Patent Number: 060842431
Section: description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings for the purposes of illustrating the present preferred embodiments of the invention only and not for the purposes of limiting the same, the Figures show a radiation absorption gauging system, generally shown as 10, installed on a conduit or vessel 12. The radiation absorption gauging system 10 includes a radioactive source, generally shown as 14, and a detector, generally shown as 16. The radioactive source assembly 14 and the detector 16 are attached on opposite sides of the conduit 12 by means of a mounting assembly generally shown as 18. The mounting assembly 18 includes a first mounting bracket 20 to which the radiation source 14 is attached and a second mounting bracket 22 to which the detector 16 is attached. Threaded rod and bolts 24 connect the first and second mounting brackets 20 and 22, respectively. The detector 16 includes a scintillation detector 26 which is used to measure the strength of the radiation field after it has passed through the pipe 12 and any process material therein. The strength of the signal is related to the density of the process material. As the density of the process material increases, the strength of the signal decreases. The scintillation detector includes a scintillation crystal, generally shown as 28, and a photomultiplier tube, associated electronics and voltage divider, generally shown as 30. A lead collimator 32 is positioned around the end of the scintillation detector 26. The collimator 32 functions to shield the scintillation detector from stray background radiation which will affect the measurement. A microprocessor amplifier 33 is coupled to the detector 26 to calculate the desired measurement. In use, the radioactive source 14, such as cesium-137, generates gamma waves. Alternative sources include cobalt-60 or americium-124. The gamma waves exit the radioactive source 14 from the side facing the conduit 12. The gamma waves travel through he conduit 12 where some of it is absorbed by the material therein. The gamma waves strike the scintillation crystal 28 generating a light photon. The detector 16 converts the light photon into digital pulses which are transmitted to the microprocessor 33 which is calibrated to transform the digital pulses into representative units such as density or concentration. The radiation source 14 includes one of more source holders generally shown as 40 having a plurality of radioactive sources 42 mounted therein. More specifically, the source holder 40 includes a cylindrical housing body 44 formed from a lead alloy, tungsten alloy, a steel alloy, or other high density material (possibly even spent uranium) and having a central cavity or bore 46 passing therethrough. By means of example, the housing body may be approximately 3.5 to 4.5 inches in diameter, 0.24 inches high and the bore 46 may be 0.96 inches in diameter. The radiation sources 42 are, for example, thin disks with less than 10 micro-curies of cesium-137 deposited on 9 milligram per square centimeter of polyamide and covered with a 0.010 inch of aluminized mylar foil. The cesium-137 serves to generate gamma rays for the detection purposes described herein. Alternatively, the sources 42 may be formed as small spheres, pellets, rods, etc. and may be formed from cobalt-60 or americium-241. The diameter of the bore 46 is approximately equal to the outer diameter of the disks on which the radioactive sources 42 are mounted, in such embodiment. Inert filler plugs 47 or tape are provided on the outer ends of the stack of radioactive sources 42. It is important to note that the thickness of the source holder 40 is sufficient to prevent radiation exceeding a predetermined level, such as 0.5 milliRem per hour or 0.1 milliRem per hour in some cases, from being present on the outer radial surface of the source holder 40. Indeed, it is a principal feature of this invention that in each embodiment disclosed, be it of the system 10, radiation source 14, the source holder 40 or the shipping container 60 (described below), and other embodiments thereof, that the level of radiation on any surface other than in the radiation beam path be below a predetermined limit. Typically, such predetermined limit will be that level which may be handled and shipped without significant regulation. Currently, such levels are less than 0.5 milliRem per hour in most situations and less than 0.1 milliRem per hour in some cases. In accordance with this invention, a plurality of the radioactive sources 42 are permanently preassembled into the source housing body 44. As used herein, "permanently" is intended to indicate that the radioactive sources 42 cannot be removed from the housing body without damaging the sources 42, the holder assembly 40 or the retainer therefor. "Preassembled" is intended to mean that the radioactive sources 42 are permanently fixed in the housing body 44 at a time and place remote from the installation of the radioactive sources into the radiation absorption gauging system 10. As shown in FIG. 1 one or more radiation source holder assemblies 40 may be mounted on the first mounting bracket 20 by means of a mounting clamp adapter plate 48 as shown in FIG. 1. A front support plate 50 is provided between the source holder 40 and the mounting clamp adapter plate 48. A cylindrical lead end cap 52 is provided on the side of the radiation source 14 remote from the mounting clamp adapter plate 48. By means of example, the end cap 52 may be 1.4 inches in height and 3.5 to 4.5 inches in diameter. A rear support plate 54 is provided adjacent to the end cap 50. One way fasteners, such as screws 56, are provided to clamp the entire assembly including the rear support plate 54, end cap 52, radioactive source holders 40 and the front support plate 50 to the mounting clamp adapter plate 48 so that removal therefrom is difficult. In addition, a lead storage cap 58 may be secured to the end cap 52 by means of screws 60. For example, the storage cap 58 may be 1.4 inches in height and 3.5 to 4.5 inches in diameter. Alternatively, the storage cap 48 may be hingedly attached to the mounting clamp adapter plate 48. In any event, in its storage condition, the assembly must provide surface radiation levels less than, for example, 0.5 milliRem per hour. Also, alternatively, the end cap 54 and the source holders 40 may be formed as a unitary component. Indeed, the entire radiation absorption gauging system 10 may be formed as an assembly when conduit 12 is a flanged conduit that can be inserted into another line, so long as the radiation on any external surface of system 10 is less than a predetermined amount, such as 0.5 milliRem per hour. In accordance with a present preferred embodiment of the invention, there is shown a shipping container, generally shown as 60, for the source holder 40. As shown in FIG. 3, the shipping container 60 includes a first container body member 62 and a second container body member 64 which, when assembled, are adjacent the first face 66 and second face 68, respectively, of the source holder 40. Preferably, the first and second housing members 62 and 64, respectively, are formed from a lead material or a lead alloy, tungsten alloy, steel alloy or other high density material and are cylindrically shaped so that their outer diameters are approximately the same as the outer diameter of the source holder 40. For example, the first and second body members 62 and 64 may be 1.4 inches in height and 3.5 to 4.5 inches in diameter. However, the housing members may be of alternative shapes, such as square shaped. Bores 70 are provided through the first and second body members 62 and 64, respectively, and through the source holder 40 so that bolts 72 and nuts 74 may join the assembly in forming a shipping container 60 for shipment of the source holder 40. Alternatively, the first body member 62 may be unitary with the source body housing 44. As used herein, "unitary" means that such members may be formed as a single piece or formed as two pieces that are joined with the joint being sufficient to prevent more radiation from passing therethrough than through the walls of the members. The thickness of the first and second housing members 62 and 64 is sufficiently great that at all points on the periphery thereof, the level of radiation is less than 0.5 milliRem per hour. All components of the shipping container 60 are assembled and shipped in a shipping package, such as a tube, box or other package formed from plastic, cardboard or other suitable material. In use, a user receiving the shipping container 60 may remove nuts 74 from bolts 72 and remove the first body member 62 from the source holder 40. The source holder 40 may then be inserted into the radiation source 14 in an assembly 10 and the first body member 62 reassembled onto bolts 72 by means of nuts 74 and the shipping container returned to the manufacturer. By virtue of the provision of the shipping container 60, the source housings 40 will be shipped in commerce in compliance with applicable regulations. It should also be understood by those skilled in the art that the shipping container 60 may also serve as part of the radiation source assembly 14 wherein the second body member 64 acts as the end cap 52. Also, the storage container 80 may also serve as the shipping container 60. When it is desired to deactivate the system 10, such as for maintenance, the source assembly 14 should be removed from the conduit 12 and placed into a safe condition by forming a storage assembly 80. To accomplish this, the source holder 40 is removed from the first bracket 20. Thereafter, the screw 59 is removed thereby allowing the removal of rear housing 58. Rear housing 58 is then provided on the opposite side of the mounting clamp adapter plate 48 and the screw 59 is used to attach it to the mounting clamp adapter plate 48. As such, the radioactive sources 42 will be surrounded by lead material so that in all directions surrounding the storage assembly 80, the level of radiation is less than, for example, 0.5 milliRem per hour. Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 7 wherein the elements have similar numerals to those described above but increased by the value of 100. In this embodiment, there is shown a radiation absorption gauging system 100 for use in detecting the presence or absence of process material and provides a minimum or maximum level indication for tanks, pipes, hoppers and chutes. The system 100 includes a first radioactive source 114a and a first detector 116a mounted on opposite sides of the tank 113 to indicate a first level 102. There is also provided a second radioactive source 114b and a second detector 116b to indicate a second level 104. It will be appreciated that the construction of detectors 116a and 116b are similar to that of the detector 16 described above. Furthermore, the construction and operation of the radioactive sources assembly 114a and 114b are similar to those described above in respect to radioactive source assembly 14. The operation of system 100, however, merely serves to indicate whether there is material between the respective radiation sources and detectors. As such, if detector 116b detects material and detector 116a detects material, the system may generate an output indicating that a first high level 102 is achieved in the tank 113. However, if detector 116b detects material and detector 116a does not, the system will generate a signal indicating that the level of material in vessel 113 is between the respective high 102 and low 104 levels. If, however, detector 116b does not detect material in vessel 113, a signal will be generated indicating that the level of material is below that of the low level 104. It will, of course, be appreciated by those skilled in the art that if only a single level measurement were desired, only one source/detector combination such as 114a and 116a or 114b and 116b may be employed. Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 8 wherein a radiation absorption gauging belt weighing system 410 is disclosed. In the belt weighing system 410, a belt 402 movably supports material to weighed 404 therein. One or more radiation source assembly(s) 414 are provided on one side of the belt 402 and a radiation detector 416 is provided the opposite side with source assemblies 414 either above or below the belt 402. As such, the material 404 passing on the belt 402 absorbs some of the radiation passing from the source 414 to the detector 416. By proper calibration, the weight of the material 404 can be calculated by a microprocessor 433 based on the amount of radiation which is ultimately sensed by the detector 416. Yet another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 9. This embodiment provides a continuous level indication of materials in tanks, pipes, hoppers and chutes, such as vessel 213. In this system, a detector 216 is provided similar to detector 16 described above. However, the radioactive source indicated as 214 is instead arranged in a column. That is, the radioactive source 214 includes a plurality of radioactive sources which are mounted in a housing generally shown as 290. The housing 290 is preferably formed from lead, lead alloy, tungsten alloy or steel alloy. The housing 290 is preferably formed as two members 292 and 294, respectively, which may be joined in end-to-end relationship by fasteners such as screws. The housings 292 and 294 may each be, for example, 6.25 inches by 3 inches by 1.5 inches. The housings 292 and 294 have laterally extending flanges 296 and 298, respectively. Additionally, end members 300 and 302 are attached to the members 292 and 294, respectively, by fasteners such as screws. The end members 300 and 302 may be, for example, 3 inches by 1.5 inches by 1.25 inches. The members 292 and 294 have a series of recesses 304 formed therein in a colurn on their faces 293 and 295, respectively. The recesses may either receive a radioactive source 242 which are like the sources 42 therein to generate an elongated radiation field. As such, the housing 290 may be attached to a vessel 308 by fasteners through flanges 296 and 298 to measure the level of material therein. Such measurement is made possible by virtue of the elongated radiation field created by the sources 242 and the detection and calculation capabilities of the detector 216. Again, it will be appreciated that due to the structure of the housing 290, the level of radiation on all surfaces thereof, except in the direction of the radiation beam path normal to the faces 293 and 295, will be at an acceptably low level such as 0.5 milliRem per hour. The housing 290 may also serve as a shipping container 291 for the radioactive sources 342 mounted therein. In that case, the housings 292 and 294 may be separated and positioned with faces 293 and 295 in confronting relationship. Fasteners then join the flanges 296 and 298 to one another An end protector 309 is provided to cover and join the ends of the housings 292 and 294 remote from end members 300 and 302. The end protector may be 3 inches by 3 inches by 1.5 inches. Again, it is important that, when assembled, the level of radiation on the surface of the shipping container 291 be acceptably low, e.g., 0.5 milliRem per hour. Thus, from the foregoing discussion, it is apparent that the present many of the problems encountered by prior radiation absorption gauging systems are overcome. Those of ordinary skill in the art will, of course, appreciate that various changes in the details, materials and arrangement of parts which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention may be made by the skilled artisan within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.