise, the pipes 8a and 8b are connected to each other inside the circulator 2 to communicate with each other. An open / close valve 8a 'is provided in the pipe 8a, and an open / close valve 8b' is provided in the pipe 8b.

In the normal state, the open / close valves 8a 'and 8b' are opened, and the cooling water circulates between the circulator 2 and the CT tube 4 through the pipes 8a and 8b by the operation of the circulator 2 . The high temperature cooling water (or steam) that has been exchanged with the high temperature portion of the CT tube 4 flows out through the pipe 8b and passes through the condenser of the circulator 2 to become low temperature. 8a to the CT tube 4 again.

The cooling water exchanger (1) of the CT apparatus of the present invention further includes a chamber (6).

A tank (not shown) inside the chamber 6 is filled with replacement cooling water, cleaning water or rust preventive remover.

The chamber 6 is connected to the CT tube 4 through the flow path 10 and to the circulator 2 through the flow path 12. The flow paths 10 and 12 communicate with each other through the tank 6 inside the chamber 6.

The flow path 10 is provided with an on-off valve 10a and the flow path 12 is provided with an on-off valve 12a. At the rear of the flow path 10, a filter (f) capable of being detachable from the chamber (6) is preferably provided. The filter (f) is preferably provided in a plurality of layers in order to filter off foreign matter.

One end of the flow path 10 is connected to the piping 8a and 8b inside the CT tube 4 and one end of the flow path 12 is connected to the piping 8a and 8b inside the circulator 2. [

The chamber 6 is connected to the drive pump 18 through the flow path 14 and to the vacuum pump 20 through the flow path 16. The drive pump 18 and the vacuum pump 20 are driven by respective motors (not shown). The drive pump 18 and the vacuum pump 20 operate independently and do not operate at the same time.

The vacuum pump 20 sucks the air inside the chamber 6 by rotating the motor in one direction to make the space inside the chamber 6 including the tank into a low-pressure vacuum. On the contrary, when the motor rotates in the opposite direction, compressed air can be supplied into the chamber 6 through a compressed air source (not shown) to bring the chamber 6 into a high-pressure state.

Since the cooling water exchanging apparatus 1 of the CT apparatus of the present invention has the above-described structure, when the driving pump 18 is operated with the valve 8a 'opened and the valve 8b' closed, A circulation path 2 consisting of a flow path 12, a pipe 8a, a CT tube 4 and a flow path 10 is formed.

Here, when the operation of the drive pump 18 is stopped and the vacuum pump 20 is operated to converge the chamber 6 in vacuum, the air in the pressurized state inside the CT apparatus flows into the inside of the chamber 6 through the first circulation path Thereby forming an air flow directed to the air.

Unlike the previous example, when the drive pump 18 is operated with the valve 8a 'closed and the valve 8b' opened, the chamber 6, the flow path 12, the circulator 2, (8b), a CT tube (4), and a flow path (10).

When the vacuum pump 20 is operated, an air flow directed toward the inside of the chamber 6 is formed through the second circulation path. However, when the vacuum pump 20 is operated, all of the valves 8a and 8b may be operated simultaneously. Further, two flow paths 10 and 12 may be provided to open the first and second circulation paths at the same time.

In the embodiment of the present invention, other members except for the circulator 2, the CT tube 4 and the pipes 8a and 8b constitute the cooling water exchange module M, and when replacement of the cooling water or cleaning of the CT device is required It is preferable to connect the flow paths 10 and 12 to the CT tube 4 and the circulator 2 and separate them after completion of the work.

It should be noted that the flow path 10 may be connected to another piping that branches off from the CT tube 4 but not inside the CT tube 4. [ Likewise, the flow path 12 may be provided with other additional piping branched from the circulator 2, and may be connected to the piping.

The cooling water exchanging apparatus 1 of the CT apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention can operate as the next step, as shown in Fig.

First, after connecting the flow paths 10 and 12, which are the cooling water exchange modules M, to the circulator 2 and the CT tube 4 (S10), distilled water and a rust preventive agent are mixed in a tank of the chamber 6 The drive pump 18 is operated for 10 to 20 minutes (S20). At this time, it is preferable to repeat the opening and closing of the valves 8a 'and 8b' in order to clean all the flow paths between the circulator 2 and the CT tube 4.

Then, the mixed liquid cleans fluid and foreign substances inside the CT apparatus through the first circulation path and the second circulation path, and they are filtered by the filter (f). At this time, the discharged fluid is mainly the conventional cooling water and insulating oil, and the fluid is completely diluted and discharged by a sufficient operation for 10 to 20 minutes.

Next, when the distilled water is put into the tank of the chamber 6 and the driving pump 18 is operated, the distilled water is firstly washed in the CT apparatus through the first circulation path and the second circulation path (S30). In addition, if the motor of the vacuum pump 20 is rotated in the other direction and high-pressure compressed air is injected into the chamber 6, the secondary cleaning may be performed in the same manner using compressed air (S40).

The remaining cooling water and the insulating oil as well as the foreign substances in the liquefied water can be completely discharged from the circulator 2, the CT tube 4 and the pipes 8a and 8b through the above operation.

Next, in order to protect the CT apparatus, the chamber 6 is filled with a protective liquid such as an oxidizing agent and a cyanating agent, and then the driving pump 18 is operated for a predetermined time to complete the cleaning operation (S50).

Next, the distilled water and the antifreeze are mixed in the tank of the chamber 6, and the drive pump 18 is operated for 10 to 20 minutes to inject new cooling water (S60).

