US3879612A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multi-sensor radiation detector system
Assignee: Combustion Engineering Inc
•
Filing: 1973-08-24
•
Granted: 1975-04-22
•
Expires: 1993-08-24
Abstract
Abstract The invention is a multi-sensor radiation detection system including a self-powered detector and an ion or fission chamber, preferably joined as a unitary structure, for removable insertion into a nuclear reactor. The detector and chamber are connected electrically in parallel, requiring but two conductors extending out of the reactor to external electrical circuitry which includes a load impedance, a voltage source, and switch means. The switch means are employed to alternately connect the detector and chamber either with the load impedance or with the load impedance and the voltage source. In the former orientation, current through the load impedance indicates flux intensity at the self-powered detector and in the latter orientation, the current indicates flux intensity at the detector and fission chamber, though almost all of the current is contributed by the fission chamber.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Gilmer Foster
- 👤 Richard David Cyboron
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 05:17
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01T; G01T3/00; G01T3/006; G21; G21C; G21C17/00; G21C17/10; G21C17/108; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
222 words
A multi-sensor radiation detector system comprising: a. a first sensor of the ion chamber type including a pair of spaced electrodes for connection to a source of voltage, and electrical current being established between said electrodes when said voltage is applied thereacross and neutron flux is incident on said sensor, said current being indicative of the intensity of said incident neutron flux; b. a second sensor of the self-powered type including a pair of spaced electrodes and insulating means extending therebetween, an electrical current being established between said electrodes when neutron flux is incident on said second sensor, said current being indicative of the intensity of said incident neutron flux; c. conductor means directly connecting said first and second sensors electrically in parallel; d. a load impedance; e. voltage source means; and f. means for selectively connecting said conductor means including said first and second sensors alternately to said load impedance or to said load impedance and additionally said voltage source means, whereby current through said load impedance is indicative of the intensity of neutron flux incident with said second sensor when said first and second sensors are connected to said load impedance absent said voltage source and is indicative of the intensity of neutron flux incident with both said first and second sensors when said voltage source is additionally connected thereto.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
222 words
A multi-sensor radiation detector system comprising: a. a first sensor of the ion chamber type including a pair of spaced electrodes for connection to a source of voltage, and electrical current being established between said electrodes when said voltage is applied thereacross and neutron flux is incident on said sensor, said current being indicative of the intensity of said incident neutron flux; b. a second sensor of the self-powered type including a pair of spaced electrodes and insulating means extending therebetween, an electrical current being established between said electrodes when neutron flux is incident on said second sensor, said current being indicative of the intensity of said incident neutron flux; c. conductor means directly connecting said first and second sensors electrically in parallel; d. a load impedance; e. voltage source means; and f. means for selectively connecting said conductor means including said first and second sensors alternately to said load impedance or to said load impedance and additionally said voltage source means, whereby current through said load impedance is indicative of the intensity of neutron flux incident with said second sensor when said first and second sensors are connected to said load impedance absent said voltage source and is indicative of the intensity of neutron flux incident with both said first and second sensors when said voltage source is additionally connected thereto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
222 words
A multi-sensor radiation detector system comprising: a. a first sensor of the ion chamber type including a pair of spaced electrodes for connection to a source of voltage, and electrical current being established between said electrodes when said voltage is applied thereacross and neutron flux is incident on said sensor, said current being indicative of the intensity of said incident neutron flux; b. a second sensor of the self-powered type including a pair of spaced electrodes and insulating means extending therebetween, an electrical current being established between said electrodes when neutron flux is incident on said second sensor, said current being indicative of the intensity of said incident neutron flux; c. conductor means directly connecting said first and second sensors electrically in parallel; d. a load impedance; e. voltage source means; and f. means for selectively connecting said conductor means including said first and second sensors alternately to said load impedance or to said load impedance and additionally said voltage source means, whereby current through said load impedance is indicative of the intensity of neutron flux incident with said second sensor when said first and second sensors are connected to said load impedance absent said voltage source and is indicative of the intensity of neutron flux incident with both said first and second sensors when said voltage source is additionally connected thereto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
222 words
A multi-sensor radiation detector system comprising: a. a first sensor of the ion chamber type including a pair of spaced electrodes for connection to a source of voltage, and electrical current being established between said electrodes when said voltage is applied thereacross and neutron flux is incident on said sensor, said current being indicative of the intensity of said incident neutron flux; b. a second sensor of the self-powered type including a pair of spaced electrodes and insulating means extending therebetween, an electrical current being established between said electrodes when neutron flux is incident on said second sensor, said current being indicative of the intensity of said incident neutron flux; c. conductor means directly connecting said first and second sensors electrically in parallel; d. a load impedance; e. voltage source means; and f. means for selectively connecting said conductor means including said first and second sensors alternately to said load impedance or to said load impedance and additionally said voltage source means, whereby current through said load impedance is indicative of the intensity of neutron flux incident with said second sensor when said first and second sensors are connected to said load impedance absent said voltage source and is indicative of the intensity of neutron flux incident with both said first and second sensors when said voltage source is additionally connected thereto.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said current through said load impedance when said voltage source is connected to said first and second sensors in substantially indicative of the intensity of neutron flux incident with only said first sensor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first sensor is operative to provide said indication of intensity of neutron flux incident therewtih only when said voltage exceeds a minimum threshold value, said voltage source means exceeding said threshold vlaue; and the vlaue of said load impedance is less than that at which current from said second sensor would create a voltage drop across said impedance means equal to or greater than said threshold value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said voltage source means is connected in series with said load impedance means; as bypass connection occurs intermediate said load impedance Means and said voltage source means; and said selective connecting means include a switch for connecting said circuit including said sensors alternately to said bypass connection in series with said load impedance or across said voltage source and in series with said load impedance.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
135 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said first and second sensors each comprise a tubular outer electrode and a longitudinally extending inner electrode spaced inward therefrom; said sensors are arranged serially substantially in alignment with one another; said conductor means include an electrically conductive connection between said inner electrodes of said first and second sensors, and electrically conductive connection between said outer electrodes of said first and second sensors, and first and second terminal conductors, said first terminal conductor being connected to said outer electrode of one said sensor and said second terminal being connected to said inner electrode of one said sensor; and one said terminal conductor is connected to one side of said load impedance and said other terminal conductor is connected through said switch to the other side of said load impedance.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said first and second terminal conductors comprise respectively first and second conductors of a lead cable.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said lead cable is a two-conductor coaxial cable and said first and second conductors are the center and outer conductors thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2976418A
Cited
US3760183A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-21 | 1978-10-21 | 1979-04-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-21 | 1982-10-21 | 1983-04-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-21 | 1986-10-21 | 1987-04-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |