US3655964A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ionizing radiation apparatus and method for distinguishing between materials in a mixture
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1968-05-06
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Granted: 1972-04-11
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Expires: 1988-05-06
Abstract
Abstract Materials in a mixture are distinguished for identification or sorting purposes by subjecting them to ionizing radiation at least two different energy levels and determining the effects, other than solely edge effects, of the materials on the two levels of radiation.
Inventors
- 👤 David Laurie Slight
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 20:30
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N23/00; G01N23/02; G01N23/06; G01N23/083; G01N23/12; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S209/00; Y10S209/908
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
A method of identifying pieces of at least one material in a continuous flow of a mixture comprised of discrete pieces of at least two different materials, said method comprising establishing as a standard The ratio of the effects caused by at least one of the materials on ionizing radiation radiating at each of at least two levels, said levels being substantially different from and to one side only of at least a prominent absorption edge of each of the materials in said mixture, passing the flow of discrete pieces of said at least two different materials through radiation at least at said two levels, assessing the ratio of the effect of each piece of material passing through the radiation on said at least two levels of radiation, and comparing the assessments with the standard effect, and thereby identifying at least the pieces of said at least one material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
149 words
A method of identifying pieces of at least one material in a continuous flow of a mixture comprised of discrete pieces of at least two different materials, said method comprising establishing as a standard The ratio of the effects caused by at least one of the materials on ionizing radiation radiating at each of at least two levels, said levels being substantially different from and to one side only of at least a prominent absorption edge of each of the materials in said mixture, passing the flow of discrete pieces of said at least two different materials through radiation at least at said two levels, assessing the ratio of the effect of each piece of material passing through the radiation on said at least two levels of radiation, and comparing the assessments with the standard effect, and thereby identifying at least the pieces of said at least one material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said radiation comprises gamma-radiation and wherein said at least two levels of radiation are obtained by using different sources of gamma-radiation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mixture includes first and second materials, said method further comprising sorting out pieces of said first material from pieces of said second material using deflecting means responsive to a control signal produced in accordance with the results of said assessing step for deflecting pieces of said second material from said continuous flow.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mixture is radiated with a beam of ionizing radiation and said assessing step includes using a plurality of scintillators, arranged at discrete intervals across the width of said beam, and a plurality of counters associated with said scintillators, to produce output signals in accordance with the effect of said mixture on said radiation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 further comprising feeding back said output signals to control the radiation from said sources to prevent overloading of said scintillators.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein said output signals are fed back through an integrator to a power supply for said sources.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mixture includes first and second materials, said method further comprising sorting out pieces of said one material from pieces of said second material using deflecting means responsive to a control signal derived from said output signals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
76 words
A method as claimed in claim 7 further comprising applying said output signals to a pulse amplifier and two channel pulse height analyzer to produce first and second signals, applying said first signal through a first integrator and a first DC amplifier to one input of a polarized relay and applying said second signal through a second integrator and second DC amplifier to a second input of said polarized relay, said relay producing said control signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-04-11 | 1975-10-11 | 1976-04-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-11 | 1979-10-11 | 1980-04-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-11 | 1983-10-11 | 1984-04-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |