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US 9,775,574 B2Granted
XRF analyzer
AssigneeMoxtek, Inc.
InventorsVincent Floyd Jones, Daniel N. Paas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A portable XRF analyzer includes a hand shield to substantially block x-rays from impinging on a hand of a user. The portable XRF analyzer includes a heat sink over an x-ray source and a heat sink over an x-ray detector. The heat sinks are separated from each other by a thermally insulative material.
Claims21
A portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer comprising
- a. an engine component having an x-ray emission end and a power component spaced-apart from each other;
- b. a handle and a hand shield:
- i. extending in parallel between the engine component and the power component;
- ii. attaching the engine component to the power component;
- and
- iii. defining a finger gap therebetween;
- c. the hand shield disposed closer to the x-ray emission end than the handle;
- d. a hand shield casing and an engine component casing comprising a material for blocking x-rays;
- e. an x-ray source and an x-ray detector disposed in and substantially enclosed by the engine component casing;
- f. the x-ray source disposed in a location and oriented to emit x-rays outward from the x-ray emission end towards a sample;
- g. the x-ray detector disposed in a location and oriented to receive fluoresced x-rays emitted from the sample;
- h. the power component including electrical connections configured for electrical connection to a portable, electric power-source;
- i. hollow formed in the hand shield, the hand shield casing forming a perimeter around at least a majority of the hollow;
- j. an electronic component disposed the hollow of the hand shield;
- and
- k. the electronic component configured for operation of the x-ray source, the x-ray detector, or both.
13 more elements
A portable x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer comprising:
- a. an engine component having an x-ray emission end and an engine component casing;
- b. an x-ray source and an x-ray detector disposed in and substantially enclosed by the engine component casing;
- c. the x-ray source disposed in a location and oriented to emit x-rays outward from the x-ray emission end towards a sample;
- d. the x-ray detector disposed in a location and oriented to receive fluoresced x-rays emitted from the sample;
- e. a handle extending form the engine component to allow a user to hold and carry the XRF analyzer;
- f. a hand shield extending from the engine component, parallel to the handle, and disposed closer to the x-ray emission end than the handle;
- g. a finger-gap between the handle and the hand shield;
- h. a hand shield casing and the engine component casing including a material for blocking x-rays;
- i. an x-ray source heat-sink disposed in an opening in the engine component casing and adjacent a side of the x-ray source;
- j. an x-ray detector heat-sink disposed in another opening in the engine component casing and adjacent a side of the x-ray detector;
- and
- k. the x-ray source heat-sink separated from the x-ray detector heat sink by a segment of the engine component casing having a thermal conductivity of less than 10 W/(m*K).
9 more elements
A portable x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer comprising:
- a. an engine component having an x-ray emission end and an engine component casing;
- b. an x-ray source and an x-ray detector disposed in and substantially enclosed by the engine component casing;
- c. the x-ray source disposed in a location and oriented to emit x-rays outward from the x-ray emission end towards a sample;
- d. the x-ray detector disposed in a location and oriented to receive fluoresced x-rays emitted from the sample;
- e. an x-ray source heat-sink disposed in an opening in the engine component casing and adjacent a side of the x-ray source;
- f. an x-ray detector heat-sink disposed in another opening in the engine component casing and adjacent a side of the x-ray detector;
- g. the x-ray source heat-sink separated from the x-ray detector heat sink by a material having a thermal conductivity of less than 10 W/(m*K).
4 more elements
A method of assembling a portable x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer, the method comprising:
- a. injection molding, with a plastic impregnated with an element having an atomic number of at least 42, an XRF analyzer housing in two separate portions:
- i. each portion including an engine component casing section attached to a power component casing section by a handle casing section and a hand shield casing section, and
- ii. wherein the handle casing section and the hand shield casing section extend in two separate, parallel columns between the engine component casing section and the power component casing section;
- and
- b. attaching the two XRF analyzer housing portions to each other and sandwiching between the two engine component casing, sections an x-ray source and an x-ray detector such that:
- i. the x-ray source is disposed in a location to emit x-rays outward from the XRF analyzer towards a sample;
- ii. the x-ray detector is disposed in a location to receive fluoresced x-rays emitted from the sample;
- iii. the two hand shield casing sections form a hand shield;
- iv. the two handle casing sections form a handle;
- and
- v. the hand shield is disposed closer to an x-ray emission end of the x-ray source than the handle.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.