US2683815A - Enforced delay timer for X-ray shoe fitting apparatus - Google Patents

Description

July 13, 1954 H. c. NEWMAN ENFORCED DELAY TIMER FOR X-RAY SHOE FITTING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 29, 1951 6,260? wwfl 5. 7Zcagnwv July 13, 1954 H. c. NEWMAN ENFORCED DELAY TIMER FOR X-RAY SHOE FITTING APPARATUS I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 29, 1951 July 13, 1954 H. c. NEWMAN 2,683,315

ENFORCED DELAY TIMER FOR X-RAY SHOE FITTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 29, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Cmumzu HIv PQlMARV Patented July 13, 1954 ENFORCED DELAY TIMER FOR X-RAY SHOE FITTING APPARATUS Harold C. Newman, Ely, Minn. Application January 29, 1951, Serial No. 208,310

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to X-ray shoe fitting equipment or apparatus of the type now employed for permitting the prospective purchaser to visibly and accurately determine the position of the foot within and the lit of the shoe, and more particularly to a novel means and mechanism for controlling the operation of the equipment in such manner as to prevent damage to the foot or feet of the prospective customer due to too long an exposure to the rays emanating from such equipment.

X-ray shoe fitting equipment has been used for some years for the express purpose of determining the proper length and width of shoes whereby to assure the proper fit for any size or type of foot. Such equipment or apparatus is a development or adaptation of the X-ray fluoroscope, which permits the purchaser trying on the shoes, the shoe salesman and any other interested person such as a parent when a child is being fitted, to visually determine the spacing or positioning of the foot within the shoe.

Originally such shoe fitting equipment was equipped with a rheostat for controlling the energization of the X-ray apparatus, and as no provision was made for limiting exposure the time of exposure depended generally upon the shoe clerk and by the removal of the foot by the prospective purchaser of the shoes. Under such conditions frequently the clerk and the prospective purchaser, and quite often some other interested member of the family, would engage in a discussion of the merits of various shoes which frequently resulted. in a prolonged and excessive examination and exposure under the X-ray apparatus.

As the shoe clerks operating these machines are in most instances entirely untrained and frequently uninformed as to the dangers inherent in or resulting from the indiscriminate or uncontrolled use of such apparatus, health authorities and reputable roentgenologists who fear not only the damage apparent after excessive exposure to the rays of the apparatus, but the pathological effects which may later develop, have proposed or insisted that regulations require the services of a trained X-ray technician in every shoe store employing this type of equipment so as to properly control its operation, or in the alternative; to entirely forbid its use.

The use of such equipment is regulated in many cities because of the dangers inherent in their unregulated use. It was never intended that such apparatus be used in the diagnosis of foot troubles, and regulations in some cities forbid its use for that purpose. Also som citie require that no examination be made unless the prospective customer has a shoe on each foot whereby to minimize the effects of soft X-ray radiation.

Primarily to eliminate damage to the transformers and tubes which were not built to withstand the abuse of uncontrolled time periods of operation, manufacturers have proposed and in stalled in the apparatus relays equipped with a thermal limiting device permitting a timed exposure of approximately 30 seconds. However, this period of exposure has been found excessive and the permissible time of exposure has been curtailed or limited in several of the larger cities to 5 seconds. It is now generally conceded an exposure time of 5 seconds is ample for purpose intended and manufacturers of such X- ray shoe fitting equipment now employ a timer so limiting the exposure.

However, such new timers have the very serious defect that they do not prevent the operator from effecting consecutive time exposures with out any appreciable time intervals therebetween. In other words, by pressing a button or actuating a switch the operator can initiate a 5 second exposure, but there is nothing to prevent that operator from immediately and again and again pressing the button or actuating the switch for successive exposures resulting in an approxi= mately continuous time cycle far in excess of that intended or permissible.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to obviate the various difficulties and objections to the prior and present commercial constructions of X-ray shoe fitting equipmen or apparatus, by providing for an enforced time delay whereby the operator cannot re-energize the X- ray equipment until after a predetermined time period has elapsed.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a novel time-control mechanism for an X-ray shoe fitting apparatus that provides protection against excessive exposure of the EL rays emanating from the apparatus. Because of the limitation as to the period in which the fitting must be accomplished before there is an enforced time delay, clerks are instructed to position the prospective customer with more accuracy and care whereby the fitting may be accomplished in the time period available. Also because of this enforced time delay, the prospective customer is not willing to wait or becomes impatient and will rarely insist on more than one fitting. Furthermore, because of the enforced time delay which is preferably for a period of 10 seconds or more,

there is little or no danger of over-exposure resulting from a continuous or substantially continuous exposure.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, efiiciency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

The invention further resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while there is shown therein a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change, and comprehends other details, arrangements of parts, features and constructions without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings;

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of an X-ray shoe fitting apparatus equipped with the novel enforced time delay, the view showing the front portion including the platform on which the person stands when the shoes are being fitted.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper rear portion of the cabinet and showing the various controls and viewing openings or eye scopes.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in perspective of the novel enforced time delay switch mechanism, the wires connecting the various contacts having been omitted.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the motor driven shaft with the cams carried thereon for controlling the operation of the enforced timer.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a wiring diagram of the enforced time delay mechanism.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawings and to the novel illustrative embodiment of the present invention, there is shown a commercial type of an X-ray shoe fitting apparatus comprising a cabinet It having a platform it upon which the prospective customer stands. Adjacent to and rearwardly of this platform is provided a recess ii in which the customer inserts one or both feet to visually determine the outline of the feet, the spacing between the feet and the interior of the shoes and the conformation of the shoes with respect to the feet.

At the top of the apparatus is provided a ledge I3 having an elevated viewer IQ for the customer and adjacent thereto provided with two spaced viewers i5 and it, one for the salesman and one for an interested observer or member of the customers family, such as a parent where a child is being fitted. These viewers i4, i5 and it are so spaced apart that each observer can fully view one or both feet of the prospective customer. A suitable switching mechanism is provided by which the salesman controls the operation of the X-ray equipment, but such operation is generally limited to a prescribed time period; The above equipment is standard in prior devices but in none is there any provision for preventing the danger inherent in immediate recycling and reexposure forsimilar periods.

The present novel invention comprehends a novel enforced timer or timing mechanism formed as a replacement for the timing unit with which the commercial apparatus is generally equipped. The original timing unit as above described, is removed and the present enforced timer is mounted in its place within the cabinet if). It includes a face plate ll having three push button controls numbered 18, l8 and I8 for initiating and controlling three degrees of penetration, namely, a deeper penetration for men and a progressively less penetration for women and children. It also includes a plug-type control switch l9 which must be inserted to engage and close the contacts at 29 to energize the circuit through the novel attachment. This plug switch provides a safety device preventing use of the apparatus by an unauthorized person, and especially children. By reason of its predetermined shape which controls the energization of the X-ray equipment, a pencil or other object cannot be inserted and employed to close the circuit therethrough.

Upon insertion of the plug switch E9, the shoe fitting apparatus or equipment is ready for energization and operation of the transformer and the X-ray equipment with which such apparatus is initially equipped. To limit the period of time in which the rays emanate, the present invention employs the push buttons 18, 18 and ta each associated with a series of aligned pairs of contacts 2i22, 232d, 2525 and 21-28 adapted to be bridged or connected by suitable contactors 29. Contacts 25'Zfi control the primary transformer circuit and contacts 21-23 control the motor circuit.

Contacts 2 i22 and 23-24 are normally closed, while contacts 25-48 and 2'i-28 are normally open. Actuating or depressing any one of the push buttons [8, 18 or fis will open its contacts 2i-22 and 23--2fl and close its contacts 25-25 and 21- 28. Furthermore, contacts 2l-22 and 2324 of each push-button switch are so wired or disposed in the circuit arrangement with rela tion to the contacts 25-26 that holding two or three of the push button switches 18, it and 58* down simultaneously makes the circuit through these contacts inoperative. Also if one of these push buttons is depressed and the device is operating, depressing either or both of the other push buttons renders the high voltage circuit inoperable. The push button selected by varying the primary load through a tapped resistor 3!, gives different degrees of penetration for men, women and children.

A timing motor 32 of the synchronous type rotates a drive shaft 33 journalled in spaced brackets 3!; and 35 and carrying spaced cams BE, 3?, 3t and 39. These cams each engage and actuate a spring-biased or leaf type contactor cc electrically connected toa terminal connection block :3! containing a series of terminals referred to generally by the reference numeral d2. Cam 3% controls the synchronous motor 32 which is so constructed as to rotate at 4 R. P. M. and the cam is so contoured and arranged that the motor will complete its normal cycle once it has started regardless of whether or not the depressed push button 58, [8 or la is held down or the plug switch i9 is withdrawn. Release of the selected push button at any time during operation of the transformer will open the primary through the contacts 2528 and the high voltage energy ceases.

Cam 3! controls the filament transformer primary where the filament transformer is separate from the high voltage transformer. This transformer lights the filament of an X-ray tube housed within the cabinet Hi. In those installations where both transformers are'combined or contained in the same unit and have primaries which are part of the same winding, these contacts controlled by the cam 3'! are not employed,

as in the case in the illustrative embodiment in Fig. 3.

Cam 38 controls the primary to the high voltage transformer which delivers the required energy to the X-ray tube through a resistor 43 to prevent surging.

Cam 39 controls the primary to the high voltage transformer shorting out or shunting the resistor 42% a fraction of a second after contact is made by the cam 38 thereby permitting full primary voltage, and breaks a fraction of a second before contact is broken by the cam 38 and putting the resistor 43 into the primary circuit momentarily to prevent surging. This permits a maximum period of five seconds of X-ray radiation. For the remaining ten seconds of the fifteen second cycle of the motor or until the motor recycles, it is impossible to make any further exposure.

