Polymer magnetic braking system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11266365-B2
Application number	US-201916683535-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 14, 2019
Priority date	Nov 19, 2018
Publication date	Mar 8, 2022
Grant date	Mar 8, 2022

Abstract

A mobile radiography system includes a wheeled transport frame and a vertical column mounted on the transport frame. A telescoping arm is attached to the vertical column and to an x-ray tube head. The telescoping arm includes a first section, a second section movable within the first section, and a third section movable within the second section. The first section and the second section each include a drag assembly configured to provide a drag force on the linearly movable section therewithin. The drag assemblies each include a friction material pressed against the linearly movable section to provide a constant drag force on the linearly movable section while it moves. A permanent pressure source presses the friction material against the linearly movable section.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A mobile radiography system comprising:
a transport frame having wheels attached thereto for rollably transporting the system;
a vertical column mounted on the transport frame; and
a telescoping boom attached to the vertical column at a first end of the telescoping boom, the telescoping boom attached to an x-ray tube head at a second end of the telescoping boom opposite the first end,
wherein the telescoping boom comprises:
a first tubular section;
a second tubular section; and
a third section, wherein the first tubular section comprises a first interior volume large enough to enclose the second tubular section, the second tubular section comprises a second interior volume large enough to enclose the third section, the second tubular section comprises a first linearly movable portion configured to move linearly within the first tubular section, and wherein the third section comprises a second linearly movable portion configured to move linearly within the second tubular section;
a first drag assembly attached to the first tubular section configured to provide a drag force on the first linearly movable portion; and
a second drag assembly attached to the second tubular section configured to provide a drag force on the second linearly movable portion,

wherein the first drag assembly and the second drag assembly each comprises:
a friction material configured to be pressed against an exterior surface of the first or second linearly movable portion continuously to provide a constant drag force on the first or second linearly movable portion while the movable portion is moved linearly; and
a pressure source to press the friction material against the exterior surface of the first or second linearly movable portion.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the third section comprises a linear tube or solid rod.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first tubular section is a stationary section.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the friction material comprises Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pressure source comprises a magnetic material attracted to the first or second linearly movable portion, and wherein the friction material is positioned between the magnetic material and the first or second linearly movable portion.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the magnetic material comprises neodymium.

7. A brake assembly for a telescoping assembly, the telescoping assembly comprising:
a first portion and a second portion, the first portion configured to be linearly movable within the second portion, the second portion at least partially enclosing the first portion; and
a third portion, the second portion configured to be linearly movable within the third portion, the third portion at least partially enclosing the second portion,
wherein the brake assembly drag portion comprises:
a first friction material attached to the second portion and configured to be frictionally pressed against an exterior surface of the first linearly movable portion continuously to provide a constant drag force on the first linearly movable portion;
a second friction material attached to the third portion and configured to be frictionally pressed against an exterior surface of the second linearly movable portion continuously to provide a constant drag force on the second linearly movable portion; and
a first pressure source to press the first friction material against the outside surface of the first linearly movable portion and a second pressure source to press the second friction material against the outside surface of the second linearly movable portion.

8. The brake assembly of claim 7 , wherein the first portion comprises an elongated tube or solid rod.

9. The brake assembly of claim 7 , wherein the third portion comprises a stationary section.

10. The brake assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first and second friction material comprises Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene.

11. The brake assembly of claim 10 , wherein the first and second pressure source each comprises a magnetic material, and wherein the first and second friction material is positioned between the first and second pressure source and the first and second linearly movable portion, respectively.

12. The brake assembly of claim 11 , wherein the magnetic material comprises neodymium.

13. A radiography system comprising:
an x-ray source; and
a telescoping arm mechanically attached to a support at a first end of the telescoping arm, the telescoping arm mechanically attached to the x-ray source at a second end of the telescoping arm opposite the first end,
wherein the telescoping arm comprises at least a linear first section, a linear second section smaller than the first section and movable within an interior volume of the first section, and a linear third section smaller than the second section and movable within an interior volume of the linear second section, and wherein the first section and the second section each include a drag assembly configured to provide a drag force on the linearly movable section therewithin, and
wherein each drag assembly comprises:
a friction material configured to be pressed against an exterior surface of the linearly movable section therewithin continuously to provide a constant drag force on the linearly movable section therewithin while the linearly movable section therewithin is moving; and
a pressure source to press the friction material against the exterior surface of the linearly movable section therewithin.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the linear first section and the linear second section each comprises a linear tube.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the linear third section comprises a linear tube.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the friction material comprises Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the pressure source comprises a magnetic material attracted to the linearly movable section therewithin, and wherein the friction material is positioned between the magnetic material and the linearly movable section therewithin.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the magnetic material comprises neodymium.

Assignees

• Carestream Health Inc

Inventors

• Dirisio Anthony
• Pruyne Adam D

Classifications

• F16D69/02

  Composition of linings {; Methods of manufacturing} · CPC title

• A61B6/4452

  the source unit and the detector unit being able to move relative to each other · CPC title

• A61B6/4405 Primary

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

• F16D2121/18

  Electric or magnetic · CPC title

• A61B6/447

  the source unit or the detector unit being mounted to counterpoise or springs · CPC title