US4013490A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Phosphor identification method, particularly adapted for use with explosives, for providing a distinctive information label
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1974-08-12
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Granted: 1977-03-22
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Expires: 1994-08-12
Abstract
Abstract Phosphor-explosive material combination and method wherein a small amount of inorganic phosphor is mixed with explosive material to provide an indicia or label of information regarding the explosive, either before or after detonation of same. The phosphor can readily be located with an ultraviolet lamp even after the explosive has been detonated, and by correlating the phosphor emission spectra with data known about the explosive when it is manufactured, the explosive can be identified. Line-emitting phosphors are especially useful because of their distinctive emission characteristics, which provide a vast number of possible combinations of emissions which are correlated against the data known about the explosive when it is manufactured. Preferably the phosphor is formed as a combination of finely divided "spotter" phosphor and finely divided "coding" material held together by a binder in the form of small conglomerates, in order to facilitate initial location and later identification of same. There exists a vast number of different combinations of distinctive fluorescent emissions, and these can be combined to label any item for later identification.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederick M. Ryan
- 👤 Robert C. Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 15:34
CPC Classifications
C; C06; C06B; C06B23/00; C06B23/008; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S149/00; Y10S149/123
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
The method of providing explosive material with an individualistic and readily identifiable label which can withstand the shock, high temperatures, pressures and reactive atmospheres encountered when said explosive material is detonated to provide identification for said explosive material, which method comprises: a. selecting a combination comprising different inorganic phosphor materials the most of which are inorganic phosphor materials activated by different ions which provide different and distinctive line emissions when said phosphor materials are excited by predetermined energy, with the different and distinctive emissions of said different selected phosphor materials providing indicia of sufficient different bits of then-known information regarding said explosive material to provide an identification of said explosive material; and b. securing as an information label in intimate association with said explosive material and receptive to the shock, high temperatures, pressures and reactive atmospheres resulting from detonation thereof said selected predetermined combination of said different phosphor materials, whereby the later identification of said explosive material is determinable by said different and distinctive emissions of said selected phosphor materials.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
170 words
The method of providing explosive material with an individualistic and readily identifiable label which can withstand the shock, high temperatures, pressures and reactive atmospheres encountered when said explosive material is detonated to provide identification for said explosive material, which method comprises: a. selecting a combination comprising different inorganic phosphor materials the most of which are inorganic phosphor materials activated by different ions which provide different and distinctive line emissions when said phosphor materials are excited by predetermined energy, with the different and distinctive emissions of said different selected phosphor materials providing indicia of sufficient different bits of then-known information regarding said explosive material to provide an identification of said explosive material; and b. securing as an information label in intimate association with said explosive material and receptive to the shock, high temperatures, pressures and reactive atmospheres resulting from detonation thereof said selected predetermined combination of said different phosphor materials, whereby the later identification of said explosive material is determinable by said different and distinctive emissions of said selected phosphor materials.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method as specified in claim 1, wherein either before or after said explosive material is detonated, and it is desired to correlate said explosive material with information provided by said emissions of said selected phosphor materials, a portion of said selected phosphor materials are recovered and the emissions thereof measured.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method as specified in claim 1, wherein said selected phosphor materials are very finely divided, and said selected finely divided phosphor materials are held together in the form of small conglomerates by inorganic binder material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as specified in claim 3, wherein said explosive material is dynamite, and said small conglomerates are dispersed within said dynamite.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method as specified in claim 3, wherein said conglomerates each comprise a mixture of very finely divided first phosphor material means which is efficiently excited by predetermined energy to produce visible light emission, and very finely divided second phosphor material means which is excited by predetermined energy to produce very individualistic emission.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method as specified in claim 5, wherein the relative amount of said first phosphor material means substantially exceeds the relative amount of said second phosphor material means, said emission of said first phosphor material means comprises band-type emission, and said emission of said second phosphor material means comprises line-type emission.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
241 words
The method of providing an explosive material with an individualistic and readily identifiable label which can withstand the shock, high temperatures, pressures and reactive atmospheres encountered when said explosive material is detonated to provide identification for said explosive material, which method comprises: a. assembling a large number of light-emitting different phosphor materials the most of which are inorganic phosphor materials activated by different ions which provide different and distinctive line emissions when said phosphor materials are excited by predetermined energy, different emissions of said different phosphor materials being correlated against different predetermined bits of information so that said emissions provide indicia of such different bits of information, with the different possible combinations of said phosphor materials providing a very large number of possible combinations of distinctive phosphor material emissions. b. selecting a predetermined combination of said different phosphor materials to correspond to bits of then-known information regarding said explosive material so that the resulting combination of different and distinctive emissions thereof provide indicia of sufficient bits of then-known information regarding said explosive material to be labeled to permit an identification of said explosive material; and c. securing in intimate association with said explosive material to be identified and receptive to the shock, high temperatures, pressures and reactive atmospheres resulting from detonation thereof, said selected combination of said phosphor materials, whereby the later identification of said explosive material may be determined by said different and distinctive emissions of said selected phosphor materials.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
241 words
The method of providing an explosive material with an individualistic and readily identifiable label which can withstand the shock, high temperatures, pressures and reactive atmospheres encountered when said explosive material is detonated to provide identification for said explosive material, which method comprises: a. assembling a large number of light-emitting different phosphor materials the most of which are inorganic phosphor materials activated by different ions which provide different and distinctive line emissions when said phosphor materials are excited by predetermined energy, different emissions of said different phosphor materials being correlated against different predetermined bits of information so that said emissions provide indicia of such different bits of information, with the different possible combinations of said phosphor materials providing a very large number of possible combinations of distinctive phosphor material emissions. b. selecting a predetermined combination of said different phosphor materials to correspond to bits of then-known information regarding said explosive material so that the resulting combination of different and distinctive emissions thereof provide indicia of sufficient bits of then-known information regarding said explosive material to be labeled to permit an identification of said explosive material; and c. securing in intimate association with said explosive material to be identified and receptive to the shock, high temperatures, pressures and reactive atmospheres resulting from detonation thereof, said selected combination of said phosphor materials, whereby the later identification of said explosive material may be determined by said different and distinctive emissions of said selected phosphor materials.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method as specified in claim 7, wherein said selected phosphor materials are very finely divided, and said selected finely divided phosphor materials are held together in the form of small conglomerates by inorganic binder material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method as specified in claim 8, wherein said conglomerates each comprise a mixture of very finely divided first phosphor material means which is efficiently excited by predetermined energy to produce visible light emission, and very finely divided second phosphor material means which is excited by predetermined energy to produce very individualistic emission.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as specified in claim 8, wherein said explosive material is dynamite, and said small conglomerates are dispersed within said dynamite.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method as specified in claim 8, wherein either before or after said explosive material is detonated, and it is desired to correlate said explosive material with information provided by said emissions of said selected phosphor materials, a portion of said selected phosphor materials are recovered and the emissions thereof measured.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method as specified in claim 9, wherein the relative amount of said first phosphor material means substantially exceeds the relative amount of said second phosphor material means, said emission of said first phosphor material means comprises band-type emission, and said emission of said second phosphor material means comprises line-type emission.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
243 words
The method of providing explosive material with an individualistic and readily indentifiable label which can withstand such shock, high temperatures, pressures and reactive atmospheres as are encountered when said explosive material is detonated in order to provide identification for said explosive material, which method comprises: a. assembling a large number of different, stable, inorganic materials having readily identifiable and individualistic characteristics which are correlated against different predetermined bits of information, and including with said different inorganic materials at least one of inorganic phosphor materials which are readily located when excited by predetermined energy; b. selecting a predetermined combination of said different inorganic materials to correspond to bits of then-known information regarding said explosive material to be identified, so that the resulting combination of individualistic characteristics of said selected combination of different materials will provide indicia of sufficient bits of then-known information regarding said explosive material to permit an identification of said explosive material; c. forming said predetermined combination of said different inorganic materials into a plurality of small conglomerates held together by inorganic binder material, and said conglomerates each including a sampling of all of said selected predetermined combination of said different materials and a sampling of at least one of said inorganic phosphor materials to enable said conglomerates to be readily located; and d. placing said conglomerates in intimate association with said explosive material and receptive to the shock, high temperatures, pressures and relative atmospheres resulting from detonation of said explosive material.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
243 words
The method of providing explosive material with an individualistic and readily indentifiable label which can withstand such shock, high temperatures, pressures and reactive atmospheres as are encountered when said explosive material is detonated in order to provide identification for said explosive material, which method comprises: a. assembling a large number of different, stable, inorganic materials having readily identifiable and individualistic characteristics which are correlated against different predetermined bits of information, and including with said different inorganic materials at least one of inorganic phosphor materials which are readily located when excited by predetermined energy; b. selecting a predetermined combination of said different inorganic materials to correspond to bits of then-known information regarding said explosive material to be identified, so that the resulting combination of individualistic characteristics of said selected combination of different materials will provide indicia of sufficient bits of then-known information regarding said explosive material to permit an identification of said explosive material; c. forming said predetermined combination of said different inorganic materials into a plurality of small conglomerates held together by inorganic binder material, and said conglomerates each including a sampling of all of said selected predetermined combination of said different materials and a sampling of at least one of said inorganic phosphor materials to enable said conglomerates to be readily located; and d. placing said conglomerates in intimate association with said explosive material and receptive to the shock, high temperatures, pressures and relative atmospheres resulting from detonation of said explosive material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method as specified in claim 13, wherein said different inorganic materials are readily identifiable by at least one of the procedures of emission spectroscopy, atomic absorption spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence analysis, neutron irradiation and activation analysis, or distinctive fluorescent emission response.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of identifying the source of an explosive device following detonation thereof comprising: prior to detonation adding to the explosive device an inorganic luminescent material which upon excitation by a nonvisible radiation has a known electromagnetic emission uniquely associated with the explosive device source; subsequent to detonation of the explosive device radiating the area surrounding the detonation with the non-visible excitation radiation; detecting the electromagnetic emission of the inorganic luminescent material in the radiated area; and associating the electromagnetic emission with the explosive device source.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of identifying the source of an explosive device following detonation thereof comprising: prior to detonation adding to the explosive device an inorganic luminescent material which upon excitation by a nonvisible radiation has a known electromagnetic emission uniquely associated with the explosive device source; subsequent to detonation of the explosive device radiating the area surrounding the detonation with the non-visible excitation radiation; detecting the electromagnetic emission of the inorganic luminescent material in the radiated area; and associating the electromagnetic emission with the explosive device source.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as claimed in claim 15 in which the inorganic luminescent material is added by mixing inorganic luminescent material with explosive material and forming the mixture into the explosive device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 15 in which the inorganic luminescent material is less than about 1 percent by weight of the explosive device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 17 in which the inorganic luminescent material is in an amount of from about 0.01 to 1.0 percent by weight of the explosive device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 15 in which subsequent to detonation of the explosive device the area surrounding the detonation of the explosive device the area surrounding the detonation is radiated with ultra-violet radiation.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 15 in which the inorganic luminescent material is phosphorescent.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 15 in which the inorganic luminescent material is fluorescent.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of identifying the source of an explosive device having incorporated therein an inorganic luminescent material which upon excitation by a non-visible excitation radiation has a known electromagnetic emission uniquely associated with the explosive device source, said method comprising: subsequent to detonation of the explosive device radiating the area surrounding the detonation with the non-visible excitation radiation; detecting the electromagnetic emission of the inorganic luminescent material in the radiated area; and associating the electromagnetic emission with the explosive device source.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of identifying the source of an explosive device having incorporated therein an inorganic luminescent material which upon excitation by a non-visible excitation radiation has a known electromagnetic emission uniquely associated with the explosive device source, said method comprising: subsequent to detonation of the explosive device radiating the area surrounding the detonation with the non-visible excitation radiation; detecting the electromagnetic emission of the inorganic luminescent material in the radiated area; and associating the electromagnetic emission with the explosive device source.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
An explosive device of claim 18 in which the average particle size of the luminescent material is about 500 to 700 microns.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-03-21 | 1980-09-20 | 1981-03-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-03-21 | 1984-09-20 | 1985-03-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-03-21 | 1988-09-20 | 1989-03-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |