GB1329918A - Apparatus for the analysis of radio active samples - Google Patents

Abstract

1329918 Handling radio-active material COMMISSARIAT A' L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE 19 April 1971 [20 April 1970] 26993/71 Heading B4Q [Also in Division H1] Apparatus for the analysis of radio-active samples in a predetermined atmosphere comprises a vertical charger formed by a lead flask 4 and a pile of support plates for samples, the pile being vertically movable within a bore in the flask 4, a first horizontal passage 8 which extends through the charger and couples the bore to a vertically movable disc 14, a second horizontal passage 10 displaced both angularly and vertically with respect to the passage 8 and which extends between the movable disc 14 and a detector 12 housed within a shield 120 for measuring the radio-activity of the samples, and a slide 34, 64 in each passage for transferring a sample and capable of translational motion within the respective passage, the external walls of the lead flask 4, the passages 8, 10 and the detector 12 defining a single sealed enclosure in communication with conduits for controlling the atmosphere within the enclosure. The samples are thus placed in the atmosphere necessary for measurement from the time of introduction into the lead flask 4 and contamination of this atmosphere, e.g. during transfer of the samples, is therefore not possible. By virtue of the vertical and angular positional displacements of the passages 8, 10, the radiation emitted by the samples contained in the lead flask 4 is not transmitted to the detector 12, the detector being influenced solely by the sample which is placed within the passage 10. The sequence of different operations, viz. downward motion of the support plates, horizontal displacement of the slides 34, 64, and upward and downward motion of the disc 14 whithin a channel 9 connecting the passages 8, 10 is effected automatically by means of electric contacts which are placed at the end points of the different movements. Manual analysis of a predetermined sample can be made by introducing the sample directly into the passage 10 and for this purpose an auxiliary orifice is provided in the wall of the passage 10 with a plug 80, the interior of which forms a lock chamber, closing the orifice.