Solid particle contaminant detection and analysis system
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsJeffrey M. Warren, Richard D. Weller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Samples of particulate soil contaminated with solid particles having higher -ray absorption coefficients than the soil, are irradiated with a microfocused X-ray beam within an analysis zone to produce X-ray images of such samples. By controlling relative scanning and magnifying movements between the samples within the analysis zone and the X-ray beam, image features corresponding to the solid particles in the soil are rendered detectable for measurement purposes and to provide data from which size and distribution of contaminants in the soil are calculated.
Claims10
A method for examining particulate matter using X-ray equipment, comprising the steps of:
- passing a sample of said particulate matter through an analysis zone;
- directing microfocus X-ray beams generated by the X-ray equipment through said analysis zone to scan said sample and form X-ray images thereof;
- magnifying said X-ray images to enable detection of feature portions therein corresponding to contaminants within the sample;
- measuring the magnified X-ray images with respect to size and location of the feature portions therein after said detection thereof;
- and non-destructively analyzing the particulate matter from the size and location of the feature portions measured as the contaminants.
A method for analysis of particulate matter contaminated by solid particles therein, comprising the steps of:
- passing a sample of said particulate matter through an analysis zone, directing a microfocussed X-ray beam through said analysis zone to scan said sample and form X-ray images thereof;
- magnifying said X-ray images to enable detection of feature portions therein corresponding to said particles;
- measuring said feature portions of the X-ray images after enlargement by said magnifying thereof;
- and determining data on size and location of the solid particles in the sample from said measuring of the feature portions to non-destructively perform said analysis of the particulate matter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.