Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
215 words
A method for nondestructively analyzing a porous, inhomogeneous, generally cylindrical object having n known molecular components (where n is an integer) to determine the density and the mass fractions of each of the n molecular components thereof comprising the steps of: scanning the object with a beam of photons whose axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the object, each photon having a distinct at least one of n-1 energy groups; measuring the intensity of the photons in each energy group upon the passage of the beam through the object at each of a plurality of separate heights t i of the beam as measured from the axis thereof to the center of the object; establishing each of n-1 attenuation coefficients μ 1 (r), μ 2 (r) . . . μ n-1 (r) for the object at each height t i of the beam thereof in accordance with the measured intensity of the photons within a separate one of the n-1 energy groups, respectively; and calculating the density ρ(r) and the mass fraction of each of the n molecular components of the object at said each height t i of the beam thereof in accordance with each of the n-1 attenuation coefficients μ 1 (r), μ 2 (r) . . . μ n-1 (r).
Claim 2
Independent Claim
215 words
A method for nondestructively analyzing a porous, inhomogeneous, generally cylindrical object having n known molecular components (where n is an integer) to determine the density and the mass fractions of each of the n molecular components thereof comprising the steps of: scanning the object with a beam of photons whose axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the object, each photon having a distinct at least one of n-1 energy groups; measuring the intensity of the photons in each energy group upon the passage of the beam through the object at each of a plurality of separate heights t i of the beam as measured from the axis thereof to the center of the object; establishing each of n-1 attenuation coefficients μ 1 (r), μ 2 (r) . . . μ n-1 (r) for the object at each height t i of the beam thereof in accordance with the measured intensity of the photons within a separate one of the n-1 energy groups, respectively; and calculating the density ρ(r) and the mass fraction of each of the n molecular components of the object at said each height t i of the beam thereof in accordance with each of the n-1 attenuation coefficients μ 1 (r), μ 2 (r) . . . μ n-1 (r).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein the object is scanned by bombarding the object with an x-ray beam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein each of the n-1 attenuation coefficients is established from the ratio of the intensity of the photons with a respective one of the n-1 energy groups leaving the object to the intensity thereof entering the object.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the cylindrical inhomogeneous object is a soot boule comprised of air, amorphous silicon dioxide and amorphous germanium dioxide.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
207 words
An apparatus for nondestructively analyzing a porous, inhomogeneous object having n known molecular components (where n is an integer) comprising: means for scanning the object with a beam of photons whose axis is perpendicular to the axis of the object, each photon having a distinct energy within at least one of n-1 energy groups; means for measuring intensity of the photons upon passage through the object at each of a plurality of separate heights t i of the beam as measured between the axis thereof and the center of the object; means for establishing n-1 attenuation coefficients μ 1 (r), μ 2 (r) . . . μ n-1 (r) at each said height t i of the beam in accordance with the measured intensity of the photons within a separate one of said n-1 energy groups, respectively; and means for calculating the density ρ(r) and the individual molecular mass fraction X 1 (r), X 2 (r), X 3 (r) . . . X n (r) of each of the n constituent molecular components of the object at said each height t i of the beam in accordance with a separate one of the attenuation coefficients μ 1 , μ 2 . . . μ n-1 , respectively.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
207 words
An apparatus for nondestructively analyzing a porous, inhomogeneous object having n known molecular components (where n is an integer) comprising: means for scanning the object with a beam of photons whose axis is perpendicular to the axis of the object, each photon having a distinct energy within at least one of n-1 energy groups; means for measuring intensity of the photons upon passage through the object at each of a plurality of separate heights t i of the beam as measured between the axis thereof and the center of the object; means for establishing n-1 attenuation coefficients μ 1 (r), μ 2 (r) . . . μ n-1 (r) at each said height t i of the beam in accordance with the measured intensity of the photons within a separate one of said n-1 energy groups, respectively; and means for calculating the density ρ(r) and the individual molecular mass fraction X 1 (r), X 2 (r), X 3 (r) . . . X n (r) of each of the n constituent molecular components of the object at said each height t i of the beam in accordance with a separate one of the attenuation coefficients μ 1 , μ 2 . . . μ n-1 , respectively.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
The invention according to claim 5 wherein said scanning means comprises: a radiation source for producing a beam containing photons, each having a distinct energy within at least one of said n-1 energy groups; and means for moving said radiation source relative to the object so that the beam of photons produced by said radiation source is scanned across the object.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
The invention according to claim 6 wherein said intensity measuring means comprises: a detector carried by said moving means for detecting the number of photons exiting the object and the energy of each; and a pulse height scaler/analyzer coupled to said detector for counting the number of photons impinging on said detector and for determining in which of the n-1 energy groups each photon belongs.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention according to claim 5 wherein said attenuation factor establishing means and said calculating means are comprised of a digital computer.