ROLLING RADIATION PROTECTION SCREEN
The radiation protection screen design with horizontal connecting rods and vertical articulation axes for side casters addresses the challenge of moving heavy screens by ensuring smooth and efficient movement, reducing jolts and blockages.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- BR · BR
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- LEMER PAX
- Filing Date
- 2024-03-12
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-07
AI Technical Summary
Existing radiation protection screens are heavy and difficult to move due to their dense construction, often requiring significant effort and being prone to jolts and blockages during maneuvering, even with a rolling base.
A radiation protection screen design featuring a support device with horizontal connecting rods and vertical articulation axes for side casters, allowing smooth movement with minimal effort and reducing jolts and blockages.
The screen moves smoothly and efficiently, requiring less effort to initiate movement, and minimizes jolts and blockages, even when pushing parallel to the caster's geometric axis.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
1 / 11 “ROLLING RADIATION PROTECTION SCREEN” TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The present invention relates to the general field of equipment for protection against ionizing radiation.
[002] This refers more specifically to radiation-protective screens that are used in medical or other environments to protect an operator against emissions of ionizing radiation, for example, X-rays, and even more particularly to rolling radiation-protective screens, i.e., screens that are supported on the ground by means of casters to facilitate their movement. STATE OF THE ART
[003] Radiation protection screens are known, especially from the document FR-3 106 273, comprising a front wall extended by a side wall on one or both sides, and which rest on the ground by means of casters.
[004] For example, two casters are mounted at the end of a support element that extends in a cantilevered manner from the front side of the screen (opposite the operator's position); and two other casters are mounted at the end of a support device arranged on the free sides of the screen.
[005] However, to ensure effective protection against ionizing radiation, these screens are manufactured from very dense materials. Their weight is therefore generally high (on the order of several hundred kilograms) and, even when they include a rolling base, they are usually very difficult to move.
[006] In particular, the corresponding movement maneuvers may be blocked or may be subject to jolts, especially in the case where one of the casters is not aligned with the geometric axis of impulse on the screen. PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION
[007] In order to overcome the disadvantage of the prior art mentioned above, the present invention proposes a screen made from a radioprotective material to ensure the protection of an operator against emissions of Petition 870250081467, dated 10 / 09 / 2025, pages 65 / 83 2 / 11 ionizing radiation of the X-ray type or other types, wherein the screen comprises a front wall delimited by two lateral sides, wherein at least one of said lateral sides extends into a side wall, wherein the screen comprises two free lateral faces, a rear screen face opposite to which the operator must position themselves and a front screen face opposite said rear screen face, and wherein the screen rests on the ground by means of a base equipped with casters, wherein each of at least two of said casters, called “front casters”, is mounted at the end of a support element that extends in cantilever from the side of said front face of the screen, and wherein each of the other said two casters, called “lateral casters”, is mounted at the end of a support device disposed on one of said free lateral sides,wherein this screen is distinguished by the fact that said support device for said side casters comprises at least one horizontal connecting rod equipped with two vertical articulation axes, for the pivoting mounting of said side casters around at least two vertical axes.
[008] The push to start the screen movement requires little effort, and the screen movement is then carried out very smoothly, limiting jolts and blockages, particularly in the case of a push parallel to the geometric axis of rotation of one of the casters.
[009] Other non-limiting and advantageous features of the screen according to the invention, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations, are as follows:
[010] According to one embodiment, the support device for the side rollers may comprise two horizontal connecting rods articulated to each other around a vertical geometric articulation axis, for the pivoting mounting of said rollers. Petition 870250081467, dated 10 / 09 / 2025, pp. 66 / 83 3 / 11 sides around three vertical axes.
[011] In this case, the support device may include: - an upper connecting rod having (a) an upper connecting rod face, (b) a lower connecting rod face, (c) a first cylindrical hole in the upper connecting rod partially closed on the side of said upper face by an upper support ring, and (d) a second cylindrical hole in the upper connecting rod partially closed at the bottom by a lower support ring, - a lower connecting rod having (a) an upper face of the lower connecting rod, (b) a lower face of the lower connecting rod, (c) a lower connecting rod journal extending upwards from said upper face of the lower connecting rod, and (d) a caster shaft housing opening onto said lower face of the lower connecting rod, - an upper end piece comprising a lower journal and an upper journal separated by an upper end piece crown, wherein the lower journal is intended to penetrate the first cylindrical hole of the upper connecting rod, with a first bearing structure being interposed between the top of the upper bearing crown and the lower part of the upper end piece crown, with a second bearing structure being disposed in the first cylindrical hole of the upper connecting rod, resting on the lower part of the upper bearing crown, and locking means being provided on the side of the lower face of the upper connecting rod for mounting the upper end piece with the upper connecting rod, wherein said upper journal is intended to enter a supplementary receiving housing provided at the end of a support leg fixed to one of said free lateral sides of the screen,wherein the said journal of the lower connecting rod is intended to enter the said second cylindrical hole of the upper connecting rod, with a third bearing structure being interposed between the lower part of the said lower bearing ring and the upper face of the lower connecting rod, a fourth bearing structure being disposed in the said second cylindrical hole of the upper connecting rod, resting on the upper part of the said lower bearing ring, and removable locking means being provided on the side of the upper face, Petition 870250081467, dated 10 / 09 / 2025, pp. 67 / 83 4 / 11 of the upper connecting rod to mount said lower connecting rod journal with said upper connecting rod, wherein said caster axle housing of said lower connecting rod is intended to receive a caster journal attached to the associated caster.
[012] Also according to the invention, the two connecting rod or connecting rod axes of the support device can be spaced from each other by a distance between 30 and 100 mm.
[013] In a particular embodiment of the support device, of the two connecting rod type, the two shafts of an upper connecting rod may be spaced by a distance between 50 and 80 mm, and the two shafts of a lower connecting rod may be spaced by a distance between 30 and 50 mm.
[014] According to another feature, said support device comprises a support leg that is fixed to one of the free sides of the screen by means of fixing screws. Preferably, this support leg extends in the plane of the screen wall over which it extends.
[015] On the other hand, the side casters are fitted with removable locking means adapted to ensure that they are kept in a specific orientation.
[016] It is clear that the various features, variants and embodiments of the invention can be combined with each other in various combinations, as long as they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[017] In addition, several other features of the invention emerge from the attached description given with reference to the drawings illustrating non-limiting embodiments of the invention, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rolling radiation protection screen according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the radiation-protective screen shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged view of one of the side casters of the radiation-protective screen illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, with its support device; Petition 870250081467, dated 10 / 09 / 2025, pages 68 / 83 5 / 11 Figure 4 is an exploded view of the side caster support device illustrated in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the side caster support device illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.
[018] The radiation protection screen 1, shown in Figures 1 and 2, is intended to protect the operator against ionizing radiation emissions.
[019] This radiation protection screen 1 comprises a front wall 2 bounded by two side faces 2', 2'', wherein one of them 2' is extended by a side wall 3, and the other 2'' constitutes a free side face.
[020] Side wall 3 is bounded by two sides 3', 3'', one of which 3' is extended by front wall 2, and the other 3'' constitutes a free side.
[021] The lower part 21 of the front wall 2 is fixed in relation to the side wall and arranged at right angles, or at substantially right angles, in relation to the latter.
[022] The upper part 22 of the front wall 2 is movable and mounted in an articulated manner around a vertical axis on one of the sides of the side wall 3.
[023] The upper edge of the upper part 22 of the front wall 2 and the upper edge of the side wall 3 are extended by an additional wall, respectively 4 and 5, acting as a roof. These two additional walls 4 and 5 are arranged at slightly different height levels to allow them to overlap during the articulation maneuvers of the upper part 22 of the front wall 2.
[024] Walls 2 and 3 are made of panels of suitable radioprotective material, combined and supported by a metal structure that ensures the continuity of radioprotection at all junctions.
[025] The front wall 2 and the side wall 3 each comprise, in particular, - an opaque lower panel 2a, 3a (for example, made from wood panel(s) protected with lead foil) and - a transparent upper panel 2b, 3b (for example, made from leaded glass or other transparent radioprotective material) to provide front and side visibility to Petition 870250081467, dated 10 / 09 / 2025, pp. 69 / 83 6 / 11 operator who is working, in particular, in a medical environment.
[026] This radiation-protective screen 1 comprises two free side faces 2'' and 3'', a rear screen face 1a opposite to where the operator must stand and a front screen face 1b, opposite said rear screen face 1a.
[027] The radiation-protective screen 1 rests on the ground by means of a base 6 fitted with casters 7, 8, which allow its stability and also its easy movement on the ground by simple rolling.
[028] Two casters 7, called “front” casters 7, are each mounted at the end of a support element 7a, in the form of a console or support, which extends from the lower panels 2a, 3a, cantilevered from there, and towards the front (i.e., on the side of the front face 1b of the screen).
[029] These two front casters 7 have the particular advantage of increasing the surface area of the support perimeter of the screen 1 in front of them and contribute to optimizing its stability.
[030] Two other casters 8, called “side casters” 8, are mounted at the end of a support device 9 arranged at the level of the two free sides 2'', 3'' of the screen 1.
[031] Here too, these two side casters 8 have the advantage of increasing the surface area of the support perimeter of the screen 1 on the sides of the latter, and contribute to optimizing its stability.
[032] The support device 9 for these side castors 8 is shown separately from the screen in Figures 3, 4 and 5.
[033] According to the invention, this support device 9 for the side casters 8 comprises at least one horizontal connecting rod equipped with two vertical articulation axes, for the pivoting mounting of said side casters around at least two vertical axes; and preferably comprises two horizontal connecting rods articulated to each other around a vertical geometric articulation axis, for the pivoting mounting of said side casters around three vertical axes.
[034] These features facilitate the movement of the radiation protection screen in Petition 870250081467, dated 10 / 09 / 2025, pp. 70 / 83 7 / 11 solo, taking into account its generally significant weight, on the order of several hundred kilograms (for example, 100 to 350 kg).
[035] The initial push to move the screen requires little effort; and then the screen moves very smoothly, limiting jolts and blockages, especially when pushing parallel to the geometric axis of rotation of one of the casters. The screen can also be moved slightly while the side casters remain fixed.
[036] As can be seen in Figures 3 to 5, the support device here comprises an upper connecting rod 10 and a lower connecting rod 11 articulated to each other around a first vertical geometric axis 12. The upper connecting rod 10 is articulated at the end of a support tab 13 fixed to one of the free sides 2'', 3'' of the screen 1, around a second vertical geometric axis 14 which is offset relative to the first geometric axis 12. In addition, the lower connecting rod 11 and the caster 8 are articulated around a third vertical geometric axis 15 which is offset relative to the first vertical geometric axis 12.
[037] In general terms, the two shafts of connecting rods 10, 11 are advantageously spaced from each other by a distance between 30 and 100 mm.
[038] In a particular embodiment, the two shafts 12 and 14 of the upper connecting rod 10 are spaced by a distance between 50 and 80 mm, and the two shafts 12 and 15 of the lower connecting rod 11 are spaced by a distance between 30 and 50 mm.
[039] The various joints 12, 14 and 15 are fitted with support structures to optimize the articulation capabilities of the connecting rods 10, 11 and the associated roller 8.
[040] According to an interesting configuration, the upper connecting rod 10 is equipped with: - an upper connecting rod face 101, - a lower face of an upper connecting rod 102, - a first cylindrical upper connecting rod bore 103 partially closed on the side of the upper connecting rod face 101 by an upper support ring 104, and Petition 870250081467, dated 10 / 09 / 2025, pp. 71 / 83 8 / 11 - a second cylindrical upper connecting rod bore 105 partially closed at the bottom by a lower support ring 106.
[041] In turn, the lower connecting rod 11 includes: - a lower connecting rod top face 111, - a lower connecting rod face 112, - a lower connecting rod pin 113, extending upwards from the upper face of lower connecting rod 111, and - a castor axle housing 114, which opens on the lower face of the lower connecting rod 112.
[042] In the embodiment illustrated, the castor shaft housing 114 is mainly provided in a sleeve 11a which constitutes an extension of a piece of the lower face of the lower connecting rod 112.
[043] The support device 9 also comprises an upper end piece 16 comprising a lower trunnion 161 and an upper trunnion 162 separated by an upper end piece ring 163.
[044] The lower journal 161 is intended to penetrate the first cylindrical hole of the upper connecting rod 103, with the interposition of a first bearing structure 17 between the top of said upper support ring 104 and the lower part of said upper end piece ring 163.
[045] This first bearing structure 17 can be of the axial ball bearing type.
[046] Note that the top end cap ring 163 has a circular peripheral edge 163a that allows integration and masking of the rolling structure 17.
[047] A second bearing structure 18 is arranged in the first cylindrical hole of the upper connecting rod 103, resting on the lower part of the upper support ring 104.
[048] Removable locking means 19 are provided on the side of the lower face of the upper connecting rod 102 for mounting the upper end piece 16 with the connecting rod. Petition 870250081467, dated 10 / 09 / 2025, pp. 72 / 83 9 / 11 upper 10. These removable locking means 19 consist of (a) an open elastic ring 191 intended to be positioned in a supplementary circular groove formed in the first cylindrical hole of the upper connecting rod 103, to hold the second bearing structure 18, and (b) a self-locking nut with notches 192, adapted to be screwed into a supplementary thread formed at the end of the lower connecting rod journal 113, with the interposition of a toothed nut washer 193.
[049] The second bearing structure 18 can be of the double-row angular contact ball bearing type.
[050] The upper pin 162 of the upper end piece 16 is intended to enter a supplementary receiver housing 20 provided at the end of the support tab 13 fixed to one of said free sides 2'', 3'' of the screen 1.
[051] This receiver housing 20 is enclosed by a sleeve 20a open at the bottom. The upper trunnion 162 is secured in the receiver housing 20 by means of screws 23, 24 that pass through appropriate holes made in the sleeve 20a and in the upper trunnion 162.
[052] The lower connecting rod journal 113 enters the second cylindrical hole of the upper connecting rod 105, with the interposition of a third bearing structure 25 between the lower part of the lower support ring 106 and the upper face of the lower connecting rod 111.
[053] This third bearing structure 25 may be of the axial ball bearing type.
[054] A fourth bearing structure 26 is arranged in the second cylindrical bore of the upper connecting rod 105, resting on the upper part of the lower support ring 106. This fourth bearing structure 26 may be of the double-row angular contact ball bearing type.
[055] Removable locking means 27 are provided on the side of the upper face of the upper connecting rod 101 for mounting the lower connecting rod journal 113 with said upper connecting rod 10. These removable locking means 27 consist of (a) an open elastic ring 271 intended to be positioned in a circular groove. Petition 870250081467, dated 10 / 09 / 2025, pages 73 / 83 10 / 11 supplementary formed in the second cylindrical hole of the upper connecting rod 105, to hold the fourth bearing structure 26, and (b) by a self-locking nut with notches 272, adapted to be screwed into a supplementary thread formed at the end of the lower journal 161 of the upper end piece 16, with the interposition of a washer for a toothed nut 273.
[056] A protective cover 274 covers the removable locking means 27. This protective cover 274 is fixed to the upper end of the lower connecting rod journal 113 by means of an axial screw 275.
[057] The castor shaft housing 114 defined by the sleeve 11a of the lower connecting rod is intended to receive a castor trunnion 28 fixed to the associated castor 8.
[058] The caster 8 with its caster trunnion 28, of known structure, has the capacity to rotate around the third vertical geometric axis 15 mentioned above.
[059] A castor with central locking can be used (for example, a “Linea” model from the company TENTE SAS - St Fargeau Ponthierry - France).
[060] The castor trunnion 28 is immobilized in its receiving housing 114 by means of a screw 30. And removable locking means 31 are fitted to ensure that the associated castor 8 is maintained in a determined orientation (without possibility of articulation).
[061] These removable locking devices 31 are conventional and well known in themselves. They include a control pedal 32 for activation / deactivation maneuvers with the foot.
[062] In Figures 3 to 5 in particular, it was noted that the side rollers 8 are fitted with conventional cable pushing systems 33, to avoid or at least limit the possibility of the screen rolling on a cable on the ground.
[063] The support tab 13 is fixed to one of the free sides 2'', 3'' of the screen 1 by means of fixing screws (directly or by means of a dedicated support structure). This support tab 13 (and / or the dedicated support structure) preferably extends in the plane of the wall (2a, 3a) over which it extends. Petition 870250081467, dated 10 / 09 / 2025, pp. 74 / 83 11 / 11
[064] In an alternative embodiment, the support device 9 may comprise a single horizontal connecting rod, for mounting the articulation of the side castors 8 around two vertical axes.
[065] Of course, other types of radiation protection screens can be fitted with side rollers mounted on a support device according to the invention. Petition 870250081467, dated 10 / 09 / 2025, pages 75 / 83
Claims
1 / 3 CLAIMS 1. Screen (1) manufactured from radioprotective material to ensure the protection of an operator against emissions of ionizing radiation such as X-rays or others, wherein the screen (1) comprises a front wall (2) delimited by two lateral sides (2', 2''), wherein at least one of said lateral sides extends into a side wall (3), wherein the screen (1) comprises two free lateral faces (2'', 3''), a rear screen face (1a) opposite to which said operator must position himself and a front screen face (1b) opposite said rear screen face (1a), wherein the screen (1) rests on the ground by means of a base (6) equipped with casters (7, 8), wherein each of at least two of said casters (7), referred to as “front casters” (7), is mounted on the end of a support element (7a) that extends cantilevered on the side of the said front face (1b) of the screen, and in which each of the other two casters (8), called “side casters” (8),It is mounted at the end of a support device (9) disposed on one of the free sides (2'', 3''), characterized in that said support device (9) of said side casters (8) comprises at least one horizontal connecting rod (10, 11) provided with two vertical articulation axes (12, 14), for the pivoting fixation of said side casters (8) around at least two vertical axes (12, 14, 15).
2. Screen (1) made from radioprotective material, according to claim 1, characterized in that said support device (9) of said side casters (8) comprises two horizontal connecting rods (10, 11) articulated to each other around a vertical articulation axis (12), for the pivoting fixation of said side casters (8) around three vertical axes (12, 14, 15).
3. Screen (1) manufactured from radioprotective material, according to claim 2, characterized in that said support device (9) comprises: Petition 870250081467, dated 10 / 09 / 2025, page. 76 / 83 2 / 3 - an upper connecting rod (10) having (a) an upper connecting rod face (101), (b) a lower connecting rod face (102), (c) a first cylindrical upper connecting rod bore (103) partially closed on the side of said upper connecting rod face (101) by an upper support ring (104), and (d) a second cylindrical upper connecting rod bore (105) partially closed at the bottom by a lower support ring (106), - a lower connecting rod (11) having (a) an upper connecting rod face (111), (b) a lower connecting rod face (112), (c) a lower connecting rod journal (113) extending upwards from said upper connecting rod face (111), and (d) a caster shaft housing (114),which opens onto said lower face of lower connecting rod (112), - an upper end piece (16) comprising a lower journal (161) and an upper journal (162) separated by an upper end piece ring (163), wherein the lower journal (161) is intended to penetrate the first cylindrical hole of upper connecting rod (103), with the interposition of a first bearing structure (17) between the upper part of the upper support ring (104) and the lower part of the upper end piece ring (163), wherein a second bearing structure (18) is disposed in the first cylindrical hole of upper connecting rod (103), resting on the lower part of the upper support ring (104), and wherein removable locking means (19) are provided on the side of the lower face of the upper connecting rod (102) for mounting the upper end piece (16) with the upper connecting rod (10),wherein said upper pin (162) is intended to enter into a supplementary receiving housing (20) provided at the end of a support tab (13) fixed to one of said free lateral faces (2'', 3'') of the screen (1), wherein said lower connecting rod journal (113) is intended to penetrate said second cylindrical hole of the upper connecting rod (105), with the interposition of a third bearing structure (25) between the lower part of said lower support ring (106) and the upper face of the lower connecting rod (111), wherein a fourth bearing structure (26) is Petition 870250081467, dated 10 / 09 / 2025, page. 77 / 83 3 / 3 disposed in said second cylindrical hole of upper connecting rod (105), resting on the upper part of said lower support ring (106), and in which removable locking means (27) are provided on the side of the upper face of upper connecting rod (101) for mounting said lower connecting rod journal (113) with said upper connecting rod (10),wherein said castor shaft housing (114) of said lower connecting rod (11) is intended to receive a castor trunnion (28) fixed to the associated castor (8).
4. Screen (1) made from radioprotective material, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the two axes (12-14; 12-15) of the connecting rod or connecting rods (10, 11) are spaced apart from each other by a distance between 30 and 100 mm.
5. Screen (1) made from radioprotective material, according to claim 4 when dependent on claim 2, characterized in that the two axes (12, 14) of an upper connecting rod (10) are spaced apart from each other by a distance between 50 and 80 mm, and the two axes (12, 15) of a lower connecting rod (11) are spaced apart from each other by a distance between 30 and 50 mm.
6. Screen (1) made from radioprotective material, according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said support device (9) comprises a support flap (13) that is fixed to one of said free side faces (2'', 3'') by means of fixing screws.
7. Screen (1) made from radioprotective material, according to claim 6, characterized in that said support flap (13) extends in the plane of the wall (2a, 3a) over which it extends.
8. Screen (1) manufactured from radioprotective material, according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said side rollers (8) are provided with removable locking means (31) adapted to ensure that they are maintained in a determined orientation. Petition 870250081467, dated 10 / 09 / 2025, pp. 78 / 83