Patent Number: 042882915
Section: claims

1. A multiple sensor radiation detection device for insertion into a nuclear reactor comprising: an outer tubular sheath member;  an electrically conducting member having a crosssection comprised of a plurality of radially extending arms joined at their center, said conducting member having a crosssectional diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of said sheath;  said electrically conducting member being inserted into said sheath member so as to divide the interior volume of said sheath member into a plurality of volumes having a generally wedge-shaped cross-section extending axially long said sheath; and  at least two radiation sensors each of which is located within a respective one of said volumes of wedge-shaped cross-section and spaced from said electrically conducting member by a dielectric whereby said electrically conducting member is a common conducting member for each radiation sensor. 2. A multiple sensor radiation detection device according to claim 1 wherein one of said plurality of radiation sensors is a background sensor comprised of a lead wire and the remainder of said radiation sensors comprise a lead wire and an emitter element inserted intermediate the ends of the lead wire, each such emitter element being located at a different distance from the end of said detection device within the outer tubular sheath. 3. A multiple sensor radiation detection device according to claim 2 wherein said electrically conducting member when inserted into said sheath member divides the interior volume of said sheath member into a plurality of equally sized wedge-shaped volumes. 4. A multiple sensor radiation detection device according to claim 3 wherein the number of said equally sized wedge-shaped volumes is five. 5. A multiple sensor radiation detection device according to claim 2 wherein said electrically conducting member is of stainless steel, the outer sheath is of stainless steel, the dielectric is silicon dioxide, and the emitter element is rhodium. 6. A multiple sensor radiation detector device according to claim 5 wherein said dielectric is applied to said sensors by an extrusion process and said sensors subsequently are inserted into said wedge-shaped volumes. 7. A multiple sensor radiation detector device according to claim 6 wherein said electrically conducting member is sufficiently thick to provide substantial electrical shielding and isolation of the radiation sensors from one another. 8. A multiple sensor radiation detector device according to claim 7 wherein the outer tubular sheath is impervious to liquid, thereby isolating the elements within the sheath from the reactor cooling liquid.