Patents by Inventor Brian Sowerby

Brian Sowerby has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20060093088
    Abstract: The invention concerns radiographic equipment. The equipment includes a source of substantially mono-energetic fast neutrons produced via the deuterium-tritium or deuterium-deuterium fusion reactions, comprising a sealed-tube or similar generator for producing the neutrons. The equipment further includes a source of X-rays or gamma-rays of sufficient energy to substantially penetrate an object to be imaged and a collimating block surrounding the neutron and gamma-ray sources, apart from the provision of one or more slots emitting substantially fan-shaped radiation beams. Further included is a detector array comprising a multiplicity of individual scintillator pixels to receive radiation energy from the sources and convert the received energy into light pulses, the detector array aligned with the fan-shaped beams emitted from the source collimator and collimated to substantially prevent radiation other than that directly transmitted from the sources reaching the array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Publication date: May 4, 2006
    Inventors: Brian Sowerby, James Ticker
  • Patent number: 6362477
    Abstract: The present invention related generally to bulk material analyzers suitable for the direct on-line analysis of materials such as coal and minerals. It is targeted particularly at direct on-conveyor belt analysis. It includes: a shielded enclosure defining an analysis zone within it and having a passageway through it to allow transport of bulk material through the analysis zone. At least one neutron source (1,4) and at least two gamma ray detectors (3,5) are disposed within the enclosure to measure gamma-rays produced in the bulk material by both the neutron inelastic scatter and thermal neutron capture processes. A neutron source and a gamma-ray detector are arranged in either a transmission or backscatter geometry. A second gamma-ray detector is arranged either in a transmission or backscatter geometry with or without using a second neutron source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
    Inventors: Brian Sowerby, Cheryl Lim, James Tickner
  • Patent number: 5369998
    Abstract: Method and apparatus (1) for measuring the mass flow rate of solids suspended in a gas stream (2) flowing along a pipe (3). Two ultrasonic transducers (4, 5) are mounted in short side arms (6, 7) extending from the pipe. The transducers are arranged such that signals are transmitted from one to the other through the gas stream at an angle .THETA., usually about 45.degree.. The received signals in both transducers are received by apparatus (8) and amplified. The invention allows determination of: the mean times for the ultrasonic pulses to travel from one transducer (4) to another (5) and vice-versa; the mean peak amplitude of received pulses; and, the standard deviation or spread of these parameters. The mean times taken for the ultrasonic signals to travel between the transducers are used to determine the gas flow velocity, and the mean peak amplitudes for calculating the solids loading. From these the mass flow rate is derived.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
    Inventor: Brian Sowerby