Abstract:
A scintillation counter, particularly for counting gamma ray photons, includes a massive lead radiation shield surrounding a sample-receiving zone. The shield is disassembleable into a plurality of segments to allow facile installation and removal of a photomultiplier tube assembly, the segments being so constructed as to prevent straight-line access of external radiation through the shield into the sample receiving zone. Provisions are made for accurately aligning the photomultiplier tube with respect to one or more sample-transmitting bores extending through the shield to the sample receiving zone. A sample elevator, used in transporting samples into the zone, is designed to provide a maximum gamma-receiving aspect to maximize the gamma detecting efficiency.
Abstract:
A scintillation counter, particularly for counting gamma ray photons, includes a massive lead radiation shield surrounding a sample-receiving zone. The shield is disassembleable into a plurality of segments to allow facile installation and removal of a photomultiplier tube assembly, the segments being so constructed as to prevent straight-line access of external radiation through the shield into radiation-responsive areas. Provisions are made for accurately aligning the photomultiplier tube with respect to one or more sample-transmitting bores extending through the shield to the sample receiving zone. A sample elevator, used in transporting samples into the zone, is designed to provide a maximum gamma-receiving aspect to maximize the gamma detecting efficiency.
Abstract:
A radioactivity measuring device having a movable detector head for use in measuring the level of radioactivity in a multiplicity of discrete samples. The samples depend in a lateral array from a sample bearing means in a mounting frame, and the detector head undergoes translational motion to traverse the lateral array. The detector head moves vertically between a raised position for measuring radioactivity in samples, and a lowered position, for lateral movement beneath the array of samples. The detector head may accommodate simultaneously a plurality of samples for concurrent measurement, and the samples may be arranged in trays having a unique identification.
Abstract:
A system for storing and handling a plurality of trays of sample vials which are conveyed past a transfer station where successive transverse rows of vials are transferred from the tray to an operating station and then returned to the tray. In the illustrative arrangement, the vials are transferred to a counting station where the radioactivity of the samples is measured. The system for storing and handling the trays includes a pair of vertically spaced, parallel conveyors each of which is adapted to support a plurality of trays. A pair of elevators at opposite ends of the two conveyors transfer the trays between the two conveyors, and reciprocating transfer arms on the conveyors transfer the trays between the elevators and the conveyors. The transfer arm on the lower conveyor also serves to index the trays past the transfer station, with the indexing movement being stopped each time a row of vials is transferred out of a tray located at the transfer station. Limit switches associated with the elevators and the transfer arms control the movement thereof. Each of the conveyors comprises a plurality of tray pallets which are continually cycled through the system regardless of whether a tray is contained in any given pallet at any given time.
Abstract:
A conveying mechanism for transporting a sample vial from an external loading platform into a light-tight counting chamber of a scintillation counter. The invention comprises a wall defining a counting chamber having an elongated passage, the wall having a shoulder, a sample platform, having a shaft coupled thereto to position the platform through the passage and into the counting chamber, and a sleeve movable about said shaft for engaging the shoulder to prevent external light from entering the counting chamber.
Abstract:
A liquid scintillation spectrometer includes an endless conveyor having M successive compartments adapted to receive samples. A sample detector located at the working position is associated with a compartment counter and a counting logic so that a group of samples located in successive compartments is counted only if the first sample of the group is in a compartment numbered x.N+1 (where N 10 for instance and x is any whole number) and the preceding compartment x.N is empty. All sample groups which do not fulfill that condition are bypassed.
Abstract:
Sample group programming apparatus comprising a program indicating plug mounted on a sample conveyor and reading apparatus adjacent the conveyor. The program indicating plug includes a support member carrying a vertically disposed optical structure, and a code cylinder rotatably mounted thereon. Five circumferential rows of apertures exist on the code cylinder, one for admitting light to the optical structure and four for providing 16 separate binary coded vertical arrays. The reading apparatus comprises a light source and four light responsive elements appropriately mounted on a support structure adjacent the conveyor to read the operative array of apertures on a plug in a reading position.