Next, the vacuum pump 20 is operated to converge the chamber 6 to a vacuum state (S70). The bubble of the cooling water injected into the CT device is removed by the air flow toward the chamber 6, thereby preventing the cooling efficiency of the cooling water lost by the gas heating from being reduced, thereby enhancing the cooling effect.

Finally, the valves 10a and 12a are closed, the circulator 2 is operated to monitor the flow of the cooling water, and if there is no abnormality, the cooling water replacement module M is separated to complete the cooling water replacement operation.

Next, a cooling water exchanging apparatus 1 of a CT apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

The coolant exchange module M according to the second embodiment is simpler than the first embodiment in that cooling water is filled in a tank inside the chamber 6 and one end of the flow path 10 is connected to the CT tube 4 And the other end is immersed in the cooling water 6.

The reversible pump 102 provided on the upper surface of the chamber 6 is provided for sucking the cooling water F into the chamber 6 with the compressed air introduced through the pipe 104 or discharging the cooling water F from the chamber 6 An adjustment stopper 108 is provided at an upper portion thereof, and a discharge port 106 is formed at a side surface thereof. The upper surface of the chamber 6 is hermetically sealed off from the outside except for the reversible pump 102.

Direction reversing valve or a ball valve is provided inside the reversing pump 102 so that the compressed air introduced through the piping 104 does not flow toward the discharge port 106 when the adjustment plug 108 is set to the first position Flows through the communication passage 110 and is injected at a high speed in the chamber 6 through the plurality of discharge slots 112 formed in the lower portion thereof. Since the opening of the discharge slot 112 is smaller than the communication path 110, the speed of the compressed air increases and flows to press the water surface of the cooling water F. [ The pressurized cooling water F is raised by the capillary phenomenon and can be discharged from the lower tank through the flow path 10 toward the CT tube 4. [ And then to the circulator 2 through the pipes 8a and 8b.

On the other hand, when the adjustment stopper 108 is set to the second position, for example, when rotated 90 degrees or 180 degrees, the compressed air introduced through the pipe 104 does not flow into the communication passage 110, At which time the air inside the chamber 6 towards the outlet 106 with reduced pressure joins with the compressed air flow through the outlet slot 112. Accordingly, the inside of the chamber 2 gradually decreases in pressure and converges into a vacuum state, and the cooling water or the insulating oil is filled in the chamber 6 through the circulator 2, the pipes 8a, 8b and the CT tube 4 do.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, since the vacuum state can be maintained or reversed only by rotating the adjustment stopper 108, it is very easy to discharge the residual fluid in the CT apparatus or inject new cooling water .

The cooling water may further contain a liquid such as a rust preventive remover, rust inhibitor and antifreeze liquid.

It is obvious that the same function can be performed by connecting the chamber 6 to the circulator 2 unlike the above.

While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

(1): Cooling water exchange device of CT device (2): Circulator (4): CT tube
(6): Chambers (8a, 8b): Wet cleaner (10, 12) for piping:
(f): filter (F): cooling water (M): cooling water exchange module

Claims (7)

A cooling water exchanger for a CT apparatus, comprising:
Circulator;
CT tube;
A pipe connecting the circulator and the CT tube, through which the cooling water circulating between the circulator and the CT tube passes through the circulator;
A chamber connected to the CT tube via a first flow path and connected to the circulator through a second flow path, the chamber being connected to a driving pump and a vacuum pump, and a fluid filled in the chamber by selective driving of the driving pump or the vacuum pump, , The second flow path, the circulator, the pipe, the CT tube, and the first flow path. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the chamber, the first flow path, the second flow path, the drive pump, and the vacuum pump constitute an independent cooling water exchange module so as to be mounted or separated between the CT tube and the circulator. 3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein a plurality of layers of filters for filtering foreign substances are provided at the rear of the first flow path. A cooling water exchanger for a CT apparatus, comprising:
Circulator;
CT tube;
A pipe connecting the circulator and the CT tube, through which the cooling water circulating between the circulator and the CT tube passes through the circulator;
A chamber filled with cooling water therein and having one end of the flow path connected to the circulator or the CT tube; And
The control valve is provided on the upper surface of the chamber and has an adjusting cap at an upper portion thereof, a discharge port formed at a side thereof, compressed air is introduced from the other side thereof, and the inside of the chamber is converted into a pressurized or vacuumed state by operation of the adjusting cap. A pump,
Wherein the reversible pump is connected to a discharge port facing the inside of the chamber and the discharge port is communicated with the inside of the chamber through a discharge slot. delete A method for replacing a cooling water of a CT device,
Connecting the flow path connected to the chamber to the circulator and the CT tube, respectively;
Mixing the tank of the chamber with distilled water and rust preventive remover, and operating the drive pump connected to the chamber for 10 to 20 minutes;
Placing the distilled water in the tank of the chamber, operating the driving pump, and washing the interior of the CT apparatus with distilled water;
Performing a cleaning operation by operating the drive pump for a predetermined time after filling the chamber with a protective liquid such as an oxidizing agent or an anticorrosive agent;
Mixing the distilled water and the antifreeze into the tank of the chamber and operating the drive pump for 10 to 20 minutes to inject new cooling water; And
The step of removing the air bubbles of the cooling water by operating a vacuum pump connected to the chamber and converging the chamber to a vacuum state
/ RTI > The method according to claim 6,
Further comprising the step of rotating the vacuum pump in the other direction after the first cleaning step and injecting high-pressure compressed air into the chamber to perform secondary cleaning using compressed air.

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