Patent · US Expired

Radioactive gauging source support, transport, and storage holder

US4580052A · kind A · utility

8Cited by
5References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 23, 1983
Grant dateApr 1, 1986
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 23, 2003

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01F23/22
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An apparatus and method for supporting plural radioactive sources in operative gauging relationship at different elevations in a vessel containing material and density and/or level of which is to be monitored, and for transporting the radioactive sources to a radiation-proof source holder for storage exteriorly of the vessel when the vessel is being cleaned or the like. In one embodiment the sources are independently supported on a continuous basis on separate cables and transported between the vessel and the source holder by separate winches associated with the source holder, with each winch independently controlling the transport of its respectively associated source. In a second preferred embodiment, also equipped with two winches and capable of separately suspending plural sources in juxtaposition in the source holder, one of the winches is used to transport a first source from the source holder to an intermediate position in the vessel whereupon its support cable is disconnected from the winch and connected to the lower end of a second cable supporting the other source or sources. The second cable is controlled by the second winch to facilitate simultaneous lowering of the ent…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.