US3774034A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Portable nuclear density-moisture instrument
Assignee: CIRO ACQUIRING Inc A CORP OF
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Filing: 1971-05-12
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Granted: 1973-11-20
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Expires: 1991-05-12
Abstract
Abstract The instrument has a two-piece housing and a radiation shield mounted to the flat-bottomed base of the housing. A capsule carrying a radioactive source is connected to a rotatable shaft by a flexible push-pull cable. The capsule is moved back and forth in an arcuate passage in the shield by the rotation of the shaft between a ''''safe'''' position (where there is no direct, unshielded line of sight from the outside of the housing to the source) and an ''''operate'''' position (where the source is located in an unshielded position adjacent the bottom of the housing). An actuator mounted on the shaft actuates an on-off switch so that the electrical system detecting the radiation back-scatter from the material being measured is energized only when the source is in the ''''operate'''' position. The shaft is rotated by a handle, which is also used to carry the instrument, and the source is in the ''''safe'''' position when the handle is in the carrying position.
Inventors
- 👤 J Martin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 20:07
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N23/00; G01N23/20; G01N23/203; G01N23/204
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
A unitary portable instrument for measuring characteristics of a material comprising a housing having a flat bottom wall which is positioned on the surface of the material to be measured; the radiation shielding block disposed inside said housing and secured to said bottom wall, said block having an arcuate passage extending upwardly from said bottom wall; a radioactive source slidably disposed in said passage and movable therein between an operating position adjacent said bottom wall and a safe position in the upper portion of said passage where radiation from said source through said housing is shielded by said block; a control shaft positioned inside and pivotally mounted on said housing; means for rotating said control shaft between first and second positions corresponding to the safe and operating positions of said source, respectfully; and means connecting said source to said control shaft so that said source is moved from the safe position to the operating position when said shaft is rotated by said rotating means from first position to the second position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
171 words
A unitary portable instrument for measuring characteristics of a material comprising a housing having a flat bottom wall which is positioned on the surface of the material to be measured; the radiation shielding block disposed inside said housing and secured to said bottom wall, said block having an arcuate passage extending upwardly from said bottom wall; a radioactive source slidably disposed in said passage and movable therein between an operating position adjacent said bottom wall and a safe position in the upper portion of said passage where radiation from said source through said housing is shielded by said block; a control shaft positioned inside and pivotally mounted on said housing; means for rotating said control shaft between first and second positions corresponding to the safe and operating positions of said source, respectfully; and means connecting said source to said control shaft so that said source is moved from the safe position to the operating position when said shaft is rotated by said rotating means from first position to the second position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
The instrument according to claim 1 wherein said rotating means comprises a carrying handle positioned outside said housing and connected to said control shaft, said handle being rotatable with said control shaft from a carrying position corresponding to the safe position of said source to the second position corresponding to the operating position of said source.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The instrument according to claim 2 wherein said passage approximates a 90* circular arc.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The instrument according to claim 2 wherein said connecting means is a flexible cable.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
76 words
The instrument according to claim 2 including a stop positioned inside said housing; and a detent mounted on said control shaft which engages said stop when said carrying handle is in the carrying position, said carrying handle being arranged so that, if said said instrument is lifted by said carrying handle when in a position other than in the carrying position, said carrying handle rotates with respect to said housing until said stopping engages said detent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
95 words
The instrument according to claim 1 including a power supply disposed inside said housing; a detecting means disposed in said housing for detecting radiation from the material being measured; an electrical switch disposed in said housing for selectively controlling the energization of said detecting means by said power supply, said switch being in a non-energizing position when said control shaft is in the first position; and actuating means operatively connected to said control shaft so that said sWitch is actuated to energize said detecting means when said control shaft is rotated to the second position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
The instrument according to claim 6 wherein said rotating means comprises a carrying handle positioned outside said housing and connected to said control shaft, said handle being rotatable with said control shaft from a carrying position corresponding to the safe position of said source to the second position corresponding to the operating position of said source.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2998527A
Cited
US3393317A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-19 | 1977-05-21 | 1977-11-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-19 | 1981-05-21 | 1981-11-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-19 | 1985-05-21 | 1985-11-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |