X-ray Apparatus Having A Telescopic Columnar Support

Abstract

An X-ray apparatus including a telescopic columnar support comprising concentrically positioned tubular sections nested one within another. Each of the sections, except the innermost section, has a plurality of ways extending along its interior. Each of the sections, except the outermost section comprises a metallic extrusion which carries a plurality of guide bearings on its exterior to cooperate with the ways. An adjustment means is associated with each of the guide bearings whereby the pre-load normal force between the nested and nesting sections may be adjusted.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to an X-ray apparatus having a telescope columnar support and more particularly to an X-ray apparatus having an improved columnar support with means for adjusting the pre-load normal force between the sections.

2. Prior Art

X-ray apparatus provided with telescoping supports of various types are well known. While telescoping supports are desirable due to their inherent strength and compact construction, most known telescopic supports present a number of problems when used in conjunction with X-ray equipment.

The forces which X-ray apparatus imposes on telescopic supports are both large in magnitude and variable in direction depending upon the positioning of the apparatus. The X-ray tube housing, support, and associated counterweight mechanisms are inherently heavy, and impose lateral forces on the telescoping sections which vary in accordance with the position of the apparatus. The X-ray tube power cables which connect with the tube housing are also heavy, bulky, and serve to impose forces on the column that vary with position.

It is desirable that the various sections telescopically extend equally and concurrently for a number of reasons. First, when the sections extend together, such lateral forces as may be imposed on the columnar support are distributed equally on the bearing surfaces between adjacent sections. Hence, the forces are not concentrated on those sections which are extended relative to each other more than other sections. This preserves bearing surface life and decreases the development of play between the sections.

Second, if the sections extend concurrently and equally, there will be no problem with one or more sections extending suddenly and jarring the X-ray apparatus, as can occur where the support is disposed vertically. Third, if the sections extend substantially equally, the telescopic column provides a more rigid support to the X-ray apparatus than is provided if some of the sections remain fully retracted while others are fully extended.

Still another problem commonly encountered with X-ray telescopic supports is the difficulty of adapting such supports to installations wherein substantially different columnar lengths are required. The tooling used in the manufacture of many prior art telescopic support sections is not adjustable to provide sections of any desired length. Moreover, the sections themselves frequently include specialized end formations which prevent their being simply cut off to provide shorter sections. Hence, with such sections the length of a column to be constructed is limited by the range of lengths and diameters of sections available.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the foregoing drawbacks of prior art X-ray apparatus supports, and provides an X-ray apparatus with an improved telescopic columnar support formed of extruded sections and having an adjuster and biasing pads between each of the sections to provide an adjustable pre-load normal force.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a telescopic columnar support is provided comprising concentrically positioned tubular sections nested one within another. All of the sections except the outermost section serve as "nested" sections while all of the sections except the innermost section serve as "nesting" sections. The nesting sections each have a plurality of ways formed on the interior thereof. The nested sections each carry a plurality of guide bearings on the exterior thereof. The guide bearings cooperate with the ways to permit extension of each of the nested sections relative to its nesting section. A biasing pad and an adjuster are associated with the guide bearings to provide an adjusted pre-load force between the nested and nesting sections and normal to the pattern of section travel.

By the provision of the biasing pad and adjuster between the sections, the pre-load normal force between the sections can be accurately controlled. The force required to telescopically extend and contract the various sections can thereby by equalized such that the sections will extend and contract together. As previously mentioned, such a provision both minimizes the development of play between the sections and provides a more rigid support for the X-ray apparatus.

In accordance with another feature of the present invention, the nested sections are formed of extrusions. The ways comprise rods of circular cross section which are held in substantially semi-circular grooves formed internally of the extruded sections. By this arrangement, the extruded sections may be formed of relatively soft and easily machined materials. In addition the sections and the bearing rods may be cut to any desired length thereby providing a telescopic columnar support which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture in a wide range of lengths.

Accordingly, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide an X-ray apparatus with a novel and improved telescopic columnar support.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of the X-ray apparatus of the present invention with the telescopic columnar support partially extended, the view having portions thereof broken away to better illustrate details;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 1 with the telescopic support in its contracted position;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view as seen from the plane indicated by the line 3--3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the guide way arrangement carried on the interior of each of the nesting sections;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view partially in cross section of the guide bearing arrangement positioned between the nested and nesting sections as seen from the plane indicated by the line 5--5 in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a portion of the guide bearing arrangement as seen from the plane indicated by the lines 6--6 in FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, an X-ray apparatus is shown generally at 8. The X-ray apparatus 8 includes an X-ray tube housing assembly 9 which is supported by a telescopic columnar support 10.

The columnar support 10 comprises a plurality of concentrically positioned tubular sections 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 nested one within another, and movable between the extended position of FIG. 1 to the contracted position of FIG. 2.

The outermost section 11 includes upper and lower apertured end plates 16, 17. The upper end plate 16 is secured to an overhead support 18. Intermediate the end plates 16, 17 are three elongate V-shaped members 19. The members 19 are secured to the end plates 16, 17 as be welding.

Each of the sections, with the exception of the outermost section 11, comprises an extruded member of substantially triangular shape. The columnar support 10 may be formed to extend to any one of a wide range of lengths by selecting the lengths to which the extruded sections are cut.

Each of the sections except the innermost section 15 serves to nest another one of the sections therein, and such sections will hereinafter be referred to as "nesting" sections. Each of the sections except the outermost section 11 is nested within one of the sections, and such sections will hereinafter be referred to as "nested" sections. As such, section 11 serves only as a nesting section, section 15 serves only as a nested section, and sections 12, 13, 14 serve both as nested and nesting sections.

As seen in FIG. 3, the sections are all substantially triangular in cross section and are nested with the sides of the sections substantially parallel and the junctions of the sides substantially adjacent. Each of the nesting sections 11, 12, 13, 14, carries three ways 20 which extend along the interior thereof adjacent the junctures of the sides. Each of the nested sections 12, 13, 14, 15 carries three guide bearing structures 21 on the exterior thereof adjacent the junctures of the sides. The guide bearings 21 cooperate with the ways 20 to permit the relative extension and contraction of the sections without permitting relative rotation of the sections.

The arrangement of one typical way 20 is shown in FIG. 4. The way comprises an elongate rod 22 of substantially circular cross section which is pressed into an elongate groove 23. The groove 23 comprises a greater than semi-circular segment of a circle whereby the rod 22 is held securely in position once pressed into the groove.

The arrangement of one typical guide bearing structure 21 is shown in FIG. 5. The guide bearing structure comprises a pair of bearing assemblies 30, 31 each of which carries a grooved roller 32 adapted to engage the way 22. Each of the rollers 32 is carried intermediate the ends of a shaft 33 and are mounted on said shaft by means of ball bearings (not shown). The ends of the shaft 33 are journaled in a double yoke assembly comprising an inner yoke 34 and an outer yoke 35, as best seen in FIG. 6. The outer yoke has inclined slots 36 which receive the ends of the shaft 33.

The slots 36 enable the inner yoke and the roller 32 to move relative to the outer yoke. The inclination of the slots causes a simultaneous transverse movement of the roller. A set screw 37 serves to hold the inner yoke 34 at a constant relative position to the outer yoke 35. As is best seen in FIG. 5, the inward movement of the set screw 37 in the direction of arrow 40 will cause the inner yoke 34 and the roller 33 to move inwardly a correspondingly similar distance. Simultaneously, the roller 32 is caused to move in the direction of arrow 41 into engagement with the rod 22. An adjuster is thereby provided to adjust the preload normal force between adjacent sections. Resilient biasing pads 42 positioned between the outer yoke 35 and the section on which it is mounted serve to bias the pre-load roller into engagement with the way 22.

As will be apparent, the described adjustment means provides a highly accurate mechanism for controlling the preload force between the sections. By this provision, the sections may be so adjusted as to assure their telescopic extension and contraction with equal force.

Although the foregoing description is necessarily of a detailed character, in order that the invention may be set forth, it is to be understood that the specific terminolgy is not intended to be restrictive or confining, and that various rearrangements of parts and modifications of detail may be resorted to without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as herein claimed.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. In an X-ray apparatus including a support and a mechanism for contributing to the production of an X-ray image, an improved telescopic column connecting the mechanism to the support comprising:

a plurality of tubular sections telescoped together in nested relationship;

three parallel roller guide bars spaced in triangular arrangement, carried on the inner surface of each tubular section other than the innermost section;

a plurality of rollers carried on the outer surface of each tubular section, other than the outermost section, riding along each guide bar, and

means mounting each roller for independent adjustment on said tubular section relative to its respective guide bar, said means including a locating surface fixed relative to the section, a shaft rotatably supporting the roller, and an adjustable member positioning said shaft relative to the locating surface to locate the roller firmly against the guide bar.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said sections except the outermost section comprises a metal extrusion of substantially triangular configuration.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each guide bar is a rod of circular cross section.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said guide bearings comprise grooved rollers adapted to engage said rods.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said roller mounting means includes a cam surface for urging the roller shaft toward the associated guide bar in response to adjustment of the roller shaft in a direction along the guide bar and an adjustment screw for moving the roller shaft along the guide bar.

6. In an X-ray apparatus including a support and a mechanism for contributing to the production of an X-ray image, an improved telescopic column connecting the mechanism to the support comprising:

a plurality of tubular extruded sections of relatively easily machined material telescoped together in nested relationship, said sections having three substantially equally spaced parallel portions extending longitudinally of the sections for supporting guide bars;

three parallel guide bars extending the length of each of said sections and secured thereto within the tubular sections along the spaced parallel portions;

at least six rollers carried by each of said sections externally thereof, at least two rollers running along each guide bar to locate and stabilize the position of said tubular sections one to the other; and

means for adjusting the position of each roller relative to its tubular section, including a locating surface for each roller fixed relative to the section, a shaft rotatably supporting the roller, and an adjustable member positioning said shaft relative to the locating surface to locate the roller firmly against a guide bar.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said tubular sections each have wall portions angularly related in triangular form.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said wall portions intersect to form apices and said guide bars are located at the apices.

9. In an X-ray apparatus including a support and a mechanism for contributing to the production of an X-ray image, an improved telescopic column connecting the mechanism to the support comprising:

a plurality of tubular extruded sections of relatively easily machined material telescoped together in nested relationship, said sections having three spaced parallel portions extending longitudinally of the sections for supporting guide bars;

three parallel guide bars extending along the length of each of said sections and secured thereto along the spaced parallel portions on only one of the inside and outside surfaces of the sections;

rollers carried by each of said sections on the other of said inside and outside surfaces of the sections in rolling contact with an adjacent bar; and

means for adjusting the position of each roller relative to its tubular section, including a locating surface for each roller fixed relative to the section, a shaft rotatably supporting the roller, and an adjustable member positioning said shaft relative to the locating surface to locate the roller firmly against a guide bar.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said tubular sections each have wall portions angularly related in triangular form.