# US 9,518,939 B2 · Radiometric density profile measuring arrangement > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,518,939 B2 - Document ID: US9518939B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/563,125 - Filed: 2014-12-08 - Published: 2015-06-18 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2013-12-10 - Assignees: VEGA Grieshaber KG - Applicants: Vega Grieshaber KG - Inventors: Ralf Koernle - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9518939B2 ## CPC - G01N 23/10: the material being confined in a container, e.g. in a luggage X-ray scanners - G01F 23/2885: {for discrete levels} - G01N 9/24: by observing the transmission of wave or particle radiation through the material - G01T 1/2006: {using a combination of a scintillator and photodetector which measures the means radiation intensity} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME - G01T: MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION (radiation analysis of materials, mass spectrometry G01N23/00; tubes for determining the presence, intensity, density or energy of radiation or particles H01J47/00) ## Abstract A radiometric density profile measuring arrangement for determining a density profile of a bulk material located in a container comprising a multitude of radiation sources and a detection unit for detecting radioactive radiation with a scintillator to generate radiation-induced light flashes, a photosensitive element for generating an electrical signal based on said light flashes, and measuring electronics for processing the electrical signal, with the scintillator being embodied in an oblong fashion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A radiometric density profile measuring arrangement for determining a density profile of a bulk material located in a container comprising at least one gamma radiation source and a detection unit for detecting radioactive gamma radiation with a scintillator to generate gamma radiation-induced light flashes, a photosensitive element for generating an electric signal based on said light flashes, and measuring electronics for processing an electric signal, wherein the scintillator is elongated and the measuring electronics have an amplitude measuring device and a device to determine a distribution of amplitudes, consisting of a correlation between pulse amplitudes in mV and the number of pulses in each predetermined mV-interval, in order to suggest a density profile of the bulk material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The radiometric density profile measuring arrangement of claim 1, wherein at least two gamma radiations sources are allocated to the scintillator. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The radiometric density profile measuring arrangement of claim 1, wherein between 2 to 10 gamma radiation sources, are allocated to the scintillator. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The radiometric density profile measuring arrangement of claim 1, wherein the scintillator is embodied as an oblong, flexible cylinder. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The radiometric density profile measuring arrangement of claim 1, wherein the gamma radiation sources are arranged in a plane with the scintillator. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The radiometric density profile measuring arrangement of claim 1, wherein the scintillator shows a length from 1 m to 10 m. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The radiometric density profile measuring arrangement of claim 1, wherein the scintillator comprises an organic polymer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The radiometric density profile measuring arrangement of claim 1, wherein the gamma radiation sources and the scintillator are arranged in a plane with a direction towards an expected change in density. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The radiometric density profile measuring arrangement of claim 1, wherein the gamma radiation sources are arranged and embodied such that a radiation cone does not overlap the gamma radiation sources. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The radiometric density profile measuring arrangement of claim 9, wherein the gamma radiation sources show an angle of emission such that a radiation cone of a gamma radiation source shows at the location of the scintillator a diameter in the longitudinal direction of the scintillator between 4 to 40 cm. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The radiometric density profile measuring arrangement of claim 9, wherein the gamma radiation sources show an angle of emission between 5° to 40°. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The radiometric density profile measuring arrangement of claim 1, wherein an amplitude distribution of detected electric signals is detected and, based on the amplitude distribution, conclusions are drawn regarding a density profile of the bulk material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The radiometric density profile measuring arrangement of claim 12, wherein a statistical correction is performed of the amplitude distribution. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The radiometric density profile measuring arrangement of claim 12, wherein the amplitude distribution is compared to reference amplitude distributions and, based on this comparison, conclusions are drawn regarding a density profile. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The radiometric density profile measuring arrangement of claim 1, wherein between 4 to 6 gamma radiation sources are allocated to the scintillator. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The radiometric density profile measuring arrangement of claim 1, wherein the scintillator shows a length from 2 m to 8 m. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The radiometric density profile measuring arrangement of claim 1, wherein the scintillator comprises polystyrene.