US2179357A

US2179357A - X-ray apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2179357A
Application number: US211128A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert J Stava
Original assignee: Picker X Ray Corp
Current assignee: Picker X Ray Corp
Priority date: 1938-06-01
Filing date: 1938-06-01
Publication date: 1939-11-07
Anticipated expiration: 1956-11-07

Description

Nov. 7,- 1939.

R. J. STAVA X-RAY APPARATUS Filed June 1, 1938 V mm m WJ mm E w Y B j 2 ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES 2,179,357 X-RAY APPARATUS Robert J. Stava, East Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Picker X-Ray Corporation Waite Manufacturing' Division, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 1, 1938, Serial No. 211,128

6 Claims. (01. za -"19) This invention relates to X-ray apparatus and more particularly to the mounting or support for the fluoroscopic screen employed when the apparatus is used in fluoroscopy.

The invention aims to provide counterbalancing means for the screen unit, characterized by the employment of very simple means for connecting a counterbalancing spring to or disconnecting it from the movable screenmernber, according to whether said member is used for horizontal fluoroscopy, when a counterbalancing effect is desirable, or for vertical fluoroscopy, when such effect is not desirable. 1

A further object is to provide an improved releasable connection for the counterbalancing spring which is very easily disconnected by a manual operation and which utilizes the counterbalancing spring itself to reestablish the con nection when the parts are moved to the proper position. p

Further objects of the invention are in part obvious and in part will appear more in detail hereinafter.

The invention is an improvement upon that shown, described and claimed in Letters Patent 2,097,095, grantedOctober 2S, 1937 to Edwin H.

Goldfleld et al.for X-ray apparatus.

In the drawing, which represents one suitable embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is an elevation of the fluoroscopic screen unit and its mounting, in their position when used for horizontal fluoroscopy;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on approximately the line 2-2, Figs. 1 and 3;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on approximately the line 3-3, Fig. 2, showing in full lines the arm 0 and counterbalancing spring engaged in operative condition; and

4 is a similar view, illustrating the disengaging operation. i l

The fluoroscopic screen unit forming the subject matter of the present invention includes a fluoroscopic screen which is moved by the op- .erator to various positions over the patient in the usual manner. The movable parts may weigh as much as ten or fifteen pounds. Consequently, when the tilting table is horizontal so that the screen is above him it is desirable to counterweight the movable screen parts and relieve the operator of the burden of their weight, but, when the tilting table and the patient are in vertical position with the screen in front of the patient, the counterbalancing effect should be dispensed with because it would then impose upon the operator a burden equal to the counterbalancing effect.

The present invention provides a counterbalanced screen unit provided with improved releasable means by which the counterbalancing effect may be produced or dispensed with in accordance with Whether the apparatus is used in horizontal or in vertical fluoroscopy.

The fluoroscopic screen unit comprises a hollow head or casing l, a depending hollow cylindrical portion 2 of which, when the screen is being used for horizontal fluoroscopy, as in 1, is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis in a recess or opening in a suitable support 3, being removably held therein in any suitable manner, such as by screw l. The support 3 may may be carried by the tilting table (not shown) or. may be mounted on a stand or other part separate from the table and at one side thereof, as Will be readily understood. Said support 3 is capable of adjustment about a horizontal axis, as in said prior patent or application referred to, to bring the axis of said cylindrical portion 2 into either vertical or horizontal, position, according to whether the screen is used for horizontal or vertical fluoroscopy, as will be readily understood.

Within the hollow head i is pivotally mounted at 5 a base 6 in Whichis journalled an arm 1 carrying the usual fluoroscopic screen 8. Pivoted base ii is provided beyond its pivot with a hook-like extension 1! extending through an opening in and beneath the cross bar it of a cou pling member ll having lateral projections It extending through and moving along inclined slots is in the side walls of the casing i, said member beneath the lateral projections having a cross bar i l forming a perch for a loop at one end of a tension spring 55, whose other end is looped through the eye of an adjusting screw it threaded into the lower end ofthe depending cylindrical base 2. Member H is also provided with an upwardly extending finger lever ll passing through an open slot in the wall of casing The rotatable mounting of the base 2 in support 3 permits the fluoroscopic screen to be swung at will either into position opposite the top of the tilting table, for use in fluoroscopic work, or to a position at one side of the table, when the tube alone is to be used for radiagrophic work, while the journalling of arm l in the base 6 permits the screen to be tilted to various positions and even into a vertical plane, as will be obvious.

