Coil spring conveyor for positioning an external radioactive standard in a liquid scintillation counter

Patent · Tue Mar 04 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:5811270

Kampf, R S

This patent describes a liquid scintillation counter having a counting chamber for receiving a liquid sample containing a liquid scintillator and a sample of a radioactive substance to be counted. An improved apparatus is described for positioning a radioactive source in an operating location to irradiate the liquid sample in the counting chamber comprising the combination of: (1) a flexible conveyor including an elongate, generally tubular coil spring section having an interior tubular bore configured to receive the radioactive source; (2) means for retaining the radioactive source in a predetermined axial position within the coil spring; (3) means supporting the coil spring for movement along a conveyor path between a storage location for the radioactive source remote from the counting chamber and an operating location for the radioactive source proximate the counting chamber; and (4) drive means coupled to the coil spring and operative to drive the coil spring along the conveyor path for conveying the radioactive source between the storage and operating locations.

• Assignee: Bechman Instruments, Inc., Fullerton, CA
• Patent Number(s): US 4574196
• OSTI ID: 5811270
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

440101* -- Radiation Instrumentation-- General Detectors or Monitors & Radiometric Instruments
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
CONVEYORS
DESIGN
EQUIPMENT
HAULAGE EQUIPMENT
IRRADIATION
LIQUID SCINTILLATION DETECTORS
MATERIALS
MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
OPERATION
POSITIONING
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
SAMPLING
SCINTILLATION COUNTERS
STORAGE