Patents Examined by Archie R. Borchelt
  • Patent number: 4034219
    Abstract: Oil and/or other material on the walls of a sample tube of an oil-in-water monitoring device is washed with a cleaning solution. In operation, a water sample is directed into the sample cell. Ultra-violet light is directed through the sample tube to the water sample. A detector detects energy emanating from the sample tube characteristic of oil. Valve means channels the cleaning solution through the sample tube to remove oil and/or other material that has accumulated on the walls of the sample tube. The valve means may be operated manually or by a programmable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1977
    Assignee: Dresser Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Lester Richard Louden, Clement Auguston Blessington, Jerry Lon Beatty
  • Patent number: 4032791
    Abstract: A fluorescent screen is disclosed which comprises a plastic film support layer, a reflectance layer of vacuum-deposited aluminum on said support layer, and a layer of fluorescent material dispersed in an organic polymeric binder located on said reflectance layer. A method for making the above screen is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1976
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1977
    Assignee: GTE Sylvania Incorporated
    Inventors: Vincent Chiola, Sixdeniel Faria
  • Patent number: 4031393
    Abstract: The camera includes an input focussing and image cycling system to alternly cycle between a thermal reference and a thermal image, onto a thermally sensitive layer. Means are provided for electronically controlled conversion of thermal images to electron images. Further means, defined in the camera, accomplish electronic image integration and storage. The output portion of the camera includes means to furnish image intensification, after integration and storage. Photographic or electrostatic film is pulled at a constant rate by a drive system positioned at the output of the camera, to expose film to the intensified image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1976
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1977
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Charles M. Redman
  • Patent number: 4031394
    Abstract: In camera using resistive targets wherein a recording tube of which the target (100) made of a pyroelectric material in the example and read by a beam of electrons, permanently receives a flow of ions formed in the tube by the collision between the electrons of the beam and the atoms of a gaseous mass of which the pressure in the tube is determined by the temperature of a reservoir, the invention provides means for controlling the temperature of the reservoir (filament 03) in dependence upon the average target current which is proportional to the flow of ions in question.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1976
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1977
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Pierre Felix, Philippe Gamot, Guy Moiroud, Serge Veron
  • Patent number: 4031392
    Abstract: A liquid scintillation spectrometer comprises two PM detectors, a circuit for detecting prompt coincidences between the signals from the detectors and a circuit for detecting delayed coincidences. Counting means controlled by the coincidence circuits detect the excess of the occurrences of prompt coincidences over delayed coincidences and count that excess in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1976
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1977
    Assignee: Intertechnique S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Giraud, Conrad Palais, Edward Rapkin
  • Patent number: 4029401
    Abstract: A method is provided for automatically compensating liquid scintillation systems for efficiently counting samples of varying quench by establishing the amount of change of a system parameter such as gain required to restore the sample spectrum to be counted in at least one counting window to the proper counting window discriminator levels as a non-linear function of the change in a measure of quench. The degree of quench may be measured on each of the samples prior to counting, for instance by the external-standard channels-ratio method, and the system parameter automatically adjusted to restore the spectrum to the proper window or windows. Implementing circuitry shown includes a digital-to-analog converter and non-linear network which can be calibrated by using the endpoint of a known least quenched sample to establish the base gain and a reference standard and using a known, highly quenched sample to establish another point on the gain vs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1972
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1977
    Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Roy E. Nather
  • Patent number: 4029964
    Abstract: An improved transducer construction for a scintillation camera in which a light conducting element is equipped with a layer of moisture impervious material. A scintillation crystal is thereafter positioned in optical communication with the moisture impervious layer and the remaining surfaces of the scintillation crystal are encompassed by a moisture shield. Affixing the moisture impervious layer to the light conducting element prior to attachment of the scintillation crystal reduces the requirement for mechanical strength in the moisture impervious layer and thereby allows a layer of reduced thickness to be utilized. Preferably, photodetectors are also positioned in optical communication with the light conducting element prior to positioning the scintillation crystal in contact with the impervious layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1977
    Assignee: G. D. Searle & Co.
    Inventor: John B. Ashe
  • Patent number: 4028267
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for measuring the concentration of various components, such as the iron component in iron ore, by exposing the material to irradiation between a neutron source and a gamma ray detector. The emitted gamma rays are captured by the detector and transformed into a signal which is transmitted to a recording device for measuring the gamma ray radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1977
    Assignee: Stiftelsen Isotoptekniska Laboratoriet
    Inventors: Adolf Ragnar Roland Umberto Einarsson Christell, Kaijo Aatto Matias Koski, Knut Lennart Ljunggren
  • Patent number: 4027164
    Abstract: Improved circuitry or systems for the continual testing of the ability of a radiation detection system to detect radiation whether the radiation source being used for the testing is located externally to or is located within the same housing as the radiation detector. The improvement includes means for maintaining a constant voltage upon a control member which means provides accomodation for random or spurious radiation by controlled excitation of a radiation source which provides means for monitoring this radiation source for automatically determining the operational condition of the radiation detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1977
    Assignee: Detector Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Theodore E. Larsen, Stanley S. Kintigh
  • Patent number: 4027165
    Abstract: This invention relates to an improved smoke-detection system of the ionization-chamber type. In the preferred embodiment, the system utilizes a conventional detector head comprising a measuring ionization chamber, a reference ionization chamber, and a normally non-conductive gas triode for discharging when a threshold concentration of airborne particulates is present in the measuring chamber. The improved system utilizes a measuring ionization chamber which is modified to minimize false alarms and reductions in sensitivity resulting from changes in ambient temperature. In the preferred form of the modification, an annular radiation shield is mounted about the usual radiation source provided to effect ionization in the measuring chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1977
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Energy Research and Development Administration
    Inventor: Martin E. Jacobs
  • Patent number: 4025791
    Abstract: A transponder/interrogator system for remotely identifying objects. The interrogator emits infrared pulses to activate and remotely clock the transponder. Upon such activation, the transponder emits in synchronism with the interrogator pulse a unique code in the form of infrared pulses in accordance with a program stored in a recirculating shift register. The interrogator receives the infrared pulses from the transponder and may be associated with various code utilization devices as described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1977
    Assignee: Kilo Corporation
    Inventors: John W. Lennington, Stanley R. Sternberg
  • Patent number: 4024404
    Abstract: An energy saving electroluminescent backing sheet or panel for back lighting of writing sheets, drawing sheets or sheets having reading or other intelligible matter thereon the backing sheet having a unitarily associated light-weight light activating source capable of providing a low level nondistracting light output which permits its portable use for reading and writing in the dark without need for external light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1977
    Assignee: Becky J. Schroeder
    Inventor: Becky J. Schroeder
  • Patent number: 4024405
    Abstract: An X-ray eye shield useful in protecting eye tissue from radiation during dental radiography. The eye shield has a radiolucent frame and radiopaque lens cups which prevent passage of X-ray radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1977
    Inventor: Frank A. Szot
  • Patent number: 4024396
    Abstract: Highly sensitive method and apparatus for photon detection in the microwave and infrared regions of the electromagnetic energy spectrum are shown in which atoms of a material in the vapor state are excited to a first Rydberg energy level by use of radiation from one or more laser beams. The Rydberg excited material is subjected to the low energy radiation to be detected to induce therein an allowed electric dipole transition from said first to a second Rydberg energy level of the same or quite similar principal quantum number. Spontaneous high energy emission as a result of a distinctive radiative transition from said second Rydberg energy level is detected independently of other radiative transitions by conventional photodetector means such as a photomultiplier operable within the optical spectrum. The photomultiplier output provides a measure of said radiation to be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1977
    Assignee: Stanford Research Institute
    Inventors: Robert M. Hill, Thomas F. Gallagher
  • Patent number: 4024406
    Abstract: An apparatus for the safe storage of a plurality of fissionable masses including an array of discrete neutron absorbing shields which utilizes the principle of the neutron trap to reduce the multiplication factor of the storage array to a subcritical value when immersed in a neutron moderating medium. Each discrete neutron absorbing shield is spaced such that the encircled fissionable mass is spaced from the next adjacent neutron absorbing shield by a distance determined by the enrichment of the fissonable masses and attenuation of the moderating medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1977
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank Bevilacqua
  • Patent number: 4021670
    Abstract: Liquid scintillation counters are now the instruments of choice for use in counting most radioactive samples. While preferred, liquid scintillation counters are still subject to the disadvantages of their inability to effect high photon detection from within the counting vial, and of their inability to retain volatile cocktail solvents within the instrument for relatively long periods. A liquid scintillation counter is provided having a sample vessel with means which increase photon impingement on the photosensing device of the instrument, and with closure means better preventing escape of volatile materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1977
    Inventor: John E. Noakes
  • Patent number: 4020349
    Abstract: A metering circuit for a condenser ionization chamber is disclosed for simultaneously recharging the ionization chamber and reading out the amount of charge required to recharge the chamber. During the recharging process, the amount of charge necessary to recharge the ionization chamber capacitor is placed on an integrating capacitor in the metering apparatus. The resultant voltage across the integrating capacitor is a measure of the radiation to which the ionization chamber was exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1975
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1977
    Inventor: Richard C. McCall
  • Patent number: 4020348
    Abstract: A scintillation camera is suspended from an elevated gantry and is laterally movable. Sensors detecting the lateral position of the scintillation camera detector head produce signals which are combined with the detector head output signals to produce an image reflecting the occurrence of radioactive events within an expanded rectilinear field of view of the detector head. This image is stored using a recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1975
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1977
    Assignee: G. D. Searle & Co.
    Inventors: Ronald E. Turcotte, Jay R. Wolff, Anthony P. Del Medico, Paul C. Lee
  • Patent number: 4020342
    Abstract: Background corrected inelastic neutron scattering gamma ray counts for selected energy regions of the gamma ray spectrum corresponding to calcium and silicon are compared with thermal neutron capture gamma ray counts for selected energy regions of the gamma ray spectrum. These data are functionally related to chlorine presence and are used to derive an estimate of the salinity of earth formations. The inelastic scattering and thermal neutron capture gamma ray data are separated from each other by the use of a pulse neutron source and time gating techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1975
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1977
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Harry D. Smith, Jr., Ward E. Schultz
  • Patent number: 4020356
    Abstract: An absorption body for controlling the energy distribution of radiation passing into a volume being irradiated is disclosed. The absorption body has a pattern of holes which influences the energy distribution of radiation passing through the body. The energy distribution and the spatial distribution of the radiation penetrating the volume being irradiated is thereby controlled both in the depth direction of the volume and transversely thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1975
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1977
    Assignee: Scanditronix, Instrument AB
    Inventor: Anders Sven Brahme