US3742216A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Nucleonic gauge for measuring properties of thin materials
Assignee: ABB Automation Inc
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Filing: 1969-11-17
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Granted: 1973-06-26
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Expires: 1989-11-17
Abstract
Abstract A nucleonic gauge for measuring thin materials such as paper tissue, plastic film or the like has a source head with an annular cavity containing Krypton 85 and a beta energy shifting or softening target. The softened reflected beta rays are directed through a centrally positioned aperture and the extent of interaction by the material under measurement in the pass gap is measured by a detector head. The source includes a shutter which forms a portion of the target material in the retracted position of the shutter. The shutter is axially movable into an aperture closing position. The target material is removable and interchangeable for selecting the desired degree of beta softening. Good sensitivity is maintained by reducing the air column in the head and in the detector, and by maintaining a temperature of both heads at substantially that of the material being measured.
Inventors
- 👤 L Hahn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:13
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01G; G01G9/00; G01G9/005; G01N; G01N23/00; G01N23/02; G01N23/06; G01N23/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
A nucleonic beta gauge for measuring basis weight of mass material, such as paper tissue, plastic film and the like, comprising a source head adapted to be positioned at one side of the material to be measured, a detector head adapted to be positioned at an opposite side of said source head defining a pass gap therebetween through which a quantity of such material may be positioned or moved, said source head having a body, a source of beta energy in said body having means defining a window through which beta energy exits from said source, means in said head forming a target positioned to receive a major portion of energy from said window and being formed of a material effective to modify the energy emitted by softening such energy, means on said body defining an aperture at said pass gap positioned to receive said modified beta energy from said target for application to material in said gap, and at least a portion of said target forming means being movable into closing relation to said aperture.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
176 words
A nucleonic beta gauge for measuring basis weight of mass material, such as paper tissue, plastic film and the like, comprising a source head adapted to be positioned at one side of the material to be measured, a detector head adapted to be positioned at an opposite side of said source head defining a pass gap therebetween through which a quantity of such material may be positioned or moved, said source head having a body, a source of beta energy in said body having means defining a window through which beta energy exits from said source, means in said head forming a target positioned to receive a major portion of energy from said window and being formed of a material effective to modify the energy emitted by softening such energy, means on said body defining an aperture at said pass gap positioned to receive said modified beta energy from said target for application to material in said gap, and at least a portion of said target forming means being movable into closing relation to said aperture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The gauge of claim 1 in which said body includes means defining an annular cavity containing said source material and in which said window is annularly related to said cavity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
The gauge of claim 1 further comprising heater means associated with said source head and with said detector head, temperature sensing means in each said head, and control means connected to said sensing means and connected to control said heater means for maintaining the temperature of each of said heads substantially constant and substantially at the same temperature as that of said material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
145 words
A nucleonic beta gauge for measuring the basis weight of thin or low mass materials such as paper tissue, plastic film and the like including a source of beta energy and a detector positioned respectively at opposite sides of said material and defining a pass gap therebetween, the improvement in source geometry comprising a source housing body having a cavity therein including an aperture opening at said pass gap, a confined source of beta energy received in said body cavity in circumferential relation with respect to said aperture and having an annular window positioned to direct beta energy therefrom generally inwardly into said body and away from said aperture, and means in said body forming reflector target material positioned to receive said energy from said source and to redirect softened beta energy toward said aperture for exit therethrough and interaction with said low mass material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
145 words
A nucleonic beta gauge for measuring the basis weight of thin or low mass materials such as paper tissue, plastic film and the like including a source of beta energy and a detector positioned respectively at opposite sides of said material and defining a pass gap therebetween, the improvement in source geometry comprising a source housing body having a cavity therein including an aperture opening at said pass gap, a confined source of beta energy received in said body cavity in circumferential relation with respect to said aperture and having an annular window positioned to direct beta energy therefrom generally inwardly into said body and away from said aperture, and means in said body forming reflector target material positioned to receive said energy from said source and to redirect softened beta energy toward said aperture for exit therethrough and interaction with said low mass material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The gauge of claim 4 in which said source is radioactive Krypton gas.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
The gauge of claim 4 further comprising a shutter comprising at least a portion of said target material and movable between a retracted position in which said target material portion is positioned to receive and reflect beta energy toward said aperture and an extended position in which said shutter is effectively in beta closing relation to said aperture.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 6 in which said shutter further comprises a plunger member having an enlarged head formed of a relatively high density beta shutter material and in which said target material portion is received on an upper surface of said head.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
100 words
An improved nucleonic gauge system for measuring the thickness of tissue material including a source head and a detector head spaced from said source head defining a pass gap therebetween comprising a source head body having means therein defining an annular cavity, said cavity opening at one side of said body into an axial emission aperture, an annular source of radioactive beta-emitting material received in said body inwardly of said aperture, means in said body defining target material positioned inwardly of said source and arranged to direct modified beta energy from said source through said aperture into the pass gap.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
100 words
An improved nucleonic gauge system for measuring the thickness of tissue material including a source head and a detector head spaced from said source head defining a pass gap therebetween comprising a source head body having means therein defining an annular cavity, said cavity opening at one side of said body into an axial emission aperture, an annular source of radioactive beta-emitting material received in said body inwardly of said aperture, means in said body defining target material positioned inwardly of said source and arranged to direct modified beta energy from said source through said aperture into the pass gap.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 8 in which said source is defined with an axial opening therethrough at least as large as that of said aperture, and a shutter having a portion movable axially through said source opening and into closing relation with said aperture.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The gauge of claim 9 in which said shutter is movable to a retracted position exposing said aperture and in said retracted position has a surface exposed to radiation from said source which surface defines at least a portion of said target material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-25 | 1976-12-25 | 1977-06-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-25 | 1980-12-25 | 1981-06-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-25 | 1984-12-25 | 1985-06-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |