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US 8,073,106 B2Granted
Estimating strengths of wooden supports by detecting backscattered gamma rays
AssigneeInstitute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences
InventorGavin Wallace
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of estimating the strength of a wooden support wherein gamma rays (4) are transmitted and detected parallel to a neutral axis (5) through a cross section of the support. It also includes a method of locating regions of unsound wood in a wooden support using detection of transmitted gamma rays (4), as well as apparatus suitable for conducting both methods.
Claims11
A method of locating internal regions of unsound wood in a wooden support comprising the steps of:
- a) directing gamma rays approximately normal into the surface of the wooden support and detecting the gamma rays that are backscattered approximately 180 degrees;
- and
- b) comparing a detected backscatter rate with a backscatter rate or density of sound wood to estimate the thickness of sound wood.
A device for locating internal regions of unsound wood in a wooden support comprising:
- at least one gamma ray source for directing gamma rays approximately normal into the surface of the wooden support;
- at least one gamma ray detector for detecting the gamma rays that are backscattered approximately 180 degrees;
- and computation means arranged to receive a signal from the at least one detector, and to compare a detected backscatter rate with a backscatter rate or density of sound wood to estimate the thickness of sound wood.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.