Patent Number: 050531859
Section: abstract

A material analyzer includes a container; a radiation source disposed within the container; a detector disposed within the container for detecting radiation that is secondarily emitted by a material sample within an activation region located between the radiation source and the detector when the material sample is bombarded by radiation from the radiation source and for producing signals in response to said secondarily emitted radiation; a computer for processing the signals to determine the content of the material sample; and a carousel for transporting a material sample from outside the container to within the activation region. The carousel is disposed about an axis of rotation located between the activation region and a receiving region located outside the container, and has a pair of sample containment chambers that are alternately moved between the receiving region and the activation region when the carousel is rotated about said axis. Material samples are placed in buckets for loading into the sample containment chambers. The bucket includes a perimetric side wall having a predominant surface area that is contoured on opposite sides of the side wall to define exterior indentations in the predominant surface area; and a handle, including a pair of tongs shaped and disposed for insertion into the side wall indentations, and a telescopic handle joining the tongs. A radiation shield within the container shields the outside of the container from radiation derived in the activation region from the radiation source.