US3891852A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Neutron detection and radiography
Assignee: Agfa Gevaert NV
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Filing: 1972-11-03
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Granted: 1975-06-24
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Expires: 1992-11-03
Abstract
Abstract An improved method of recording neutron images which comprises imagewise irradiating with neutrons an intesifying screen containing a gadolinium compound that fluoresces when struck by x-rays and subjecting the fluorescent light pattern resulting from the impact of the neutrons on the screen onto a photographic material.
Inventors
- 👤 Romain Henri Bollen
- 👤 Esch Robert Florent Van
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 15:44
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N23/00; G01N23/02; G01N23/06; G01N23/09; C; C09; C09K; C09K11/00; C09K11/08; C09K11/77; C09K11/7766; C09K11/7767; C09K11/7769; C09K11/777; G01T; G01T3/00; G21; G21K; G21K4/00; F; F16; F16D; F16D69/00; F16D69/04; F16D2069/0425; F16D2069/045; F16D2069/0466; F16D2069/0475
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
67 words
A METHOD OF RECORDING NEUTRON IMAGES WHICH METHOD COMPRISES THE STEPS OF (1) INFORMATION-WISE IRRADIATING WITH NEUTRONS AN INTENSIFYING SCREEN INCORPORATING A PHOSPHOR COMPOUND IN WHICH GADOLINIUM IS THE HOST METAL AND AT LEAST ONE OTHER RARE EARTH METAL IS PRESENT AS A FLUORESCENCE ACTIVATING METAL; AND (2) SUBJECTING THE FLUORESCENT LIGHT PATTERN RESULTING FROM THE IMPACT OF THE NEUTRONS ON THE SCREEN ONTO A PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIAL.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
67 words
A METHOD OF RECORDING NEUTRON IMAGES WHICH METHOD COMPRISES THE STEPS OF (1) INFORMATION-WISE IRRADIATING WITH NEUTRONS AN INTENSIFYING SCREEN INCORPORATING A PHOSPHOR COMPOUND IN WHICH GADOLINIUM IS THE HOST METAL AND AT LEAST ONE OTHER RARE EARTH METAL IS PRESENT AS A FLUORESCENCE ACTIVATING METAL; AND (2) SUBJECTING THE FLUORESCENT LIGHT PATTERN RESULTING FROM THE IMPACT OF THE NEUTRONS ON THE SCREEN ONTO A PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIAL.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the gadolinium host metal is an oxide, oxyhalide or oxysulphide of gadolinium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the gadolinium host metal is gadolinium oxysulphide or gadolinium oxyhalide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 3, wherein the activating metal is at least one of the metals of the group consisting of terbium, dysprosium, erbium, europium, holmium, neodymium, praseodymium, samarium, thulium and ytterbium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the gadolinium host metal corresponds to the following general formula: Gd(w n).MnOwX wherein: M is at least one of the metals terbium, dysprosium, erbium, europium, holmium, neodymium, praseodymium, samarium, thulium or ytterbium, X is sulphur or halogen, n is 0.0002 to 0.2, and w is 1 when X is halogen or is 2 when X is sulphur.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the gadolinium host metal is gadolinium oxysulphide activated with terbium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the gadolinium host metal contains gadolinium with a Gd 157 isotope content larger than 15.68 %.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the intensifying screen is in the form of a layer applied to a support or is a self-supporting layer or sheet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein the layer or sheet contains the gadolinium host metal in the form of particles dispersed in a binder.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein said particles have a size in the range of 1 to 20 microns.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein the layer has a thickness of 10 to 300 microns.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein the binder is present in said layer in a proportion of 5-15 % by weight with respect to the fluorescent material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the intensifying screen including said phosphor compound is used in conjunction with another neutron-absorbing screen of the group of metallic, glassy or granular type screens.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the intensifying screen is used in conjunction with a metal screen that becomes radioactive by neutron bombardment.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the intensifying screen is used in conjunction with a metal screen having a neutron absorption coefficient at least as high as lithium.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the photographic material includes a photosensitive silver halide emulsion layer coated on a support.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the photographic material includes a silver halide emulsion layer on each side of a support.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein said photographic material contains a filtering dye or dyes improving the sharpness of the silver image obtainable in said material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 18, wherein said dye or dyes have such chemical and physical characteristics that they can be removed or decolourized in one of the processing baths used for the photosensitive silver halide material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 18, wherein said dye or dyes are incorporated in a hydrophilic colloid layer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 20, wherein the dye or dyes are incorporated in a hydrophilic colloid layer between the silver hadide emulsion layers when using a material with duplitized coating or in the silver halide emulsion layers themselves.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 18, wherein the dye or dyes are incorporated in one or more subbing layers or in an antihalation layer at either side of the support.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 18, wherein the dye or dyes are present in the support.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein the intensifying screen and the photo-sensitive silver halide material form an integral arrangement.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the intensifying screen is arranged separately from the photo-sensitive material containing the silver halide.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein the silver halide has been spectrally sensitized.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein the silver halide is a silver bromoiodide having an average grain size in the range of about 0.1 to 5 Mu .
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein the silver halide emulsion layer(s) contain(s) a colour coupler for forming a dye wIth an oxidized p-phenylenediamine developing agent.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein the photosensitive silver halide material contains an amount of silver halide equivalent to above 3 to 8 g silver per sq.m.
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) | 1978-06-23 | 1978-12-23 | 1979-06-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-23 | 1982-12-23 | 1983-06-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-23 | 1986-12-23 | 1987-06-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |