Compact insertable x-ray fluorescence device for pipe inspection
AssigneeViken Detection Corporation
InventorPeter J. Rothschild
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Elemental composition of a pipe is determined by a fluorescence x-ray detector device. An outer housing of the device is inserted into the pipe via a flexible insertion member. A radioactive x-ray source is encompassed by a shield within the housing. A shutter selectively opens to enable radiation from the x-ray source to exit the shield and illuminate an inner wall of the pipe. An x-ray detector within the housing detects fluorescence x-rays emitted from the pipe upon illumination by the x-ray source. A controller then determines the presence of one or more elemental materials contained within the pipe based on the fluorescence x-rays.
Claims10
An apparatus for determining elemental composition of a pipe, comprising:
- an outer housing configured to be inserted into the pipe via a flexible insertion member;
- a radioactive x-ray source encompassed by a shield within the housing;
- a shutter coupled to the shield, the shutter configured to selectively open to enable radiation from the x-ray source to exit the shield and illuminate an inner wall of the pipe;
- an x-ray detector within the housing and configured to detect fluorescence x-rays emitted from the pipe upon illumination by the x-ray source;
- and
- a controller communicatively coupled to the x-ray detector, the controller configured to determine the presence of one or more elemental materials contained within the pipe based on the fluorescence x-rays.
A method of determining elemental composition of a pipe, comprising:
- inserting an outer housing into the pipe, the outer housing containing a radioactive x-ray source encompassed by a shield;
- opening a shutter coupled to the shield to enable radiation from the x-ray source to exit the shield and illuminate an inner wall of the pipe;
- detecting fluorescence x-rays emitted from the pipe upon illumination by the x-ray source via an x-ray detector;
- and
- determining a presence of one or more elemental materials contained within the pipe based on the fluorescence x-rays.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.