US 4,506,159 AGranted

Dosimeter charging apparatus

AssigneeDosimeter Corporation of America

InventorsFrederick A. Reuter, Charles J. Moorman

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

An apparatus for charging a dosimeter which has a capacitor connected between first and second electrodes and a movable electrode in a chamber electrically connected to the first electrode. The movable electrode deflects varying amounts depending upon the charge present on said capacitor. The charger apparatus includes first and second charger electrodes couplable to the first and second dosimeter electrodes. To charge the dosimeter, it is urged downwardly into a charging socket on the charger apparatus. The second dosimeter electrode, which is the dosimeter housing, is electrically coupled to the second charger electrode through a conductive ring which is urged upwardly by a spring. As the dosimeter is urged into the socket, the ring moves downwardly, in contact with the second charger electrode. As the dosimeter is further urged downwardly, the first dosimeter electrode and first charger electrode contact one another, and an insulator post carrying the first and second charger electrodes is urged downwardly. Downward movement of the post effects the application of a charging potential between the first and second charger electrodes. After the charging potential has been applied, the dosimeter is moved further into the charging socket against the force of a relatively heavy biasing spring until the dosimeter reaches a mechanical stop in the charging socket.

Apparatus for charging a dosimeter having a capacitor connected between first and second relatively stationary dosimeter electrodes, an ionization chamber exposed to at least portions of said first and second electrodes to discharge said capacitor when ionizing radiation penetrates said chamber, a movable electrode electrically connected to said first electrode which deflects varying amounts depending upon the charge present on said capacitor, a first movable electrical contact shiftable between a non-charging position spaced from said first electrode and a charging position contacting said first electrode, and a first electrical insulator mounting said movable contact and maintaining said movable contact and said second electrode in spaced relation when said movable contact is in its charging and non-charging positions, said dosimeter charger apparatus comprising:

a first charging electrode and a second charging electrode;
a second, electrical insulator mounting said first and second charging electrodes in fixed spaced relation to each other susceptive of electrical coupling with said movable contact and said second dosimeter electrode, respectively, when it is desired to charge said dosimeter;
means for coupling a high voltage dc charging potential between said first and second charging electrodes in response to the actuation of a switch;
a switch coupled to the potential coupling means, which is responsive to the actuation thereof;
means for mounting said second electrical insulator for movement between a first position in which the switch is deactuated and a second position in which the switch is actuated to effect the coupling of a high voltage dc charging potential between said first and second charging electrodes;
and
means for yieldably resisting the movement of the second insulator past said second, switch actuating, position after said movable electrical contact in the dosimeter has shifted to its charging position contacting said first electrode, the first charging electrode being in contact with said movable contact of the dosimeter.

4 more elements

Abstract

Claims11