US2181775A - Switch or control arrangement for operating x-ray apparatus - Google Patents

Description

F. DESSAUER ET AL 2,181,775 SWITCH OR CONTROL ARRANGEMENT FOR OPERATING X-RAY APPARATUS Nov. 278, 1939.

Filed Aug. 17, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 33 IPICT/F/fff um- BAT/$721K E NOV. 28, 1939. F DESSAUER ET 2,181,775

SWITCH OR CONTROL ARRANGEMENT FOR OPERATING X-RAY APPARATUS Filed Aug. 17, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 k /V 4/ 46 6f /a/ v w 297 A9 Patented Nov. 28, 1939 'SWITGH OR-CONT-ROL ARRANGEMENT FOR OPERATING X-RAY APPARATUS Friedrich Dessauer and Kurt Lion, Istanbul,

Turkey Application August 1'7,

In Germany I I 16 Claims.

to action'by the main switch.

Switch or control arrangements of this kind of adjustment include the danger'of a great number of errors or rather false adjustments. Furthermore they'necessitate a highly trained operating person. In spite of the presence of such a person it may, however, happen that either the most favorable operating conditions are not followed orwhich is by far more disagreeablethat the X-ray tube or the apparatus are overchargedand thereby damaged or even destroyed.

A great number of-switch or control arrangements are already known, by which the possibilities of failures are supposed to be eliminated, or at least minimized. One means consists. in reducing the possibilities of adjustment, thus limiting their free choice. The other retains the full adaptability at the expense of considerable complications.

The invention is based on the fact that in practice the same organ is always exposed with the same basic adjustments. For instance a radiograph of the lugs--once the most favorable adjustments have been established-is always made with the self same basic adjustments. Such basic adjustments require only slight variations in respect of the small difierences of the particular cases in hand.

The switch or control arrangement for the working of X-ray apparatus according to the present invention comprises a basic device to be controlled by an additional, co-operating control device when combined with said latter device, said basic device being adapted to adjust or fix automatically a plurality of important working factors when co-operating with the control device, and a plurality of additional control devices differing from one another, each of said control devices being adapted to a group of typical working conditions of the X-ray apparatus to be operated and to be easily connected with-and detached from the basic device.

The basic device may be constructed in the form of a control desk.

"The control of the basic device by means of the additional control devices maybe effected 1937, Serial No. 159,520 April 27, 1937 mechanically. In such a case the additional control devices are constructed in such a manner as to determine positions or ranges of positions of movable members on the basic device for adjusting the current of the X-ray tube, its anode potential, the duration of theexposure and so on. In this form of execution it is advisable that the basic device be fitted with driving means by which the adjustable members of the basic device may be moved automatically to those positions or to-the limits of the ranges of the positions which are determined by each of the additional control devices. The driving means may consist in a small electromotor or electromagnets and so on. For the same purpose, however, also a driving device workable by hand could be used. The forms of execution, however, are preferable in which the control of the basic device by the additional control devices is carried out electrically. For this purpose the basic device and the additional control devices are provided with contact means which correspond to and cooperate with one another, and the contact means of the additional control devices are associated with connections mounted inside the control devices and adapted in-each case to a group of typical working conditions. The contact means of the control devices may, for instance, short-circuit different parts of circuit elements possessing steps and being mounted in the basic device, such as resistances, choking-coils, auto-transformers and so on. In another embodiment of the invention in which the control of the basic device is also effected electrically by additional-control devices, the basic device is provided with circuit elements possessing steps, such as resistances, chokingcoils, auto-transformers-and so on, and the control devices are fitted with contact arrangements co-operating with these circuit elements the contact arrangement of each'control device being adapted to a' group of typical working conditions. The contact arrangements of the control devices may for instance be formed by more or less long longitudinal metalmembers which short-circuit a greater or lesser number of turns or windings of auto-transformers beingmounted in the basic device, thus controlling the basic device in the desired manner.

Controlling means for operating X-ray apparatus are already known which arebased, like the present invention, on the fact of experience, that in similar-cases of diagnostics and therapy the same group of typical workingconditionsshould be present. It is, for instance, already known to provide on a movable axis a number of control disks which have radial extensions, each of these disks serving to adjust one of the working conditions. The radial extensions act like camshafts on levers for controlling the voltage of the X-ray tube, its amperage, the time of exposure and so on. This apparatus, however, did not meet with any approval owing to the deficiencies connected with it.

Furthermore, apparatus are known in which by means of plugs various connections between circuit elements being mounted in a table-like casing may be carried out. These apparatus which show some relationship with the apparatus according to the present invention have, however, the great drawback that their use calls for a very considerable reduction of the number of groups of working conditions. twenty-five diiferent adjusting combinations must be efiected. This, however, is not possible with the apparatus referred to above for reasons of construction. Moreover, these apparatus are subjected to a number of other important deficiencies.

