Apparatus and method for automated indexing of a nuclear gauge
AssigneeTroxler Electronic Laboratories, Inc.
InventorsDonald Erwin Weger, John Norman Pjura, Neal C. Harrington, William F. Troxler, Jr.
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Abstract
The invention provides a method and apparatus for facilitating calibration of a nuclear gauge by automating the movement of a source rod between a plurality of source rod positions. The apparatus can include a linearly moveable member, such as a threaded rod, a motorized linear actuator, such as a stepper motor, and a source rod grip attached to the linearly moveable member for affixing the source rod to the member.
Claims31
An apparatus for moving a source rod of a nuclear gauge from one source rod position to a second source rod position, comprising:
- a linearly moveable member;
- a motorized linear actuator operatively connected to said linearly moveable member for imparting linear motion to said member;
- and
- a source rod grip attached to said linearly moveable member and operatively positioned for affixation of the source rod to said member.
An apparatus for moving a source rod of a nuclear gauge from one source rod position to a second source rod position, comprising:
- a linearly moveable threaded rod having a first end, said first end having a pin affixed thereto;
- a tube operatively positioned to house said first end of said threaded rod, said tube having a linear notch therein extending in the direction of travel of the linearly moveable threaded rod, said pin of said rod extending through said notch, thereby preventing axial rotation of said first end of said rod;
- a motorized linear actuator engaged with the threads of said rod for imparting linear motion to said rod;
- and
- a source rod grip attached to said linearly moveable member and operatively positioned for affixation of the source rod to said member.
An apparatus for moving a source rod of a nuclear gauge from one source rod position to a second source rod position, comprising:
- a nuclear gauge, said gauge comprising:
- a gauge housing,
- a longitudinally moveable source rod extending into said gauge housing and including a handle affixed to a distal end thereof, the handle having a cavity therethrough and including an indexer, and
- an index rod extending through the cavity in said handle and affixed within said gauge housing, said index rod including a plurality of notches positioned for engagement with said indexer, each notch corresponding to a predetermined source rod position;
- a source rod grip temporarily affixed to said source rod;
- and
- a motorized linear actuator operatively connected to said source rod grip for imparting linear motion to said source rod grip.
A method of moving a source rod of a nuclear gauge from one source rod position to a second source rod position, comprising:
- providing a nuclear gauge, said gauge comprising a longitudinally moveable source rod and an index rod adjacent to the source rod, the index rod including a plurality of notches, each notch corresponding to a predetermined source rod position;
- temporarily affixing the source rod in a first predetermined source rod position;
- attaching a source rod grip to the source rod of the nuclear gauge, the source rod grip being operatively connected to a motorized linear actuator;
- and
- moving the source rod grip using the linear actuator such that the source rod is temporarily affixed in a second predetermined source rod position.
A method of moving a source rod of a nuclear gauge into a plurality of source rod positions, comprising:
- providing a nuclear gauge, said gauge comprising a longitudinally moveable source rod, a handle affixed to the source rod, and an index rod adjacent to the source rod, wherein the index rod including a plurality of notches, each notch corresponding to a predetermined source rod position, and wherein the handle comprises an indexer operatively positioned for engaging the notches of the index rod in order to temporarily affix the source rod in one of the predetermined positions;
- temporarily affixing the source rod in a first predetermined source rod position;
- attaching a source rod grip to the handle of the nuclear gauge, the source rod grip being affixed to a threaded rod, the threads of said rod being engaged with a linear actuator;
- raising the threaded rod using the linear actuator such that the indexer is positioned above the notch in the index rod corresponding to a second predetermined source rod position;
- and
- lowering the threaded rod using the linear actuator until the indexer is engaged with the notch in the index rod corresponding to the second predetermined source rod position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.