Patent ID: 8491189
Filing Date: 2013-07-23
Classification: G01N,G01V,H05G

Abstract:
1. A radiation source apparatus comprising: an enclosure; a radiation source positioned within the enclosure; a radiation source actuator positioned within the enclosure and adapted to cause said radiation source to move from a first position when the radiation source is active to a second position when the radiation source is not active, wherein the radiation source is aligned with an aperture in said first position and wherein the radiation source is offset from the aperture in the second position, wherein said radiation source actuator comprises an electronic solenoid that has a coil in electrical communication with a power source, an actuator rod positioned within said coil, a spring and weighted member positioned on said actuator rod, and a control plate attached to one end of said actuator rod, wherein when a threshold electrical current is applied to said coil, a magnetic field is created that causes said member to move toward said coil, compress said spring, and move said control plate to cause the radiation source to move to an operating position, and wherein when a threshold electrical current is not applied to said coil, said member does not move toward said coil, said spring is permitted to expand, and said control plate moves to cause the radiation source to move to a non-operating position; and a source collimator positioned within the enclosure and configured to collimate radiation emitted from the radiation source.