JPH08112273A - Slip ring apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To improve reproducibility of contact state in exchanging by arranging a brush fiber array holder adapted to keep an array of a plurality of brush fibers adjusted uniformly to eliminate early wearing and breakage. CONSTITUTION: A brush fiber array holder 8 comprises holes slightly larger than the diameter of brush fibers arranged regularly at a holder portion located between a tube 7b and the tip part of a brush 7 and brush fibers are passed through the holes separately one at a time. As a result, it is possible to make the tip part of the bundle of the brush fibers 7a contact a slip ring 1 sliding without scattering in the bundling of the brush fibers 7a.... This can prevent variations in the array of the brush fibers 7a, instable contact between the slip ring 1 and the brush fibers 7a attributed to the vibration of the brush 7, early wearing and breakage of the brush fibers 7a while achieving higher reproducibility of contact state in the exchanging of the brush 7.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a slip ring device for exchanging electric power and electric signals between, for example, a rotating side and a stationary side of a scanner of an X-ray CT apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art One of the conventional devices of this type is as follows. That is, a slip ring provided along the rotation direction of the rotating body and a stationary body side that rotatably supports the rotating body are fixed, and a power or an electric signal is transmitted between the slip ring and the slip ring. There is a slip ring device which is provided with a brush composed of a bundle of a plurality of brush fibers to be exchanged.

[0003]

In the above-mentioned prior art, when the brush is brought into contact with the slip ring, in order to secure a larger contact area and the contact pressure of the brush with respect to the slip ring, a plurality of thin brush fibers are used as the brush. I use a bundle of.

However, since the arrangement of the brush fibers is not constant due to the variation in the bundling method of the brush fibers,
The contact area and contact pressure of the slip ring and the brush fiber (these are called the contact state) become unstable, the contact resistance is not constant, and the transferred power or electric signal is adversely affected (for example, power transmission failure or signal transmission). There is a problem that the reproducibility of the contact state when the brush is replaced is poor, or more specifically, a voltage drop of the transmission voltage or data error of the transmission signal occurs). Particularly, in such a slip ring device having a plurality of pairs (channels) of such slip rings and brush pairs insulated from each other, the contact state of each channel is not uniform and the above-mentioned adverse effects are caused in each channel. However, there is a problem in that the characteristics of each channel are varied. In addition, even if there is no variation in how the brush fibers are bundled at the beginning of assembly, variation may occur due to deterioration over time, and the above-mentioned problems may occur after the operation of the apparatus.

Further, fine irregularities on the surface of the slip ring, seams of the slip ring (seams occurring when the slip ring is formed by annularly attaching a belt-shaped conductive plate to a slip ring holder), or slight eccentricity of the slip ring, etc. Due to the above, when the slip ring rotates, vibration is generated in the brush slidingly contacting the slip ring, and this vibration increases as the rotation speed of the slip ring increases. When this vibration reaches the resonance point of the brush, it becomes more severe. In the conventional device, such vibration makes the contact state between the slip ring and the brush fiber unstable, resulting in poor contact, which easily causes poor power transmission and poor signal transmission. Also, friction caused by vibration causes abrasion of the brush fiber. There is a problem in that the speed is accelerated and the brush fiber is prematurely worn. Further, there is a problem in that the vibration reaches the resonance point of the brush fiber and the resonance state continues, causing breakage of the brush fiber, which may make it impossible to exchange electric power or electric signals.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate variations in the arrangement of the brush fibers, destabilization of the contact state between the slip ring and the brush fibers due to vibration of the brush, premature wear of the brush fibers, and breakage of the brush fibers. hand,
Prevents adversely affecting the transmitted or received power or electric signal, and improves the reproducibility of the contact state when the brush is replaced, and particularly, in a multi-channel device, aims to make the contact state of each channel uniform, An object of the present invention is to provide a slip ring device capable of equalizing the characteristics of each channel.

[0007]

The above object is to fix a slip ring provided along the rotation direction of a rotating body and a stationary body side that rotatably supports the rotating body, and to make sliding contact with the slip ring. In a slip ring device comprising a brush made of a bundle of a plurality of brush fibers for exchanging electric power or electric signals with the slip ring,
This can be achieved by providing a brush fiber array holder that holds the array of the plurality of brush fibers in a uniform state. Further, it is achieved by providing a brush fiber binding tool that binds and holds the plurality of brush fibers in one bundle.

[0008]

The brush fiber array holder holds a plurality of brush fibers in a uniform array. This prevents variations in the bundling of the brush fibers, stabilizes the contact state between the slip ring and the brush fibers, and keeps the contact resistance constant, which adversely affects the electric power or the electric signal transmitted and received (for example, transmission failure). Or a signal transmission failure, more specifically, a voltage drop of a transmission voltage or a data error of a transmission signal is not caused). Also,
The reproducibility of the contact state when the brush is replaced is improved, and the variation in the bundling of the brush fibers due to deterioration over time does not occur.

The brush fiber binding tool binds and holds a plurality of brush fibers in a bundle. According to this, the natural frequency of the brush (brush fiber bundle) changes,
The vibration of the brush due to the rotation of the slip ring is suppressed as much as possible from the generated frequency, and the vibration is prevented from reaching the resonance point of the brush. Therefore, the instability of the contact state between the slip ring and the brush fiber due to these vibrations and resonances is prevented, and thus the power transmission failure and the signal transmission failure are prevented, and the brush fiber is not prematurely worn and the brush fiber is not broken. Alternatively, it becomes possible to prevent the electric signal from being unable to be exchanged.

Further, in both the brush fiber array holder and the brush fiber binding device, particularly in a device of a plurality of channels, the contact state of each channel can be made uniform, and the characteristics of each channel can be made uniform.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a partially cutaway front view showing an example of an X-ray CT scanner to which a slip ring device according to the present invention (first invention) is applied, FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a cross section taken along line II-II of FIG.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an enlarged main part of the device of the present invention in FIG.

1 to 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a slip ring, which is attached to the bottom surface of an annular groove 4 formed on the outer periphery of a slip ring holder 3 fixed to a rotary frame 2 which is a rotary body. . The slip ring 1 is connected to electric parts such as a preamplifier mounted on the rotating frame 2. The rotating frame 2 is rotatably supported by a stationary frame 6, which is a stationary body, via a bearing 5.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a brush, which is fixed to the stationary frame 6 and has its tip end slidably contacting the slip ring 1 and between the slip ring 1 and in other words, between the rotating side and the stationary side. Electrical connection is made, and electric signals such as electric power for operating the X-ray tube and X-ray detection signals are exchanged between them. Here, the brush 7 is formed by bundling a plurality of thin brush fibers 7a ... With a tube 7b, and is connected to an electric circuit of, for example, an image processing device (not shown) on the stationary frame 6 side via a cable (not shown). There is.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a brush fiber array holder, which holds the array of the plurality of brush fibers 7a ... In a uniform state. Here, the tube 7b and the brush 7 are provided.
Holes slightly larger than the diameters of the respective brush fibers are regularly arranged in the cage portion located between the tip portion and the brush fibers 7a are passed through the respective holes. As a result, the brush fibers 7a ... Are always held in a constant array, that is, without causing variations in the bundling of the brush fibers 7a.
It becomes possible to make the tip end portion of the bundle of sheets slide in contact with the slip ring 1. If the arrangement of the plurality of brush fibers 7a ... Is not easily collapsed, the cross-sectional outer shape of the arrangement of the plurality of brush fibers 7a .. One brush fiber arrangement holder 8 may be formed so that a bundle of brush fibers 7a can pass therethrough.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway front view showing an example of an X-ray CT scanner to which the slip ring device according to the present invention (second invention) is applied, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a cross section taken along line VV of FIG. ,
FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view showing an essential part of the device of the present invention in FIG. 4 to 6, reference numeral 41 is a brush fiber binding tool for binding and holding the plurality of brush fibers 7a ... In a bundle, and other components are the same as those in FIGS. 1 to 3.

The brush fiber tying member 41 binds and holds a plurality of brush fibers 7a ... In a bundle and changes the natural frequency of the brush 7 to keep it away from the generated frequency. Vibration of the brush 7 due to rotation is suppressed as much as possible, and this vibration is prevented from reaching the resonance point of the brush 7.

The brush fiber tying member 41 has a cylindrical shape here, and is inserted from the tip of the brush 7 and fixed at the position shown in the drawing. A plurality of brush fibers 7a may be wound from the outer periphery and formed into a band shape that integrally fixes them.

In any case, the brush fiber tie 4
1, the size and the number of the brushes 7 to be used are selected in consideration of the natural frequency of the brush 7, the rotational speed of the rotating frame 2 (slip ring 1), etc., and the resonance point of the brush 7 is changed and the vibration is suppressed. Is configured to be attached.

The brush fiber array holder 8 and the brush fiber tying member 41 are made of metal such as stainless steel, aluminum or copper, or fiber reinforced plastic.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is no variation in the method of bundling the brush fibers in the brush fiber array retainer, or the vibration of the brush due to the rotation of the slip ring in the brush fiber tie tool. Since it is suppressed, variations in the arrangement of brush fibers and
Instability of the contact state between the slip ring and the brush fiber due to the vibration of the brush, premature wear of the brush fiber,
Further, it is possible to prevent breakage of the brush fiber and adversely affect the transmitted power or electric signal (for example, poor power transmission or signal transmission, and the inability to send or receive electric power or electric signal). In addition, the reproducibility of the contact state when the brush is replaced is improved, and in particular, the contact state of each channel can be made uniform in a multi-channel device, and the characteristics of each channel can be made uniform. is there.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view showing an example of an X-ray CT scanner to which a slip ring device according to a first invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a cross section taken along line II-II of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a main part of the device of the present invention in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway front view showing an example of an X-ray CT scanner to which a slip ring device according to a second invention is applied.

5 is an enlarged view of a VV line cross section of FIG. 4. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an enlarged main part of the device of the present invention in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Slip Ring 2 Rotating Frame 3 Slip Ring Holder 4 Annular Groove 5 Bearing 6 Stationary Frame 7 Brush 7a Brush Fiber 7b Tube 8 Brush Fiber Array Holder 41 Brush Fiber Bundling Tool

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A slip ring provided along a rotation direction of a rotating body and a stationary body side that rotatably supports the rotating body and slidingly contacting the slip ring to generate electric power or power. A slip ring device comprising a brush composed of a bundle of a plurality of brush fibers for transmitting and receiving an electric signal, comprising a brush fiber array holder for holding the array of the plurality of brush fibers in a uniform state. A slip ring device characterized in that 2. A slip ring provided along a rotation direction of a rotating body and a stationary body side that rotatably supports the rotating body and slidingly contacting the slip ring to generate electric power or A slip ring device comprising a brush composed of a bundle of a plurality of brush fibers for transmitting and receiving an electric signal, comprising a brush fiber binding tool for binding and holding the plurality of brush fibers in a bundle. Slip ring device.