US3935450A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for aligning x-ray diffraction camera
Assignee: Eli Lilly and Co
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Filing: 1974-07-12
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Granted: 1976-01-27
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Expires: 1994-07-12
Abstract
Abstract A device is described which is adaptable for use in aligning an X-ray diffraction camera to maximize the intensity of the X-rays contacting a substance undergoing diffraction analysis. Said device is comprised of an elongated housing adapted for placement in a port in said camera, a fluorescent material, such as β-zinc sulfide, disposed laterally within said housing, and a conductive photo-cell, such as a cadmium-selenide cell, disposed laterally in said housing immediately behind said fluorescent material. When such device is disposed in the camera port, X-rays entering said camera through an oppositely positioned port bombard said fluorescent material which fluoresces and excites said photo-cell. The resistance of such an excited photo-cell, changing inversely with the intensity of said fluorescence, is measured by passing electric current from an external source through said photo-cell. The camera is aligned by adjusting it to the position where an ammeter indicates the maximum flow of such current.
Inventors
- 👤 A. Dale Spurgeon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:52
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N23/00; G01N23/20; G01N23/205
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A device for use in aligning an X-ray diffraction camera having first and second ports located in the same horizontal and vertical planes and positioned 180° from each other and a means for holding a sample for X-ray analysis disposed about midway between said ports and in axial alignment therewith comprising: a. a hollow tube adapted to be disposed in said second port, said hollow tube being designed to extend from the point of entry into said camera to a point adjacent to said sample holding means, and an axially disposed chamber connected to and cooperating with said tube and designed to be positioned externally to said camera when said tube is disposed therein; b. a fluorescent material disposed in said chamber adjacent to said tube, said material being tightly packed completely across said chamber; and c. a conductive photo-cell disposed in said chamber immediately adjacent to said fluorescent material and on the side thereof opposite said tube.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
158 words
A device for use in aligning an X-ray diffraction camera having first and second ports located in the same horizontal and vertical planes and positioned 180° from each other and a means for holding a sample for X-ray analysis disposed about midway between said ports and in axial alignment therewith comprising: a. a hollow tube adapted to be disposed in said second port, said hollow tube being designed to extend from the point of entry into said camera to a point adjacent to said sample holding means, and an axially disposed chamber connected to and cooperating with said tube and designed to be positioned externally to said camera when said tube is disposed therein; b. a fluorescent material disposed in said chamber adjacent to said tube, said material being tightly packed completely across said chamber; and c. a conductive photo-cell disposed in said chamber immediately adjacent to said fluorescent material and on the side thereof opposite said tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the fluorsecent material disposed within said chamber is selected from the group of such materials consisting of beta-zinc suflide, cadmium tungstate, barium platinous cyanide, mesothorium and tetracyanoplatinate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the fluorescent material disposed within said chamber is beta-zinc sulfide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the photo-cell disposed within said chamber is characterized as having an element selected from the group consisting of cadmium selenide, cadmium sulfide, and lead sulfide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the photo-cell disposed within said chamber is characterized as having a cadmium selenide element.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
333 words
A method for aligning an X-ray diffraction camera having first and second ports located in the same horizontal and vertical planes and positioned 180° from each other and a means for holding a sample for X-ray analysis disposed about midway between said ports and in axial alignment therewith comprising the steps of disposing in said second port a device which converts X-ray energy to optical energy which in turn is utilized to inversely vary the resistance to the passage of steady electric current, said device comprising: 1. a hollow tube adapted to be disposed in said second port, said hollow tube being designed to extend from the point of entry into said camera to a point adjacent to said sample holding means, and an axially disposed chamber connected to and cooperating with said tube and designed to be positioned externally to said camera when said tube is disposed therein; 2. a fluorescent material disposed in said chamber adjacent to said tube, said material being tightly packed completely across said chamber, and 3. a conductive photo-cell disposed in said chamber immediately adjacent to said fluorescent material and on the side thereof opposite said tube; b. connecting said photo-cell into an electrical circuit wherein variations in the resistance of said photo-cell is measured; c. introducing a stream of X-rays into said first port of said camera; d. contacting said fluorescent material with said X-rays causing said material to fluorence; e. exciting said photo-cell with the fluorescence of said fluorescent material; f. varying inversely the resistance of said photo-cell to the passage of a steady electric current as the fluorescence changes; g. indicating the inversely varying resistance of said photo-cell on an ammeter; and h. adjusting the horizontal and vertical alignment of said camera with respect to said stream of X-rays to a position where the minimum resistance of said photo-cell to the passage therethrough of a steady electric current is observed when the maximum amperage is measured with no change in the steady electric current.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
333 words
A method for aligning an X-ray diffraction camera having first and second ports located in the same horizontal and vertical planes and positioned 180° from each other and a means for holding a sample for X-ray analysis disposed about midway between said ports and in axial alignment therewith comprising the steps of disposing in said second port a device which converts X-ray energy to optical energy which in turn is utilized to inversely vary the resistance to the passage of steady electric current, said device comprising: 1. a hollow tube adapted to be disposed in said second port, said hollow tube being designed to extend from the point of entry into said camera to a point adjacent to said sample holding means, and an axially disposed chamber connected to and cooperating with said tube and designed to be positioned externally to said camera when said tube is disposed therein; 2. a fluorescent material disposed in said chamber adjacent to said tube, said material being tightly packed completely across said chamber, and 3. a conductive photo-cell disposed in said chamber immediately adjacent to said fluorescent material and on the side thereof opposite said tube; b. connecting said photo-cell into an electrical circuit wherein variations in the resistance of said photo-cell is measured; c. introducing a stream of X-rays into said first port of said camera; d. contacting said fluorescent material with said X-rays causing said material to fluorence; e. exciting said photo-cell with the fluorescence of said fluorescent material; f. varying inversely the resistance of said photo-cell to the passage of a steady electric current as the fluorescence changes; g. indicating the inversely varying resistance of said photo-cell on an ammeter; and h. adjusting the horizontal and vertical alignment of said camera with respect to said stream of X-rays to a position where the minimum resistance of said photo-cell to the passage therethrough of a steady electric current is observed when the maximum amperage is measured with no change in the steady electric current.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the fluorescent material disposed in said chamber is selected from the group consisting of beta-zinc sulfide, cadmium tungstate, barium platinous cyanide, mesothorium, and tetracyanoplatinate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the fluorescent material is beta-zinc sulfide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the photo-cell disposed in said chamber is characterized as having an element selected from the group consisting of cadmium selenide, cadmium sulfide, and lead sulfide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the photo-cell is characterized as having a cadmium selenide element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the electrical circuit into which said photo-cell is connected is comprised of an external source of steady electric current, a variable resistor for modulating such current and an ammeter for measuring the current flowing in the circuit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the source of steady electric current is a 671/2 volt battery, the variable resistor has a maximum resistance of 10,000 ohms, and the current is measured on a microammeter.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2794127A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-01-26 | 1979-07-28 | 1980-01-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-01-26 | 1983-07-28 | 1984-01-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-01-26 | 1987-07-28 | 1988-01-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |