Nuclear gauges and related methods of assembly

A nuclear gauge, comprising:

• a gauge housing having a vertical cavity therethrough and a base, the base including a base track portion disposed therein;
• at least one radiation detector located within the housing and adjacent to the base of the housing;
• a vertically moveable source rod extending into the cavity of the gauge housing;
• a radiation source operatively positioned within a distal end of the source rod, the source rod being vertically extendable and retractable to a plurality of predetermined source rod positions so as to change the spatial relationship between the radiation source and the at least one radiation detector;
• a radiation shield assembly comprising:
• a sliding block positionable to move laterally between two positions, a first position blocking a distal end of the vertical cavity of the gauge housing such that radiation is shielded from exiting the cavity and a second position adjacent to the vertical cavity and allowing vertical movement through the radiation shield assembly;
• a track configured to receive the sliding block and guide movement of the sliding block;
• a spring engaging the sliding block and biasing the sliding block into the first position;
• a safety shield, the safety shield including a shield track segment therein that comprises at least a portion of the track;
• and
• at least one replaceable sliding guide positionable within the track adjacent the sliding block, the at least one replaceable sliding guide configured to reduce friction as the sliding block moves between the first position and the second position;
• wherein the safety shield comprises lead;
• and
• wherein the shield track segment includes two opposing side walls extending into the safety shield and an end wall disposed between the side walls within the safety shield with at least a portion of the end wall within the safety shield comprising a hard surface material.

A nuclear gauge, comprising:

• a gauge housing having a vertical cavity therethrough and a base, the base including a base track portion disposed therein;
• at least one radiation detector located within the housing and adjacent to the base of the housing;
• a vertically moveable source rod extending into the cavity of the gauge housing;
• a radiation source operatively positioned within a distal end of the source rod, the source rod being vertically extendable and retractable to a plurality of predetermined source rod positions so as to change the spatial relationship between the radiation source and the at least one radiation detector;
• a radiation shield assembly comprising:
• a sliding block positionable to move laterally between two positions, a first position blocking a distal end of the vertical cavity of the gauge housing such that radiation is shielded from exiting the cavity and a second position adjacent to the vertical cavity and allowing vertical movement through the radiation shield assembly;
• a track configured to receive the sliding block and guide movement of the sliding block;
• a spring engaging the sliding block and biasing the sliding block into the first position;
• a safety shield, the safety shield including a shield track segment therein that comprises at least a portion of the track;
• and
• at least one replaceable sliding guide positionable within the track adjacent the sliding block, the at least one replaceable sliding guide configured to reduce friction as the sliding block moves between the first position and the second position;
• wherein the at least one replaceable sliding guide comprises a body and an arm extending outward from the body;
• and
• wherein the safety shield includes a passageway through which the source rod is configured to pass, the passageway intersecting the shield track segment and wherein the at least one replaceable sliding guide comprises a size and shape so that when installed in the safety shield, the arm of the at least one replaceable sliding guide does not extend into an intersection of the passageway and the shield track segment.

A radiation shield assembly for use in a nuclear gauge, the radiation shield assembly comprising:

• a sliding block positionable to move laterally between a closed position and an open position;
• a track configured to receive the sliding block and guide movement of the sliding block;
• a spring engaging the sliding block and biasing the sliding block into the closed position;
• a safety shield including a shield track segment therein that comprises at least a portion of the track;
• and
• at least one replaceable sliding guide positionable within the track adjacent the sliding block, the at least one replaceable sliding guide configured to reduce friction as the sliding block moves between the closed position and the open position, wherein the at least one replaceable sliding guide is insertable into at least one cavity in the track such that an outer surface of the at least one sliding guide is flush with at least one outer wall of the track.

A radiation shield assembly for use in a nuclear gauge, the radiation shield assembly comprising:

• a sliding block positionable to move laterally between a closed position and an open position;
• a track configured to receive the sliding block and guide movement of the sliding block;
• a spring engaging the sliding block and biasing the sliding block into the first position;
• a safety shield including a shield track segment therein that comprises at least a portion of the track;
• and
• at least one replaceable sliding guide positionable within the track adjacent the sliding block, the at least one replaceable sliding guide configured to reduce friction as the sliding block moves between the closed position and the open position;
• wherein the safety shield comprises lead;
• and
• wherein the shield track segment includes two opposing side walls extending into the safety shield and an end wall disposed between the side walls within the safety shield with at least a portion of the end wall within the safety shield comprising a hard surface material.