US1236792A - X-ray apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

J. B. WANTZ.-

X-RAY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 13. 1915.

1,236,792. Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET l.

mi/tuna I Y a a-Mam J. B. WANTZ.

X-RAY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 13. 1915.

Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

JI QQIIIQ'I. Juuus B. WHNTZ (Duncan J. B. WANTZ.

X-RAY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 13. 1915.

Patented Aug. 14, 1917 3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

JULIUS B. WANTZ, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY IFESNE ASSIGNMENTS. TO

' VICTOR ELECTRIC CORPORATION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

a CORPORATION or ivnw X-RAY arranarusi Application filed-February 13, 1915. Serial No. 7,958.

' To all whom it may concern:

Ill

Be it known that I, JULIUS B. WANTZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented anew and useful Improvement in X-Ray Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

One of my objectsis to provide an X-ray apparatus which shall be adapted for use with either the common or ordinary form of X-ray tube, or the recently devised so-called Coolidge tube, or other tubes employing a heating element, permitting the operator to use either variety of tube, as desired. The

Coolidge tube referred to is one which involves means for electrically heating the cathode of the tube and by which the quantity of X-rays may be varied by varying the temperature of the cathode.

' Furthermore, these" tubes of the type employing a heating element are equipped at one end with plugs having spaced contacts, the Coolidge tubes being equipped with screw-plugs at the cathode ends of the tubes for connection with the electrical supply; and another of my objects is to pro vide an adapter which may be applied to the plug end of the tube and provide connections for the tube with the electrical connections carried by the apparatus with which the tube is to be' used. Another object is to provide novel, simple and efiective means for insulating from the ground, the current-conducting means which carry the current into a casing iii-which the X-ray tube holder is located, and other objects as will be manifest from the following de-- holder for an X-ray tube of either the come mon form or of the type employing a heating element, as for example, a tube of the Coolidge type, with the terminals of a high tension circuit; and by a perspective view,

apparatus for supplying exciting-current,-

, from a storage battery, to the tube, with a tauting device for holding the wires conducting the exciting-current, in taut condition. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the X-ray tube-holder shown in Fig. 1, but with an X-ray tube of the common form substituted for the Coolidge tube, the wires, which in the case shown in Fig. l conduct theexcitlng-current to the tube, being shown in this figure (Fig. 2) partly dotted to indicate that during the operation of the form of tube ures, l have illustrated one form of terminal carried by the X-ray holder adapted to convey to the X-ray tubes of both types, the high tension current; and in the case of the Coolidge type, in addition, the exciting current. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing alternating current. as the source of exciting current and showing the transformer for reducing its voltage for supplying the heating element of the Coolidge tube with current, this view showing a Coolidge tube in the holder adapted to be shifted, with a form'iof terminal on the holder ditfering from that disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2 for supporting and insulating the high tension and exciting currents. Fig. t is a view like Fig. 2 of the X-ray tube-holder of Fig.

3showing an -ray tube of common form positioned therein. Fig. 5 is a view in elevation, partly sectional, of the terminal connected with the X-ray tube-holder of Figs. 1 and Q, carrying the terminals for connection with the cathode of either kind of Xray tube. Fig. 6 is a view in side'elevation, partly sectional, of my adapter for use with a Coolidge tube. Fig. '1 is a plan view of the adapter shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a bottom view of the adaptershown in Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a view in elevation, partly sectional, of a desirable form of duplex-reel tauting device (shown in Figs. 1 to at, inclusive) for holding taut the wires which conduct the exciting current to the heating element of the Coolidge tube; and Fig. 10 a section taken at the line 10 on Fig. 9 and viewed in the direction of the arrow.

Referring particularly to Fig. l of the drawings, a holder for an X-ray tube is represented at 20, thisv holder being stationary or movable depending upon the particular connection in which it is to be used. The holder 20 is provided with spaced posts 2l in accordance with common practice, constructed and arranged to support an X-ray tube at the opposite ends of the latter, the variety of tube shown in this figure being of the so-called Coolidge type.

The following brief description of the socalled Coolidge tube will aid in the understanding of certain features of my invention: The Coolidge tube, represented at 22 in Fig. 1 and also in Fig. 3 of the drawings, is the same as the ordinary X-ray tube, excepting that an electric heating element is associated with the cathode of the tube, and a screw-plug connection for the cathode with the source of exciting current for the heating element and one of the terminals of the high tension circuit is provided, the anode end being the same as that of the ordinary tube. The cathode wire 23 is connected at one end with the center contact of a screw-plug secured to this end of the tube, its opposite end being electrically connected with one end of a heating coil in the tube, the other end 29 of this coil being electrically connected with the metallic screw threaded shell of, the said screw-plug.

The tube-holder 20 is provided with the usual high tension terminals 32 and 33, which lead from a source of high tension current (not shown) for energizing the X- ray tube, in accordance with common practice, the common form of tube and the Coolidge type of tube presenting the common characteristic of requiring connection at its anode and cathode with the terminal-s of a high tension circuit. The terminal 33 is connected with a wire 34 which hooks on, or is otherwise secured to the anode of the tube 22, and is likewise adapted to make electrical connection with the anode of the common form of tube .when employed as hereinafter explained.

As hereinbefore explained, it is necessary where a Coolidge tube, or any other tube of the type employing a heating element, is used that a current be supplied to the heating coil in addition to the high tension current supplied through the terminals 32 and 33, and as one of the terminals of the high tension circuit is connected with a wire of the cathode, it is necessary that this high tension wire be adequately insulated from the holder to prevent grounding and shortcircuiting. In the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1, I employ a cylindrical member 35, provided witha collar 36, the member 35 extending through and being secured in an opening 37 in a side of the holder 20. The member 35, which is hollow, contains a metallic tube 38, threaded at its opposite ends where it extends beyond said member, with nuts 39 and 40 screwing thereon for holding the tube in position in the member 35, the

,lowerend of the tube 38 extending through an opening in a portion of, the high tension terminal 32 and against which the nut 40 is screwed, making a firm electrical contact between the terminal 32- and the tube 38. Extending through the tube 38 are two wires 41 and 42, these wires being insulated from each other. The ends of the wires 41 and 42, on the inside of the holder 20, are electrically connected at their ends with hook devices 43 and 44, respectively, these wires being provided for connection with a source of suitable current, as is hereinafter described, for furnishing current to the heating coil of the tube. The wire 42 has coiled about the end thereof which is within the holder 20, a wire 45 which is connected at one end with the metallic tube 38 and at its opposite end with the metal ferrule securing the hook 44 in place on the wire 42, whereby the hook 44 is in electrical connection with the high tension terminal 32 through the medium of the tube 38 and wire 45.

The hooks 43 and 44 therefore form terminals not only for the circuit which supplies current to the heating coil of the tube, but also one of the terminals, namely, for the cathode end of the tube,of the high tension circuit.

As before explained, the Coolidge tube is provided with a screw-plug at its cathode, and to facilitate the making of electrical connections, I prefer to provide an adapter shown particularly in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, and of which the following is a description: The body of the adapter is in the form of a disk 46 of insulating material preferably having its periphery knurled. To one face of the disk 46 a metallic screw-shell 47 is secured through the medium ofa bolt 48, this bolt passing through a washer 49 of insulating material, and through, but out of contact with, a metal strip 50, the latter being in electrical contact with the shell 47 and connected with a connecting device 51; the bolt 48 also passing through a strip 52 on the under face of the disk 46 connected with a connecting device 53. Thus the device 51 is electrically connected with the shell 47 and the device 53 is electrically connected with the bolt 48, the upper headed end 54 of the latter forming a center contact. The shell 47 of the adapter is formed to screw upon the plug carried by the tube as above stated and when screwed into place thereon makes electrical contact between the shell 47 and the screw-threaded shell of the plug and between the center terminal 54 of the adapter and the center contact of this It will be readily understood from the foregoing that the connecting devices 51 and 53 furnish means for connecting the holeks 43 and 44 in electric circuit with the As hereinbefore stated, the source of exciting current for the heating coil may be either direct current, as from a storage battery, or alternating current. In the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1, I have shown a storage, battery as the source of exciting current, whereas in Fig. 3, I have 130 shown the source of exciting current as transformed alternating current supplied from any suitable service-line.

Continuing the description particularly with reference to Fig. 1, a storage battery is represented at 55, the terminals 56 and 57 of which connect by wires 58 and 59 with binding-posts 60 and 61, respectively, on a board 62 supported in any suitable manner, the' wire 64 and is of any desirable construction, its contact device 86, which is electrically connected with the post 82 to which the wire 64 is attached, being movable along the resistance coil 80 which connects with the wire 64 leading from the binding post 61.

As hereinbefore stated, and as will be apparent from the foregoing description of the construction, it is desirable, in view of the fact that the wires 41 and 42 while not in series with the, high tension circuit for the tube 22 are connected therewith and thus high tension current could be grounded by either of the wires 41 or 42 touching, or closely approaching, an object through which grounding could take place, that these exciting-current-conducting wires be maintained in taut condition while the tube 22 is in use. I prefer to accomplish this by using the construction of which the following is a description: The device shown comprises a plate 91 of insulating material v backed by a plate 92 of metal, these plates being secured together and equipped with a post 93 adapted to fit into a socket (not shown), for supporting the. device. -At opposite ends of these plates are binding- posts 94 and 95, the attaching screws 96 and 97 of'which serve to connect with these plates yoke-shaped metal members 98 and 99, respectively. The attaching screw 97 for the post 95 passes through one end of the yoke 99 which flatwise opposes the plate 91, through the plates 91 and 92 and into the binding-post 95, the screw 97 passing through a bushing 100 of insulating material located in the openings in the plates 91 and 92 through which the screw 97 passes, and a washer 101 interposed between the bindingpost 95 and the metalplate 92, whereby the binding-post 95 is electrically connected with the yoke 99, but insulated from the plate 92. The attachin screw 96 of the post 94 passes through t e end of the yoke.

98 which bears flatwise against the plate 91 and through the plates 91 and 92 and into the binding-post 94, a metallic washer 102 surrounding the screw 96, being interposed between the plate 92 and said post, whereby the post 94 is not only in electrical contact with the yoke 98, but also with the plate 92. Each of the yokes 98 and 99 is equipped with a reel 103, formed of plates 104 secured together by bolts 105'with spacers 106 surrounding the bolts and interposed between said plates, these plates being journaled at openings 10'? on a pin 108 screwed into the yoke-member. The pivot-pin 108 contains a slot 109 in which one end of a spiral spring of thewires 63 and 64 or vice versa. In the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1, the connections with the tauting device are shown as they will exist when said device is mounted to move in conjunction with the holder 7 20. In this case the wires 41 and 42 will be connected with the binding- posts 94 and 95, respectively, of the tauting device, and the wires 63 and 64 will be connected with the reels, by winding them at their ends upon the reels (Figs. 9 and 10), The portions of these wires which are wound upon the reels may be first stripped of their insulation' or not, as desired. One end of each of the wires 41 and 42 is connected with the metallic part of each reel, as for example, as indicated at 111 in Fig. 10. The wires 63 and 64 are then electrically connected with the pivot-pins 108 of these respective reels, and thus in electrical connection with the respective yokes 98 and 99. It will be readlly understood from the foregoing that by providing a preliminary tension on the springs 110, the movement of the holder 20 1n the operation of the X-ray apparatus, toward or away from the support 62, will cause the reels to roll up thoseportions of the wires 63 and 64 which would otherwise cause the wires to sag, the reels operating to take up the slack in these wires regardless of the movement of the holder 20 relative to said support.

A description of the operation of the ap paratus of Fig. 1 employing the Coolidge tube 22 is as follows: A high tension current passes through the terminal 32, tube 38, wire 45, hook 44, connecting device 53 of the adapter, thence to the contact 54, center contact of the plug on the cathode end of the tube, wire 23, thence to theanode and to the other terminal 33 of the high tension circuit. The operator to energ1ze the heating element of the cathode to regulate the quantity of X-rays emitted from the tube 22 adjusts the movable contact 86 of the rheostat, by shifting the rod 87 connected therewith, to the desired position on the rheostat coil 80, the current from the storage battery passing from the post 57 to the wire 59, post 61, wire 64, post 81, thence through the coil 80 to contact 86, through bar 84 to post 82, thence through a common form of electric meter represented at 112, thence to the reel of the tauting device connected with the binding-post 94, through the wire 41 to hook 43, connecting device 51, adaptershell 47, wire 29, heating-coil, wire 23, contact 54, connecting device 53, hook 44, wire 42, to the binding-post 95, reel connected with the latter and through the wire 63 to the other binding-post 56 of the storage battery.

Referring to Fig. 2, the holder 20 isshown as equipped with an X-ray tube of the common'form, represented at 114. It will be understood that in this case the low-tension exciting current hereinbefore described is not used, and the rheostat member 86 would be thrown to shut-off position, namely, in registration with the insulated portion 78 of the rheostat. Both of the hooks 43 and 44 of the wires 41 and 42, respectively, or the hook 44 only, would be hooked into the ring 115 connected with the cathode of the tube 114, in which case the circuit of the high tension current supplied at the terminals 32 and 33 would be the same as that described of the construction illustrated in Fig. 1.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 3, a slightly different arrangement of the X- ray tube-holder and the terminal thereon, as well as a different source of exciting current for the heating element of the Coolidge tube is provided. The X-ray tube holder represented at 116 is shown as mounted on wheels 117 to be shifted back and forth, as for example, in connection with a table for radiographic or fluoroscopic work, and is provided with tube-supporting arms 118. The terminal 33 of the high tension current for operating the tube 22 contains a tauting device 119 of an desirable and well-known construction an connects with the anode end of the tube 22. The tube 22 in this figure is shown as equip ed with an adapter,

as hereinbefore explalned of the tube 22.

Instead of providing the construction shown in Fig. 5 for insulating the high tension terminal 32 from the holder 116, I employ two similar tubular members 120 and 121 of in sulating' material which are confined in openings in the bottom ofthe holder 116 and through which the wires 41 and 42 pass, these wires winding upon reels of a tauting device like that hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figs. 9 and10, secured in a position stationary relative to the tubeholder 116, the binding- posts 94 and 95 of this tauting device being connected with the wires hereinafter described in circuit with the source of current for exciting the heating element of the tube 22, the terminal 32 of the high tension circuit connecting with the post 93 which is in electrical connection with the plate 92 and thus with the reel on the yoke 98. It will be understood from the foregoin that the high tension current reaches t e cathode of the tube 22 by passing through the wire 32, plate 92 of the tauting device, the reel on the yoke 98, wire 41, connecting device 53 of the adapter, center contact 54 of the adapter and the center contact on the screw-plug of the tube.

The source of exciting current for the heating element of the tube in this arrangement is alternating current, as for example that supplied from the service-line, and which requires a transformer to reduce its Volta e for use in heating this element. A trans ormer is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3 at 122, and the line-wires for supplying alternating current thereto at 123 and 124, which connect with binding-posts 125 and 126, respectively, of the primary of the transformer. The binding-posts of the secondary of the transformer are represented at 127 and 128, these posts being connected by wires 129 and 130 with binding- posts 131 and 132, respectively, on the board 133, which corresponds with the board 62 of Fig. 1. In thisarrangement, a rheostat such as that shown in Fig. 1 is employed, the binding-post 81 of the rheostat being connected by a wire 134 with the binding-post 132 and the binding-post 82 of the rheostat being connected with a wire 135, in which latter is interposed a meter 112. A wire 136 connects with the binding-post 131 and with the bindin -post 94 of the tauting device, the wire 1 5 being connected with the other binding-post 95 of this tauting device, it being understood in practice that the wires 135 and 136 will extend in taut condition from their points of connection at the board 133 to the binding- posts 94 and 95 as the tauting device is stationary with the board The rheostat shown in Fig. 3 will operate in the same manner upon the current supplied by the transformer as it does upon the direct current furnished by the storage battery employed in the construction illustrated in Fig. 1.

In using the structure illustratedin Fig. 3

in connection with a common form of tube 114 (Fig. 4), the hook 43 on the wire 41 is of tube is used in this arran ement, the

source of exciting current woul be cut out by adjusting the movable member 86 of the rheostat into a position of registration with the insulated portion 78 thereof, and the high tension current would pass from the terminal 32 through the member 93 of the tauting device, thence through the late 92 to the yoke 98, the reel being carrie by the latter, and the wire 41 to the cathode of the tube 114.

While I have illustrated certain constructions wherein the various features of my invention are embodied, I do not wish to be understood as intending to limit my invention to these particular constructions as it may be embodied in other forms and in structures constituting the modifications of the structures described herein, it being my intention to claim the various features of my invention as fully and completely as the prior state of the art will permit.

What I claim as new and desire to secure 4 by Letters Patent is v 1. In X-ray apparatus, the combination of a source of electric current of a character adapted to energize the heating element of an X-ray tube of a type having a heating element, and a source of high tension current, the terminal portions of the wires leading from said sources of current being adapted for connection with an X-ray tube of said above-referred-to type at terminals on the latter of a character permitting of the attachment thereto of separable conductors, and for attachment to the terminals of an X-ray tube without'such heating element.

2. In X-ray apparatus, the combination of a source of electric current of a character adapted to energize the heating element of an X-ray tube of a type having such an element as its cathode, and a source of high tension current, the terminal portions of thewires leading from said first-named source of electric current being adapted for connection with an X-ray tube of the above-referred-to type at the cathode heating element terminals on the latter of a character permitting attachment thereto of separable conductors and for attachment to the cathode terminal of an X-ray tube without such heating element, One

of the wires leading from said other sourceof electri'clcurrent being adapted for connection with the anodes of X-ray tubes of said above-referred-to type and tubes not having such heating elements, with the other wire leading from said last-referred-to source of current in electric communication with one of the wires leading from said first-named source of current. v

3. In X-ray apparatus, the combination of a source of electric current of the character adapted to energize the heating element 7 of an X-ray tube of a type having a heating element, a source of high tension current, a tube of said type, an adapter connected with the terminals of the heat ng element of said tube and afiording terminals for connectin therewith separable terminals of currentc'onductors, conductors connected with said first-named source of current and with the terminals of said adapter, and conductors leading from said other source of current, one of said last-named conductors being connected with one of the high tension electrodes of the tube and the other of said lastn'amed conductors being electrically connected with said heating element.

4; In X-ray apparatus, the combination of an X-ray tube of the type having a heating element, a source of high tension current, -a source of current suitable for energizing the heating element of said tube, a member secured to said tube and carrying connection posts, means connecting the terminals "of said heating element with said posts, means for connecting said posts with said source of heating current, means for connecting one terminal of said high tension current to the anode of said tube, and means for causing the other terminal of said source of high tension current to be in electrical communication with one of said connection posts.

5. In X-ray apparatus, the combination of a source of electric current of a character adapted to energize the heating element of an X-ray tube of a type having such an element, a source of high tension current, a casing for receiving an X-ray tube, an insulating tube in said casing, a pair of current conductors connected with said first-named source of current and passing through said insulating tube, a second insulating tube in said casing, acurrent conducting member in said tube, means for connecting one terminal of said second-named current source to said conducting member, means for connecting the other terminal of said second-named current source to one of the current conductors passing through said first-named insu lating tube, the terminal portions of all the said current conductors passing ,through said insulating tubes into said casing being.

adapted for connection with an X-ray tube of the type having a heating element, at terminals on the latter of a character permitting of the attachment thereto of separable conductors, and for attachment to the terminals of an X-ray tube without such heating element.

6. In X-ray apparatus, the combination of a source of electric current of a character adapted to energize the heating element of an X-ray tube of a type having such an ele ment, and a source of high tension current, the wires leading from said first-named 'source of current being provided with hook devices, the terminal portion of one ofthe wires leading from said other source of current'being adapted for connection with the anode of tube of the typehaving a heating element and a tube without such heating element, and the other wire leading from said last-referred to source of current being in electrical communication with one of the said hook devices.

7. In X-ray apparatus, the combination of an X-ray tube holder and a casing for said tube, a member of insulating material secured to said casing, a pair of conductors extending through said member with their free ends at the inside of the casing, and a third current conducting member electrically connected with one of said conductors.

8. In X-ray apparatus, the combination of an X-ray tube holder and a casing for said tube, a member of insulating material secured to said casing, a pair of wires extending through said member with their free ends at the inside of the casing, and a third current-conducting member located in said member of insulating material and electrically connected at its inner end with the free end of one of. the wires within said casing.

9. In X-ray apparatus, the combination of a holder for an X-ray tube, with a casing about said tube, a member of insulatin material extending through and supporte in a side of the casing, a current-conducting tube a in said member, wires leading into and through said insulating member with the free ends of the wires at the inside of the casing, means for connecting said member of current-conducting material with an electric current carrying wire, and means electrically connecting the inner end of said last-referred to member with the free end of one of said Wires in said casing.

10. In X-ray apparatus, the combination of an X-ray tube having a heating element, a source of electric current for energizing the heating element of said tube, a source of high-tension current, wires leading from said source of high-tension current and from said other source of current for connection with the electrodes of a tube without a heating element, and for connection with the electrodes of a tube having a heating element and with the terminals of the heating element thereof, and an adapter cooperating with said last-referred-to tube and adaptin 0' this tube for connection with the ends 0? said wires shaped for attachment to the electrodes of a tube without a heating element.

JULIUS B. WANTZ. In presence of- J. THELEN, GEORGE M. BENNIE.

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