Patent Application
20050185762
The present invention is directed to an X-ray Radiator in which a rotary bulb tube is rotatably accepted in a housing filled with a coolant and is connected with a shaft.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,396,901, whose disclosure is incorporated by reference thereto, discloses x-ray radiator which comprises a rotary piston tube or rotary bulb tube that is positioned for rotation in a housing filled with a coolant. The rotary bulb tube is driven by means of a motor that is mounted outside of the housing and is connected with the rotary bulb tube via a shaft directed into the housing. A dissipation or leakage of electrical potential occurs in an undesirable manner via the shaft which can impair the function of the motor. Aside from this, vibrations are sometimes transferred to the rotary bulb tube in an undesirable manner. Such vibrations will cause an x-ray beam emitted by the rotary bulb tube to move back and forth in response to these vibrations. Finally, the design known according to this prior art require a particularly high production precision in order to bring a shaft extending from the motor into exact alignment with the rotary bulb tube.
The object of the invention is to overcome these disadvantages that occur in the prior art. In particular, the object provides an x-ray radiator that can be produced as simply and cost-effectively as possible. Another goal of the invention is to prevent the dissipation or leakage of electrical potentials from the rotary bulb tube to the motor, as well as the transmission of vibrations therebetween. To accomplish these goals, the x-ray radiator comprises a rotary bulb tube that is mounted for rotation in a housing filled with a coolant and is connected by a shaft to the motor and the shaft is provided with a coupling.
According to the requirements of the invention, the coupling is engaged in the shaft. The inventive provision of the engaging of the coupling enables a simplified production. The housing can be prefabricated with the rotary bulb tube accommodated therein. The shaft section is extending from the motor can subsequently be simply connected to the rotary bulb tube by means of the coupling. In a suitable embodiment of the coupling a transference of potential to the motor and a transfer of vibrations from the motor to the rotary bulb tube can be prevented.
According to an advantageous embodiment, the coupling comprises an output disc that can be connected with a first shaft section extending from the rotary bulb tube, a drive disc that can be connected with a motor-side second shaft section, and an electrical insulating intermediate disc positioned to connect the output disc with the drive disc. Via this provision of the electrical insulating intermediate disc, the unwanted dissipation or leakage of electrical potential to the motor can be prevented.
The intermediate disc is appropriately manufactured from a plastic or ceramic. However, any other electrically insulating material which exhibits a sufficient mechanical durability for the present purpose is also usable. The output disc and/or drive disc is/are appropriately produced from metal.
To produce a non-positive connection between the drive disc and the intermediate disc, first projections extending from the drive disc and/or intermediate disc are engaged with first recesses, which are fashioned corresponding to the projections that are provided in the intermediate disc and/or the drive disc. It is likewise possible for production of the non-positive connection between the output disc and the intermediate disc, that second projections extend from the output disc and/or intermediate disc and are engaged in second recesses, which are fashioned corresponding to the projections, and are provided in either the intermediate disc and/or the output disc. The proposed embodiment enables a particularly simple assembly. In addition, by selecting a suitable embodiment of the recesses and the projections, slight deviations in the alignment of the first and second shafts sections, which are due to manufacturing tolerances can be compensated.
According to another additional advantageous embodiment, damping means are provided between the intermediate disc and the output disc and/or between the intermediate disc and the drive disc. These damping means can be elastic elements which are inserted into the recesses and lie in the radial direction on the sides of the projections engaged in the recesses.
The intermediate disc and the damping means are suitably produced from an oil-based resistant material. This increases the lifespan of the proposed x-ray radiator.
According to a further embodiment, the coupling is surrounded by a housing. In this case, the second shaft section is directed into a gap in the housing provided with a seal. The proposed design prevents electrical potentials to be dissipated or leaked in the region outside of the housing over the first shaft section extending from the rotary bulb tube.
Other advantages and features of the invention will be readily apparent from the following description, the claims and drawings.
The principles of the present invention are particularly useful when incorporated in an x-ray radiator which is shown in
As illustrated in
As shown in
The output disc 12 has second projection is 21. The second projections 21 are received in second recesses 22, which are formed in the intermediate disc 11.
The function of the coupling is as follows:
The drive disc 10 engaged with the first projections as well as the damping inserts 18 in the first recesses 16 of the intermediate disc 11. The second projections 21 extend from the output disc 12 and are engaged in the second recesses 22 which are provided on the other side of the intermediate disc 11. The output disc 12 is attached to the intermediate disc 11 by means of a hasp bushing 13.
A torque transferred from the second shaft section 6 or, respectively, the motor shaft to the drive disc 10 is dampened by means of the dampening elements 18. The intermediate disc 11 which is produced from an electrically insulating synthetic, for example PEEK (polyether-ether-ketone), PSU (polysulfone), PES (polyethersulfone), or from ceramics, for example aluminum oxide or the like prevents the dissipation or leakage of potential or current through the coupling 5.
With a suitable fashioning of the projections 15, 21, the dampening elements 18 and the recesses 16, 22, a slight axial and radial deviation in the alignment of the first shaft section 4 to the second shaft section 6 can also be compensated.
Although various minor modifications may be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that we wish to embody within the scope of the patent granted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of our contribution to the art.