In using an apparatus being constructed according to the present invention the adjusting is effected very quickly, which in case of the physician is heavily burdened or the apparatus is hard worked or, in accident diagnostics is of vital importance. A further advantage is the absolute reliability of adjustment. As a rule various knobs have no longer to be turned, neither is it necessary to operate various plugs, switches or the like, which may lead to confusion, but by insertion of a definite control device in a certain place of the apparatus all or a number of adjustments are effected. A further very essential advantage is the fact that all possibility of faulty manipulation of the apparatus is eliminated without sacrifice in any way of accuracy of results. On the other hand, when using an apparatus according to the present invention there is no call for strict adherence to working conditions once the machine has been properly standardized, but by interchange of the control devices or modification of same the adjustments may be adapted to special circumstances. But in addition to all that, the construction of the X-ray apparatus itself may also be considerably simplified as will be seen from the following: The voltage being applied on an X-ray apparatus decreases when the load increases. Since when assembling a control device both amperage and voltage are known, the drop of the voltage can be taken into account and compensated already when dimensioning or designing the control device. The adjustment of the voltage may thus be efiected by very simple means, for instance by a resistance. In an apparatus of this kind a number of measuring-instruments may be spared, as these instruments with the constructions known hitherto served chiefly for verifying the correctness of the adjustment.

The drawings show diagrammatically some embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows in cross section a part of a basic device and of a control device connected with it.

Fig. 2 shows in cross section another modification of a basic device and a control device. In

Fig. 3 an additional adjusting arrangement is shown diagrammatically.

Fig. 4 shows a basic device which it fitted with two control devices.

Fig. 5 is the wiring diagram of a time switch for producing instantaneous Riintgenograms by means of an apparatus according to the present invention.

In practice at least.

Fig. 6 shows the characteristics of the arrangement shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a circuit diagram of X-ray apparatus embodying the present invention, illustrating a master control device and a cooperating control device of the type diagrammatically shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a cross-section of a modified cooperating control device; and

Fig. 9 is a cross-section of a modified master control device and a cooperating control device.

According to Fig. 1 the two circuit-elements 2 and 3 e. g. auto-transformers being provided with taps, are mounted in the basic device. The taps of the circuit-elements 2, 3 are connected with the contact arrangements 4 of the basic device I. The control device 5 is fitted with contact arrangements 6 which correspond and co-operate with the contact arrangements 4 of the basic device. In the control device 5 connections are provided being in contact with its contact'arrangements 6 and adapted to a group of typical working conditions. In the arrangement shown in theydrawings these connections are formed by short-circuit members 'I, 8 and 9 short-circuiting parts of. the circuit-elements or auto-transformer coils 2 and 3. Each of the control devices 5 which are intended to be used in conjunction with the basic device I possesses other connections and each group of these connections is adapted to a group of typical working conditionsworking conditions for lungs, skull frontal, heart and so on.

It is of particular advantage that the circuitelements 2, 3 being partly short-circuited by the device 5, are not continuously subdivided, but in a geometrical series or progression, since the greatest number of permutations, i. e. the finest subdivision results thereby. With a resistance having steps corresponding to the values 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 64 subdivisions (from 0 to 63) may be effected.

According to Fig. 2 the basic device or master control device I is fitted with contact arrangements in the form of plug bushes or contact sleeves 4.. The control device 5 shows plug pins 6 co-operating with the plug bushes 4. The control-device 5 is fitted with circuit-elements I3, I4, I5 (resistances, choke-coils, condensers and the like) designed to conform with a group of typical working conditions. The control device is formed in the shape of a casing and the circuit-elements I3, l4, I5 are mounted in it. According to the drawings the circuit IU of the basic device I is closed by the circuit-element I3 of the control device 5. In a like manner the circuit-elements I l and I5 of the control device 5 close the circuits I I and I2 of the basic device I. Therefore, the circuits Iii, II, l2 are controlled by the circuitelements I3, i l, I5 and the current strength of the current of each circuit is determined by the design of the circuit-elements I3, I4, I5. The circuit-elements I3, I 4, I5 of a control device 5 are adapted to suit the typical working conditions of a certain case and those of the other control devices destined to be used in conjunction with the basic device I, are adapted to suit the typical working conditions of other cases.

The use of the hitherto generally used mechanical time switches for the production of instanfor instance a time switch'based on the loading or discharging of a condenser. In using such a time switch the element determining the switch times may be lodged in the control device. In Fig. 2 the condenser 15 lying in the circuit 12 being the circuit of the time switch serves for determining the duration of the exposure. Therefore, according to the present invention, circuit-elements for the circuit of the time switch are fitted into the control device, for instance condenser, said circuit-elements determining the switch times and being adapted to suit with the other typical working conditions of the control device in hand.

Generally speaking the circuit-elements which according to the present invention ought to be mounted into the control device 5 may not only be formed by resistances, coils or condensers, but for the same purpose, i. e. for controlling the basic device i, also relays,. valves, bi-metal strips and so on may be used.

Regardless of the standardization of the working conditions it. is advisable to provide regulating devices that are workable by hand and by which the working conditions determined by the control device may be varied within comparatively narrow limits. These regulating devices may be arranged on the control devices and they permit variation of the Working conditions Within the limits determined by each of the control devices so as to adapt them in the best possible manner to the peculiarities ofthe case in hand. In making a Rontgenogram of a bone it may be preferable to work with constant voltage at the X-ray tube and to vary the value of milliamperage and exposure time, While in the case of an exposure on soft parts a regulation of the voltage on the X-ray tube produces betterresults. Thus a control device for exposures on soft parts may be provided with an additional regulating means workable by hand whichv allows to vary the voltage of the X-ray tube within restricted and comparatively narrow limits.

In the case of control devices being provided with several regulating means to beoperated by hand it may be advisable to provide a device limiting reciprocally their free movement in such a way that adjustments causing overloads of the X-ray tube are prevented thereby. Fig. 3 shows a regulating arrangement of this kind, where at one of the regulation elements a notch-like curved disk and at the other a co-operating abutment is provided. As to the device according to Fig. 3, mention has to be made of the following:

For many purposes, more especially for fluoroscopy or radioscopy, a free choice of the current strength and voltage is often desired. Therefore a control device should be used with which both factors may be adjusted separately. Since the maximum current strength depends on the voltage lying at the X-ray tube, the operating knob it which serves to adjust the voltage is connected with a curved disk 1! The operating knob it? which serves to adjust the current-strength is provided with a stopor abutment-lever IS. The

limits of the positions of the knob [8 for the regulation of the current strength'are therefore determined in each case by the positions of regulating knob it. When designing the disk I! the load capacity of the X-ray tube is to be taken into account.

In Fig. 9, for example, there are disclosed a master control device (or a portion of the same) i5], having a plurality of contact members MI,

292', 293 and 294', adapted, respectively, to engage contact members 29!, 292, 293' and 294 of a cooperating control device I53. An impedance 296 is connected to the contact member'ZSI and an impedance 298 to the contact member 293. Theimpedance 296 is adjustable'by means of a contact arm 29? through the medium of the knob It and the impedance 2% by means of a contact arm 299 through the medium of the knob IS. The curved disk Ill, rigid with the knob I6, limits the range of adjustment of the knob l8. One of these impedances may, for example, control the voltage and the other the current. As an illustration, the impedance 2% may be constituted of one of the hereinafter-described resistors 61, 68 and 69, and the impedance 291 one of the herematter-described windings i4, 15 and '56.

According toFig. l the basic device is adapted to the simultaneous reception of two control devices 5 and 5. By operating the change-over switch 28 the two control devices 5 and 5 may be brought to action successively. The basic device is provided with circuit-elements e. g. windings 2E, 22, 2t, 22' possessing taps. The control devices 5, 5 have contact arrangements 23, 25, 255 213 co-operating with these taps, said contact arrangements being adapted to a group of typical working conditions; The circuit-elements or windings 2!, 22, 2t, 22' may be shortcircuited more or less by the contact arrangements 23, 24, 23', 24'. Moreover, the basic device shows two contact arrangements 25, 25' co-operating with the contact members 26, 26 of the two control devices 5, 5. The apparatus according to Fig. lserves for the purpose of producing exposures in the manner set forth below by means of an X-ray tube with rotatable target. Similar arrangements may, however, also be used for other purposes. The current is led to the contacts or taps of the circuit-elements 2 I, 22, 2 l 22 by means of the change-over switch 29, whereas the current is led directly to the contact means 25, 25'. The current is led from the taps of the circuit-elements 2 i, 2 i to the heating transformer 2! of the X-ray tube and from the taps of the circuit-elements or coils 22, 22' to the high tension transformer 28 producing the anode potential for the X-ray tube. Of the contact arrangements 25 and 25' only the contact members i a and b leading to the rotatable anode 30 may be considered. It may be assumed that for the time being only the control device 5 serving for radioscopy is inserted in the basic device. The rotatable target then stands still to avoid unnecessary wear. Now, after the physician has found the organ he wishes to expose on, the exposure control device 5' is inserted. Thereupon, without the switch 28 being changed over to the control device 5 a current flows over the contact arrangement 25' to contact I) and the rotatable anode or target begins to rotate, i. e. the exposure is prepared but not yet executed. In the same manner an increased valve heating, the time switch, the diaphragm for scattered radiation, the sensitivity of the instruments and so on may be switched on ready for the exposure. As .soon as the phase the physician intends to expose on takes place, by simple changing-over switch 26 from the position marked Ito the position marked II the control device 5' is brought into action and the exposure is effected.

The apparatus according to the present invention further allows to compensate in a very simple manner the unreliabilities of the distribution network to which the X-ray apparatus is connected, either in respect of the voltage drop' 4 causes that in case of exposures with heavy loads Y the primary voltage decreases and that consequently the voltage being applied to the X-ray tube, as well as the cathode-heating voltage of said tube and thereby the emission current are reduced. Since, as mentioned above, when designing the control devices the intended rate of current strength and voltage are known, the voltage drop in the distribution network may be taken into account and compensated for.

Fig. 5 shows the connections of a time switch for the production of instantaneous Rontgenograms, the switch times of which depend on the applied voltage of the line in such a way as to compensate for the voltage drop occurring in the distribution line or network by increasing the times of exposuredischarge tube 3! is connected to the output circuit of a rectifier-unit 33, the in-put circuit of said unit being connected to the distribution line or network. The grid 3 la is connected by means of a grid-leak resistance 34 with the cathode 3ib.

The working conditions are chosen in such a way that relay 32 attracts its armature and consequently interrupts the current of the X-ray tube. A condenser l5 (see also Fig. 2) is connected to the cathode 3). The condenser I5 is connected by means of change-over switch 35 to the D. C. current source 36 of constant voltage, e. g. a battery, and is charged by it. The charge of condenser l 5 is effected in such a way that the positive pole is connected to the cathode 3lb. If for the purpose of exposure the change-over switch 35 is switched from position I to position'II the negative pole of the condenser I5 is connected with the grid 3m. Therefore, the anode current is interrupted and the relay 32 is de-energized and thereby closes the anode circuit of the X-ray tube.

The closure can be effected by means of an additional electromagnetic relay or another suitable switch mechanism. The condenser l5 discharges during the time of closure over the resistance 34. After an interval of time being determined by the design of the condenser l5, of the resistance 34 and of the voltage of the battery 36 the voltage or the grid am has again attained such a value that the anode current of the discharge tube 3! attracts the relay 32 interrupting thereby the anode current of the X-ray tube.

The anode current strength with which the relay 32 functions, is reached according to the position of the characteristics of the discharge tube 3! with different grid voltages. The positions of the characteristics again depend on the working voltages i. e. on the voltage of the line or the in-put voltage of the rectifier-unit 33. With higher primary voltage a characteristic according to A of Fig. 6 results, whereas with lower primary voltage a characteristic according to B of Fig. 6 is produced. The current J with which the relay 32 attracts its armature is reached with diiferent grid voltages, i. e. after different time intervals, after the condenser 15 has been connected to the grid am. Thus, a compensation of the kind referred to above may be effected and realized by suitable choice of the type of the grid-controlled valve 3ia, the operating voltages of same, the current strength of response of" the relay 32, the charge voltage as well as the capacity of the'condenser i5 and the value'of the resistance 34. i

It will easily be seen that the above described method of compensation can be eifected with sufficient accuracy only within the narrow limits of adefinite type of exposures and therefore is 1 not appropriate when using an 'X-ray device to switch certain circuits as for instance the circuits of the rotatable anode, the cooling pump,

the time switch and'so on in the absenceof current, because with these devices a wear 'of' the contacts on switching under current is of no appreciable account. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 4 therefore a device should be provided for avoiding that the control device is inserted or taken off, when the change-over switch 20 stands in the position marked I. For that purpose a locking device may be controlled by the change-over switch 20 preventing the insertion or taking off of a control device, if the change-over switch 23 is in the switch-on position of said control device.

The method of manipulation of an X-ray apparatus being fitted with a control arrangement as set forth above'is, asa matter of fact, particularly simple. Such a control arrangement dispenseswith the necessity to use the complicated control means .as practised hitherto including complicated switch and control arrangements and causing diificulties of communication with the staff. The table for radiological diagnosis or'clinoscope'may be combined into a unit with the basic device adapted to receive the control devices and the X-ray tube may, if desired, be provided at another place of the room. Furthermore, several basic devices into which control devices may be inserted at will, may be fitted inside or outside the room serving for diagnosis.

Some adjustments cannot be effected directly by means of the control devices or only in a comparatively complicated manner, for instance the winding up of the scattered ray diaphragm or the adjustment of the prescribed focus-film distance and so on. These adjustments can be made easily noticeable while working by inscriptions on the control device. In order to Verify whether these adjustments are properly eifected the control devices or the basic device may be fitted with a signal that shows whether the diaphragm was wound up and so on.

The control devices may be distinguished by color, form, inscribed figures and so on. This is more particularly useful e. g. when it is intended to carry out diagnostics and therapy with the same instrument.

In some cases it is advisable to build up the control devices from interchangeable, normalized parts, so as to allow their easy alteration. In other cases it is useful, if the control devices optional alteration, so that such an alteration could be efiected only after damaging .a seal or an envelope. This form of execution is particularly suitable, if from the side of a producer firm, for the sake of given factory guarantees, a faulty adjustment of an X-ray apparatus is meant to be guarded against.

Referring to Fig. '7, current is supplied to the X-ray apparatus, shown as an X-ray tube 47, from the mains H9 and H3. The X-raytube is provided with a heating transformer, a voltage transformer, and a further transformer for energizing the filament of a rectifying tube I01. To accord with Fig. 4, the heating transformer is designated by the numeral 21, the volt age transformer by 28, and the further transformer by 30. ing 3'! of the heating transformer 21 extends from a terminal 48, connected to' the main He, by way of a conductor 38, through the primary winding 31, by way of a conductor 35, and through resistors 69, 58 and 51,120 a terminal 49 connected to the main H3. The resistor 57 is connected to contact terminals 50 and 5!, the resistor 'tflto contact members 5| and 52, and the resistor 59 to contact members 52 and 53 of a master control device. Though, to accord with Fig. 1, this master control device is designated by the numeral 1, it is shown provided with a number of contact members additional to those designated 50 to '53, indicated at 54 to M.

A control device for cooperating with the master control device I, and designated, to conform with Fig. 1, by the numeral 5, is shown provided with contact members 50' to 6 1', for respectively cooperating with the contact members 50 to 6 1 of the master control device l.

The cooperating control device 5 is one of many cooperating control devices that may be substituted, one for another, so as to cooperate with the master control device I. A further such cooperating control device 9| is illustrated in Fig. 8, shown provided with contact members 50 to 64", for respectively cooperating with the contact members 50 to E4 of the mastercontrol device I.

In the cooperating control device 5 of Fig. '7, the contact members 5l and 52' are shown connected together by a conductor, so as to short circuit the resistor 58. In order to show the relation between Fig. 7 and Fig. 1, this conductor is designated by the numeral 1. The current supplied to the primary winding 31 in order to energize its secondary winding All of the transformer 21, will thus be reduced by the resistance of the resistors 51 and 59, thereby to heat the cathode of the X-ray tube 41 to a proper value. As the contact members and 5!, as well as the contact members 52' and 53, are not similarly connected together by conductors, the resistors ,6! and 69 will not be short-circuited. In the cooperating control device 9!, however, the contact members 50" and 52" are shown connected together by a conductor 4!, though the contact members 52" and 55" are not connected together. When the cooperating control device 9! has been juxtaposed into cooperating relation to the master control member I, however, in substitution for the cooperating control device 5. therefore, with the contact members 5!!" to 54" in cooperative relation to the contact members 55 to 54, the resistors 81 and 58 will both be short-circuited from the circuit of the primary winding 3?, but. the resistor 59 will not be short-circuited. With the resistors 5i and 58 short-circuited, a greater heating current will be applied to the secondary winding 46 ofthe heating transformer 21 and,

The circuit of the primary wind- I therefore, to the filament of the X-ray tube 41. The degree of heating of the cathode of the X-ray tube 41 is thus controlled. bysuitable combinations of theresistors 61, 68 and 69 through the medium of suitable cooperating control devices, two of which are illustrated at 5 and 9!.

The primary winding 42 of the voltage transformer 28 is connectedinto a circuit extending from a terminal '12, that is connected to the main Hill, by way of a conductor it, through the primary. winding 42, and by way of a conductor 44, to I contact members 19 and 18. When these contact members it and T8 are bridged by a contact memher It, the circuit continues, by way of a conductor 45,.through inductance coils or windings l6, l5 and l hto a terminal 13, that is connected to the main H3. The winding '14 is connected to the contact members 54 and 55, the winding 15 to the contact members 55 and 56, and the winding '15 to the contact members 5b and 51. The a contact members 54' and 55' are shown connected together by a conductor that, to correspond to the showing of Fig. 1, is designated by l the numeral 8. When the cooperating control device 5 is employed, therefore, as illustrated in r Fig. 7, since the windings M and 75 become shortcircuited by the conductor 8, the circuitof the primary winding 42 contains the winding 15 only. The contact members 54" and 55" of the: cooperating control device 9|, however, are shown connected together by a conductor 45, and the contact members 55 and 5'1" by a conductor 65,

the contact members 55' and 56 being not connected together. When the cooperating control device 9| is employed, therefore, in substitution for the cooperating controldevice 5, the coils l4 and 15 will "be short-circuited, and the circuit.

of the primary winding 42 will contain the coil 15 alone. v

The contact member 11 is actuable intobridging engagement with the contact members 18 and 19 by means of a coil Bill, the circuit of which may be traced from a terminal 8 I that is connected to the main I ill, by way of a conductor 55,'through the coil 85, by way of a conductor H, to aterminal 98. From the terminal 58, the circuit continues through a manually operable switch 83, by Way of a conductor 152, to the contact member 58. As the contact members 58 and 59' are shown short-circuited by a conductor that may be desig-,

nated bythe numeral 9, to agree with the showing of Fig.1, the circuit continues, from the contact member 58, through the contact members 58' and 59 and the conductors connectingthem,

and'the contact member 59 and, by way of a conductor I63, to a terminal 82, that is connected to the main H3. When the cooperating control device 5 is employed, therefore, the coil 80 becomes energized merely upon the manual closing of the switch 83, to effect the bridging of the contact members 18 and 18 by the contact memare not connected together, this circuit of the coil ill! will remain open, notwithstanding the manual actuation of the switch 83. In such case, the circuit of the coil 89 may be under the control of a time switch, designated by the numeral 92. This will be described more fully hereinafter.

The circuit of the primary winding 155 of the transformer 35 may be traced from a terminal 85,

to the main II3., The circuit is the same when the cooperating control device 9! is employed, except that the contact members 93" and 64" are connected together by a conductor I I5, instead of through the resistor 81. In the former case, therefore, the current applied to the primary winding I95 will be less than in the latter case.v

I Upon the closing of a line switch (not shown),

therefore, current will be supplied from the mains III) and H3 to the primary windings 37 and I95 of the respective transformers 21 and 30.

The filament of the rectifying tube I'III will become energized by the secondary winding I06 of the transformer 39.. If no timing switch 92 is employed, the switch member 83 will then be manually operated, at the proper time, to energize the coil 89, thus to' actuate the contact member 17 into bridging engagement with the contact members 18 and I9, whereupon the primary winding 42* of the transformer 28 will become energized. A unidirectional current flow will thereuponbecome established in the circuit of the X-ray tube ;4'I, this circuit including the secondary winding III of the transformer 28 and When the cooperating "control device 9| isv employed, as before stated-riot only are different currents applied to the primary windings 3?, 42

and I95, but the bridging of the contact members I9 and I8 by the contactmember'TI will be controlled by the time switch 92, and not manually by the switch 83. The circuit of the coil 89 may, in this case, be traced from the terminal 8I, by Way of the conductor 66, and through the coil 89, to the'terminal- 98, as before. The circuit continues to terminals I29 and I28, when bridged by a switch contact member 96, by way of conductors I23 and I2'I, to the contact member 69. As the contact members 60" and 59" are connected together by a conductor I3I, the circuit continues through the contact members 68 and 68", the conductor I3I, the contact members 59" and59, by Way of the conductor I93, to the terminal 82. The switch contact member 96 is under the control of a coil 99. The circuit parameters are so chosen that the normal current through the anode circuit of the tube 3! will energize the coil 99 to a degree suiiicient normally to maintain the'contactmember 96 out of engagement with the contact members I28 and I29, thus normally preventing energization of the coil 89. As described hereinafter, the circuit of the coil 99 will become closed, however, after a predetermined time interval, determined by the time switch 92. l

The time switch is shown provided with a transformer I48 the primary winding I4I of which is shown connected in a circuit extending from a terminal II2 that is connected to the main III], by way of a conductor I42, through the primary winding I4I to the conductor IZ'I which, as before described, is connected to the main H3 through the terminal 82. The time switch 92 is further provided with a glow-cathode tube I2I for controlling the tube 3|, provided with the cathode 3Ib, the grid 3Ia,'- and: an

anode I25.

This time' switch 92 is under the control of a condenser which, to accord'with the showing of Fig. 1, may be designated by the numeral I5, and which isshown-connected between the contact members 9I"and 62".-- I

In one of its positions, the two-way switch 35 connects a contact member I34 with a 'contact member I35. In its other position, it conheats the contact member I34 with a contact member I36. In the first-named position, the condenser I5 will become charged by a circuit extending from one side of the battery 36, through the contact member I35, the switch 35, and the contact member I34, by way of a conductor I45, through the contact members 62 and 92", the condenser I5 and the contact members 9|" and 8I and, by way of conductors I46 and I41, to the other side of the battery 35. The

negative pole of the battery 36 is shown connected to the contact member 62 and the positive pole to the contact member GI. So poled, the condenser I5 will, after a predetermined time interval, upon the actuation of the switch 35 to its said other position, impose a charge upon the grid 3Ia, so as to stop the flow of ourrent throughthe coil 99 and permit the bridging of the contact members I28 and I29 by the contact member 96.- I

The circuit of the condenser I5 and the coil 99 is controlled by a manually operable switch 94. The time switch 92 will not, therefore, operate until a predetermined time has elapsed after the closing of the manually-controlled switch 94.

The resistor 34 is connected between. the oathode BIZ) and the grid em. The purpose of the resistor 34 is to dissipate the energy' in the condenser I5, thereby gradually reducing the negative charge on the grid 3Ia, until it finally obtains a value such as to permit current to flow through the tube 3| once more. The coil 99' thereupon becomes again energized to again actuate the switch 96 out of contact with the contact members I28 and I29, more the coil 89. t

Of the two manually controlled switches 83 and 94, the former has been described as employed in connection with the cooperating control member 5, and the latter in cooperation with the cooperating control device 9I. In order to make certain'that one only of these switches 83 and 94 may be operated at a time, they are mechanically connected together by a link I90, which may itself serve as the medium for closing and opening the respective switches 83 and 94.

We claim:

1. X-ray control apparatus having, in combination, a' master control device, and a plurality of separate cooperating control devices adapted to be manually moved bodily under the control of the operator into and out of cooperative electrical relation to "the master control device, the cooperating control devices each having a group of control elements, the groups of control elements diifering from one another to determine difierent pluralities of coordinated working factors, each group of control elements comprising contact means, and the master control device having contact means adapted to be engaged by each of thecontact means of the respective cooperating control devices when the cooperating control devices'arein respective cooperative relation to the master control device to control the oper ation of the X-ray apparatus according to the thereby to deenergize once working factors determined by the respective cooperating control devices.

2. X-ray control apparatus having, in combination, a master control device having a plurality of impedances, and a plurality of separate cooperating control devices adapted to be manually moved bodily under the control of the operator into and out of cooperative electrical relation to the master control device, the cooperating control devices each having a group of control elements, the groups of control elements differing from one another to render selectively different portions of the impedances effective in the respective circuits of the X-ray apparatus when the cooperating control devices are respectively in cooperative relation to the master control device to control the operation of the X-ray apparatus according to a plurality of predetermined coordinated working factors, the plurality of predetermined coordinated Working factors differing according to the groups of control elements of the respective cooperating control devices.

3. X-ray control apparatus having, in combination, a master control device having a plurality of impedances, and a plurality of separate cooperating control devices adapted to be manually moved bodily under the control of the operator into and out of cooperative electrical relation to the master control device, the cooperating control devices each having means for selectively short-circuiting different portions of the impedances to control the operation of the X-ray apparatus according to a plurality of predeter mined coordinated Working factors, the plurality of predetermined coordinated working factors differing according to the short-circuited portions of the impedances.

4. X-ray control apparatus having, in combination, a master control device having a plurality of impedances provided with'contact members dividing the impedances into a plurality of portions the impedance values of which are in geometric proportion, and a plurality of separate cooperating control devices adapted to be manually moved bodily under the control of the operator into and out of cooperative electrical relation to the master control device, the cooperating control devices each having cooperating contact members for engaging the first-named contact members to render different portions of the impedances effective in the respective circuits of the X-ray apparatus, thereby to control the operation of the X-ray apparatus according to a plurality of predetermined coordinated working factors, the plurality of predetermined coordinated working factors differing according to the engaged contact members of the cooperating control devices.

5. X-ray control apparatus having, in combination, a master control device, and a plurality of separate cooperating control devices adapted to be manually moved bodily under the control of the operator into and out of cooperative electrical relation to the master control device, the cooperating control devices each having a plurality of impedances, the pluralities of impedances differing from one another to determine different pluralities of predetermined coordinated working factors, and the master control device having means cooperating With the impedances of the respective cooperating control devices to control the operation of the X-ray apparatus according to the working factors determined by the impedances of the respective cooperating control devices. r

6. X-ray control apparatus having, in combination, a master control device, a plurality of separate cooperating control devices adapted to be manually moved bodily under the control of the operator into and out of cooperative electrical relation to the master control device, the cooperating control devices each having a casing and a plurality of impedances in the casing, the plurality of impedances differing from one another to determine different pluralities of. predetermined coordinated Working factors, and the master control device having means cooperating with the impedances of the respective cooperating control devices to control the operation of the X-ray apparatus according to the working factors determined by the impedances of the respective coop- I crating control devices.

7. X-ray control apparatus having, in combination, a master control device, a plurality of separate cooperating control devices adapted to be manually moved bodily under the control of the operator into and out of cooperative electrical relation to the master control device, the cooperating control devices each having a group of control elements, the groups of control elements differing from one another to determine different pluralities of coordinated working factors, the master control device having means cooperating with the groups of control elements of the re spective cooperating control devices to control the operation of the X-ray apparatus according to the working factors determined by the respective cooperating control devices, and means for manually varying the working factors corresponding to one or more of the cooperating control devices within predetermined limits.

8. X-ray control apparatus having, in combination, a master control device, a plurality of separate cooperating control devices adapted to be manually moved bodily under the control of the operator into and out of cooperative electrical relation to the master control device, the cooperating control devices each having a group of control elements, the groups of control elements differing from one another to determine different pluralities of coordinated working factors, the

master control device having means cooperating with the groups of control elements of the respective cooperating control devices to control the operation of the X-ray apparatus according to the working factors determined by the respective cooperating control devices, and means on one or more of the cooperating control devices for manually varying the working factors within predetermined limits.

9. X-ray control apparatus having, in combination, a master control device, a plurality of separate cooperating control devices adapted to be manually moved bodily under the control of the operator into and out of cooperative electrical relation to the master control device, the cooperating control devices each having a group of control elements, the groups of control elements differing from one another to determine different pluralities of coordinated working factors, the master control device having means cooperating with the groups of control elements of the respective cooperating control devices to control the operation of the X ray apparatus according to the working factors determined by the respective cooperating control devices, a plurality of means on each of one or more of the cooperating control devices for manually'varying the working factors within predetermined limits, and means controlling the variation of another of the plurality of means to prevent overloading the X-ray apparatus.

10. X-ray control apparatus having, in combination, a master control device, a plurality of separate cooperating control devices adapted to be manually moved bodily under the control of the operator into and out of cooperative electrical relation to the master control device, the cooperating control devices each having a group of control devices for manually varying the working factors within predetermined limits, and a cam controlled by one of the plurality of means and an abutment member engaged by the cam for limiting the variation of another of the plurality of means to prevent overloading the X-ray apparatus.

