Mobile X-ray Apparatus Carriage Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing mobile radiation generation apparatuses face challenges in maintaining stability during the rotation of the arm unit, leading to unsteady motion of the carriage unit, and difficulty in accessing the rotation lock operation member, especially in confined hospital spaces.
Innovation Solution
A mobile radiation generation apparatus with a carriage unit equipped with independently swiveling front and rear casters, a rotation locking mechanism, and a swivel locking mechanism, along with a front and rear pedal system that allows for selective locking modes to stabilize the carriage unit and facilitate precise positioning of the radiation emitting unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the arm unit is rotated about a rotation axis parallel to the swivel axis of the caster, then the position of the radiation emitting unit can be finely adjusted, but the carriage unit becomes unsteady and unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The swivel locking mechanism locks the swivel of the rear wheel about the swivel axis before the arm unit rotation operation. This preliminary locking action prevents the carriage unit from becoming unsteady during the subsequent arm unit rotation, thereby maintaining stability while allowing precise positioning of the radiation emitting unit.
2Reliability
If the foot lever is provided at the rear and side positions of the carriage unit, then the rotation locking mechanism can be operated, but the operator cannot access the foot lever from the front side in confined hospital spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The foot lever is configured to extend in the front-rear direction of the carriage unit, changing its spatial orientation from the conventional side-extension configuration. This dimensional repositioning allows the operator to access and operate the foot lever from the front side of the carriage unit, improving accessibility in confined hospital spaces while maintaining locking reliability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the front wheel and rear wheels are casters that independently swivel, then the carriage unit has high flexibility in movement and easy positioning, but the carriage unit becomes unstable when the arm unit rotates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between swivel-locked and swivel-unlocked states based on operational requirements. During movement and positioning, the swivel is unlocked to maintain flexibility. During arm unit rotation for fine positioning, the swivel is locked to ensure stability. This dynamic state change allows the carriage unit to exhibit both high movement flexibility and stability during rotation.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a mobile radiation generation apparatus which reliably prevents the unsteady motion of a carriage unit with a simple structure and facilitates the fine adjustment of the position of a radiation emitting unit. Each of a front wheel and a rear wheel of a carriage unit is a caster that swivels about a swivel axis extending in a vertical direction. A support that vertically stands on the carriage unit supports a base end of an arm unit having a free end to which an X-ray emitting unit is attached. The arm unit rotates about a rotation axis parallel to the swivel axis with respect to the carriage unit. The carriage unit includes a front pedal that is provided closer to the front wheel than the support and is used to lock both the rotation and swivel of the caster at the same time.