By means of the present novel enforced delay timer unit or attachment for an X-ray shoe fitting apparatus, a predetermined period of exposure is permitted and a further exposure dur ing each cycle is prevented. With the plug switch 59 closed, the depressing of any one of the push buttons [8, [8 or [8 permits normal use of the apparatus for a prescribed period; for example, five seconds. Depressing another of these push buttons cuts the exposure of the X- rays but yet permits the motor to continue through its complete and normal cycle and to return to its initial or starting position ready for further operation. Thus there is definite, enforced time delay before any further X-ray penetration is permitted. Pushing or depressing a control or push button after completion of an exposure and before the motor has completed its full cycle will not permit further exposure, but there is an enforced time delay between each and every exposure.

In the preferred embodiment, each rotation of the motor driven shaft carrying the cams 36, 3?, 38 and 3a through one revolution, requires a period of approximately fifteen seconds, and the maximum period of exposure permitted in that cycle being limited to approximately five seconds. For the remaining ten seconds or until the motor recycles and a push button is again depressed, it is impossible to make any further exposure.

From the above description and the disclosed illustrative embodiment in the drawings, it will be apparent that the present invention comprehends the provision of a novel enforced delay timer which automatically limits the period of exposure in X-ray shoe fitting apparatus. This novel timing mechanism very definitely discourages any over exposure as the customer impatient at an enforced time delay will rarely insist on more than one five second period of exposure, although two or three succeeding periods of exposure with the time delay intervening is usually considered insufficient exposure to cause any harm.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. An enforced delay timer for X-ray shoe fitting apparatus having means for directing rays to said apparatus, comprising a unit having a plurality of push button switches for initiating and controlling the degree of penetration of the rays, plug switch for closing the circuit to the .-ray apparatus, a motor having a drive shaft, spaced cams on said shaft and rotatable therewith, and cam-actuated contacts controlled by the operation of the motor and rotation of the drive shaft for controlling the period of exposure by opening the circuit to the ray directing means upon a partial rotation of the shaft and maintaining said means inoperative for a predetermined period after each exposure.

2. An enforced delay timer for X-ray shoe fitting apparatus having a high voltage transformer, comprising an attachment connected to the primary circuit of the transformer and including a motor having a drive shaft, means on said shaft and rotatable therewith for controlling the period of exposure by opening the primary circuit upon the expiration of a predetermined time period, and means on said shaft for positively maintaining the primary circuit open until a predetermined, enforced delay period has expired.

3. In X-ray shoe fitting apparatus, an enforced delay timer therefor comprising a motor having a shaft operable through one revolution each time the motor is operated and a timing unit including spaced cams on said shaft and rotatable therewith for automatically limiting the period of exposure of said apparatus to a predetermined arc of travel of the shaft and rendering and maintaining said apparatus inoperative for further exposure until a predetermined time period has elapsed subsequent to said period of exposure.

4. An enforced delay timer for controlling the period of exposure of X-rays in the operation of a shoe fitting apparatus and automatically preventing a succeeding exposure until a predetermined period of time has elapsed, comprising means for initiating the exposure, a motor having a shaft operable through one revolution each time the motor is operated, and cam-actuated means on the shaft for controlling the period of exposure to a predetermined arc of movement of the shaft and preventing subsequent exposure upon expiration of said period until the shaft completes its revolution during which a subsequent predetermined period of time has elapsed.

5. An enforced timer for an X-ray shoe fitting apparatus, comprising means including a motor having a shaft operable through one revolution each time the apparatus is operated for controlling the period of X-ray emanation, and means on said shaft for automatically terminating said emanation and maintaining it terminated for an enforced time period.

6. An enforced delay timer for controlling the period of exposure of X-rays in the operation of a shoe fitting apparatus and automatically preventing a succeeding exposure until a predetermined period of time has elapsed, comprising a motor having a drive shaft rotatable through but one revolution for each operation of the apparatus, manually-actuated means for initiating operation of the motor and the period of exposure, and cam-actuated means on said shaft for controlling the period of exposure and maintaining said manually-actuated means ineffective to again initiate the period of exposure until the shaft completes its revolution and an enforced time delay has elapsed.

7. In an X-ray shoe fitting apparatus having mechanism for directing X-rays to said apparatus, an enforced delay timer for controlling the period of exposure of the X-rays in the operation of said shoe fitting apparatus and automatically preventing a succeeding exposure until a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the initial exposure, comprising a motor adapted to operate in a predetermined cycle and provided with a drive shaft rotated through but one revoprevent exposure for the remainder of such revolution.

References Gited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,901,526 Mutscheller Mar. 14, 1933 2,297,042 Weyenberg Sept. 29, 1942 2,315,149 Bliss Mar. 30, 1943 2,382,972 Brune et a1 Aug. 2 1945 2,607,414 Morrison Aug. 19, 1952

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