US2841714A - X-ray apparatus - Google Patents

Description

July 1, 1958 E. w. VAUGHN 2,841,714

X-RAY APPARATUS Filed May 11, 1953 a Sheets- Sheet 1 WITNESSES: INVENTOR 24 Everefl W. Vaughn.

July 1, 1958 E. w. VAUGHN 2,841,714

' X-RAY APPARATUS Filed May 11, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Everett W. Vaughn.

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ATTORNEY July 1, 1958 E. w. VAUGHN 2,341,714

X-RAY APPARATUS Filed May 11, 1953 m l Fig. 8;

WITNESSES: INVENTOR Everett W. Vaughn.

BY {M ATTORNEY United States Patent X-RAY APPARATUS Everett W. Vaughn, Ellieott City, Md., assignorto Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, 132., a corporation of Pennsylvania Y Application May 11, 1953, Serial Nb. 353,996

23 Claims. 01. wa -s7 My invention relates to X-ray apparatus, and more particularly to X-ray apparatus wherein there is provided means for facilitating the manual positioning of certain of the movable parts. I

In recent-years there has been a tendency to make X-ray apparatus more massive due to higher kilo-voltages and tube ratings, newer and larger accessories, and increased emphasis upon personnel protection. Although parts are balanced and counterweighted where feasible.

have disengaged the longitudinal carriage counterweight on the X-ray table while doing horizontal work. In some cases the counterweights have been installed on walls and ceilings and connected by cables in such a manner as to move only during vertical motion of the balanced assembly. Such installations are complex and expensive. Some radiologists do not use the spot-film devices because it is felt that they hamper the movement of the fluoroscopic screen to such an extent as to prevent the making of a proper fluoroscopic examination.

Various electro-mechanical and electro-hydraulic drives have been devised in the prior art. While these can be made to move almost any amount of mass, they are incapable of following all the graduations of speed, acceleration, and deceleration that a manually operated device of lesser mass could achieve.

it is accordingly an object of my invention to provide X-ray apparatus wherein the mass of the parts to be moved occasions minimum interference with optimum manipulation of the device.

it is another object of my invention to provide X-ray apparatus such that a human operator may move, accelerate, and decelerate, parts having a given actual mass, with the sensation that said parts have a mass substantialiy smaller than their actual mass.

Another object of my invention is to provide X-ray apparatus utilizing forces derived from electric energy for moving parts to be manipulated, which forces can be made to substantially correspond in magnitudes to those which would be required to follow graduations of speed, acceleration, and deceleration that could be achieved with wholly manually manipulated parts of lesser mass.

Another object of my invention is to provide X-ray apparatus utilizing forces derived from electric energy and which are susceptible of correlation withvmanual forces to move, accelerate and decelerate parts ofsaid apparatus to be manipulated. r

2,841,714 Patented July 1, 1958 ice Another object of my invention is to provide X-ray apparatus utilizing forces derived from electric energy and susceptible of correlation with manual forces to move, accelerate, or decelerate parts of said apparatus to be manipulated, and which forces are controlled in direction responsive to manual forces applied in the desired direction ofmovement of said parts.

These and other objects are etfected by my invention as will be apparent from the following description taken together with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which: 7 s

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an X-ray table embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing parts of the longitudinal carriage, cross carriage, and tower of the X-ray table of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view, partially cut away, of the tower of. Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view, partially cutaway, of a linear motor; a

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing acontrol scheme for a group of linear motors;

Fig. 6 is a schematic drawing of a switch and switch operator arrangement;

Fig. 7 is a -s ectional view of the device shown in Fig. 6; v

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an X-ray tube stand embodying my invention; and,

Fig. 9 is a perspective-view of a therapy X-ray tube stand embodyingmy inventiomp Some parts of X-ray apparatus, such as the longitudi-. nal carriage, cross carriage, and tower carriage of an X-ray table, or the carriages of an X-ray tube stand, must be susceptible to quick and precise positioning in order that the various X-ray techniques may be properly and effectively carried out. This positioning of parts is accomplished by manual force supplied by a human operator. The difliculties attending such positioning. of parts due to their large mass-has been already discussed herein. provide X-ray apparatus in which the parts are positioned by a human operator but wherein external forces .are supplied whichare of such nature and so controlled that the human operator does not lose the feel of manual positioning, and has the sensation that the parts have a mass much smaller than their actual mass. It is to this solution that the present invention is directed.

in X-ray apparatus embodying the principles of my invention, I utilize the linear type electric motor. The linear motor is a reciprocating device which diifers structurally from a conventional rotary motor in that its stator is in effect unrolled, or laid out flat instead of being cylindrical, and its rotor, which is called a recor is made of conducting material in the form of a strip. Such a linear motor is shown by Fig. 4 of the drawings. In Fig. 4, the linear motor housing 11 is generally rectangular in shape and is fixed to the laminated stator core structure 13. The core structure 13 comprises two adjacent stacks of laminations spaced to provide a slot of suitable dimensions to accommodate the recor 15. The stator windings 17 are wound on the core structure 13 and are suitably interconnected. The linear motor per se, is well known in the art and so the details of its construction need not be treated herein.

Linear motors, unlike conventional slow-speed rotary motor drives, will apply a constant force to a mass to be moved. Such a constant force, when: applied to a system of constant mass, will cause the system. to accelerate or decelerate at a constant rate, which will give the system a continually increasing or decreasing speed, depending upon the direction of the applied force. The type of forces which are derived from a linear motor is The idealsolution to these difliculties is tooperator to the part positioning handle to cause the motor to run in the direction indicated by the applied force.

Figs. 1, 2 and 3 illustrate an X-ray table to which the principles of my invention are applied. The table of Fig. 1 comprises a base 19, a tiltable frame mounted on the base, and a housing 21 supported by the frame. A longitudinal carriage 23 is mounted on suitable rollers 24 which run on parallel tracks fixed to the table frame and spaced substantially the width of the table, allowing the longitudinal carriage to be positioned anywhere along the length of the table. A transverse carriage 25, as best shown in Fig. 2, is mounted to slide or roll on the longitudinal carriage 23 in the direction transverse to the movement of the longitudinal carriage. The transverse carriage 25 is adapted for carrying an X-ray source (not shown) beneath the top surface of the table. The combination of movements available from the longitudinal and transverse carriages allow positioning of the X-ray source at any desired point beneath the table surface. A vertical tower 27 is suitably fixed to one end of the transverse carriage 25. A tower carriage 29 is mounted for vertical movement on the tower 27. The tower ear riage 29 supports a fluoroscopic screen and spot-film assembly 31 which is mounted in cooperative relation to the X-ray source. An operator handle 33 is conveniently mounted on the screen and spot-film assembly 31. This is the handle to which force is applied by the human operator to position all of the carriages. This handle is in the same position and of the same general configuration as it would be if the carriages were to be positioned exclusively by force applied by the human operator. However, the handle in the present case, performs the further function of a switch operator, and it will be hereinafter referred to as a switch operator or switch operator handle.

Fig. 1 shows schematically a linear motor associated with the longitudinal carriage of the X-ray table. The recor 35 of the linear motor is fixed to the ends of the X-ray table beneath the longitudinal carriage 23 so as to be parallel to the direction of movement of the longitudinal carriage. The stator 37 of the linear motor is mounted for movement along the recor 35, and as a part of the mass of a longitudinal carriage counterweight system. The remainder of the counterweight mass is indicated at 39. The counterweight mass is connected by suitable means including a cable 41 and pulleys 43 to the longitudinal carriage, and to the table frame. Fig. 2. shows in schematic form a linear motor associated with the cross carriage. The recor 45 is fixed to the longitudinal carriage 23 so as to be parallel to the path of movement of the transverse carriage 25. The stator 47 is mounted for movement along the recor 45 and is fixed to the transverse carriage 25. Fig. 3 shows in schematic form a linear motor associated with the tower carriage 29. The recor 49 is inside the tower 27 and is fixed to the tower so as to be parallel to the path of movement of the tower carriage 29. The stator 51 is mounted for movement along the recor 49, and as a part of the mass of a tower carriage counterweight system. The remainder of the counterweight mass is indicated at 53. The counterweight mass is connected by suitable means including a cable 55 and pulleys 57 to the tower carriage 29 and the tower 27.

The linear motors shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are'connected by suitable conductors to switch contacts which '4' are associated with and actuable by the switch operator. Fig. 5 shows a schematic diagram of the control circuits for the linear motors. In Fig. 5, buses 59, 61 which may be energized from a commercial source of alternating current are connected through a line switch 63 to energize the primary winding 65 of a transformer 67 having three variable voltage secondary windings 69, 71, 7 Each secondary winding is connected across first 75 and second 77 terminals of a respective linear motor. A reversing relay 79, 81, 83 is associated with each linear motor. The contacts 85 of each reversing relay are normally open and are arranged to alternatively connect 7 either the first 75 or second 77 terminal of the respective motor through a phase shifting capacitor 87 to a third terminal 89 of the motor, depending upon the position of the respective reversing relay armature. Each reversing relay armature is controlled by its respective centertapped relay coil 91. The center tap of a respective relay coil is connected to one bus 93 of a power supply (not shown), while the end terminals are each connected through a normally open switch 95 to the other bus 97 of said power supply; Each switch is independently actuable by a switch operator. A suitable switch operator and switch contact arrangement is shown schematically by Figs. 6 and 7. The switch contacts 101-106 shown in Figs. 6 and 7 correspond with those shown in Fig. 5.

