Abstract: A support mechanism for protecting an object is described. The support system includes at least one support or friction ring for providing dynamic protection to the object. One embodiment includes a support ring having corrugated bumps. Another embodiment includes multiple support rings axially separated by spacers. In another embodiment a support mechanism is provided having at least one friction ring in combination with O-rings. A compound optical coupler is also described, which has a self-wetting clear optical coupling gel and an elastomeric load ring.

Abstract: A support mechanism for protecting an object is described. The support system includes at least one support or friction ring for providing dynamic protection to the object. One embodiment includes a support ring having corrugated bumps. Another embodiment includes multiple support rings axially separated by spacers. In another embodiment a support mechanism is provided having at least one friction ring in combination with O-rings. A compound optical coupler is also described, which has a self-wetting clear optical coupling gel and an elastomeric load ring. In another aspect, a compound optical coupler assembly comprises a self-wetting optical coupling gel and also an amount of a stiffening agent.

Abstract: A support mechanism for protecting an object is described. The support system includes at least one support or friction ring for providing dynamic protection to the object. One embodiment includes a support ring having corrugated bumps. Another embodiment includes multiple support rings axially separated by spacers. In another embodiment a support mechanism is provided having at least one friction ring in combination with O-rings. A compound optical coupler is also described, which has a self-wetting clear optical coupling gel and an elastomeric load ring.

Abstract: The invention provides, in one embodiment, a detector for a miner comprising a gamma sensing element and a light sensing element coupled to the gamma sensing element. According to the embodiment, the detector is mounted on a rotary cutter of a boring-type continuous miner such that the gamma sensing element has a view of a geologic formation being mined. A mining control system is also provided, comprising a miner having at least two rotary cutters and a gamma detector on each of the at least two rotary cutters for receiving gamma emissions from a geologic formation. The mining control system also provides an accelerometer and a rate gyro, wherein the accelerometer and the rate gyro correlate the received gamma emissions with positions of the at least two rotary cutters, and a central module that utilizes the correlated readings to determine whether the cutters should be moved.

Abstract: An instrumentation package in broad terms includes at least one substantially cylindrical instrumentation component; a substantially cylindrical shield surrounding the instrumentation component, the shield having a diameter less than a standard predetermined diameter; and a sizing sleeve around the shield, thereby increasing the diameter of the sleeve to the standard predetermined diameter. A nuclear detector package is also disclosed that includes a substantially cylindrical crystal element; a photomultiplier tube arranged coaxially with the crystal element; an optical coupler sandwiched between one end of the crystal element and an adjacent end of the photomultiplier tube; the crystal element, optical coupler and photomultiplier tube hermetically sealed within a cylindrical shield; and a flexible support sleeve extending exteriorly along the crystal element and the photomultiplier tube and radially inside the cylindrical shield.

Abstract: An instrumentation package in broad terms includes at least one substantially cylindrical instrumentation component; a substantially cylindrical shield surrounding the instrumentation component, the shield having a diameter less than a standard predetermined diameter; and a sizing sleeve around the shield, thereby increasing the diameter of the sleeve to the standard predetermined diameter. A nuclear detector package is also disclosed that includes a substantially cylindrical crystal element; a photomultiplier tube arranged coaxially with the crystal element; an optical coupler sandwiched between one end of the crystal element and an adjacent end of the photomultiplier tube; the crystal element, optical coupler and photomultiplier tube hermetically sealed within a cylindrical shield; and a flexible support sleeve extending exteriorly along the crystal element and the photomultiplier tube and radially inside the cylindrical shield.

Abstract: A rock avoidance control system for solid mineral mining using a forward looking rock/mineral interface detector and controlling the miner to cut to the detected rock/mineral interface. One or more armored gamma ray detectors are positioned near the cutter and move with the cutter such that the angular size of the field of view is not reduced. Angular movements of the cutter are measured and used for calculating the rock/mineral interface location. A device is incorporated within an armored rock detector to sense angular movements of the cutter boom and to correlate changes in gamma radiation to the angular movements, within selected energy ranges. The thickness of the remaining coal is calculated by measuring the rate at which the gamma radiation increases. In one embodiment, rock detectors are used to steer the cutting of the leading drum and/or the trailing drum a long-wall mining system.

Abstract: A flexible dynamic support housing for a gamma detector is described. The gamma detector includes a scintillation assembly and an electronics module housed within a rigid housing. Elongated springs extend along the length of the rigid housing. The springs are located within an outer flexible housing, making up an outer flexible dynamic support housing. The outer flexible dynamic support housing, when placed within a generally cylindrical cavity in a machine, takes on a generally cylindrical outer shape. The scintillation assembly includes a crystal sealed within a sealed rigid scintillation housing, and the electronics module includes a photo-multiplier tube contained within a rigid electronics module housing. An inner flexible dynamic housing assembly, including springs and an inner flexible housing, is positioned between the rigid housing on the outside and the sealed rigid scintillation housing and the sealed rigid electronics module housing on the inside.

Abstract: An instrumentation package in broad terms includes at least one substantially cylindrical instrumentation component; a substantially cylindrical shield surrounding the instrumentation component, the shield having a diameter less than a standard predetermined diameter; and a sizing sleeve around the shield, thereby increasing the diameter of the sleeve to the standard predetermined diameter. A nuclear detector package is also disclosed that includes a substantially cylindrical crystal element; a photomultiplier tube arranged coaxially with the crystal element; an optical coupler sandwiched between one end of the crystal element and an adjacent end of the photomultiplier tube; the crystal element, optical coupler and photomultiplier tube hermetically sealed within a cylindrical shield; and a flexible support sleeve extending exteriorly along the crystal element and the photomultiplier tube and radially inside the cylindrical shield.

Abstract: A flexible support mechanism for protecting an object is described. The flexible support mechanism includes at least one flexible support sleeve for providing dynamic protection to the object. One embodiment includes an inner flexible support sleeve separated from an outer flexible support sleeve by a plurality of spacers. The outer flexible support sleeve is designed to be stronger than the inner flexible support sleeve. The inner flexible support sleeve is designed to inhibit the transference of vibrations to the object, while the outer flexible support sleeve is designed to inhibit the transference of physical shock and/or high vibration to the object. For a flexible support mechanism used to protect a scintillation element, the flexible support sleeve or sleeves are formed of a material which is transparent to gamma radiation.

Abstract: A flexible dynamic support housing for a gamma detector is described. The gamma detector includes a scintillation assembly and an electronics module housed within a rigid housing. Elongated springs extend along the length of the rigid housing. The springs are located within an outer flexible housing, making up an outer flexible dynamic support housing. The outer flexible dynamic support housing, when placed within a generally cylindrical cavity in a machine, takes on a generally cylindrical outer shape. The scintillation assembly includes a crystal sealed within a sealed rigid scintillation housing, and the electronics module includes a photo-multiplier tube contained within a rigid electronics module housing. An inner flexible dynamic housing assembly, including springs and an inner flexible housing, is positioned between the rigid housing on the outside and the sealed rigid scintillation housing and the sealed rigid electronics module housing on the inside.

Abstract: A rock avoidance control system for solid mineral mining using a forward looking rock/mineral interface detector and controlling the miner to cut to the detected rock/mineral interface. One or more armored gamma ray detectors are positioned near the cutter and move with the cutter such that the angular size of the field of view is not reduced. Angular movements of the cutter are measured and used for calculating the rock/mineral interface location. A device is incorporated within an armored rock detector to sense angular movements of the cutter boom and to correlate changes in gamma radiation to the angular movements, within selected energy ranges. The thickness of the remaining coal is calculated by measuring the rate at which the gamma radiation increases. In one embodiment, rock detectors are used to steer the cutting of the leading drum and/or the trailing drum a long-wall mining system.

Abstract: An armored detector assembly, a mining system, and methods of using it are described. The armored detector assembly consists of a main assembly and a hatch assembly. The hatch assembly is welded onto mining equipment, and the main assembly is removably attached to the hatch assembly. The armored detector assembly houses sensitive monitoring equipment used in mining operations. Because of its rugged construction the armored detector assembly is suitable for storing a wide range of sensitive equipment in harsh industrial environments. One embodiment allows for openings in the main assembly so that gamma radiation can enter the main assembly and be measured by gamma radiation monitoring equipment used in continuous mining operations. A portion of the gamma radiation monitoring equipment is enclosed within an integral explosion proof enclosure.

Abstract: An armored detector assembly, a mining system, and methods of using it are described. The armored detector assembly consists of a main assembly and a hatch assembly. The hatch assembly is welded onto mining equipment, and the main assembly is removably attached to the hatch assembly. The armored detector assembly houses sensitive monitoring equipment used in mining operations. Because of its rugged construction the armored detector assembly is suitable for storing a wide range of sensitive equipment in harsh industrial environments. One embodiment allows for openings in the main assembly so that gamma radiation can enter the main assembly and be measured by gamma radiation monitoring equipment used in continuous mining operations. A portion of the gamma radiation monitoring equipment is enclosed within an integral explosion proof enclosure.

Abstract: An armored gamma detector, mining system, and methods of use are described. The gamma detector includes a scintillation element, a window, and a photo-metric module, including a photomultiplier tube and a logic element. The photo-metric module and window are encased within an explosion-proof housing. The scintillation element is encased within a housing having at least one window which may be made of a material including polyether ethyl ketone. The logic element is adapted to determine the amount of gamma radiation detected over a predetermined time period, as well as a running average of the amount of gamma radiation detected over the time period. In one embodiment, a pair of gamma detectors may be used in tandem to determine the position of the cutting drum of the mining equipment relative to the boundary between the ore vein being cut through and adjacent rock strata.

Abstract: An armored detector assembly, a mining system, and methods of using it are described. The armored detector assembly consists of a main assembly and a hatch assembly. The hatch assembly is welded onto mining equipment, and the main assembly is removably attached to the hatch assembly. The armored detector assembly houses sensitive monitoring equipment used in mining operations. Because of its rugged construction the armored detector assembly is suitable for storing a wide range of sensitive equipment in harsh industrial environments. One embodiment allows for openings in the main assembly so that gamma radiation can enter the main assembly and be measured by gamma radiation monitoring equipment used in continuous mining operations. A portion of the gamma radiation monitoring equipment is enclosed within an integral explosion proof enclosure.

Abstract: A radiation detector assembly includes a radiation detector enclosed within a shield and a light detector enclosed in a housing and operatively connected to said radiation detector by a threaded connection between the shield and the housing. A first set of elongated, radial springs are located about the circumference of the light detector, radially between the housing and the light detector. A second set of similar radial springs are located about the circumference of the radiation detector, radially between the shield and the radiation detector. A tool casing encloses the detector assembly and a third set of longitudinally extending, circumferentially spaced radial springs are positioned between the tool casing and the detector assembly. Various optical coupler configurations are disclosed.

Abstract: A unitized scintillation detector, employing a scintillation element and a photomultiplier tube housed within inner and outer housings for protection against shock, and a scintillation shock assembly. The scintillation element is encased within potting material, which is enclosed within a rigid shield. A reflective coating or tape may be used to optimize light impulse transmission from the element to the photomultiplier. The element is further protected from shock by an elastomeric boot disposed around the shield and within the housing. Elastomeric material cushions the element on one end and a spring system protects the other end. The spring system is pre-loaded against the shield, not the element. Dual windows interfacing the scintillation element and photomultiplier tube at the other end of the element create an hermetic seal. The photomultiplier tube is encased within an elastomer with outwardly directed projections.

Abstract: A unitized scintillation detector, employing a scintillation element and a photomultiplier tube housed within inner and outer housings for protection against shock, and a scintillation shock assembly. The scintillation element is encased within potting material, which is further enclosed within a rigid shield. A reflective coating or reflective tape may be used to optimize light impulse transmission from the element to the photomultiplier. The element is further protected from shock by an elastomeric boot disposed around the shield and within the housing. In addition, elastomeric material cushions the element on one end and a spring system protects the other end. The spring system is pre-loaded against the shield, not the element. Dual windows interfacing the scintillation element and photomultiplier tube at the other end of the element create an hermetic seal. In another embodiment, a single optical window may be used.

Abstract: A knock-down tank for containing a liquid medium having a bottom panel, multiple side panels and a top panel secured together by fasteners inside the tank and insulated against heat transfer, the tank being made liquid tight by a plastic liner, and the top panel supporting a depending dip tube assembly whose tubes provide the only access to the liquid contained within the liner.