DE202021101219U1 - Probe for measuring radioactive surface contamination - Google Patents

Abstract

Hand-operated measuring probe for measuring radioactive contamination with a probe body (4), which is provided on the underside with an irradiation sensor (3), and with lateral sides and an upper side, whereby the probe has a handle (2 ), characterized in that it is provided with a peripheral light device (7) which extends around the body of the probe by at least 270 ° above the irradiation sensor, and a program (20) for controlling the illumination of the peripheral light device ( 7), the program being integrated in measurement software of measurement electronics, which is assigned to the probe and controls the light device as a function of the measurements of the probe.

Description

Technical part

The present application relates to the field of radioactive decontamination and relates in particular to a portable and autonomous measuring probe for radioactive surface contamination.

State of the art

Counters or measuring probes are used in the field of radiation protection and emergency measures to detect alpha, beta or gamma contamination on people or objects. The counters or measuring probes indicate the degree of contamination when radiation is detected and measure, for example, beats per second, Bq / cm2 or the number of decays per minute. The result of the contamination measurement is usually displayed on a separate reader connected by cable or wirelessly, or is displayed directly on the screen of the probe itself. If the contamination level exceeds a certain limit, an alarm is displayed on the screen and an audible alarm and / or vibration, or a combination of these alarms, can be triggered.

It is important that the user or practitioner can detect the alarm when the contamination level exceeds a certain threshold, especially in difficult environments such as nuclear power plants where the user can wear protective equipment and work in a noisy environment, or after a nuclear accident that a potentially contaminating emergency response.

For this type of control there are devices with a separate or two-hand indicator, in which an operator-operated probe is connected to a measuring box with a permanently installed offset indicator, and stand-alone devices for which the measuring box and indicator are built into the probe .

An advantage of a device provided with a separate indicator, for example with the indicator on a carrier, or a device with a two-handed configuration, is that the screen can be visualized while the surface of the person to be checked is being analyzed, and thus that a An increase in the counting rate is to be detected and thus a possible alarm situation can be anticipated. However, users need to concentrate on the probe and control the distance between the probe and the surface to be inspected and their speed of movement in order to carry out an efficient survey, and therefore cannot look at the screen at the same time.

An advantage of a one-handed probe is that it is very convenient because it is not limited by a stationary device, as is the case with a device with a reading unit on a carrier, and it does not require the use of both hands. The one-handed probe allows one to focus on the probe and the inspection process, but the screen cannot be seen while a user is inspecting his or her own body. In the latter case, the user can only rely on the sound and / or vibration alarm.

Technical problem

These known solutions do not allow a simple representation of the contamination gradation in a self-inspection, although this gradation is useful in order to improve the detection of contaminated zones. In addition, it is not easy to determine the appropriate distance between the probe and the surface to be examined, and if the distance is too great, there is a risk that contaminated areas will not be detected during the inspection.

Description of the invention

In view of the state of the art, the present application offers a hand-operated measuring probe for measuring radioactive contamination with a probe body, which is provided on the underside with an irradiation sensor, and with lateral sides and an upper side, the probe being one of a lateral or the upper side of the Handle protruding from the probe body ( 2 ), wherein the probe is provided with a peripheral light device which extends around the probe body by at least 270 ° above the irradiation sensor, and has a program for controlling the illumination of the peripheral light device, the program being integrated into measurement software of measurement electronics which is assigned to the probe and controls the light device as a function of the measurements of the probe.

Thus, the probe can be manipulated by a user performing a self-measurement, the user simply being able to look at the light device in order to obtain indications of the measurements taken.

The peripheral light device can have light transmitters in several colors, the light transmitters being controlled by the program.

This program can control the lighting of the light emitters based on sensor data from the probe.

The sensors can have a sensor for detecting the speed of movement of the probe.

The control program can be configured in such a way that the light device is switched to a first special mode if too fast a movement speed of the probe is detected.

The sensors can have a distance sensor.

The program can be configured in such a way that the light device is switched to a second special mode if too great a distance between the probe and the surface to be checked is detected.

Since the sensors have the irradiation sensor of the probe, the program can be configured in such a way that the illumination of light emitters of the light device in different colors is controlled according to the degree of irradiation, which can be zero, light and strong.

According to a first embodiment, the measurement and data processing electronics for measuring and processing the data from the irradiation sensor are accommodated in the probe body, with the probe on an upper side of the probe body having an interface panel for controlling and visualizing measurements with a keyboard ( 5 ) and screen ( 6th ) having.

According to a second embodiment, the measurement and data processing electronics for measuring and processing the data from the irradiation sensor of the probe are accommodated in an external housing which is connected to the probe via a data transmission and supply cable for supplying the probe.

Figure list

• [1] zeigt ein Beispiel für eine erfindungsgemäße Sonde;
• [2] zeigt ein Beispiel für ein vereinfachtes Schema eines erfindungsgemäßen Programms;
• [3] zeigt einen Benutzer der Sonde gemäß der Erfindung, der eine Selbstinspektion durchführt.

Further features, details and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon analysis of the accompanying drawings, in which:

• [ 1 ] shows an example of a probe according to the invention;
• [ 2 ] shows an example of a simplified scheme of a program according to the invention;
• [ 3 ] shows a user of the probe according to the invention performing a self-inspection.

Description of the embodiments

The drawings and this description essentially contain elements with specified features. They can therefore not only serve to better understand the present invention, but also, if necessary, to contribute to its definition.

It is now on 1 referenced, which is an example of a probe according to the invention. This probe 1 improves an earlier probe from NUVIA, which was designated as CoMo 170/300. She is using an exposure sensor 3 on the underside of a sensor body 4th equipped and shows in the body 4th measurement and processing electronics 9 for measuring and processing the sensor data. To control the operation of the probe, the probe has a keyboard 5 and a screen 6th having control and visualization interface panel, which is arranged on an upper side of the sensor body. Finally, in order to handle the probe, it is provided with a handle protruding from a lateral rear side of the probe body 2 fitted. Such a probe is used for self-detection of contamination, the person allowing the probe to pass by their own body areas susceptible to contamination, such as the front of the body, or by an operator to examine contamination on a third party. This probe must not be moved too fast, ie at a speed of less than 20 cm / s in general, which is not easy to measure, and at a small distance, ie usually less than 3 cm from the body, which must also be observed .

In accordance with the improvement according to this application, the probe is provided with a peripheral light device 7th equipped with lamps and extending around the probe body, the probe being equipped in its measurement and control software with a corresponding program that controls the lighting of the light device according to the functional parameters that are suitable to inform the user about the status to warn of the test by means of a corresponding traffic light system.

The light strip is provided with a number of lamps, e.g. B. bright light emitting diodes that are behind a light-diffusing material 8th like a clear or translucent plastic. This peripheral light device extends around the body 4th around on the lateral sides of the probe body between the lower side that holds the sensor 3 and the top surface that the interface and control panel has to be visible over at least 270 ° and preferably over 360 °.

The peripheral light device can extend around the probe body by 360 ° or end at the root of the handle on a lateral side of the probe body and extend around the probe body by approximately 270 °.

In order to increase the visibility of the device from the top of the probe, the light strip can be made thicker than the probe body. Thus, regardless of the probe position, the light device is visible on all sides of the probe and on the top of the probe, whereby the user 10 who is in control of himself, can easily see the streak of light in virtually any position, such as B. in 3 depicted, or the light 8th from the light strip radially in all directions around the probe body 4th broadcast.

The light device can extend further under the handle in order to be visible when the user holds the probe by the handle and directs it downwards.

In particular, the lighting device of the invention can have multiple colors in order to achieve a more precise control means for the search for contaminated zones and to have multiple lighting modes, e.g. B. on continuously, continuously off and flashing, or even different types of flashing. A control program is connected to control electronics for lamps, which emit different light signals and colors depending on the correct or improper use of the probe and depending on the contamination detected.

The control electronics are in particular electronics that are equipped in a known manner with a microcontroller or microprocessor that is provided with inputs / outputs that are connected to the irradiation sensor of the probe and the control panel, the control electronics also having a program memory is equipped, in which there is a probe control and measurement software.

Within the scope of the invention, the probe control and measurement software has a program for controlling the lighting device.

This in 2 The schematically shown program for controlling the light device is part of the measuring program of the probe and, based on the measurements 22nd coming from the exposure sensor 3 and possibly from a speed sensor 52 , e.g. An accelerometer, and a distance sensor 53 , e.g. B. an infrared sensor, come a distance test 24 , a speed test 26th , a contamination test 28 , then a contamination level test 34 according to the applicable standards. From these tests the program can control the switching on of the lamps with a first color, e.g. B. green for the case that no contamination is detected 30, with a second color, for example orange for moderate contamination 32 , and with a third color, e.g. B. red for heavy contamination 26th . The color lamps are controlled by the measurement and processing electronics 9 who controlled the lamps of the light strip 7th controlled by the software having the control program of the invention of the measuring electronics of the probe.

The measurement program can also display the measurements 40 on the probe indicator 6th and possibly have a delay between successive measurements.

As already stated, the probe can be equipped with a speed sensor 52 be provided, and the measurement software 22nd , which is suitable for detecting situations such as too rapid a movement of the probe, can convert these detections into controls of the lighting device in a special first mode such as “no switching on” or “switching off the peripheral light device”.

Alternatively or in addition, the probe can be equipped with a distance sensor 51 and the measurement software 22nd which is suitable for detecting too great a distance between the probe and the surface to be checked and the light device in a second special mode, e.g. B. a flashing light to bring when the probe is moved too quickly. If the speed and / or the distance are correct, the light device can be in a normal mode, e.g. B. in a mode in which the lighting device is continuously switched on or illuminated. These lighting modes, which are adapted to special conditions, simplify the use of the probe and thus increase the measurement accuracy.

Other color and flashing combinations are possible, and it is possible, for example, to transmit further information such as a malfunction of the probe or a gamma background value that is too high, e.g. with special flashing.

With the peripheral lighting device of the invention, the user can concentrate on his analysis and receive the relevant information about the peripheral lighting device 7 without looking at the indicator 6th having to see what would interrupt the measurement.

In addition, the probe can be equipped with memory means with which the maximum values obtained can be stored, and the user guided by the peripheral lighting device can search for the most heavily irradiated areas in order to obtain an effective measurement, and not too heavily irradiated areas miss that could not be detected because the user is the scoreboard 6th does not see in certain positions of the probe.

The probe of the invention can be equipped with a device for an audible alarm according to the measured radiation level.

In addition, the improved probe of the invention is still cheaper than a two-handed probe or a probe with a housing on a stand.

The invention is particularly applicable to sites such as nuclear power plants that use a large number of contamination detection probes and where the improved probe of the invention facilitates the performance of the contamination test procedures. It is particularly useful in noisy environments where the direct visual display on the probe, regardless of its position, simplifies the control process when measuring the most important operating and measurement conditions.

The invention is not limited to the examples described above, but rather includes all variants that the person skilled in the art can consider within the scope of the protection sought. In particular, the measurement and data processing electronics for measuring and processing the sensor data can be accommodated in an external housing that is connected to the probe via a data transmission and supply cable of the probe, since the operator only cares about the position and speed of the probe got to.

Claims (10)

Hand-operated measuring probe for measuring radioactive contamination with a probe body (4), which is provided on the underside with an irradiation sensor (3), and with lateral sides and an upper side, whereby the probe has a handle (2 ), characterized in that it is provided with a peripheral light device (7) which extends around the body of the probe by at least 270 ° above the irradiation sensor, and a program (20) for controlling the illumination of the peripheral light device ( 7), the program being integrated in measurement software of measurement electronics, which is assigned to the probe and controls the light device as a function of the measurements of the probe. Measuring probe after Claim 1 , wherein the peripheral light device (7) has light transmitters in several colors, the light transmitters being controlled by the program. Measuring probe after Claim 2 , wherein the program (20) controls the lighting of the light transmitters on the basis of sensor data (3, 52, 53) of the probe. Measuring probe after Claim 3 said sensors comprising a sensor (52) for detecting the speed of movement of the probe. Measuring probe after Claim 4 , wherein the control program is configured in such a way that the light device is placed in a first special mode if too fast a movement speed of the probe is detected. Measuring probe after Claim 3 , 4th or 5 , wherein the sensors have a distance sensor (53). Measuring probe after Claim 6 wherein the program is configured such that the light device is placed in a second special mode (40) if too great a distance between the probe and the surface to be checked is detected (24). Measuring probe according to one of the Claims 3 to 7th , wherein the sensors comprise the irradiation sensor (3) of the probe, the program (20) being configured in such a way that the illuminance of light emitters of the light device in different colors (30, 32, 36) is controlled according to the degree of irradiation, zero, slightly and can be strong (28, 34). Measuring probe according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electronics (9) for measuring and processing the data from the sensor (3) are housed in the probe body, the probe having an interface panel for controlling and visualizing measurements on an upper side of the probe body Has keyboard (5) and screen (6). Measuring probe according to one of the Claims 1 to 8th characterized in that the electronics (9) for measuring and processing the data of the irradiation sensor (3) of the probe in an external Housing is housed, which is connected to the probe via a data transmission and supply cable for supplying the probe.

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