GB936031A - Improvements in or relating to suspension systems - Google Patents

Abstract

936,031. Supporting X - ray equipment. PHILIPS ELECTRICAL INDUSTRIES Ltd. Nov. 27, 1959, No. 40419/59. Class 98 (1). [Also in Group XXX] A load such as an X-ray apparatus and auxiliary equipment is supported from a suspension point 17 by a cable passing over overhead rollers to a counterweight 20, the force exerted by the load at said suspension point being counterbalanced by one or mora springs, so that a limited degree of upward or downward movement of the load is possible without any displacement of the counterweight. In Fig. 1 the load comprises an X-ray tube 6 and carriage 7, connected by an arm 4 with an intensifier 1 and camera 2. The load is suspended by a yoke 16 from a floating roller 17. The roller 17 is itself suspended by a cable 18, attached at one end to a fixed point 19, and at the other end, after passing over various support rollers 23, 24, 22, 21, to a counterweight 20. Rollers 23, 24 are fixed to a lever 29 pivoted at 30 to a carriage 25 which travels horizontally along a guide 26. The lever can pivot downwards under the action of the weight of the apparatus, as shown in dotted lines. This movement is counterbalanced by a torsion spring 31, one end of which is attached to a lug 32 on the lever and the other end to a lug 33 on the carriage 25. Thus the pivoting action of the spring-loaded lever 29 allows a certain amount of up-and-down movement of the load without having to displace the counterweight 20. In the modification of Fig. 2, the load is attached to a cross-bar 37 which can slide up and down on rods 35, 36 fixed to a yoke 38. Downward movement of the load acts against springs 41, 42, tensioning arms 39, 40 attached to the cross-bar 37.