11. X-ray control apparatus having, in combination, a master control device, a plurality of separate cooperating control devices adapted to be manually moved bodily under the control of the operator into and out of cooperative electrical relation to the master control device, the cooperating control devices each having a group of control elements, the groups of control elements differing from one another to determine different pluralities of coordinated working factors, the master control device having means cooperating with the groups of control elements of the respective cooperating control devices to control the operation of the X-ray apparatus according to the working factors determined by the respective cooperating control devices, a normally open switch for controlling the operation of the X-ray apparatus to produce instantaneous exposures, means for electromagnetically controlling the switch, a space-discharge device for controlling the electromagnetic controlling means, and means in one or more of the cooperating control devices for determining predetermined times of operation of the space-discharge device.

12, X-ray control apparatus having, in combination, a master control device, a plurality of separate cooperating control devices adapted to be manually moved bodily under the control of i the operator into and out of cooperative electrical relation to the master control device, the cooperating control devices each having a group of control elements, the groups of control elements differing from one another to determine a plurality of coordinated working factors, the master control device having means cooperating with the groups of control elements of the respective cooperating control devices to control the operation of the X-ray apparatus according to the working factors determined by the respective cooperating control devices, a normally open switch for controlling the operation of the X-ray apparatus to produce instantaneous exposures, means for electromagnetically controlling the switch, a space-discharge device for controlling the electromagnetic controlling means, means comprising a plurality of elements for controlling the flow of current through the space-discharge device, one of the elements being constituted of acondenser, a source of direct current of substantially constant voltage for charging the condenser, and a change-over switch for selectively connecting the condenser to the source of direct current and to the space-discharge device, whereby the switch becomes closed during the discharge of the condenser, one of the elements being comprised in one or more of the cooperating control devices.

13. X-ray control apparatus having, in combination, a master control device, a plurality of separate cooperating control devices adapted to be manually moved bodily under the control of the operator into and out of cooperative electrical relation to the master control device, the cooperating control devices each'having a group of control elements, the groups of control elements differing from one another to determine a plurality of coordinated working factors, the master control device having means cooperating with the groups of control elements of the respective cooperating control devices to control the operation of the X-ray apparatus according to the working factors determined by the respective cooperating control devices, a switch for controlling theoperation of the X-ray apparatus to produce instantaneous exposures, means for electromagnetical- 1y controlling the switch, a space-discharge device for controlling the electromagnetic-controlling means and having a cathode, an anode, and means for controlling the current flow between the cathode and the anode, means in one or more of the cooperating control devices for determining predetermined times of operation of the spacedischarge device, a source of current for the X-ray apparatus, and a rectifier connected to the source for supplying energy for the flow of current between the cathode and the anode.

14. X-ray control apparatus having, in combination, a master control device, a plurality of separate cooperating control devices adapted tobe manually moved bodily under the control of the operator into and out of cooperative electrical relation to the master control device, the cooperating control devices each having a group of control elements the groups of control elements differing from one another to determine a plurality of coordinated working factors, the master control device having means cooperating with the groups of control elements of the respective cooperating control devices to control the operation of the X-ray apparatus according to the working factors determined by the respective cooperating control devices, a normally open switch for controlling the operation of the X-ray apparatus to produce instantaneous exposures, means for electromagnetically controlling the switch, a spacedischarge device for controlling the electromagnetic controlling means and having a cathode, an anode, and a control electrode, means comprising two elements, namely a resistor and a condenser, for controlling the flow of current through the space-discharge device, the resistor being connected between the cathode and the control electrode, a source of direct current of substantially constant voltage for charging the condenser, and a, change-over switch for selectively connecting the condenser to the source of direct current and to the control electrode, whereby the switch becomes closed during the discharge of the condenser, one of the elements being comprised in one or more of the cooperating control devices.

15. X-ray control apparatus having, in com separate cooperating control devices adapted to be manually moved bodily under the control of the operator into and out of cooperative electrical relation to the master control device, the cooperating control devices each having a group of control elements, the groups of control elements differing from one another to determine a plurality of coordinated working factors, the master control device having means cooperating with the groups of control elements of the respective cooperating control devices to control the operation of the X-ray apparatus according to the working factors determined by the respective cooperating control devices, the master device being adapted to cooperate simultaneously "with two. of the said cooperating control devices, and a change-over switch for successively connecting the said two cooperating control devices to control successively the X-ray apparatus.

16. X-ray control apparatus having,- in combination, a master control device, and a plurality of separate cooperating control devices adapted to be manually moved bodily under the control of the operator into and out of cooperative electrical relation to the master control device, the cooperating control devices each having a group of control elements, the groups of control elements differing from one another 'to determine different pluralities of coordinated working factors, and

the master control device having means cooperating with the groups of control elements of the respective cooperating control devices to control the operation of the X-ray apparatus according to the working factors determined by the respective cooperating control devices.

FRIEDRICH DESSAUER. KURT LION.

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