Splittable Rotary Joint Module for CT Scanner Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotary joints for CT scanners and other applications require large, circular rotating bodies for transmission lines, making handling and transport cumbersome and costly.
Innovation Solution
A rotary joint design comprising multiple arc-shaped or disk-shaped sections that can be easily assembled and disassembled, using mechanical connecting plates and carrier plates with RF signal connectors and terminations to facilitate contactless data transmission without signal mismatch or delay issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large circular rotating body is used to hold the transmission line, then signal transmission is stable, but handling and transport become cumbersome and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The rotary joint body is divided into multiple arc-shaped or circularly-shaped sections that can be separately manufactured and assembled. Each section contains a portion of the transmission line, and the sections are joined using mechanical connecting plates and carrier plates with RF signal connectors, allowing the large circular body to be handled and transported in smaller, manageable segments.
2Ease of operation
If the rotary joint body is divided into multiple sections, then handling and transport become easier, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Mechanical connecting plates and carrier plates serve as intermediary components that simplify the assembly process. These plates include integrated RF signal connectors and termination points that automatically align and connect transmission line sections when body segments are joined, reducing the complexity of assembling multiple sections while maintaining signal integrity.
3Reliability
If transmission line sections are terminated with characteristic impedance, then signal reflections are reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission line sections are designed with built-in termination points at their ends that automatically provide characteristic impedance matching when properly connected. The mechanical connecting plates and carrier plates are configured to ensure automatic alignment and electrical connection at these termination points, reducing signal reflections without requiring additional manual precision adjustments during assembly.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The modular design reduces handling and transport costs by allowing for easier assembly and disassembly of the rotary joint, minimizing space requirements and maintaining signal integrity during transmission.
Implementation Method 1
Capacitive rotary joints are used to couple signals and data between parts rotating against each other... A bidirectional capacitive coupler is disclosed... Here, the channels for the communication from the rotating side to the stationary side and vice versa are interleaved.
Implementation Method 2
The transmission line termination terminates the transmission line with the characteristic impedance, such that signals fed through the RF signal connector into the transmission line propagate through the transmission line section and are absorbed in the transmission line termination, preferably without causing any reflections of the signal.
Data Source
AI summary
A rotary joint has a body with an even number of body segments. Each body segment holds one transmission line with one RF signal connector at one end and a termination at the opposing end. The body segments are oriented such, that alternatingly in neighboring segments two RF signal connectors or two terminations are next to each other. Two neighboring body segments are connected by a carrier plate. The carrier plate holds an electronic housing where two RF signal connectors are located next to each other, and provides a connection to the RF signal connectors.