US 11,776,703 B1 · Nuclear gauge

Abstract

A gauge is provided for measuring one or more characteristics of a construction material such as a road surface. The gauge includes a detector, a base that carries the detector, and a source housing carried by the base and defining a shield material circumferentially extending inwards. A source rod is positioned within the housing and carries a source that is translatable between a shielded position within the housing and a measuring position external of the housing. The source rod has a source shield on the top thereof and a shield material spaced-downwardly from the source such that the source is completely enclosed when contained within the base.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A gauge comprising:

a detector;
a base that carries the detector;
a source housing carried by the base and defining a shield material circumferentially extending inwards;
and
a source rod positioned within the housing and carrying a source that is translatable between a shielded position within the housing and a measuring position external of the housing, the source rod having a source shield on the top thereof and a shield material positioned-downwardly from the source such that the source is encapsulated when in the shielded position,
wherein the housing defines a failure zone about a bottom thereof, such that in a failure where the base separates from the source housing, the source remains shielded within the source housing.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

17/549,341Filed 13 Dec 2021 · continuation

Priority

14 Mar 2013

Granted

3 Oct 2023

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

G21F 5/02
Transportable or portable shielded containers: with provision for restricted exposure of a radiation source within the container
G01N 23/06
By transmitting the radiation through the material: and measuring the absorption
G01N 2223/1013
Electromagnetic radiation: gamma
G01N 2223/614
Specific applications or type of materials: road surface

Family

Application61/785,037Us provisional application · filed 14 Mar 2013

Application14/214,409Parent of this continuation · filed 14 Mar 2014

Application16/725,637Parent of this continuation · filed 23 Dec 2019

US 10,515,731 B1Parent of this continuation · filed 24 Dec 2019

US 11,200,994 B1Parent of this continuation

US 11,776,703 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Nuclear gauge

Life of this patent

Nuclear gauge

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14