Contact devices and medical equipment

Abstract

In order to make particularly quick and simple electrical contact with the ground potential of cable bushings of electrical cables with different diameters, a contact device is provided, which has at least one conductive, elastic, structured contact unit, which can have a first state and a second state and can be moved from the first state to the second state by energy input, in particular pressure, wherein the contact unit is designed so that in the first state it is ready for detachable insertion of a plurality of electrical cables and in the second state it fixes the cables and establishes electrical contact with the cable bushings of the cables.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a contact device for electrically contacting an electrical cable (or cable) having a cable sheath (Kabelschirm, or cable sheath), the contact device being used to electrically contact the cable sheath of the electrical cable with ground potential, the contact device having at least one conductive, elastic, structured contact unit, the contact unit being able to have a first state and a second state, and being able to enter the second state from the first state by energy input, wherein the contact unit is designed so that in the first state the contact unit is ready for detachable (or loose) insertion of a plurality of electrical cables, and in the second state the contact unit fixes the cables and establishes electrical contact with the cable sheath of the cables. The present invention also relates to a medical device having a contact device according to the present invention. Background Art

[0002] In order to contact the cable sleeve of the cable and establish a connection with the ground potential of the conductive housing of the electrical or electronic device or a matching part specially provided for this purpose for conducting interference currents and compensation currents, the insulation structure of the cable is usually removed along a section and the exposed cable sleeve is fixed to a housing part (for example, a shielding plate). This is usually done with the help of conductive fixing elements, such as cable clamps, cable connection clamps, screw connection clamps, spring plates or shielding rings (Schirmklemmbügel). In addition, the cable is usually fixed with a cable tie to avoid the cable sleeve from slipping or being damaged. If, for example, there are multiple cables in an assembly, each individual cable must be placed in a fixing element and fixed. If the cables also have different diameters, the contact is usually insufficient or an adapted fixing element must be used for each cable. Summary of the invention

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a possibility of simply and quickly contacting the cable bushings of multiple electrical cables with the ground potential of the housing of an electrical device; the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is also to provide a suitable medical device.

[0004] This object is achieved according to the invention by a contact device for electrically contacting an electrical cable having a cable sleeve and a medical device.

[0005] The contact device according to the invention for making electrical contact with the ground potential of a cable bushing of an electrical cable has at least one conductive, elastic, structured contact unit, which can be provided with (or in) a first state and a second state and can be brought into the second state from the first state by energy input, wherein the contact unit is designed so that in the first state the contact unit is ready for detachable insertion of a plurality of electrical cables and in the second state the contact unit fixes the cables and establishes electrical contact with the cable bushings of the cables. By means of the contact unit, which can be quickly brought into the second state when necessary from the first state, a plurality of cables with different diameters can be simultaneously brought into electrical contact with the ground potential (e.g., the housing of a device, etc.). This can be done simply by inserting the cables into the contact unit in the region of the exposed cable bushing in the first state of the contact unit and fixing and contacting the cables in the contact unit in the second state. Due to the elasticity of the contact unit, the different diameters of the different cables are no longer important, because the contact unit can be automatically adapted. The rapid insertion of the cables can also reduce the manufacturing costs and maintenance costs.

[0006] According to a design of the invention, the contact unit is transitioned from a first state to a second state by applying pressure to the conductive, elastic, structured contact unit. The input of pressure can be carried out particularly quickly and in a simple manner. Thus, for example, pressure can be applied to the contact unit by a pressure element.

[0007] The conductive, elastic, structured contact unit is transferred from the second state into the first state by removing (or canceling) the pressure in a manner that is advantageous for simple installation and rapid replacement of cables.

[0008] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the conductive, elastic, structured contact unit is formed by a conductive rubber or elastomer. Such conductive rubber or elastomer is known and can be manufactured in any shape. Due to the elasticity of the corresponding material, a particularly wide range of cable diameters can be fixed at the same time.

[0009] According to another embodiment of the invention, the conductive, structured contact unit has at least one element having openings and webs. The element can have, in particular, a three-dimensional, mesh-like structure. Such a mesh-like structure can have, for example, a plurality of webs and openings in the uncompressed (first) state, wherein the webs are brought closer to one another or even pressed against one another in the compressed second state and thereby reduce the openings.

