US4534204A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Calibration method for ultra sensitive noble gas leak detector
Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp
•
Filing: 1984-07-30
•
Granted: 1985-08-13
•
Expires: 2004-07-30
Abstract
Abstract A process of calibrating an ultrasensitive noble gas leak detector using a radioactive alpha source, such as americium 241, comprising accumulating helium molecules from the radioactive alpha source in an enclosed volume for a specified period of time, permitting the helium molecules to enter a vacuum chamber, and obtaining a gas detection measurement to calibrate the detector for the sensitivity of the system.
Inventors
- 👤 Lyle E. Bergquist
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 16:23
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M3/00; G01M3/02; G01M3/04; G01M3/20; G01M3/207; G01M3/202
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
In a process of calibrating an ultrasensitive noble gas leak detector having a vacuum chamber and a gas detector, the improvement comprising providing as a calibrating source an americium 241 alpha source, accumulating helium molecules from the americium source in an enclosed volume for a specified period of time, permitting said helium molecules to enter said vacuum chamber, and obtaining a gas detection measurement to calibrate the detector for the sensitivity of the system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
74 words
In a process of calibrating an ultrasensitive noble gas leak detector having a vacuum chamber and a gas detector, the improvement comprising providing as a calibrating source an americium 241 alpha source, accumulating helium molecules from the americium source in an enclosed volume for a specified period of time, permitting said helium molecules to enter said vacuum chamber, and obtaining a gas detection measurement to calibrate the detector for the sensitivity of the system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
97 words
In a process of calibrating an ultrasensitive noble gas leak detector having a vacuum chamber and a gas detector, the improvement comprising providing as a calibrating source a radioactive alpha source having a known decay rate, accumulating helium molecules from the radioactive alpha source in an enclosed volume, measuring the time of accumulation of helium molecules, permitting said helium molecules to enter said vacuum chamber, and obtaining a gas detection measurement to calibrate the detector for the sensitivity of the system based on an amount of helium accumulated from radioactive decay during a set period of time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
97 words
In a process of calibrating an ultrasensitive noble gas leak detector having a vacuum chamber and a gas detector, the improvement comprising providing as a calibrating source a radioactive alpha source having a known decay rate, accumulating helium molecules from the radioactive alpha source in an enclosed volume, measuring the time of accumulation of helium molecules, permitting said helium molecules to enter said vacuum chamber, and obtaining a gas detection measurement to calibrate the detector for the sensitivity of the system based on an amount of helium accumulated from radioactive decay during a set period of time.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3070992A
Cited
US3227872A
Cited
US3057996A
Cited
US3342990A
Cited
US3385102A
Cited
US3616680A
Cited
US3762212A
Cited
US3968675A
Cited
FR2366553A1
Cited
US4195224A
Cited
US4158960A
Cited
US4260886A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-08-12 | 1989-02-11 | 1989-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-08-12 | 1993-02-11 | 1993-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-08-12 | 1997-02-11 | 1997-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |