# US 11,776,703 B1 · Nuclear gauge > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,776,703 B1 - Document ID: US11776703B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 17/549,341 - Filed: 2021-12-13 - Granted: 2023-10-03 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-14 - Assignees: Troxler Electronic Laboratories, Inc. - Applicants: Troxler Electronic Laboratories, Inc. - Inventors: William F. Troxler, Jr.; Wewage Hiran Linus Dep; Robert Ernest Troxler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11776703B1 ## CPC - G21F 5/02: with provision for restricted exposure of a radiation source within the container - G01N 23/06: and measuring the absorption - G01N 2223/1013: gamma - G01N 2223/614: road surface - G01N 2223/633: thickness, density, surface weight (unit area) - G21F: PROTECTION AGAINST X-RADIATION, GAMMA RADIATION, CORPUSCULAR RADIATION OR PARTICLE BOMBARDMENT; TREATING RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED MATERIAL; DECONTAMINATION ARRANGEMENTS THEREFOR (radiation protection by pharmaceutical means A61K8/00, A61Q17/04; in cosmonautic vehicles B64G1/54; combined with a reactor G21C11/00; combined with X-ray tubes H01J35/16; combined with X-ray apparatus H05G1/02) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The gauge according to claim 1, wherein the failure zone defines a circumferentially extending recess along the circumference of the source housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The gauge according to claim 1, wherein the failure zone is defined at a portion of the housing that is downward of an end of the source. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The gauge according to claim 1, wherein the shield material spaced-downwardly from the source comprises an end cap having one of tungsten or carbide. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The gauge according to claim 1, wherein an actuator is provided for translating the source from the shielded position to the measuring position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The gauge according to claim 5, wherein the actuator is biased in a locked position in which the source is in the shielded position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The gauge according to claim 6, wherein the actuator remains biased in the locked position unless unlocked by an operator. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The gauge according to claim 7, further comprising an electronic access module that must be activated in order to advance the actuator from the locked position to the unlocked position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The gauge according to claim 8, further comprising an electromechanical source rod lock in communication with the electronic access module. ### Claim 10 A method of measuring one or more characteristics of a construction material, the method comprising: forming a hole in a ground or road surface; positioning a gauge such that a source of the gauge and the hole are aligned; authenticating user access by one or more authentication methods; translating the source into a measuring position; and recording, analyzing and displaying measurements from the detector. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the gauge comprises a locating pad or device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the gauge comprises an access control module. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: preparing the test site; and leveling test site material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein positioning the gauge comprises placing the gauge on the site with respect to the hole using a gauge positioning template, locating pad, or plate.