Abstract: A radiographic camera has a housing which enclosed a tube with a radiographic source. The conduit is coupled to a locking assembly at the back end of the camera and to a connector at the front end of the camera. A plug assembly is coupled in the connector mechanism. The connector has a movable shield which selectively blocks the conduit from the exterior of the housing when the plug assembly is partially removed, and unblocks the conduit when the plug assembly is removed and when a guide cable is being attached. The shield is mounted on a slide which also has a connection to a switch on the back of the camera. The switch is actuable when the shield is not blocking the conduit. The switch allows control cables to be connected to the locking assembly and can be actuated after the guide cable is attached.

Abstract: A coupling apparatus for connecting a separable control cable assembly to a camera storage unit in a radiographic system, having a connector assembly fixed to the camera storage unit and a separable control cable assembly. The separable control cable assembly is attached the camera storage unit via the fixed connector assembly for controlling movement of radioactive material attached to a source cable to a desired location outside of the camera storage unit. The camera storage unit stores the source cable and attached radioactive material in an aperture where the two are locked against removal. Proper connection of the separable control cable assembly to the camera storage unit releases the source cable and radioactive material from their lock position. Upon releasing the source cable and radioactive material from their lock position, the control cable assembly is prevented from being removed from ther camera storage unit.

Abstract: A radiography source, preferably a cobalt-60 source constructed of a plurality of radioactive cobalt-60 pellets contained in an open capsule preferably constructed of titanium. The pellets are disposed in the capsule and compacted therein to reduce the source focal size. A plug is disposed in the open capsule and welded therewith. The cobalt and titanium materials are sufficiently different in atomic number to permit good X-ray analysis resolution.