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US 2006/0138330 A1Published application
Flexible liquid-filled ionizing radiation scintillator used as a product level detector
AssigneeRonan Engineering Company
InventorsCharles Baldwin, Craig Caris
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A flexible scintillation-type level detector (10), in which the scintillator (18) is made from a flexible tube (12) substantially filled with a liquid scintillating material (16) to provide flexibility in at least two, and preferably three, dimensions. At least one end (32) is aligned for operable connection to a photodetector (14, 20). Outer surfaces of the flexible tube (12) may be covered with an inwardly-facing light reflective material (30) and/or light-excluding material or flexible armored casing (22). The scintillator (18) may include a variable-volume expansion chamber (110, 152, 176) to compensate for thermal expansion and contraction of the liquid scintillator material (16).
Claims20
A product level detector system, comprising:
- a container that holds a mass, said container having a first surface portion and a second surface position;
- an elongated flexible tubular member that is physically located at said first surface portion of the container, said tubular member having a first closed end and a second closed end, said tubular member having an interior region that is substantially filled with a liquid scintillation material which is sensitive to detecting ionizing radiation;
- a photosensitive device located near said first closed end of the tubular member, said photosensitive device detecting scintillating photons generated in the scintillation liquid that are indicative of ionizing radiation passing into the liquid scintillation material, said photosensitive device generating an output signal that is related to a quantity of said scintillating photons;
- an ionizing radiation source that is physically located at said second surface position of the container;
- and
- an electrical detection circuit that determines a relative elevation of said mass being held by said container, based upon a value of said output signal of the photosensitive device.
3 more elements
A product level detector, comprising:
- an elongated flexible tubular member that has a first closed end and a second closed end, said tubular member having an interior region that is substantially filled with a liquid scintillation material which is sensitive to detecting ionizing radiation;
- said liquid scintillation material reacting to ionizing radiation passing into the liquid scintillation material by generating scintillating photons, said ionizing radiation being of a first wavelength and said scintillating photons being of a second, different wavelength, said ionizing radiation arriving at first angles that are not parallel to a longitudinal axis of said tubular member, and said scintillating photons being directed along said interior region of the tubular member at different second angles, thereby effectively providing lateral coupling between said ionizing radiation and said scintillating photons;
- and
- a photosensitive device located near said first closed end of the tubular member, said photosensitive device detecting said scintillating photons and generating an output signal that is related to a quantity of said scintillating photons.
1 more element
A product level detector, comprising:
- an elongated flexible tubular member that has a first closed end and a second closed end, said tubular member having an interior region that is substantially filled with a liquid scintillation material which is sensitive to detecting ionizing radiation;
- and
- a photosensitive device located near said first closed end of the tubular member, said photosensitive device detecting scintillating photons generated in the scintillation liquid that are indicative of ionizing radiation passing into the liquid scintillation material, said photosensitive device generating an output signal that is related to a quantity of said scintillating photons;
- wherein:
- (a) said liquid scintillation material has an index of refraction greater than or equal to (≧) 1.4, a thermal flash point temperature greater than (>) 93° C., a light output characteristic greater than or equal to (≧) 50%, and an attenuation length greater than (>) 3 meters;
- and
- (b) said elongated flexible tubular member has an index of refraction less than (<) 1.4.
4 more elements
A method of installing a product level detector, said method comprising:
- (a) providing a product level detector apparatus with an elongated flexible tubular member having a first closed end and a second closed end, and an interior region that is substantially filled with a liquid scintillation material which is sensitive to detecting ionizing radiation;
- and a photosensitive device located near said first closed end of the tubular member, said photosensitive device detecting scintillating photons generated in the scintillation liquid that are indicative of ionizing radiation passing into the liquid scintillation material, said photosensitive device generating an output signal that is related to a quantity of said scintillating photons;
- (b) providing a container that holds a mass;
- (c) coiling said tubular member in a convenient carrying position for a person who will perform an installation of said product level detector apparatus;
- (d) climbing, with said tubular member wrapped around the person's body, to a location at which said product level detector apparatus is to be installed;
- and
- (e) mounting said product level detector apparatus to a surface of said container, after which said product level detector apparatus will be positioned to detect a relative elevation of a product within said container, within a desired range of product elevation detection.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.