US3566113A — Methods of and apparatus for irradiation of artic…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 102 words

The method of irradiation of articles and materials enclosed within containers, comprising, positioning an essentially plane panel of radioactive material within and centrally of a shielded chamber, translating the containers along a first fixed path in the chamber contiguous to and parallel with one face of the panel, for exposure to radiation therefrom, then in translation normal to said first path, transversely of the panel, and return in a second fixed path of translation, contiguous to and along the other face of the panel, to complete a cycle wherein opposite sides of the containers are equally exposed to radiation from the panel.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 102 words

The method of irradiation of articles and materials enclosed within containers, comprising, positioning an essentially plane panel of radioactive material within and centrally of a shielded chamber, translating the containers along a first fixed path in the chamber contiguous to and parallel with one face of the panel, for exposure to radiation therefrom, then in translation normal to said first path, transversely of the panel, and return in a second fixed path of translation, contiguous to and along the other face of the panel, to complete a cycle wherein opposite sides of the containers are equally exposed to radiation from the panel.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 1, said containers being of parallelepipedal form and passing along said paths in end-to-end contiguous relation.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 1, and at the terminus of said second path, rotating each container in sequence 180*, then recirculating said containers in a second cycle as aforesaid, to thereby assure equal exposure of all articles within the containers.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 3, said first and second paths being horizontal and horizontally spaced, said rotation being about an essentially vertical axis.

Claim 6

Independent Claim 138 words

The method of irradiation of articles enclosed within containers of regular geometrical form, comprising, positioning an essentially plane panel of radioactive material in a central vertical plane within a shielded chamber, to define first and second horizontal parallel corridors in the chamber on respective sides of the panel and translating the containers to be irradiated in sequence, in a first fixed path in and along said first corridor in proximity to and parallel with said panel on one side thereof, then transversely translating the containers in sequence across one end of the panel and return in a second fixed path of translation along the second said corridor, in parallel proximity to the panel and on the other side thereof, to thus complete a cycle wherein opposite sides of the containers are equally exposed to radiation from the panel.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 138 words

The method of irradiation of articles enclosed within containers of regular geometrical form, comprising, positioning an essentially plane panel of radioactive material in a central vertical plane within a shielded chamber, to define first and second horizontal parallel corridors in the chamber on respective sides of the panel and translating the containers to be irradiated in sequence, in a first fixed path in and along said first corridor in proximity to and parallel with said panel on one side thereof, then transversely translating the containers in sequence across one end of the panel and return in a second fixed path of translation along the second said corridor, in parallel proximity to the panel and on the other side thereof, to thus complete a cycle wherein opposite sides of the containers are equally exposed to radiation from the panel.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method of claim 5, and adjusting the vertical dimension of the panel to about the same as the corresponding dimension of the containers, whereby all articles therein receive essentially the same dosage of radioactivity during each cycle.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 49 words

The method of claim 5, and adjusting the vertical dimension of the panel to a dimension materially less than the corresponding dimension of the containers, whereby each article therein receives a dosage for each cycle, proportional to its distance above or below a horizontal median plane through the panel.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 171 words

In an apparatus for irradiation of containers enclosing articles and materials to be made radioactive, a shielded chamber having top, bottom and sidewalls, and an end wall, means for positioning an essentially plane panel of radioactive material vertically and centrally in said chamber between said said walls, to define first and second parallel corridors on respectively opposite sides of a panel therein, a turnable shielded housing closing the otherwise open end of said chamber and rotatable to position a container at the entrance to said first corridor and to receive a container at the exit from said second corridor, and conveyor means in said chamber, operable to convey containers in translation and in contiguous sequence in and along a first path along said first corridor, in parallel proximity to said panel on one side thereof, then transversely of said panel adjacent said end wall, then in a return and second path along said second corridor in parallel proximity to said panel on the other side thereof, to thereby complete a cycle.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 171 words

In an apparatus for irradiation of containers enclosing articles and materials to be made radioactive, a shielded chamber having top, bottom and sidewalls, and an end wall, means for positioning an essentially plane panel of radioactive material vertically and centrally in said chamber between said said walls, to define first and second parallel corridors on respectively opposite sides of a panel therein, a turnable shielded housing closing the otherwise open end of said chamber and rotatable to position a container at the entrance to said first corridor and to receive a container at the exit from said second corridor, and conveyor means in said chamber, operable to convey containers in translation and in contiguous sequence in and along a first path along said first corridor, in parallel proximity to said panel on one side thereof, then transversely of said panel adjacent said end wall, then in a return and second path along said second corridor in parallel proximity to said panel on the other side thereof, to thereby complete a cycle.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 62 words

The apparatus of claim 8, said housing being of generally cylindrical form and turnable about a vertical axis of symmetry, said housing having walls defining diametrically opposite, outwardly-opening pairs of discrete compartments, each compartment of a pair registering with a respective one of said corridors when the housing is in a respective one of two 180* positions of rotation about said axis.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 55 words

The apparatus of claim 8, said bottom of said chamber having a central longitudinal opening in a plane between said corridors, a shielded panel container having an upwardly-facing opening, and means to move said container into contact with said bottom, with said openings in registration, said container being separable from said chamber and separately transportable.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of claim 10, and closure means carried by said panel container and operable to seal the opening therein.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 53 words

The apparatus of claim 11, said closure means being generally cylindrical and journaled horizontally in the top of said container, said closure means having a longitudinally- and diametrically-extending slot which in a first position of rotation obturates the opening in said container, and in a second position of rotation registers with said opening.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 40 words

The apparatus of claim 12, and means to prevent rotation of said closure means between first and second positions unless (a) said container is in sealing contact with said bottom and (b) said panel is fully emplaced within said container.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 39 words

The apparatus of claim 10, a panel of radioactive material in said container, and means carried by said chamber and movable through the opening therein to engage and elevate said panel out of said container and into said chamber.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 72 words

The apparatus of claim 14, said last-named means comprising first and second vertical shafts spaced longitudinally of said chamber and extending through the roof thereof, said shafts being threaded at their lower ends, means operable upon said shafts to axially and vertically translate the same in unison into contact with said panel, and means operable to rotate said shafts synchronously to engage the threaded ends thereof with threaded apertures in said panel.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 32 words

The apparatus of claim 15, said last-named means being operable to translate said shafts vertically in unison to elevate said panel out of said container and into operating position within said chamber.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 98 words

In an apparatus for irradiating objects and materials with radioactive emanation, a panel comprising first and second discrete sections each generally rectangular and each adapted to support radioactive material over the area thereof, means mounting and interconnecting said sections for relative guided movement from a first collapsed relation wherein said sections are in substantial fully overlapping relation in respective contiguous, offset, parallel planes, to a second extended relation wherein said sections are offset each in its said plane and with the top edge of one section substantially in registration with the bottom edge of the other said section.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 98 words

In an apparatus for irradiating objects and materials with radioactive emanation, a panel comprising first and second discrete sections each generally rectangular and each adapted to support radioactive material over the area thereof, means mounting and interconnecting said sections for relative guided movement from a first collapsed relation wherein said sections are in substantial fully overlapping relation in respective contiguous, offset, parallel planes, to a second extended relation wherein said sections are offset each in its said plane and with the top edge of one section substantially in registration with the bottom edge of the other said section.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 100 words

The apparatus of claim 17, said first section comprising, a first plate, a U-shaped frame secured to and depending from said first plate, first and second rods each secured at one end to said plate and depending therefrom in laterally-spaced parallel relation, said second section comprising a second plate, a U-shaped frame secured to and depending from said second plate, said second plate having a pair of apertures through which said rods respectively and slidably extend, and abutments at the lower ends of said rods and engageable with said second plate to determine the fully extended relation of said sections.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 141 words

The apparatus of claim 18, said first and second plates each having two, laterally-spaced threaded holes, each hole of one plate being in vertical alignment with, and forming a pair with, a corresponding hole of the other plate, first and second vertical shafts each in alignment with a respective pair of holes and having first and second axially-spaced threaded portions on its end for engagement within the threads of said holes, and means for rotating said shafts to thread the first threaded sections of said shafts each through a respective pair of holes and simultaneously to thread the second threaded sections into the holes of said first plate, whereby, on vertical translation of said shafts in unison, said first and second panel sections are offset by the distance of separation only of said first and second threaded portions of said shafts.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 151 words

The apparatus of claim 17, said first section comprising a support plate, first and second U-shaped frames secured to and depending from said plate in respective first and second laterally-and longitudinally-offset, contiguous, parallel planes, said second section comprising third and fourth rectangular frames, means mounting said third frame to said plate for translation relatively thereto and in said first plane, from a first position in substantial registration with said second frame, to a second position offset therebelow, means mounting said fourth frame to said plate for translation relatively thereto and in said second plane, from a first position in substantial registration with said first frame, to a second position offset therebelow, and means limiting the offset of said third and fourth frames to positions with their top edges substantially in registration with the bottom edges of said first and second frames, respectively, all said frames being adapted to support radioactive material.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 25 words

The apparatus of claim 20, said first and fourth frames being mounted to said plate in side-by-side contiguous relation with said second and third frames.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1974-02-22	1974-08-24	1975-02-23	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1978-02-22	1978-08-24	1979-02-23	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1982-02-22	1982-08-24	1983-02-23	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Methods of and apparatus for irradiation of articles by radioactive panels

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