Figs. 1 and 3 in full lines illustrate the position of the parts when the screen is opposite the table top and the patient thereon, ready for use in fluoroscopy. Cross bar ID of coupling member II is seated in the hooked portion 9 of the 5 screen supporting arm. Counterbalancing spring I5 is extended and has energy stored therein sufiicient to fully counterbalance the Weight of the extended arm and the screen 8 supported thereby. Consequently, the table being in hori- 1o Zontal position, the operator can swing the screen about pivot 5 toward and from the table to adapt it to the patient without undue burden or effort.

When the screen is used for vertical fluoroscopy,

member 3 is turned so that the axis of the depending casing portion 2 is horizontal. The weight of the movable parts, including arm members 6 and I and screen 8, constituting the screen unit, requires no counterbalancing effect. When the parts are moved to said position, with the axis of cylindrical portion 2 horizontal, the energized spring I 5 contracts and automatically turns the screen carrying arm to the position shown in full lines, Fig. 4. Pins I 2 travel down to the lower ends of the slots I3. When the full line position, Fig. 4, is reached the operator can grasp the finger lever I! and shift it from the full line to the dotted line position, Fig. 4, thus disengaging cross bar II] from its seat in the notch of the hooked extension 9. This operation fully disconnects the counterbalancing spring from the screen carrying arm, and the latter may then be returned to the position shown in Fig. 1 and may be manipulated with respect to the patient without any burden by the attendant in overcoming the tension of a counterbalancing spring in so doing. During such manipulation the bar It) is held by the tension of the counterbalancing spring I 5 against the outer surface of the hook 9, spring I5 having a tendency to move said bar into a position in line with the length of the spring. Consequently, whenever it is desired to reestablish connection of the counterbalancing spring to the screen carrying arm, said arm is moved outwardly to the position shown in full lines, Fig. 4, when, automatically, spring I5 will snap the bar I0 into its position seated within the hook 9, restoring the connection and again making the spring efiective on the arm for full counterbalancing effect when the member 3 is turned back to position for use of the screen in horizontal fluoroscopy.

This is a very simple construction for the purpose of enabling the spring to be readily disconnected and to be made inefiective, and to also automatically reestablish connection in the ordinary course of manipulation of the parts. The counterbalancing spring not only serves for its usual counterbalancing purpose, but also to maintain the parts connected and to tend to return them to connected position when they have been disconnected, in the manner described. But a single spring is used and no special latch or other device is required.

What I claim is:

1. X-ray apparatus, comprising a head, an arm pivoted thereto and carrying a fluoroscopic screen,

a counterbalancing spring secured at one end to said head, a coupling member connected to the other end of said spring, said arm having an open seat to receive said coupling member, and an operating lever connected to said coupling member by means of which it may be disconnected from said arm at the will of the operator.

2. X-ray apparatus, comprising a hollow head provided with guides, an arm pivoted to said head and carrying a fluoroscopic screen, a counterbalancing spring secured at one end to said head, a tilting coupling member connected to the other end of said spring, trunnions on said member slidable in the said guides, and said arm having an open seat to receive said coupling member.

3. X-ray apparatus, comprising a hollow head provided with guides, an arm pivoted to said head and carrying a fluoroscopic screen, a counterbalancing spring secured at one end to said head, a tilting coupling member connected to the other end of said spring, and trunnions on said member slidable in the said guides, said arm having an opening seat to receive said coupling member, and said coupling member having an operating lever by means of which it may be tilted about said trunnions to uncouple it from said arm.

4. X-ray apparatus, comprising a hollow head provided with guides, an arm pivoted therein and carrying a fluoroscopic screen, a counterbalancing spring secured at one end to said head, a tilting coupling member provided with opposed portions, one thereof being connected to the other end of said spring, and trunnions on said member between the said portions thereof and slidable in said guides, said arm having an open seat to receive the other portion of said coupling member, whereby the efiect of said spring on one portion of said coupling member always exerts a tendency to reestablish coupled relation between the other portion of said coupling member-and said arm when they are uncoupled.

5. X-ray apparatus, comprising a hollow head,

an arm pivoted therein and carrying a fluoroscopic screen, a counterbalancing spring secured at one end to said head, a releasable connection between the other end of said spring and. said arm, said connection being enclosed within said head, and an operating device for actuating said connection to release or connect the same, said operating device extending from said connection to the outside of said head where it is accessible for operation by the operator.

6. X-ray apparatus, comprising a hollow head,

an arm pivoted therein and carrying a fluoroscopic screen, a counterbalancing spring secured at one end to said head, a coupling member enclosed within said head andconnected to the other end of said spring, said arm having an open seat to receive said coupling member, and an operating device connected to said coupling member for operating the same, said device extending from said coupling member to the outside of said head where it is accessible for'operation by the operator.

ROBERT J. STAVA.