Stand-alone photosensor assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9200949-B2
Application number	US-201213709425-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 10, 2012
Priority date	Dec 12, 2011
Publication date	Dec 1, 2015
Grant date	Dec 1, 2015

Abstract

A stand-alone photosensor assembly has a housing with an axis, a first axial end and a second axial end opposite the first axial end. An adapter may be threadingly coupled to the first axial end of the housing. The adapter may be adapted to mount the housing to a scintillator. A photosensor element may be located inside the housing and adapted to be optically coupled to the scintillator. A sub-housing may be located inside the housing, at least a portion of which is located radially between the housing and the photosensor element. A scintillator assembly may include a scintillator and the photosensor assembly. A machine, such as a radiation detector, may include the scintillator and the photosensor assembly coupled to the scintillator. The machine also may include an output device to generate output in response to the photosensor assembly, and a user interface coupled to the output device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A stand-alone photosensor assembly, comprising:
a housing having an axis, a first axial end and a second axial end opposite the first axial end;
an adapter threadingly coupled to the first axial end of the housing, the adapter being adapted to mount the housing to a scintillator;
a photosensor element inside the housing adapted to be optically coupled to the scintillator; and
a sub-housing inside the housing, at least a portion of which is located radially between the housing and the photosensor element.

2. A stand-alone photosensor assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising an annular seal between the sub-housing and the housing.

3. A stand-alone photosensor assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a spring inside the housing between the second axial end of the housing and the sub-housing, the spring being configured to mechanically bias the sub-housing and the photosensor element away from the second axial end of the housing and maintain electrical continuity therebetween.

4. A stand-alone photosensor assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the adapter has an external thread received by an internal thread on the first axial end of the housing, the adapter axially abuts an optical pad opposite the photosensor element, and the adapter is adapted to be adhesively or mechanically attached to the scintillator.

5. A stand-alone photosensor assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the sub-housing comprises electronics coupled to the photosensor element for converting input from the photosensor element to an output signal.

6. A stand-alone photosensor assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the housing provides magnetic shielding for the photosensor element.

7. A stand-alone photosensor assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising weather stripping between the photosensor element and the housing.

8. A stand-alone photosensor assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the photosensor element comprises a photomultiplier tube (PMT), and the sub-housing comprises a voltage divider, electronics, power supply, pre-amp, temperature sensor or any combination thereof.

9. A stand-alone photosensor assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the sub-housing is located radially between the housing and at least a portion of the photosensor element, and the sub-housing is located axially between the second axial end of the housing and the photosensor element.

10. A stand-alone photosensor assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the photosensor assembly is substantially free of any adhesive compound.

11. A stand-alone photosensor assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises two or more components joined together to form light-tight seals therebetween.

12. A scintillator assembly, comprising:
a scintillator; and
a photosensor assembly comprising:
a housing having an axis, a first axial end and a second axial end opposite the first axial end;
an adapter threadingly coupled to the first axial end of the housing, the adapter being adapted to mount the housing to a scintillator;
a photosensor element inside the housing adapted to be optically coupled to the scintillator; and
a sub-housing inside the housing, at least a portion of which is located radially between the housing and the photosensor element.

13. A scintillator assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the scintillator is located in a second housing that is separate from the housing of the photosensor assembly.

14. A scintillator assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the scintillator is a neutron sensor comprising 6 LiF or ZnS:(Ag or Cu).

15. A scintillator assembly according to claim 12 , further comprising an annular seal between the sub-housing and the housing.

16. A scintillator assembly according to claim 15 , further comprising weather stripping axially disposed between the adapter and the annular seal.

17. A scintillator assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the adapter has an external thread received by an internal thread on the first axial end of the housing, the adapter axially abuts an optical pad opposite the photosensor element, and the adapter is adapted to be adhesively or mechanically attached to the scintillator.

18. A scintillator assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the sub-housing comprises electronics coupled to the photosensor element for converting input from the photosensor element to an output signal.

19. A scintillator assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the sub-housing is located radially between the housing and at least a portion of the photosensor element, and the sub-housing is located axially between the second axial end of the housing and the photosensor element.

20. A scintillator assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the photosensor assembly is substantially free of any adhesive compound.

21. A scintillator assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the housing comprises two or more components joined together to form light-tight seals therebetween.

22. A scintillator assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the photosensor assembly is configured to withstand and operate in a g-force in excess of 2.

23. A machine, comprising:
a scintillator;
a photosensor assembly coupled to the scintillator, the photosensor assembly comprising:
a housing having an axis, a first axial end and a second axial end opposite the first axial end;
an adapter threadingly coupled to the first axial end of the housing, the adapter being adapted to mount the housing to a scintillator;
a photosensor element inside the housing adapted to be optically coupled to the scintillator; and
a sub-housing inside the housing, at least a portion of which is located radially between the housing and the photosensor element; and the machine further comprising:

an output device to generate output in response to the photosensor assembly; and
a user interface coupled to the output device.

24. A machine according to claim 23 , wherein the scintillator is located in a second housing that is separate from the housing of the photosensor assembly.

25. A machine according to claim 23 , wherein the scintillator is a neutron sensor comprising 6 LiF or ZnS:(Ag or Cu).

26. A machine according to claim 23 , further comprising a spring inside the housing between the second axial end of the housing and the sub-housing, the spring being configured to mechanically bias the sub-housing and the photosensor element away from the second axial end of the housing and maintain electrical continuity therebetween.

27. A machine according to claim 23 , wherein the adapter has an external thread received by an internal thread on the first axial end of the housing, the adapter axially abuts an optical pad opposite the photosensor element, and the adapter is adapted to be adhesively or mechanically attached to the scintillator.

28. A machine according to claim 23 , wherein the sub-housing comprises electronics coupled to the photosensor element for converting input from the photosensor element to an output signal.

Assignees

• Wilson Lance J
• Saint Gobain Ceramics

Inventors

• Wilson Lance J

Classifications

• G01J1/0403 Primary

  Mechanical elements; Supports for optical elements; Scanning arrangements · CPC title

• G01T3/06

  with scintillation detectors · CPC title

• G01J1/58

  using luminescence generated by light · CPC title

• G01T7/00

  Details of radiation-measuring instruments · CPC title