WO2008083932A1

WO2008083932A1 - Portable x-ray unit

Info

Publication number: WO2008083932A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/000025
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joseph Kosanetzky
Original assignee: Yxlon International X-Ray Gmbh
Priority date: 2007-01-10
Filing date: 2008-01-03
Publication date: 2008-07-17
Also published as: DE102007001512A1

Abstract

The invention is concerned with a portable X-ray unit with an X-ray tube (1), a high-voltage generator (3) and with a control and operating part (5), wherein the high-voltage generator (3) is accommodated in a generator tank (4), and the control and operating part (5) is connected to the generator tank (4). The invention provides that the X-ray tube (1) is accommodated in a dedicated tube housing (2), which is detachably connected to the generator tank (4) via a flat plug (7), wherein a first part (8) of the flat plug (7) is arranged on the tube housing (2) and a second part (9) of the flat plug (7), which corresponds to the first part (8) of the flat plug (7), is arranged on the generator tank (4).

Description

Portable X-ray system

The invention relates to a portable X-ray system with an X-ray tube, a high voltage generator and a control and operating part, wherein the high voltage generator is housed in a generator tank and the control and operating part is connected to the generator tank.

A portable X-ray system is understood to be an X-ray system that is mobile and light enough to be carried by one or two persons and thus can be used anywhere to examine any object. Such portable X-ray systems are known from the prior art. These have an x-ray tube, which is arranged together with a high voltage generator in a generator tank. Inside the generator tank, cooling for the X-ray anode is also integrated. The generator tank with integrated X-ray tube is connected via a data cable to a control and operating section, with which the required parameters can be set and changed, so that the X-ray system goes through the desired operating modes. Such a compactly constructed portable X-ray system can be positioned directly on the object to be examined, for example in the investigation of pipelines, bridges or other structures. Unlike stationary X-ray systems, it is therefore not necessary to move the objects to be examined, which would not be possible with the aforementioned objects. However, because of the portability of a certain size and the highest possible weight are given, the performance of such a portable X-ray system are relatively narrow limits. This has a negative effect, in particular with regard to the achievable radiation power.

In particular, to overcome the narrow limits of performance, so-called mobile X-ray systems are known. In these, the actual X-ray tube is not within arranged the generator tank. In the generator tank thus only the high voltage power supply is housed. The X-ray tube is housed in a tube housing which is connected to the generator tank - and thus the high voltage generating device - via a high voltage cable. The

High voltage cable has at both ends of the known and proven cone shape and is connected both in the generator tank and in the tube housing with a corresponding inverse cone part. The mobile X-ray systems are mounted on a cart and can thus be moved in a mobile location. Due to the spatial separation of high voltage generator and X-ray tube, the high voltage generator can be designed so that higher radiation performance can be achieved. Due to the described spatial separation, it is also possible to get to less accessible areas, for example in shipbuilding or power plant construction, and to examine objects there. However, the known mobile X-ray systems are so difficult that they can not be easily used in the open field, which is possible with the portable X-ray systems according to the above-mentioned prior art.

The object of the invention is to develop a known from the prior art portable X-ray system so that the achievable radiation power is increased and continue to maintain good portability.

The object is achieved by a portable X-ray system according to the invention with the features of patent claim 1. Since the X-ray tube is housed in its own tube housing, which is separated from the generator tank, the high voltage generator can be designed shorter and high voltage technology easier because it does not have to take into account any internal X-ray source. By removing the X-ray tube, the integration of a cooling system in the generator tank is eliminated. Overall, this results in a shortening of the exposure time due to the higher power of the high voltage generator. By using the flat plug, it is possible to Compared to the known connection system with conical high voltage connectors achieved a significant space savings. As a result, in particular the design of the tube housing is reduced. But also on the side of the generator tank, the otherwise very space-intensive use of an inverse conical receptacle, in which the conical high-voltage plug is introduced, avoided. As a result, more space is available for the construction of the high-voltage generator with identical external dimensions of the generator tank. Due to the simple releasable attachment of the tubular housing on the generator tank and the other advantages described below are achieved, such as a tremendous flexibility in removal of the X-ray tube with tube housing from the generator tank.