The switch operator comprises a hollow cylindrical member 99 having holes in its ends. The switch operator is supported by means of springs on a shaft 107 which extends through the holes in its ends. A set of springs 109 is located inside the switch operator near each end. Each set of springs is disposed symmetrically about the shaft 107 and is fixed to the shaft and the inside wall of the hollow. cylindrical member 99 so that the shaft is normally supported in a neutral position coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the said member 99. Four independently actuable switch contacts 103-106 are disposed apart between the shaft and the inside wall of the cylindrical member 99. The movable element of each contact is normally held in the open position by a compression spring 108 which -is fixed to the shaft 107 and which pushes the movable element into physical contact with the inner wall of the cylindrical member 99. Similar switch contacts 101-102 are disposed one at each end of the cylindrical member 99, the movable element being in physical contact with the end wall of the said member 99. The switch operator handle 33 shown in Fig. 1 may take the form of the switch operator of Figs. 6 and 7. The shaft 107 would be fixed to the screen and spotfilm assembly 31 of the X-ray table. The switch contacts 101-106 of the switch operator would be connected as shown in Fig. 5. For convenience it is assumed that motors No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 are the linear motors for the longitudinal carriage, the tower carriage, and the transverse carriage, respectively. Now, if, for example, the human operator desires to move the spot-film assembly 31 to the right, lower, and to the rear, he merely pushes on the switch operator handle 33 naturally in the same manner as if he were positioning the carriages by manual forces alone. These forces applied by the human operator cause the switch operator to move from its neutral position to close switch contacts 101, 104 and 106 to cause the longitudinal carriage linear motor to move to the right, the tower carriage linear motor to move down, and the cross carriage linear motor to move to the rear. Thus, to move the X-ray table carriages to any desired position the human operator will naturally apply forces to the switch operator handle which will cause the proper linear motors to be energized for move- I ment in the proper direction.

riage 117 is mounted for vertical movement along said column 111.- A third carriage 119 is mounted on said .second carriage 117'for movement transverse with respect to the movement of'said second carriage. An X-ray tube carriage support bracket 121 is suitably fixed to one end of the third carriage 119; The tube carriage 123 comprises a pair of arcuate members 125 mounted for movement on rollers I27which are fixed to the tube carriage support bracket 121. An X-ray source 129 is suitably mounted on the X-ray tube carriage 123.- A switch operator'handle'131' is fixed to the tubecarriage 123 so that manual force applied to said handle will be transmitted to all carriages. A first linear'motor has its stator 133 fixed to said column 111 near its top and its recor 135 fixed to a support (notjshown'), parallel 'to said floor rail 115. A second linear motor has its stator 137 fixed to said second carriage 117 and its recor 139 fixed with respect to said column 111 parallel to the path of movement of said second carriage 117. A third linear motor has its stator 141 fixed to said second carriage and has its recor 143 fixed to the-ends of said third carriage 119 parallel to the path of movement of said third carriage. The linear motors are suitably connected by conductors (not shown) to the switch contacts of the switch operator handle131. The control scheme for the linear motors associatedwith the'tube stand of Fig. 8' may be the same as that, shown 'by'Fig. 5. The switch operator for the tube stand may be' similar to the one shown by Fig.6 except'that' the switch operator'or housingof Fig. 6 will in this case be fixed to the X-ray tube carriage and the shaft'extensions will form the switch operator handle.

:Also; the end switch contacts ofFig; 6 will-be modified so asto beactuatedbymovement of the'shaft. Thus, to

movethe'tube stand carn'agesto' any'des'ired position, the

human operat'or will naturally apply forces to the switch operator-handle which will cause theproper linear motors to be energized'in the proper direction.

" Fig 9 showsan X-ray tube stand of the therapy type.

In Fig. 9 a pair of spaced vertical columns'145, 147 are mounted on base members 149, 151 and are held rigid by a spacing member 153 bridging their top portions 155. A first carriage 157 is mounted for vertical movement on said columns. A second carriage 159- is mounted on said first carriage 157 for horizontal movement between said columns 145-, 147. A third carriage 161 is mounted on said second carriage 159' for movement transverse with respect to that of the second carriage. An X-ray tube assembly 163 isfixed to one end of said third carriage 161. A switch operator handle 165 is conveniently fixed to said tube assembly so that manual force applied to said handle will be transmitted to all of said carriages. A first linear motor has its stator 167 fixed to said first carriage 157 at an end near one of said columns 145, and has its recor 169 fixed with respect to said column 145 and parallel to the path of movement of said first carriage 157. A second linear motor has its stator 171 fixed to said second carriage I59 and its recor 173 fixed to the endsof said first carriage157 parallel to the path of movement of said second carriage 159. A third linear motor has its stator 175 fixed to said second carriage 159 and its recor 177 fixed to the ends of said third carriage 161 and parallel to the path of movement of said third carriage. The linear motors are suitably connected by conductors (not shown) to the switch operator handle 165. The control scheme for the linear motors may be the same as that shown by Fig. 5. The switch operator handle 165 may be the same as that described in connection with Fig. 8. Thus,.t move the therapy tube stand carriages to any desired position, the human operator will naturally apply forces to the switch operator handle 165 which will cause the proper linear motorsto be energized for movement in the proper directions.

In general, whether the stator or the recor of the linear motor is fixed in a particular instance is a matter of conyenience. Also, where a'linear motor is associated with a counterweight system it is not essential but is desirable that the stator be incorporated as a part of the counterweight mass. In cases where the stator is not fixed, it may be desirable to support it with guides or tracks to maintain it in proper relation to the recor. The number of linear motors to be used is a matter of choice and will depend in general upon the severity of the problem of manual movement for the particular function, and the switch operator handle will be designed accordingly. For example, an X-ray table may have a linear motor for the longitudinal carriage only, in which case the switch operator handle may be considerably simplified. The principles of my invention may be conveniently applied to X-ray apparatus other than that shown by the drawings, such as a vertical fluoroscope, stratograph, cassette changer, etc. The recor of the linear motor may for some applications be curved or arcuate.

While I have shown my invention in several forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim as my invention:

1. X-ray apparatus comprising a carriage, support means for said carriage, alinear motor comprising a stator and a recor, means for fixing said recor to said carriage support means,.a counterweight system attached to said carriage and including said stator as a part of the mass of said system, aswitch'operator handle, support means for said handle, means mechanically connecting said handle support means to'said carriage for limited movement of said handle relative thereto, so that said carriage may be moved by manual force applied'tosaid handle, switch means electrically connected to said motor, said switch means being mechanically linked to said ha.n die for actuation in'response to movement of said handle relative to said carriage and operative toenergize said motor to apply a force in the same direction as that of the manual force applied to said operator handle.

2. In X-ray apparatus including a carriage member movable in a predetermined direction and a firstsupport for said carriage member, the combination of a motor having a'fimt element and a second element, said first element being connected to said carriage member and said second element being connected to said support, a control member supported for limited movement in said direction relative to said carriage, a second support for said control member connected to said carriage for transmitting a manual force applied to said control member to move said carriage, and an electrical switch electrically connected to control the operation of said motor and operative in response to movement of said control member relative to said carriage to energize said motor to apply a cooperative force to said carriage in said direction.

In X-ray apparatus including a carriage movable in a predetermined direction and a first support for said carriage, the combination of a motor having a first element and a second element, said first element being connected to said carriage and said second element being connected to said first support, a control member supported by said carriage for limited movement in said direction, an electrical switch device supported adjacent said control member and connected to control the operation of said motor in response to movement of said control member to apply a force to move said carriage in said direction, and a second support for the control member connected between the carriage and the control member for movement of said carriage by manual force applied to said control member.

4. In X-ray apparatus including a carriage movable in a predetermined direction and a support for said carriage, the combination of a motor having a first element and a second element, said first element being connectedto said carriage and said second element being connected to said support, a control handle mechanically connected for limited movement relative to saidcarriage in said direc- 7 tion, a second support for said control handle mechanically connected between said handle and the carriage and adapted to transmit a manual force applied to said handle to move said carriage, and circuit means including a control switch device electrically connected to control said motor, with said device being operative in response to limited movement of said handle to energize said motor to apply a force for movement of said carriage in said predetermined direction.

5. X-ray apparatus comprising a carriage for movably supporting a radiation source relative to an object to be irradiated with said carriage having a second carriage portion located for convenient application thereto of a manual force for translation of said carriage, support means for said carriage, with said carriage being supported for movement relative thereto in a predetermined direction, a linear motor comprising a stator element and a recor element, means for connecting one of said elements to said carriage support means, and means for connecting the other of said elements to said carriage so that said motor may be operative to assist the manual translation of said carriage, circuit means electrically connected to control said motor including an electrical switch device supported on said second carriage portion, a switch operator handle mechanically connected to said carriage for limited movement relative thereto in response to manual force applied to said handle, with said switch device being connected for operation in response to limited movement of said operator handle relative to said carriage-to cause said motor to apply an electromagnetic force to said carriage in the same direction as that of the manual force applied to said handle.

6. X-ray apparatus comprising a support table structure ingluding a frame and a panel forming a top on said recor, a switch operator in the form of a handle,

support means for said operator, means mechanically connecting said support means to said carriage so that said carriage may be moved in a longitudinal direction by manual force applied to said operator, means mechanically connecting said stator to said carriage, switch means electrically connected to said motor, said switch means being mechanically linked to said operator for actuation in response to movement of said handle relative to said carriage and correlated with the direction of manual force applied to said operator to cause said motor to move in said longitudinal direction.

7. X-ray apparatus comprising a support table structure including a frame and a panel forming a top on which to support an object for X-ray exposure, a carriage disposed beneath said panel and mounted for longitudinal movement with respect to said panel, a linear motor comprising a stator and a recor in the form of a strip of conducting material, means for fixing said recor to said frame parallel to the path of movement of said carriage, means for mounting said stator for longitudinal movement along said recor, a switch operator in the form of a handle, support means for said operator, means mechanically connecting said support means to said carriage so that said carriage may be moved in a longitudinal direction by manual force applied to said operator, a counterweight system attached to said carriage and including said stator as a part of the counterweight mass, switch means electrically connected to said motor, said switch means being mechanically linked to said operator for actuation in response to movement of said handle and correlated with the direction of manual force applied to said operator to cause said motor to move in the desiredlongitudinal direction.

8. X-ray apparatus comprising a support table structure including a frame and a panel forming a top on which to support an object for X-ray exposure, means for tilting said frame about a transverse axis, a first carriage disposed beneath said panel and mounted for longitudinal movement with respect to said panel, a second carriage mounted on said first carriage for transverse movement with respect to said first carriage, an X-ray source mounted on said second carriage, a vertical tower structure mounted at one end of said second carrlage, a tower carriage mounted for vertical movement on said tower structure, support means mounted on said tower carriage .and adapted for carrying X-ray sensitive material above sad panel in cooperative relation to said X-ray source, a first counterweight system attached to said first carriage, a second counterweight system attached to said tower carriage, a first linear motor including a first stator and a first recor, a second linear motor including a second stator and a second recor, said first recor and said second recor being in the form of a strip of conducting material, means for fixing said first recor to said frame parallel to the path of movement of said first carriage, means fonfixing said second recor to said tower structure parallel to the path of movement of said tower structure, means for mounting said first and second stators for movement along their respective recors, means mechanically connecting said first and second stators respectively to said first carriage and said tower carriage, a switch operator in the form of a handle, support means for said operator, means mechanically connecting said operator to said tower carriage so that all said carriages may be moved in their respective directions by manual force applied to said operator, switch means electrically connected to said motor, said switch means being actuable by said operator and correlated with the direction of manual force applied to said operator to cause said motors to move in the latter said directions.

9. X-ray apparatus comprising a support table structure including a frame and a panel forming a top on which to support an object for X-ray exposure, means for tilting said frame about a transverse axis, a first carriage disposed beneath said panel and mounted for longitudinal movement with respect to said panel, a second carriage mounted on said first carriage for transverse movement with respect to said first carriage, an X-ray source mounted on said second carriage, a vertical tower structure mounted at one end of said second carriage, a tower carriage mounted for vertical movement on said tower structure, support means mounted on said tower carriage and adapted for carrying X-ray sensitive material above said panel in cooperative relation to said X- ray source, a first counterweight system attached to said first carriage, a second counterweight system attached to said tower carriage, a first linear motor including a first stator and a first recor, a second linear motor including a second stator and a second recor, said first recor and said second recor being in the form of a strip of conducting material, means for fixing said first recor to said frame parallel to the path of movement of said first carriage, means for fixing said second recor to said tower structure parallel to the path of movement of said tower structure, means for mounting said first and second stators for longitudinal movement along their respective recors, and for including them respectively as a part of the mass of said first and second counterweight systems, a switch operator in the form of a handle, support means for said operator, means mechanically con necting said operator to said tower carriage so that all said carriages may be moved in their respective direc tions by manual force applied to said operator, switch means electrically connected to said motors, said switch means being actuable by said operator and correlated with the direction of manual force applied to said operatot to cause the respective motors to move in the latter said directions.

10. X-ray apparatus comprising a support table structure including a frame and a panel forming a top on which to support an object for X-ray exposure, means for tilting said frame about a transverse axis, a first carriage disposed beneath said panel and mounted for longitudinal movement with respect to said panel, a second carriage mounted on said first carriage for transverse movement with respect to said first carriage,an X- ray'source mounted on said second carriage, a vertical tower structure mounted at one end of said second carriage, a tower carriage' mounted for vertical movement on said tower structure, support means mounted on said tower carriage and adapted for carrying X-ray sensitive'material above said panel in cooperative relation tosa'idX-ray source, afirst counterweight system attached to said first carriage, a second'counterweight system attached' to said tower carriage, first, second and third linear motors each comprising a stator and a recor in the" form of a strip of conducting material, means for fixing the recor of said first motor to said frame parallel 'to the'path of movement of said first carriage, means for fixing the recor ofsaid second motor to said tower structure parallel to the path of movement of said tower structure, means for fixing the recor of said third motor to' said first carriage parallel to the path of movement of said second carriage, means for mounting the stators of said first, second and thirdvmotors for longitudinal move ment along their respective recors, means mechanically connecting the stators of said first, second and third-inotorsrespectively to said first carriage, said tower carriageand said second carriage, a switch operator is the form of a handle, support means for said operator, means mechanically connecting said operator to said tower carriage so that all said carriages may be moved in their respective longitudinal directions by manual force applied to said operator, switch means electrically connectedfto said' motors, said switch means being actuable by said operator and correlated with the direction of manual force applied to said operator to cause said motors to move in the desired longitudinal directions.

11. X-ray apparatus comprising a support table structure including a frame and a panel forming a top on which to support an" object for X-ray exposure, means for tilting said frame about a transverse axis, a first carriage disposed beneath said panel and mounted for longitudinal movement with respect to said panel, a second carriage mounted on said first carriage for transverse movement with respect to said first carriage, an X-ray source mounted on said second carriage, a vertical tower structure mounted at one end of said second carriage, a tower carriage mounted for vertical movement on said tower structure, support means mounted on said tower said first recor to said frame parallel to the path of movement of said first carriage, means for fixing said second recor to said tower structure parallel to the path of movement of said tower structure, means for fixing said third recor to said first carriage parallel to the path .of movement of said second carriage, means for mounting said first, second and third stators for longitudinal movement along their respective recors, and for including them respectively as a part of the mass of said first, second and third counterweight systems, a switch operator in the form of a handle, support means for said operator, means mechanically connecting said operator to said tower carriage so that all said carriages may be moved in either of their respective longitudinal directions by manual force applied to said operator, switch means electrically connected to said motors, said switch means being including a vertical support column, a first carriage mounted for movement longitudinally along said column,

' a second carriage mounted on said first carriage for transverse movement with respect to said column, an X-ray source support means mounted at one end of said second carriage, carriage means arranged to support said vertical column for movement in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of said column, a counterweight system attached to said first carriage, a linear motor comprising a stator and a recor in the form of a strip of conducting material, means for fixing said recor to said vertical support column parallel to the path of movement of said first carriage, means for mounting said stator for longitudinal movement along said recor, a switch operator in the form of a handle, support means for said op erator, means mechanically connecting said support means to said X-ray source support means so that said carriages may be moved in either of their respective longitudinal directions by manual force applied to said operator, means mechanically connecting" said stator to said first carriage, switch means electrically connected to said motor, said switch means being actuable by said operator and correlated with the direction of themanual force applied to said operator to causesaid motor to move in the desired longitudinal direction;

13. X-ray apparatus comprisingan X-ray tube stand including a vertical support column; a first carriage mounted for movement longitudinally along said column, a second carriage mounted on said first carriage for transverse movement with respect to'said column, an X-ray source support means mounted at one end of said second carriage, carriage means arranged to'snpport said vertical column for movement in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of said column", a counterweight system attached to said first carriage, a linear motor comprising a stator and a recor in the form of a strip of conducting material, means for fixing said recor to said vertical support column parallel to the path of movement of said first carriage, means for mounting saidstator forlongitudinal movement along said recor and including said stator as a part of the mass of said counterweight system, a switch operator in the form of a handle, support means for said operator, means mechanically connecting said support means to said X-ray source support means so that said carriages may be moved in either of their respective longitudinal directions by manual force applied to said operator, switch means electrically connected to said motor, said switch means being actuable by said operator and correlated with the direction of the manual force applied to said operator to cause said motor to move in the desired longitudinal direction.

14. X-ray apparatus comprising an X-ray tube stand including a vertical support column, a first carriage mounted for movement longitudinally along said column, a second carriage mounted on said first carriage for trans verse movement with respect to said column, an X-ray source support means mounted at one end of said second carriage, carriage means arranged to support said vertical column for movement in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of said column, a counterweight system attached to said first carriage, first and second linear motors each comprising a stator and a recor in the form of a strip of conducting material, means, for fixing said first recor to said vertical support column parallel to the path of movement of said first carriage, means for fixing said second recor against movement and in a plane parallel to the plane of movement of said vertical support column, means for mounting said stators for longitudinal movement along their respective recors, means mechanically 1 1 connecting said first and second stators respectively to said first carriage and to said carriage means, a switch operator in the form of a handle, support means for said operator, means mechanically connecting said support means to said X-ray source support means so that said carriages may be moved in either of their respective longitudinal directions by manual force applied to said operator, switch means electrically connected to said motors, said switch meansbeing actuable by said operator and correlated with the direction of manual force applied to said operator to cause said motors to move in the desired longitudinal directions along their respective recors.

15. X-ray apparatus comprising an X-ray tube stand including a vertical support column; a first carriage mounted for movement longitudinally along said column, a second carriage mounted on said first carriage for transverse movement with respect to said column, an X-ray source support means mounted at one end of said second carriage, carriage means arranged to support said vertical column for movement in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of said column, a counterweight system attached to said first carriage, first and second linear motors each 4 comprising a stator and a recor in the form of a strip of conducting material, means for fixing said first recor to said vertical support column parallel to the path of movement of said first carriage, means for fixing said second recor against movement and in a plane parallel to the plane of movement of said vertical supportcolumn, means for mounting said first stator for longitudinal movement along said first recor and, as a part of the mass of said counterweight system, means for. mounting said secgnd stator for longitudinal movement along said second re'gor, means mechanically. connecting said second sta torito said carriage means, a switch operator in the form of a handle, support means for said operator, means mechanically connecting said support means to said X-ray source support means so that said carriages may be moved in either of their respective longtiudinal directions by manual force applied to said operator, switch means electrically connected to said motors, said switch means being actuable by said operator and correlated with the direction of manual force applied to said operator to cause said motors to move in the desired longitudinal directions along their respective recors.

l6. X-ray apparatus comprising an X-ray tube stand including a vertical support column, a first carriage mounted for movement longitudinally along said column, a second carriage mounted on said first carriage for transverse movement with respect to said column, an X-ray source support means mounted at one end of said second carriage, carriage means arranged to support said vertical column for movement in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of said column, a counterweight system attached to said first carriage, first, second and third linear motors each comprising, a stator and a recor in the form of a strip of conducting material, means for fixing said first recor to said vertical support column parallel to the path of movement of said first carriage, means for fixing said second recor against movement and in a plane parallel to the plane of movement of said vertical support column, means for fixing said third recor to said second carriage parallel to the path of movement of said second carriage, means for mounting said stators for longitudinal movement along their respective recors, means mechanically connecting said first and second stators respectively to said first carriage and said carriage means, means for fixing said third stator to said first carriage, a switch operator in the form of a handle, support means for said operator, means mechanically connecting said support means to said X-ray source support means so that said carriages may be moved in either of their respective longitudinal directions by manual force applied to said oper- I ator, switch means electrically connected to said motors,

said switch means being actuable by said operatorrand correlated with the direction of manual force applied to a second carriage mounted on said first carriage for trans verse movement with respect to said column, an X-ray "source support means mounted at one end of said second carriage, carriage means arranged to support said vertical column for movement in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of said column, a counterweight system attached to said first carriage, first, second and third linear motors each comprising a stator and a recorin the form of a strip of conducting materiah'means for fixing said first recor to said vertical support column parallel to the path of movement of said first carriage, means for fixing said second recor against movement and in a plane parallel to the plane of movement of said vertical support column, means for fixing said third recor to said second carriage parallel to the path of movement of said second carriage, means for mounting said first stator for longitudinal movement along said first recor and as a part of the mass of said counterweight system, means for mounting said second stator for longitudinal movement along in the form of a handle, support means for said operator,

means mechanically connecting said support means to said X-ray source support means so that said carriages may be moved in either of their respective longitudinal directions by manual force applied to said operator, switch means electrically connected to said motors, said switch means being actuable by said operator and correlated with the direction of manual force applied to said operator to cause said motors to move in the desired longitudinal directions along their respective recors.

l8. X-ray apparatus comprising a therapy X-ray tube stand including a pair of spaced fixed vertical support columns, a first carriage supported by said columns for longitudinal movement along said columns, a second carriage mounted on said first carriage for horizontal movement between said vertical support column, a third carriage mounted on said second carriage for movement transverse with respect to the movement of said second carriage, X-ray source support means mounted at one end of said third carriage, a counterweight system attached to said first carriage, a linear motor comprising a stator and a recor in the form of a strip of conducting material, means for fixing said recor to one of said vertical support columns parallel to the path of movement of said first carriage, means for mounting said stator for longitudinal movement along said recor, a switch operator in the form of a handle, support means for said operator, means mechanically connecting said support means to said X-ray source support means so that said carriages may be moved in either of their respective longitudinal directions by manual force applied to said operator, means mechanically connecting said stator to said first carriage, switch means electrically connected to said motor, said switch means being actuable by said operator and correlated with the direction of the manual force applied to said operator to cause said motor to move in the desired longitudinal direction.

19. X-ray apparatus comprising a therapy X-ray tube stand including a pair of spaced fixed vertical support columns, a first carriage supported by said columns for longitudinal movement along said columns, a second carriage mounted on said first carriage for horizontal movement between said vertical support columns, a third carriage mounted on said second carriage for movement transverse with respect to the movement of said second carriage, X-ray source support means mounted at one end of said third carriage, a counterweight system attached to said first carriage, a linear motor comprising a stator and a recor in the form of a strip of conducting material, means for fixing said recor to one of said vertical support columns parallel to the path of movement of said first carriage, means for mounting said stator for longitudinal movement along said recor, and including said stator as a part of the mass of said counterweight system, a switch operator in the form of a handle, support means for said operator, means mechanically connecting said support means to said X-ray source support means so that said carriages may be moved in either of their respective longitudinal directions by manual force applied to said operator, switch means electrically connected to said motor, said switch means being actuable by said operator and correlated with the direction of the manual force applied to said operator to cause said m0- tor to move in the desired longitudinal direction.

20. X-ray apparatus comprising a therapy X-ray tube stand including a pair of spaced fixed vertical support columns, a first carriage supported by said columns for longitudinal movement along said columns, a second carriage mounted on said first carriage for horizontal move-- meut between said vertical support columns, a third carriage mounted on said second carriage for movement transverse with respect to the movement of said second carriage, X-ray source support means mounted at one end of said third carriage, a counterweight system attached to said first carriage, first and second linear motors, each comprising a stator and a recor in the form of a strip of conducting material, means for fixing said first recor to one of said vertical support columns parallel to the path of movement of said first carriage, means fixing said second recor to said first carriage parallel to the path of movement of said second carriage, means for mounting said first and second stators for longitudinal movement along their respective recors, a switch operator in the form of a handle, support means for said operator, means mechanically connecting said support means to said X-ray source support means so that said carriages may be moved in either of their respective longitudinal directions by manual force applied to said operator, means mechanically connecting said first stator to said first carriage, means mechanically connecting said sec- 0nd stator to said second carriage, switch means electrically connected to said motors, said switch means being actuable by said operator and correlated with the direction of the manual force applied to said operator to cause said motors to move in the desired longitudinal directions.

21. X-ray apparatus comprising a therapy X-ray tube stand including a pair of spaced fixed vertical support columns, a first carriage supported by said columns for longitudinal movement along said columns, a second carriage mounted on said first carriage for horizontal movement between said vertical support columns, a third carriage mounted on said second carriage for movement transverse with respect to the movement of said second carriage, X-ray source support means mounted at one end of said third carriage, a counterweight system attached to said first carriage, first and second linear motors, each comprising a stator and a recor in the form of a strip of conducting material, means for fixing said first recor to one of said vertical support columns parallel to the path of movement or" said first carriage, means fixing said second recor to said first carriage parallel to the path of movement of said second carriage, means for mounting said first and second stators for longitudinal movement along their respective recors, said first stator being included as a part of the mass of said counterweight system, a switch operator in the form of a handle, support means for said operator, means mechanically connecting said support means to said X-ray source support means so that said carriages may be moved in either of their respective longitudinal directions by manual force applied to said operator, means mechanically connecting said second stator to said second carriage, switch means electrically connected to said motors, said switch means being actuable by said operator and correlated with the direction of the manual force applied to said operator to cause said motors to move it: the desired longitudinal directions.

22. X-ray apparatus comprising a therapy X-ray tube stand including a pair of spaced fixed vertical support columns, a first carriage supported by said columns for longitudinal movement along said columns, a second carriage mounted on said first carriage for horizontal movement between said vertical support columns, a third carriage m unted on said second carriage for movement transverse with respect to the movement of said second carriage, X-ray source support means mounted at one end of said third carriage, a counterweight system attached to said first carriage, first, second, and third linear motors, each comprising a stator and a recor in the form of a strip of conducting material, means for fixing said first recor to one of said vertical support columns parallel to the path of movement of said first carriage, means for fixing said second recor to said first carriage parallel to the path of movement of said second carriage, means for fixing said third recor to said third carriage parallel to the path of movement of said third carriage, means for mounting said stators for longitudinal movement relative to their respective recors, a switch operator in the form of a handle, support means for said operator, means mechanically connecting said support means to said X- ray source support means so that said carriages may be moved in either of their respective longitudinal directions by manual force applied to said operator, means mechanically connecting said first stator to said firs-t carriage, means mechanically connecting said second stator to said second carriage, means mechanically connecting said third stator to said second carriage, switch means electrically connected to motors, said switch means being actuable by said operator and correlated with the direction of the manual force applied to said operator to cause said motors to move in the desired longitudinal directions.

23. X-ray apparatus comprising a therapy X-ray tube stand including a pair of spaced fixed vertical support columns, a first carriage supported by said columns for longitudinal movement along said columns, a second carriage mounted on said first carriage for horizontal movement between said vertical support columns, a third carriage mounted on said second carriage for movement transverse with respect to the movement of said second carriage, X-ray source support means mounted at one end of said third carriage, a counterweight system attached to said first carriage, first, second and third linear motors, each comprising a stator and a recor in the form of a strip of conducting material, means for fixing said first recor to one of said vertical support columns parallel to the path of movement of said first carriage, means for fixing said second recor to said first carriage parallel to the path of movement of said second carriage, means for fixing said third recor to said third carriage parallel to the path or movement of said third carriage, means for mounting said stators for longitudinal movement relative to their respective recors, said first stator being included as a part of the mass of said counterweight system, a switch operator in the form of a handle, support means for said operator, means mechanically connecting said support means to said X-ray source support means so that said carriages may be moved in either of their respective longitudinal directions by manual force applied to said operator, means mechanically connecting said second stator to said second carriage, means mechanically connecting said third stator to said second carriage, switch means electrically connected to said motors, said switch means being actuable by said operator and correlated with the direction of the manual force applied to said operator to cause said motors to move in the desired longitudinal directions.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of this patent 1,933,911 2,177,808

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,190,453 2,389,585

Ayers Oct. 4, 1932 5 2,609,413

16 Jacobson Nov. 7, 1933 Pohl Oct. 31, 1939 Raab Feb. 13, 1940 Anderson Nov. 27, 1945 Nemeth Sept. 2, 1952

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