[0010] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the conductive structured contact unit has at least two elements, which are arranged so that they are spaced apart from each other in a first state and are close to or in contact with each other in a second state. If, for example, two (or more) such elements are arranged side by side in a columnar manner and spaced apart from each other, a cable can be inserted through an opening or between the spaces in the first state and fixed and contacted by pressure in the second state.

[0011] In particular, in the second state, the contact unit electrically connects the cable bushing to the ground potential of a respective electrical device to which the cable bushing is assigned.

[0012] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the contact device has a frame or a support, which has a pressure element, in particular a plate, designed to apply pressure to the contact unit. If the pressure element is pressed against the contact unit, the cable is fixed and contacted. For example, the contact unit can be fixed in this state by fixed tightening or fixed clamping of the pressure element. Similarly, for example, the pressure can be removed again by loosening the tightening or clamping and the contact unit is thus transformed back into the first state, so that the cable can be removed again.

[0013] The present invention also includes a medical device having the contact device, which is particularly designed as a mobile X-ray device having a C-arm for holding an X-ray detector and an X-ray source, wherein the cable is designed to supply power to components of the C-arm. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The present invention and further advantageous embodiments are explained in detail below based on the exemplary embodiments schematically shown in the drawings, without thereby restricting the present invention to said exemplary embodiments. In the drawings:

[0015] Figure 1 A perspective top view of a known shielding plate having a spring plate for contacting a cable bushing is shown;

[0016] Figure 2 A view showing a known screw terminal for contacting a cable bushing;

[0017] Figure 3 shows a side view of a contact device according to the invention in a first state;

[0018] Figure 4 shows a side view of a contact device according to the invention in a second state;

[0019] Figure 5 A perspective top view of a pressure element of another contact device according to the invention is shown; and

[0020] Figure 6 The embodiment with an additionally fixed cable is shown. Figure 5 's view;

[0021] Figure 7 The illustration shows a view of a mobile medical X-ray device having a contact device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] exist Figure 1 and Figure 2 2 shows a known arrangement for electrically contacting a cable bushing of an electrical cable with the ground potential of a housing 6 of the device. Figure 1 A shielding plate 4 is shown, which is arranged conductively on a housing 6 and has a plurality of electrically conductive spring plates 3. The spring plates are used to fix the cable 1 in the region of the exposed cable bushing 2. For this purpose, the insulation of the cable is removed along sections and the thus exposed cable bushing 2 is clamped between the spring plates and usually also fixed with cable ties. Figure 2 Screw clamps 5 are shown, into which cables can likewise be inserted and then screwed onto the shielding plate 4. In this known arrangement, each cable must be inserted and fixed individually, and different fixing elements must usually be used for different cable diameters.

[0023] Figures 3 to 6 The contact device 20 according to the invention is shown. The contact device 20 according to the invention is moved by pressure from a first state in which a plurality of electrical cables are ready for detachable insertion into a second state in which the cables are fixed and electrical contact is established with the cable bushings of the cables. The contact device 20 according to the invention can be used to quickly and easily simultaneously make electrical contact with a ground potential (e.g., a housing of a device, etc.) for a plurality of cables 1 with different diameters.

[0024] exist Figure 3, a contact device 20 is shown in a first state, which is arranged on a shielding plate 4 of a housing of an electrical device. The contact device 20 includes a plurality of elements 8, which have a mesh structure with a plurality of openings 10 and webs 9. The elements may have a two-dimensional mesh structure or may have an extension along the z direction, i.e., a three-dimensional mesh structure, for example. There may also be only one element. In the first state shown, cables 1 of different or identical diameters may be inserted between the elements 8 or (for example, when there is only one element) into the opening 10, wherein the cables are inserted with their exposed cable sleeves 2. The cable 1 is loosely located in the opening or between the elements in the first state of the contact device. The element 8 is formed of a conductive rubber, elastomer or foam material, for example, silicone with metal particles. Such conductive rubber or elastomer is known and can be manufactured in any shape. In addition, a pressure element 11 is arranged so that the pressure element can apply pressure to the element 8 when necessary. Such a pressure element 11 may be formed, for example, by a plate. A frame 7 may be arranged around the element. The frame and the pressure element 11 can be composed of multiple parts or can also form a structural unit.

[0025] exist Figure 4 , the contact device is shown in a second state, in which pressure is applied to the element 8 by means of the pressure element 11. As a result, the element 8 is compressed and the opening 10 is reduced or the tabs 9 are brought closer together. The cable 1 is thus firmly fixed and electrically contacted. In addition, the elements 8 can (but not necessarily) be pressed against each other. Due to the elasticity of the corresponding materials, a particularly wide range of cable diameters can be fixed simultaneously. The pressure element 11 can be removably fixed in the state of pressure application, for example by one or more fixing elements, such as clamping closures (Klippverschluss), screws, rivets, hooks, etc. If necessary, for example when other cables must be contacted or when the cable should be removed, the pressure element can be simply loosened and the pressure reduced / removed.

[0026] Figure 5 A perspective view of a pressure element 11 arranged on a housing 6 with a shielding plate 4 is shown, wherein the element 8 located below the pressure element between the shielding plate 4 and the pressure element 11 cannot be seen here.

[0027] Figure 6 The invention shows a cable having an additionally fixed Figure 5 Similar view.

[0028] Figure 7A mobile medical X-ray device 12 with a contact device 20 is shown. The mobile X-ray device 12 has an equipment cart 16 with a C-arm 13, on which an X-ray source 14 and an X-ray detector 15 are arranged. In order to supply power to all components of the C-arm 13, multiple cables 1 are required, wherein the cables 1 can have different diameters. The contact device can be used to make it possible for the cables 1 of, for example, a component to simply and reliably contact the ground potential of a conductive housing of an electrical or electronic device or a matching part specially provided for this purpose for conducting interference currents and compensation currents. This allows the cable sleeve to be quickly installed and fixed. The different diameters of the cables are no longer important here. The manufacturing costs and maintenance costs can be reduced by quickly installing the cables.

[0029] The invention can be briefly summarized as follows: In order to make particularly quick and simple electrical contact with the ground potential of cable bushings of electrical cables with different diameters, a contact device is provided, which has at least one conductive, elastic, structured contact unit, which can have a first state and a second state and can be moved from the first state to the second state by energy input, in particular pressure, wherein the contact unit is designed so that in the first state it is ready for detachable insertion of multiple electrical cables and in the second state it fixes the cables and establishes electrical contact with the cable bushings of the cables.

Claims

1. A contact device (20) for electrically contacting a cable bushing (2) of an electrical cable (1) with ground potential, the contact device comprising at least one conductive, elastic, structured contact unit, the contact unit being capable of having a first state and a second state and being capable of being brought from the first state into the second state by energy input, wherein: The contact unit is designed so that in a first state, it is ready for detachable insertion of a plurality of electrical cables (1), and in a second state, it fixes the cables (1) and establishes electrical contact with the cable sleeve (2) of the cables (1), wherein the contact unit has at least one element (8) having a mesh structure, the mesh structure having a plurality of webs and openings in a first, non-compressed state, wherein the webs approach one another in a second, compressed state and shrink the openings.

2. The contact device (20) according to claim 1, wherein: The conductive, elastic, structured contact unit is transferred from a first state into a second state by applying pressure.

3. The contact device (20) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The conductive, elastic, structured contact unit is transferred from the second state into the first state by removing the pressure.

4. The contact device (20) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The conductive, elastic, structured contact unit is formed at least partially from a conductive rubber or elastomer.

5. The contact device according to claim 1, wherein: The at least one element (8) has a mesh-like structure.

6. The contact device according to claim 5, wherein: The at least one element (8) has a three-dimensional network structure.

7. The contact device (20) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The contact unit has at least two elements (8) which are arranged such that they are spaced apart from one another in a first state and are in contact with one another in a second state.

8. The contact device (20) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: In a second state, the contact unit electrically connects the cable bushing (2) to the ground potential of the electrical device.

9. The contact device according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a frame (7) having a pressure element (11) designed to exert pressure on the contact unit.

10. The contact device according to claim 9, characterized in that The pressure element (11) is a plate.

11. A medical device comprising a contact device (20) according to one of claims 1 to 10.

12. The medical device according to claim 11, which is designed as a mobile X-ray device (12), which has a C-arm (13) designed to hold an X-ray detector (15) and an X-ray source (14), and wherein: The cable (1) is designed to supply power to components of a C-arm (13).

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