Radiant energy – Invisible radiant energy responsive electric signalling – Plural signalling means
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-28
2001-07-03
Hannaher, Constantine (Department: 2878)
Radiant energy
Invisible radiant energy responsive electric signalling
Plural signalling means
C250S253000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06255658
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to locating a point source of radiation in a contaminated site.
It is known to attempt to locate a source of radiation by displacing a radiation-sensitive meter in a contaminated site and by relying on variations in the value representative of the dose of radiation received by the meter.
That technique is not very accurate and can require an unacceptable length of time to be spent in the place being searched, particularly if the search is a first search in said place using protection equipment that may be rudimentary.
Publication EP 0 542 561 describes source-locating apparatus comprising a vehicle fitted with a directional radiation meter used in combination with an omnidirectional meter.
The present invention seeks to provide a method and apparatus that are simple, that make use of a person intervening on the site as a vehicle, and that enable that person to determine quickly the direction of a source even though the equipment has omnidirectional meters only.
According to the invention, a person intervening on the site is fitted with a plurality of radioactivity meters distributed over the body at locations such that at least two meters receive doses of radiation that differ essentially because of the screen constituted by the body of the intervener, and the radiation doses that are received simultaneously by the meters are compared to deduce therefrom information concerning the direction of the source relative to the intervener.
In particular implementations, one or more of the following characteristics are implemented:
the meters are distributed in a horizontal plane;
the intervener is provided with four meters around a vertical axis such that seen from said axis, the meters are located in pairs in opposite directions and in pairs in orthogonal directions;
the meters are placed so as to be disposed symmetrically in pairs about a vertical axis around which the intervener can turn on himself;
the signals from the meters are applied to a center external to the site for collection and processing purposes;
the intervener is continuously informed about the doses received simultaneously by the meters; and
the indication is visible.
The present invention also seeks to provide apparatus that is simple, suitable for being worn by an intervener, and for enabling that person to locate quickly and accurately the direction of a point source of radiation.
According to the invention, the apparatus essentially comprises a plurality of meters responsive to the radiation from the point source and suitable for delivering electrical signals corresponding to the doses of radiation received by the meters, means for distributing the meters over the body of the intervener so that they are located in determined relative positions and separated from one another by the body of the intervener, and means connected to the meters to receive the electrical signals from the meters and to transform them into information enabling the intervener to look towards the source.
In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises meters in a horizontal plane, and even more advantageously, it comprises meters distributed in a horizontal plane around the body of the intervener and meters situated respectively above the head and below the chin.
In a typical embodiment, the meters are mounted on a waist belt or on a piece of the intervener's clothing, and/or on a head harness.
The means for receiving and processing signals from the meters are carried by the intervener or are situated remotely and are connected to the intervener via an electrical or a radio link.
The information-supplying means enabling the intervener to look towards the source preferably comprise visible means or audible means.
The visible means may be constituted, for example, by a screen placed in front of the eyes of the observer so as to be able to follow the movements of the observer's head and presenting zones representative of the relative distributions of the meters, and on which indications are displayed representative of the doses received by the meters.
Such indications may be digits, letters, graphics, colors.
The information from the meters may be used for purposes other than processing to enable the intervener to locate the source, for example the information may be recorded.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4059760 (1977-11-01), Murphy
patent: 5045700 (1991-09-01), Crowson et al.
patent: 5073715 (1991-12-01), Chuiton et al.
patent: 5587585 (1996-12-01), Eisen et al.
patent: 0 542 561 (1993-05-01), None
patent: 61-170688 (1986-08-01), None
Delta Protection
Hannaher Constantine
Jacobson Price Holman & Stern PLLC
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