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Title: Neutron activated switch

Abstract

A switch for reacting quickly to a neutron emission. A rod consisting of fissionable material is located inside a vacuum tight body. An adjustable contact is located coaxially at an adjustable distance from one end of the rod. Electrical leads are connected to the rod and to the adjustable contact. With a vacuum drawn inside the body, a neutron bombardment striking the rod causes it to heat and expand longitudinally until it comes into contact with the adjustable contact. This circuit closing occurs within a period of a few microseconds.

Inventors:
 [1]
  1. Espanola, NM
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
867812
Patent Number(s):
5015433
Assignee:
United States of America as represent by United States (Washington, DC)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21C - NUCLEAR REACTORS
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-36
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
neutron; activated; switch; reacting; quickly; emission; rod; consisting; fissionable; material; located; inside; vacuum; tight; adjustable; contact; coaxially; distance; electrical; leads; connected; drawn; bombardment; striking; causes; heat; expand; longitudinally; circuit; closing; occurs; period; microseconds; neutron bombardment; located inside; electrical leads; fissionable material; vacuum drawn; neutron emission; neutron activated; electrical lead; vacuum tight; activated switch; /376/250/337/976/

Citation Formats

Barton, David M. Neutron activated switch. United States: N. p., 1991. Web.
Barton, David M. Neutron activated switch. United States.
Barton, David M. Tue . "Neutron activated switch". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/867812.
@article{osti_867812,
title = {Neutron activated switch},
author = {Barton, David M},
abstractNote = {A switch for reacting quickly to a neutron emission. A rod consisting of fissionable material is located inside a vacuum tight body. An adjustable contact is located coaxially at an adjustable distance from one end of the rod. Electrical leads are connected to the rod and to the adjustable contact. With a vacuum drawn inside the body, a neutron bombardment striking the rod causes it to heat and expand longitudinally until it comes into contact with the adjustable contact. This circuit closing occurs within a period of a few microseconds.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1991},
month = {1}
}