Apparatus for a radiographic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10506994-B2
Application number	US-201715689096-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 29, 2017
Priority date	Aug 29, 2017
Publication date	Dec 17, 2019
Grant date	Dec 17, 2019

Abstract

An enclosure for a radiographic device includes a bottom panel, a plurality of sidewalls integrally formed with the bottom panel, whereby the plurality of sidewalls and the bottom panel define a unitary body, and a top panel joined to the plurality of sidewalls and defining an internal space therebetween for housing a radiographic device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An enclosure for a radiographic device, comprising:
a bottom panel;
a plurality of sidewalls integrally formed with the bottom panel, whereby the plurality of sidewalls and the bottom panel define a unitary body; and
a top panel joined to the plurality of sidewalls opposite the bottom panel and defining an internal space therebetween for housing a radiographic device;
wherein the plurality of sidewalls each include a first upturned portion that extends upwardly from the bottom panel, a return portion extending from the first upturned portion back towards the bottom panel and defining a rounded nose, and an inward projection extending from the return portion generally parallel to the bottom panel and defining a flange for supporting the top panel.

2. The enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of cutouts separating each sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls; and
a plurality of corner members, each of the corner member positioned within a corresponding cutout of the plurality of cutouts and affixed to the unitary body.

3. The enclosure of claim 2 , wherein:
each corner member is substantially identical.

4. The enclosure of claim 3 , wherein:
each corner member is joined to the unitary body with one of an adhesive, an epoxy, a braze, a weld, an embedment of a liquid urethane material, a lamination and stakes.

5. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein:
the unitary body is formed from sheet metal.

6. The enclosure of claim 5 , wherein:
the top panel is formed from a carbon fiber reinforced polymer.

7. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein:
the first upturned portion forms an angle of less than 90 degrees with a horizontal surface supporting the enclosure.

8. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein:
the flange is spaced a vertical distance below a top of the rounded nose such that the top panel is inset with respect to the rounded nose.

9. The enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising:
a non-glass x-ray detector received within the interior space.

10. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein:
the enclosure is substantially fluid-tight.

11. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein:
the enclosure is substantially rectangular in shape; and
the plurality of corner members is four corner members.

12. A method of manufacturing an enclosure for a radiographic device, comprising the steps of:
bending a sheet of material to form a plurality of sidewalls and a bottom panel integrally formed with the plurality of sidewalls;
inserting a corner member into cutouts between each sidewall;
affixing a top panel to the sidewalls and the corner members to define an interior space between the top panel, bottom panel and plurality of sidewalls for receiving a radiographic device;
bending the sheet of material to provide each sidewall with a first upturned portion that extends upwardly from the bottom panel, a return portion that extends from the first upturned portion back towards the bottom panel and defines a rounded nose, and an inward projection that extends from the return portion generally parallel to the bottom panel;
wherein the inward projection includes an upper surface that defines a flange for supporting the top panel.

13. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising the step of:
prior to bending the sheet of material, notching corners of the sheet of material to form the cutouts.

14. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising the step of:
creating an overlap between the corner members and at least one of the bottom panel and the sidewalls; and
adhering the corner members and the at least one of the bottom panel and the sidewalls in the area of the overlap.

15. The method according to claim 12 , wherein:
the first upturned portion forms an angle of less than 90 degrees with a horizontal surface supporting the enclosure.

16. The method according to claim 12 , wherein:
the flange is spaced a vertical distance below a top of the rounded nose such that the top panel is inset with respect to the rounded nose.

17. A detector for an imaging system, comprising:
a bottom panel;
a plurality of sidewalls integrally formed with the bottom panel, whereby the plurality of sidewalls and the bottom panel define a unitary body formed from a single sheet of material;
a top panel joined to the plurality of sidewalls opposite the bottom panel and defining an internal space therebetween;
a radiographic detector housed within the internal space;
a plurality of cutouts separating each sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls; and
a corner member positioned within each cutout and affixed to the unitary body;
wherein each sidewall includes a first upturned portion that extends upwardly from the bottom panel, a return portion extending from the first upturned portion back towards the bottom panel and defining a rounded nose, and an inward projection extending from the return portion generally parallel to the bottom panel and defining a flange for supporting the top panel.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Mccoll Connor Douglas
• Lee Kevin
• Konkle Nicholas
• Kinsey Kevin

Classifications

• B21D51/52

  boxes, cigarette cases, or the like · CPC title

• G03B42/04

  Holders for X-ray films · CPC title

• G01T1/244

  Auxiliary details, e.g. casings, cooling, damping or insulation against damage by, e.g. heat, pressure or the like · CPC title

• A61B6/4405

  the apparatus being movable or portable, e.g. handheld or mounted on a trolley · CPC title

• A61B6/4233

  using matrix detectors · CPC title