US3602715A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for measuring wall thickness of hollow articles utilizing radioactive radiation absorption
Assignee: Kerr Group Inc
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Filing: 1969-04-01
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Granted: 1971-08-31
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Expires: 1989-04-01
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for measuring the wall thickness of hollow articles wherein a scintillometer, comprising a scintillation crystal, a photomultiplier tube, a pulse generator, and an integrator, detects the radiation transmitted through a hollow article wall and produces an analog voltage which in turn is used to give a direct readout of the measurement of an article wall thickness when the voltage reaches a predetermined value. The apparatus, utilizing the output voltage from the scintillometer, can also trigger a warning indicator at a predetermined level prior to the aforesaid predetermined level at which the wall thickness is measured, indicate the vertical position of the point at which the smallest wall thickness is measured, and plot the wall thickness of a hollow article being checked.
Inventors
- 👤 David T Mcdivitt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 00:31
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B15/00; G01B15/04; G01B15/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
305 words
In an apparatus for checking the wall thickness of a hollow article having at least one opening, comprising: a means for rotating said hollow article so that its wall structure can be completely scanned, a radioactive radiation source, a radiationresponsive means spaced from said radiation source, said radiation source being within the hollow article and said radiation-responsive means being outside the hollow article so that the wall of the hollow article is between the radiation source and the radiation-responsive means, variations in the wall thickness of said hollow article cause variations in the level of radiation being received by the radiation-responsive means, a means for moving said radiation source and said radiationresponsive means relative to the hollow article to scan its wall structure, said radiation-responsive means producing a varying energy voltage pulse output with the number of pulses being dependent upon the level of radiation received from said radiation source, then a voltage pulse generator means for standardizing said varying energy voltage pulses to a constant energy level, then an integrator means for converting said voltage pulses from said pulse generator means into an analog voltage signal which is inversely logarithmically related to said article wall thickness being checked, wherein the improvement comprises a logarithmic detecting means for converting said analog voltage into a voltage which is inversely linearly related to said article wall thickness, an inverting span amplifier means both inverting said linear voltage into a voltage directly proportional to said article wall thickness and expanding said voltage to a predetermined voltage per unit of article wall thickness, a means responsive to said linear, directly proportional, expanded signal voltage for triggering a reject indicator means when said signal voltage reaches a predetermined point, and a means responsive to said signal voltage for giving a direct readout of the measurement of said article wall thickness.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
305 words
In an apparatus for checking the wall thickness of a hollow article having at least one opening, comprising: a means for rotating said hollow article so that its wall structure can be completely scanned, a radioactive radiation source, a radiationresponsive means spaced from said radiation source, said radiation source being within the hollow article and said radiation-responsive means being outside the hollow article so that the wall of the hollow article is between the radiation source and the radiation-responsive means, variations in the wall thickness of said hollow article cause variations in the level of radiation being received by the radiation-responsive means, a means for moving said radiation source and said radiationresponsive means relative to the hollow article to scan its wall structure, said radiation-responsive means producing a varying energy voltage pulse output with the number of pulses being dependent upon the level of radiation received from said radiation source, then a voltage pulse generator means for standardizing said varying energy voltage pulses to a constant energy level, then an integrator means for converting said voltage pulses from said pulse generator means into an analog voltage signal which is inversely logarithmically related to said article wall thickness being checked, wherein the improvement comprises a logarithmic detecting means for converting said analog voltage into a voltage which is inversely linearly related to said article wall thickness, an inverting span amplifier means both inverting said linear voltage into a voltage directly proportional to said article wall thickness and expanding said voltage to a predetermined voltage per unit of article wall thickness, a means responsive to said linear, directly proportional, expanded signal voltage for triggering a reject indicator means when said signal voltage reaches a predetermined point, and a means responsive to said signal voltage for giving a direct readout of the measurement of said article wall thickness.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
In the apparatus of claim 1 wherein the improvement includes a means responsive to said signal voltage for triggering a warning means at a predetermined level prior to the triggering of said reject indicator means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
In the apparatus of claim 2 wherein the improvement includes a means for indicating the vertical position of the point of smallest wall thickness of said hollow article at that point where said signal voltage deviates the greatest beyond the aforesaid predetermined point.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
In the apparatus of claim 3 wherein the improvement includes a means responsive to said Signal voltage and the vertical position scan voltage for plotting the wall thickness versus the vertical position for a hollow article being checked.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-30 | 1975-03-01 | 1975-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-30 | 1979-03-01 | 1979-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-30 | 1983-03-01 | 1983-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |