GB2039242A - Device for moving radioactive sample holders - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for moving a sample holder containing a radioactive sample into a measuring chamber comprises a slide (1) comprising radiation absorbing material. At one end, the slide is provided with means (2) for holding a sample holder (4), the slide being movable perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of a rack (3) in which is arranged a plurality of sample holders. The rack is associated with a ramp (5) and, as a result of a longitudinal movement of the rack, sample holders are raised by the ramp until the first one is gripped by the holding means (2) of the slide, whereupon the slide is moved perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the rack (3) to move this sample holder into the measuring chamber. The measuring chamber has an aperture through which the slide passes to move the sample holder into the measuring chamber, and thereby to seal the aperture. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A device for moving a sample holder According to the present invention, there is provided a device for moving a sample holder containing a radioactive sample into a measuring chamber, the device comprising a slide which, at one end, has gripping means for gripping such a holder for the slide to move it into such a measuring chamber, the slide comprising radiation absorbing material.

Such a device could be in combination with a rack for a plurality of such sample holders, the slide being movable perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the rack. The rack could be associated with a ramp for raising such sample holders and moving them towards the gripping means during a movement of the rack in its longitudinal direction.

A device according to the present invention could be in combination with a radiation measuring chamber comprising radiation absorbing material and having an aperture through which the slide can move such a holder gripped by its gripping means into the chamber, the slide sealing the said aperture as a result of such movement.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of part of an automatic gamma counter, showing a rack holding a plurality of sample holders and a slide for moving each holder into a measuring chamber (not shown in this Figure) of the counter; Figure 2 is a side view of what is shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows part of the rack and some of the sample holders; Figures 4 to 6 are sectional views from above showing how the slide moves a sample holder into the measuring chamber; and Figures 7 and 8 show how the slide co-operates with the measuring chamber.

In Figures 1 and 2, reference 1 denotes a parallelepipedic slide which is made of a radiation absorbing material, usually lead, and which is movable by a moving mechanism (not shown) in its longitudinal direction. Furthermore, the slide is, at one end, provided with means 2 which can grip around the upper edge of a sample holder 4 containing a radioactive sample, a plurality of such holders being arranged in a rack 3. The rack can in a stepwise manner pass the slide 1 by means of a moving mechanism (not shown), the sample holders 4, by means of a ramp 5, being raised from the rack. Figure 3 shows a detail of part of the rack, with sample holders which have been raised completely and partly respectively from the rack by means of the ramp 5.

'The function of the slide 1 is shown in Figures 4 to 6 which, besides the details already illustrated, also show a measuring chamber 6 provided with a radiation detector 7, the measuring chamber being made of a radiation absorbing material. In Figure 4, the rack 3 is shown on its way towards the position where sample holders can be raised by the ramp 5 from the rack. In Figure 5, the first sample holder has reached a position right in front of the slide 1, the rack then being stopped by its moving mechanism and the sample holder moved by the slide into the measuring chamber, as shown in Figure 6. The measuring chamber is provided with an aperture which is completely filled up by the slide 1 when the latter has moved a sample holder into the measuring chamber.The principal shape of the measuring chamber is shown in Figure 7, Figure 8 showing the measuring chamber after a sample holder 4 has been moved into it by the slide 1.

The above example enables the sample holders to be moved one after another into a completely sealed measuring chamber, which is arranged at a desired distance from the rack. This is of special value when measuring high energy isotopes with radiation energies up to 4 MeV.

1. A device for moving a sample holder containing a radioactive sample into a measuring chamber, the device comprising a slide which, at one end, has gripping means for gripping such a holder for the slide to move it into such a measuring chamber, the slide comprising radiation absorbing material.

2. A combination of a device according to claim 1 and a rack for a plurality of such sample holders, the slide being movable perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the rack.

3. A combination according to claim 2, wherein the rack is associated with a ramp for raising such holders and moving them towards the gripping means during a movement of the rack in its longitudinal direction.

4. A device according to claim 1, or a combination according to either of claims 2 and 3, in combination with a radiation measuring chambercompris- ing radiation absorbing material and having an aperture through which the slide can move such a holder gripped by its gripping means into the chamber, the slide sealing the said aperture as a result of such movement.

5. A device according to claim 1, or a combination according to any of claims 2 to 4, in an automatic gamma counter.

6. A device for moving a sample holder containing a radioactive sample, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. A combination of a device for moving a sample holder containing a radioactive sample, a rack and a radiation measuring chamber, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A device for moving a sample holder According to the present invention, there is provided a device for moving a sample holder containing a radioactive sample into a measuring chamber, the device comprising a slide which, at one end, has gripping means for gripping such a holder for the slide to move it into such a measuring chamber, the slide comprising radiation absorbing material. Such a device could be in combination with a rack for a plurality of such sample holders, the slide being movable perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the rack. The rack could be associated with a ramp for raising such sample holders and moving them towards the gripping means during a movement of the rack in its longitudinal direction. A device according to the present invention could be in combination with a radiation measuring chamber comprising radiation absorbing material and having an aperture through which the slide can move such a holder gripped by its gripping means into the chamber, the slide sealing the said aperture as a result of such movement. The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of part of an automatic gamma counter, showing a rack holding a plurality of sample holders and a slide for moving each holder into a measuring chamber (not shown in this Figure) of the counter; Figure 2 is a side view of what is shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows part of the rack and some of the sample holders; Figures 4 to 6 are sectional views from above showing how the slide moves a sample holder into the measuring chamber; and Figures 7 and 8 show how the slide co-operates with the measuring chamber. In Figures 1 and 2, reference 1 denotes a parallelepipedic slide which is made of a radiation absorbing material, usually lead, and which is movable by a moving mechanism (not shown) in its longitudinal direction. Furthermore, the slide is, at one end, provided with means 2 which can grip around the upper edge of a sample holder 4 containing a radioactive sample, a plurality of such holders being arranged in a rack 3. The rack can in a stepwise manner pass the slide 1 by means of a moving mechanism (not shown), the sample holders 4, by means of a ramp 5, being raised from the rack. Figure 3 shows a detail of part of the rack, with sample holders which have been raised completely and partly respectively from the rack by means of the ramp 5. 'The function of the slide 1 is shown in Figures 4 to 6 which, besides the details already illustrated, also show a measuring chamber 6 provided with a radiation detector 7, the measuring chamber being made of a radiation absorbing material. In Figure 4, the rack 3 is shown on its way towards the position where sample holders can be raised by the ramp 5 from the rack. In Figure 5, the first sample holder has reached a position right in front of the slide 1, the rack then being stopped by its moving mechanism and the sample holder moved by the slide into the measuring chamber, as shown in Figure 6. The measuring chamber is provided with an aperture which is completely filled up by the slide 1 when the latter has moved a sample holder into the measuring chamber.The principal shape of the measuring chamber is shown in Figure 7, Figure 8 showing the measuring chamber after a sample holder 4 has been moved into it by the slide 1. The above example enables the sample holders to be moved one after another into a completely sealed measuring chamber, which is arranged at a desired distance from the rack. This is of special value when measuring high energy isotopes with radiation energies up to 4 MeV. CLAIMS

1. A device for moving a sample holder containing a radioactive sample into a measuring chamber, the device comprising a slide which, at one end, has gripping means for gripping such a holder for the slide to move it into such a measuring chamber, the slide comprising radiation absorbing material.

2. A combination of a device according to claim 1 and a rack for a plurality of such sample holders, the slide being movable perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the rack.

3. A combination according to claim 2, wherein the rack is associated with a ramp for raising such holders and moving them towards the gripping means during a movement of the rack in its longitudinal direction.

4. A device according to claim 1, or a combination according to either of claims 2 and 3, in combination with a radiation measuring chambercompris- ing radiation absorbing material and having an aperture through which the slide can move such a holder gripped by its gripping means into the chamber, the slide sealing the said aperture as a result of such movement.

5. A device according to claim 1, or a combination according to any of claims 2 to 4, in an automatic gamma counter.

6. A device for moving a sample holder containing a radioactive sample, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. A combination of a device for moving a sample holder containing a radioactive sample, a rack and a radiation measuring chamber, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.