Control unit for dental

Abstract

Abstract A control unit is provided for supporting a multiplicity of dental handpieces of the high-pressure air-driven type, and which includes a plurality of brackets for removably supporting the individual handpieces, and which individually control the flow of the pressurized air to the respective handpieces, so that the high pressure driving air may be supplied to the selected handpiece as it is removed from its bracket. Each of the aforesaid brackets comprises an elongated arm having a handpiece holder at one end, and having a pinch block at its other end. The pinch block is pivotally mounted in the frame of the control unit, and an overcenter spring is coupled to each arm so that its corresponding handpiece holder may be moved to an up position or to a down position when the corresponding handpiece is removed. The pinch block pinches a corresponding flexible tube against a pinch bar in the control unit when the socket is in its down position to cut off the supply of the driving high pressure air to the handpiece, and to permit the high pressure driving air to flow to the handpiece when the holder is in its up position. As will be described, the control unit may also control the flow of water to the selected handpiece, since many high speed drills also emit a jet of water onto the surface of the tooth being drilled, for cooling purposes.

Inventors

• 👤 F Betush

Bibliographic Details