Patent US3767915A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3767915A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Radiation monitoring system
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1970-10-14
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Granted: 1973-10-23
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Expires: 1990-10-14
Abstract
Abstract A radiation monitoring system which continuously detects and measures low levels of radiation and radioactive materials in the surrounding atmosphere comprises a large volume multiple scintillation beta radiation detector with an alpha particulate radiation scintillation detector, and with background reduction being achieved by the use of an anti-coincidence cosmic ray and high energy photon shield. The use of coincidence and anticoincidence pulse techniques and passive logic circuitry reduce background and electronic noise. The beta radiation and alpha radiation detectors have their output connected to a ratio circuit to continuously generate an output signal indicative of the ratio of alpha radiation to beta radiation. The cosmic ray detector generates an inhibiting signal to block the output of the beta detector to prevent it from recording its response to naturally occurring cosmic radiation.
Inventors
- 👤 L Battist
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 13:14
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01T; G01T1/00; G01T1/16; G01T1/20; G01T1/17; G01T1/178; G01T7/00; G01T7/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
A radiation monitoring system for the continuous detection of gaseous radionuclides which are beta and low energy photon emitters present in the surrounding atmosphere and for generating continuous signals indicative of the amount of detected radiation for storage or transmission comprising: a housing including an air chamber having an inlet and an outlet an alpha radiation detector mounted within said air chamber comprising an electrostatic depositor capable of generating signals indicative of the detection of alpha radiation from the decay of radon daughters, a beta radiation detector mounted within said air chamber comprising at least one scintillator body having a pair of photomultiplier tubes mounted on opposite ends thereof, capable of generating signals indicative of the continuous detection of beta and low-energy photon emitting gaseous radionuclides in air flowing through said air chamber, a fan mounted in said housing adapted to continuously bring in outside air and blow it from the inlet to the outlet of said air chamber past both said detectors, and ratio means responsive to the signals from said alpha detector and also to the signals from said beta detector for continuously generating ratio signals indicative of the ratio of the alpha indicating signals to the beta and low energy photon indicating signals whereby the concentration of gaseous radionuclides can be measured and man-made radiation in the air can be distinguished from naturally occurring background radiation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
229 words
A radiation monitoring system for the continuous detection of gaseous radionuclides which are beta and low energy photon emitters present in the surrounding atmosphere and for generating continuous signals indicative of the amount of detected radiation for storage or transmission comprising: a housing including an air chamber having an inlet and an outlet an alpha radiation detector mounted within said air chamber comprising an electrostatic depositor capable of generating signals indicative of the detection of alpha radiation from the decay of radon daughters, a beta radiation detector mounted within said air chamber comprising at least one scintillator body having a pair of photomultiplier tubes mounted on opposite ends thereof, capable of generating signals indicative of the continuous detection of beta and low-energy photon emitting gaseous radionuclides in air flowing through said air chamber, a fan mounted in said housing adapted to continuously bring in outside air and blow it from the inlet to the outlet of said air chamber past both said detectors, and ratio means responsive to the signals from said alpha detector and also to the signals from said beta detector for continuously generating ratio signals indicative of the ratio of the alpha indicating signals to the beta and low energy photon indicating signals whereby the concentration of gaseous radionuclides can be measured and man-made radiation in the air can be distinguished from naturally occurring background radiation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
88 words
A radiation monitoring system according to claim 1, further including a cosmic ray detector for generating cosmic ray-indicating signals indicative of the presence of cosmic rays, inhibiting means responsive to said cosmic ray-indicating signals and to said beta-indicating signals for inhibiting said beta-indicating signals upon the coincidence of one of said cosmic ray-indicating signals and one of said beta-indicating signals to prevent said ratio means from responding to the last-mentioned beta-indicating signal, whereby said ratio means is prevented from responding to said beta detector detecting a cosmic ray.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
93 words
A radiation monitoring system according to claim 2, wherein said beta detector includes a scintillation detector and a pair of photomultiplier tubes operatively associated with said scintillation detector, said tubes responding to light pulses produced by said scintillation detector, and further including a pair of voltage sources individually connected to said tubes for energizing them, and wherein said inhibiting means includes coincidence means responsive to the output of said photomultiplier tubes for generating said beta-indicating signals upon the occurrence of the coincidence of said tubes responding to said scintillation detector detecting beta radiation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
A radiation monitoring system according to claim 3, wherein said alpha detector includes an activated zinc sulfide screen having an electrically-energizable conductive means embedded in said screen to form a precipitating scintillator, and a photomultiplier tube responsive to light pulses produced by said screen when said screen interacts with alpha radiation for generating said alpha-indicating signals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
85 words
A radiation monitoring system according to claim 2, wherein said beta detector further includes a plurality of scintillator assemblies having pairs of outputs, corresponding ones of said pairs of outputs being connected together in parallel and to a corresponding one of a pair of inputs to said blocking means, each one of said assemblies comprising a scintillation detector and a pair of photomultiplier tubes operatively associated with said scintillation detector for responding to light pulses produced by said scintillation detector to generate said beta-indicating signals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A radiation monitoring system according to claim 3, wherein said inhibiting means comprises said coincidence means and an inverter logic gate responsive to said cosmic ray-indicating signals for inhibiting said coincidence means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
121 words
A radiation monitoring system according to claim 3, further including a cosmic ray detector coincidence means and a sealed chamber, wherein said cosmic ray detector is disposed within said sealed chamber and said alpha detector and said beta detector or disposed outside of said sealed chamber, said cosmic ray detector including a plurality of cosmic ray scintillator assemblies having pairs of outputs, corresponding ones of said pairs of outputs being connected together in parallel and to a corresponding one of a pair of inputs to the last-mentioned coincidence means, each of said cosmic ray assemblies comprising a cosmic ray scintillation detector and a pair of photomultiplier tubes operatively associated with said cosmic ray scintillation detector to generate said cosmic ray-indicating signals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
A radiation monitoring system according to claim 7, wherein said cosmic ray scintillation assembly comprising a cosmic ray scintillation detector and a pair of photomultiplier tubes operatively associated with said cosmic ray scintillation detector for responding to light pulses produced by said cosmic ray scintillation detector to generate said cosmic ray-indicating signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A radiation monitoring system according to claim 8, wherein said cosmic ray scintillation detector is comprised of elongated solid plastic members.
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) | 1976-10-22 | 1977-04-23 | 1977-10-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-22 | 1981-04-23 | 1981-10-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-22 | 1985-04-23 | 1985-10-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |