Patent Application
20120240841
This application claims the benefit of CN 201110070155.9, filed on Mar. 23, 2011.
The present embodiments relate to a scale-indicating device and a C-arm X-ray machine including the scale-indicating device.
Scale-indicating devices are used in many application scenarios. Taking a C-arm X-ray machine as an example, in order to achieve multi-aspect and multi-angle X-ray examination of an object to be examined without changing the position of the object to be examined repeatedly, the C-arm of the X-ray machine may have several degrees of freedom. In order to learn the particular motion positions on certain degrees of freedom, scale-indicating devices may be provided for the motions in these degrees of freedom. For rotational motions (including bidirectional rotation or unidirectional rotation), a particular rotated angle of the C-arm may be indicated by using a scale-indicating device in the form of a standard index dial with a pointer.
Taking the C-arm X-ray machine shown in
The present embodiments may obviate one or more of the drawbacks or limitations in the related art. For example, a scale-indicating device and a C-arm X-ray machine having the scale-indicating device are provided so as to make it convenient for a user to observe a scale.
The scale-indicating device provided in the present embodiments includes a driven wheel, a driving wheel rotating synchronously with a rotating shaft to be measured, and a transmission belt having scale values and being in cooperation with the driving wheel and the driven wheel. The scale values on the transmission belt are used for indicating a rotated angle of the rotating shaft to be measured.
In one embodiment, the scale-indicating device further includes a plurality of equally spaced connecting blocks fastened on the transmission belt, with the scale values being located on the plurality of equally spaced connecting blocks.
In another embodiment, the scale-indicating device further includes a housing. A scale display window is provided on the housing, and the rotated angle of the rotating shaft to be measured is displayed through the scale display window.
The scale display window is provided with a pointer. The rotated angle of the rotation shaft to be measured is displayed by a position as indicated by the pointer.
Alternatively, a pointer is provided on the driven wheel. The rotated angle of the rotation shaft to be measured is displayed by the position as indicated by the pointer of the driven wheel. The device further includes a housing. The housing includes a scale display window, and the rotated angle of the rotating shaft to be measured is displayed through the scale display window.
In one embodiment, the rotated angle of the rotation shaft to be measured is displayed at a side of the driven wheel that is opposing the driving wheel.
In addition, the device may further include a tensioning wheel and/or a guide wheel.
In one embodiment, the driving wheel is fitted on the rotating shaft to be measured, and the driven wheel is fitted on a shaft seat or other defined fixed positions.
In another embodiment, the diameter of the driven wheel is smaller than the diameter of the driving wheel.
The C-arm X-ray machine provided in the present embodiments includes a scale-indicating device as described above.
By providing a driving wheel for rotating synchronously with a rotating shaft to be measured, a driven wheel and a transmission belt having scale values and being in cooperation with the driving wheel and the driven wheel, and using the transmission belt having scale values as a rotating index dial, the rotated angle of the rotating shaft to be measured is displayed synchronously by the scale values on the transmission belt. Such a rotating index dial using the rotation principle provides that the index dial scale does not have to be circular. Therefore, by adjusting the size of the transmission belt or adjusting the size of the auxiliary elements of the transmission belt (e.g., adjusting the size and distance of the connecting blocks), the adjustment of font size may be achieved, providing the font size of the scale. The scale is intuitive and easy to observe. In addition, in the case in which the scale is displayed at the side of the driven wheel that is opposing the driving wheel, by way of properly adjusting the distance between the driven wheel and the driving wheel, the problem that the view of the scale digits is blocked by corners of the X-ray machine may be avoided, making the scale convenient to observe.
In the present embodiments, since the length of the transmission belt is greater than the perimeter of the driving wheel, the scale range may be larger than 360 degrees (e.g., +/−190 degrees), which enables the technical solution in the present embodiments to be applied in the situations where the rotated angles exceeding +/—180 degrees or unidirectional 360 degrees are to be recorded. Such a function cannot be achieved by standard index dials.
Since the problem of the index dial having to be circular is solved by way of adding some proper tensioning wheels and/or guide wheels, the index dial in the present embodiments may be of any desired shape. The scale may be displayed at any desired position, thus making the scale convenient for a user to observe.
In consideration of the current situation that the above-mentioned problems, as faced by the scale-indicating devices in the form of currently available standard index dials when applied on some special occasions (e.g., a C-arm X-ray machine), have not been solved for a long time, the causes thereof are as follows: the shape of the index dial is circular, and the scale is fixed relative to the position of the index dial. When the radius of the index dial is to be increased for the sake of display requirements, the space occupied by the entire index dial is increased as well. Due to the space restrictions (e.g., application scenarios), however, the size of the index dial cannot be increased arbitrarily, thus resulting in the situation that the font size of the scale on the index dial is limited by the size of the index dial and cannot be increased arbitrarily either. Additionally, when the index dial cannot be made large enough, the scale on the index dial cannot be observed when the view is blocked by corners of certain rotating mechanisms.
The shape of the index dial may be changed. However, the index dial having such a shape has become deeply rooted in people's minds due to inertial thinking over a long time. For this reason, in order to design an index dial in other forms, a chain-type index dial using the synchronous transmission principle (e.g., by using a transmission belt wound around a rotating wheel as a rotating index dial), with scale values provided thereon is provided. A driving wheel among rotating wheels rotates synchronously with a rotating shaft to be measured, and scale values on a transmission belt are used for indicating a rotated angle of the rotating shaft to be measured.
The synchronous transmission principle may be applied in the standard transmission applications (e.g., converting a rotating motion into a linear motion or a variable speed motion). In one embodiment, the transmission belt is used as a rotating index dial.
In order to make the object, technical solutions and advantages of the present embodiments more apparent, the present embodiments are further described in detail below.
The number of the connecting blocks 24 may be determined according to measurement range and measurement precision. In one embodiments, since the length of the transmission belt 23 is greater than the perimeter of the driving wheel 22, the measurement range may be larger than 360 degrees (e.g., +/−190 degrees, as shown in
The length of the transmission belt 23, and the size and the fitting space of the connecting blocks 24 may be determined according to the display requirements to the font size and position. For example, by appropriately increasing the length of the transmission belt 23, the relative position between the driven wheel 21 and the driving wheel 22 may be varied, so as to vary the display position of the scale. By adjusting the size and the fitting space of the connecting blocks 24, the font size may be adjusted.
In one embodiment, in order to make the display of the rotated angle more apparent, the diameter of the driven wheel 21 may be set to be smaller than that of the driving wheel 22. The diameter of the driven wheel 21 may also be the same as or larger than that of the driving wheel 22. This may be determined according to practical requirements.
During implementation, the transmission belt 23 may include a standard chain with accessories.
In addition, the scale value 241 may, for example, be directly marked on the connecting blocks 24 or embossed on the connecting blocks 24. Alternatively, a label with the scale value 241 may be fixed on the connecting blocks 24. The particular implementations are not limited to the present embodiments.
In the scale-indicating device shown in
In one embodiment, in order to protect the internal structure of the scale-indicating device and to make the scale-indicating device dustproof, the scale-indicating device may further include a housing. In one embodiment, for the sake of making the observation of the scale convenient, the housing may be transparent. Alternatively, the housing may include a transparent scale display window. In order to indicate the current scale, a pointer mark may be provided on the scale display window, and the position indicated by the pointer mark corresponds to the current rotated angle of the rotating shaft 13 to be measured. Alternatively, a pointer may also be provided on the internal structure other than the housing. For example, for the case where the scale is displayed above the driven wheel 21, the pointer may be provided on the driven wheel 21. For the case where the scale is displayed at other positions, the pointer may accordingly be provided at a corresponding position. For example, the pointer is provided on the tensioning wheel, or the pointer is provided at a certain position between the tensioning wheel and the driven wheel. The pointer may be located on other structure.
In one embodiment, the connecting blocks 24 may not to be provided. The scale value 241 is directly provided on the transmission belt 23. For example, the scale value 241 may be provided on an outer surface of the transmission belt 23. A transmission belt 23 with a certain thickness may be provided, and the scale value 241 may be provided on a side surface of the transmission belt 23, so as to make the scale value 241 convenient to observe. Elements in other forms (e.g., a replacement element) may also be employed to replace the connecting blocks 24 mentioned above. The scale value 241 may be provided on the replacement element. The scale value 241 may be directly provided on the transmission belt and may also be indirectly provided on the transmission belt through other auxiliary elements; as long as a transmission belt has the scale values 241, it is to be covered in the scope of protection of the present embodiments.
The C-arm X-ray machine of the present embodiments is a C-arm X-ray machine including one embodiment of a scale-indicating device. For example, a C-arm X-ray machine is installed with the scale-indicating device of the present embodiments with respect to the first rotating motion A. Alternatively or additionally, a C-arm X-ray machine is installed with the scale-indicating device of the present embodiments with respect to the second rotating motion B.
The embodiments described above are not to limit the present invention, and any modifications, equivalent replacements and/or improvements within the spirit and principle of the present invention are to be covered in the scope of protection of the present invention.
While the present invention has been described above by reference to various embodiments, it should be understood that many changes and modifications can be made to the described embodiments. It is therefore intended that the foregoing description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that it be understood that all equivalents and/or combinations of embodiments are intended to be included in this description.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN 201110070155.9 | Mar 2011 | CN | national |