An advantageous development of the invention provides that between the first part of the tab and the second part of the tab, a high-voltage cable, each with corresponding ends is detachably arranged. This achieves the already mentioned flexibility. It is thus possible, with the very compact tube housing to get to places that could not be achieved with the known from the prior art portable X-ray systems so far. This was possible at best with the much heavier - also described above - mobile X-ray systems.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that a very compact flat plug is used which has three male elements in the form of pins or three female elements in the form of sockets. With such - recently on the market - high voltage suitable flat plug almost optimal limitation of the space for the connector is achieved. Thus, the largest possible space is available for the design of the high-voltage generator in the generator tank and for the X-ray tube in the tubular housing. A further advantageous development of the invention provides that a data cable is arranged between the generator tank and the control and operating part. This makes it possible to achieve a desired distance in the control of the X-ray recordings during the recording process. This is especially necessary for a direct plugged-on X-ray tube to the generator tank, otherwise due to the close proximity and lack of shielding the radiation protection provisions can not be met.

A further advantageous development of the invention provides that the x-ray tube has an external, outside the tube housing arranged cooling. This makes it possible to make the tube housing extremely small, which means that the portable X-ray system can be installed in only very difficult to reach places and there otherwise hardly investigatable objects can be examined.

Preferably, carrier means are formed on the generator tank, in particular hand rings. As a result, the portable X-ray system can be particularly easily carried to the desired location. Further aids, such as those known from the prior art in mobile X-ray machines known cart are thus not necessary. Rather, the generator tank can easily be moved to the desired location by one or two persons and parked there.

Further advantages and details of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. Show it:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a first exemplary embodiment of a portable X-ray system according to the invention, in which an X-ray housing is connected directly to a generator tank, Figure 2 shows a second embodiment, in which between

X-ray housing and generator tank a high-voltage cable is arranged,

FIG. 3 shows a male part of a tab in a side view,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the male part of the tab of FIG. 3 as viewed from below;

5 shows a section through the male part of the tab along the line V-V in Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a view of the male part of the tab of Figure 3 seen from above and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a female part of the tab, which cooperates with the male part of the tab of Figures 3 to 6.

The first exemplary embodiment of a portable X-ray system according to the invention shown schematically in FIG. 1 has, as three main components, a tube housing 2, a generator tank 4 and a control and operating part 5.

Within the generator tank 4, a high voltage generator 3 (not shown) is arranged. This is constructed according to a well-known from the prior art physical principle and will therefore not be described in more detail below. The high voltage generator 3 supplies the high voltage for operating an X-ray tube 1, which is arranged within the tubular housing 2. X-ray tubes 2 which are well-known from the prior art are used as the X-ray tube 2, so that further details of how they are formed and how they function are not discussed below. The control of both the high voltage generator 3, in particular its power and voltage value, and the X-ray tube 1 - in particular their power and intensity - are controlled via the external control and operating part 5. For this purpose, the control and operating part 5 is connected to the generator tank 4 via a data cable 6. This embodiment is well known in the art; as well as the manner of the control of the above two elements, X-ray tube 1 and high voltage generator 3, so that it is not discussed in further.

Finally, a number of hand rings 16 are attached to the generator tank 4 also. By means of these hand rings 16, a single user can easily lift the portable X-ray system and carry it to the desired location.

The connection between the tube housing 2 - and thus the X-ray tube 1 - and the generator tank 4 - and thus the high voltage generator 3 - via a tab 7 (not shown), which is shown in Figures 3 to 7 and described in more detail below.

By the removal of the X-ray tube 1 from the generator tank 4 this has a significant gain in space for the high voltage generator 3 mounted therein obtained. Of the

High voltage generator 3 can thus be made larger and thus more efficient with the same outer dimensions of the generator tank 4. Thus, new objects can be examined, which could not be investigated with a previously known portable X-ray system, since the available X-ray power or the required high voltage, so the X-ray energy, so far could not be provided.

If a portable X-ray system according to the embodiment of the first embodiment of Figure 1 can not be used, since an object must be examined, the only very is difficult to access, the investigation for a simple conversion from the embodiment shown in Figure 1 in the embodiment shown in Figure 2 is well possible. In this case, the direct connection via the flat plug 7 between the tube housing 2 and the generator tank 4 is released and a high-voltage cable 17 is fitted between these two components. The high voltage cable 17 has at its two ends differently designed connectors. At its end, which is connected to the generator tank 4, it has a first part 8, the male

Plug part is formed and is connected to the corresponding female counterpart within the generator tank 4. The male plug part is shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 and will be described in more detail below. The female connector part is shown in FIG. 7 and will also be described below.

The end which is connected to the tube housing 2 - referred to as the second part 9 - is designed as a female plug connection which cooperates with a male plug connection on the tube housing 2.

Depending on the required length of the high voltage cable 17 different lengths of cable between the tube housing 2 and generator tank 4 can be used. Thus, an extremely high flexibility of the portable X-ray system is guaranteed. In this case, the advantage of the known from the prior art portable X-ray systems, namely a simple portability with one or two people and installation in the open field, with the advantage of known from the prior art mobile X-ray systems - usability even on only hard-to-reach objects that leave little room for the X-ray tube 1 - combined. At the same time, the disadvantages of the two types of plant mentioned above are avoided. On the one hand a significantly higher performance than in the known portable X-ray systems is achieved and on the other hand, the system can still in a very simple manner of one or two people can be taken anywhere, without having to drive them with a cart.

In the following, to illustrate the very low overall height of the tab 7, the embodiment of which is briefly described in FIGS. 3 to 7, although such a tab 7 belongs to the state of the art.

FIGS. 3 to 6 show the first, male part 8 of the tab 7, which will be described below across figures.

A housing is connected to the right with the high voltage cable 17. Within a recess 18, a total of three pins 10 are arranged, which are similar to banana plugs and can be introduced against a pressure in corresponding counterparts. The three pins 10 are arranged within the circular recess 18 at equal distances from each other. Around the recess 18 around a less deeply formed bed 13 is concentrically formed, in which an insulating seal 12 is inserted. Around the bed 12, a screw hole 14 is formed at each of the four corner points. This serves to screw the first part 8 to the second part 9 (see FIG. 7).

FIG. 7 shows the female counterpart to the male plug part of FIGS. 3 to 6. This also has in a recess 18 three mutually equal distance having bushings 11. The bushings 11 are designed so that the pins 10 can be pushed against the pressure of their resilient elements in this. Concentrically around the recess 18 around a bed 13 is also formed, in which the insulating gasket 12 (not shown here) is inserted.

For mounting the first part 8 on the second part 9, the high-voltage insulation in the bed 13 of one of the two parts 8, 9 rende seal 12 inserted. Thereafter, the two parts 8, 9 are connected to each other by the pins 10 are pushed into the sockets 11. For fixing screws (not shown) are screwed through the four screw holes 14 in the four opposite screw 15. In this case, a predetermined torque is used, which guarantees that no arcing can occur during operation of the X-ray tube 1. This assembly method is familiar to the person skilled in the art and therefore will not be described here in more detail.

Compared to the known high-voltage cables with conical connector heads of the tab 7 shown in Figures 3 to 7 has the enormous advantage that it builds much flatter and thus requires less space. This space is thus both within the generator tank 4 and within the tubular housing 2 available to design the high-voltage generator 3 more efficient and to use a better x-ray tube 1 with the same size of the tube housing 2 and a smaller tube housing 2.

Reference sign list

X-ray tube

tube housing

High voltage generator

generator tank

Control and operating unit

data cable

tabs

First part

Second part

pen

Rifle

poetry

bed

screw

screw thread

hand ring

High voltage cables

Claims

claims

1. portable X-ray system with an X-ray tube (1), a high voltage generator (3) and with a control and operating part (5), wherein the high voltage generator (3) is housed in a generator tank (4) and the control and operating part ( 5) is connected to the generator tank (4), characterized in that the x-ray tube (1) is housed in a separate tube housing (2) which is releasably connected via a tab (7) to the generator tank (4), wherein a first Part (8) of the tab (7) on the tube housing (2) is arranged and a second part (9) of the tab (7), with the first part

(8) of the tab (7) corresponds to the generator tank (4) is arranged.

2. Portable X-ray device according to claim 1, characterized in that between the first part (8) of the

Flat plug (7) and the second part (9) of the tab (7), a high voltage cable (17) is arranged releasably with respective corresponding ends.

3. Portable X-ray system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tab (7) has three male elements in the form of pins (10) and three female elements in the form of sockets (11).

4. Portable X-ray system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that between the generator tank (4), control and operating part (5), a data cable (6) is arranged.

5. Portable X-ray system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the X-ray tube (1) has an external, outside the tube housing (2) arranged cooling.

6. portable X-ray system according to one of the above

Claims, characterized in that on the generator tank (4) support means are formed, in particular hand rings (16).