Abstract: A temperature sensing apparatus (10) adapted for sensing the temperature of a food item or the environment in an oven includes a body (12) which encloses a chamber (38). The chamber houses an indicator (22) which is viewed through a frangible glass pane (34). Slight amounts of water vapor that infiltrate into the chamber during washing are vented when the apparatus is placed in a high temperature environment. A resilient member (70) having a lip portion (74) is normally in abutting relation with an outer case wall surface (48). When pressure builds in the chamber during heating due to rapid expansion of the water vapor, the pressure applied through an opening (40) acts against the lip portion of the resilient member. When the pressure rises to a sufficient level, it deforms the lip portion away from the adjacent wall surface whereby pressure is relieved to atmosphere. The pressure in the chamber is relieved before it reaches a level that may fracture the frangible glass pane or cause other damage.

Abstract: A temperature sensing apparatus (10) adapted for sensing the temperature of a food item in an oven includes a body (12) which encloses a chamber (34). The chamber houses an indicator (20) which is viewed through a glass pane (28). Slight amounts of water vapor that infiltrate into the chamber during washing are safely vented by a pressure relief valve (36) having a unitary body of resilient material. The check valve includes a membrane portion (40) with a diametrically extending slit (46) therethrough. The slit remains closed under most conditions. When pressure builds in the chamber during heating due to rapid expansion of infiltrated water vapor, the membrane portion deforms sufficiently to open the slit before the pressure reaches a level that may fracture the glass pane or cause other damage. When the pressure falls, the membrane portion returns to its initial position closing the slit.

Abstract: An instrument assembly for use with a wire rack. The assembly is constructed so that the case structure may be rotated closer to or further away from the base portion of the stand. The assembly may be firmly secured to the wire rack by clamping one of the wire elements between the base portion and case structure.

Abstract: A collimator is disclosed for minimizing radiation exposure and improving resolution in radiation imaging devices. The collimator provides a penetrating beam of radiation from a source thereof, which beam is substantially non-diverging in at least one direction. In the preferred embodiment, the collimator comprises an elongated sandwich assembly of a plurality of layers of material exhibiting relatively high radiation attenuation characteristics, which attenuating layers are spaced apart and separated from one another by interleaved layers of material exhibiting relatively low radiation attenuation characteristics. The sandwich assembly is adapted for lengthwise disposition and orientation between a radiation source and a target or receiver such that the attenuating layers are parallel to the desired direction of the beam with the interleaved spacing layers providing direct paths for the radiation.

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.

Abstract: A radiation analyzer which measures radiation from a plurality of radiation sources in a single measurement cycle to distinguish between the radioactivity level received from a plurality of radiation sources. The radiation level of one of the sources may be known so that that source serves as a radiation standard with which to compare the other sources. Alternatively, the sources may all be known and the comparative radioactivity levels utilized to obtain information concerning some other parameter, such as external attenuation.

Abstract: A radiation analyzer which employs a single photodetector and a plurality of scintillators. Light filters interposed between selected ones of the scintillators selectively attenuate radiation of a predetermined energy range. Plural analyzers each associated with a single scintillator and each receiving electrical pulses from the photodetector attenuated to a different degree are adjusted to tabulate pulses of amplitudes which differ in accordance with the degree of attenuation of pulses received by the analyzers from the photodetector.

Abstract: A nucleonic device for measuring the moisture content of bulk materials using a radioisotopic fast-neutron source such as lithium-7 admixed with an alpha-particle emitter, such as americium-241, as a means of minimizing the thickness of the layer of bulk material required proximate to the moisture sensor for a neutron-reflection moisture gauge for proper operation of said gauge. Minimization of the required thickness of the bulk material permits use of a neutron-reflection moisture gauge for measurements of bulk materials on lightly-loaded belts and other types of conveyors where measurements have previously been impracticable.