XRF analyzer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9775574-B2
Application number	US-201514615134-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 5, 2015
Priority date	Apr 28, 2014
Publication date	Oct 3, 2017
Grant date	Oct 3, 2017

Abstract

A portable XRF analyzer includes a hand shield to substantially block x-rays from impinging on a hand of a user. The portable XRF analyzer includes a heat sink over an x-ray source and a heat sink over an x-ray detector. The heat sinks are separated from each other by a thermally insulative material.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer comprising
a. an engine component having an x-ray emission end and a power component spaced-apart from each other;
b. a handle and a hand shield:
i. extending in parallel between the engine component and the power component;
ii. attaching the engine component to the power component; and
iii. defining a finger gap therebetween;

c. the hand shield disposed closer to the x-ray emission end than the handle;
d. a hand shield casing and an engine component casing comprising a material for blocking x-rays;
e. an x-ray source and an x-ray detector disposed in and substantially enclosed by the engine component casing;
f. the x-ray source disposed in a location and oriented to emit x-rays outward from the x-ray emission end towards a sample;
g. the x-ray detector disposed in a location and oriented to receive fluoresced x-rays emitted from the sample;
h. the power component including electrical connections configured for electrical connection to a portable, electric power-source;
i. hollow formed in the hand shield, the hand shield casing forming a perimeter around at least a majority of the hollow;
j. an electronic component disposed the hollow of the hand shield; and
k. the electronic component configured for operation of the x-ray source, the x-ray detector, or both.

2. The XRF analyzer of claim 1 , further comprising:
l. two housing portions, each housing portion comprising:
i. an engine component casing section;
ii. a power component casing section;
iii. a hand shield casing section; and
iv. a handle casing section;

m. the engine component casing section, the power component casing section, the hand shield casing section, and the handle casing section of each housing portion being integrally formed in a single, monolithic body formed together at the same time with the hand shield casing section and the handle casing section of each housing portion extending in parallel between and attaching to the engine component casing section and the power component casing section of each housing portion; and
n. the two housing portions joined together to form an XRF analyzer housing.

3. The XRF analyzer of claim 1 , wherein the material for blocking x-rays comprises plastic impregnated with tungsten, tantalum, molybdenum, or combinations thereof.

4. The XRF analyzer of claim 1 , wherein the hand shield has a width that is at least as large as a width of the handle along at least 50% of a length of the hand shield.

5. The XRF analyzer of claim 1 , wherein the electronic component includes a digital pulse processor electrically connected to the x-ray detector.

6. The XRF analyzer of claim 1 , further comprising:
l. an x-ray source heat-sink disposed in an opening in the engine component casing and adjacent a side of the x-ray source;
m. an x-ray detector heat-sink disposed in another opening in the engine component casing and adjacent a side of the x-ray detector;
n. the x-ray source heat-sink separated from the x-ray detector heat sink by a segment of the engine component, casing having a thermal conductivity of less than 10 W/(m*K).

7. A portable x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer comprising:
a. an engine component having an x-ray emission end and an engine component casing;
b. an x-ray source and an x-ray detector disposed in and substantially enclosed by the engine component casing;
c. the x-ray source disposed in a location and oriented to emit x-rays outward from the x-ray emission end towards a sample;
d. the x-ray detector disposed in a location and oriented to receive fluoresced x-rays emitted from the sample;
e. a handle extending form the engine component to allow a user to hold and carry the XRF analyzer;
f. a hand shield extending from the engine component, parallel to the handle, and disposed closer to the x-ray emission end than the handle;
g. a finger-gap between the handle and the hand shield;
h. a hand shield casing and the engine component casing including a material for blocking x-rays;
i. an x-ray source heat-sink disposed in an opening in the engine component casing and adjacent a side of the x-ray source;
j. an x-ray detector heat-sink disposed in another opening in the engine component casing and adjacent a side of the x-ray detector; and
k. the x-ray source heat-sink separated from the x-ray detector heat sink by a segment of the engine component casing having a thermal conductivity of less than 10 W/(m*K).

8. The XRF analyzer of claim 7 , further comprising:
l. two housing portions, each housing portion comprising:
i. an engine component casing section;
ii. a handle casing section extending from the engine component casing section; and
iii. a hand shield casing section extending from the engine component casing section, parallel to the handle casing section;

m. the engine component casing section, the hand shield casing section, and the handle casing section of each housing portion being integrally formed in a single, monolithic body formed together at the same time;
n. the two housing portions joined together to form an XRF analyzer housing.

9. The XRF analyzer of claim 7 , wherein an engine component casing section, a hand shield casing section, and a handle casing section are integrally formed in a single, monolithic body that was formed together at the same time.

10. The XRF analyzer of claim 7 , wherein the material for blocking x-rays comprises plastic impregnated with tungsten, tantalum, molybdenum, or combinations thereof.

11. The XRF analyzer of claim 7 , wherein the hand shield has a length that is between 60% and 90% of a length of the handle.

12. The XRF analyzer of claim 7 , wherein the hand shield has a width that is at least as large as a width of the handle along at least 50% of a length of the hand shield.

13. The XRF analyzer of claim 7 , further comprising:
l. a hollow formed in the hand shield; and
m. a digital pulse processor disposed in the hollow and electrically connected to the x-ray detector.

14. The XRF analyzer of claim 7 , further comprising:
l. a power component including electrical connections configured for electrical connection to a portable, electric power-source;
m. the handle and the hand shield extending in two separate, parallel columns from the engine component to the power component and attaching the engine component to the power component; and
n. an XRF analyzer housing including two housing portions, each housing portion including an engine component casing section, a power component casing section, a hand shield casing section, and a handle casing section that are integrally formed in a single, monolithic body formed together at the same time by injection molding with a plastic impregnated with an element having an atomic number of at least 42.

15. A portable x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer comprising:
a. an engine component having an x-ray emission end and an engine component casing;
b. an x-ray source and an x-ray detector disposed in and substantially enclosed by the engine component casing;
c. the x-ray source disposed in a location and oriented to emit x-rays outward from the x-ray emission end towards a sample;
d. the x-ray detector disposed in a location and oriented to receive fluoresced x-rays emitted from the sample;
e. an x-ray source heat-sink disposed in an opening in the engine component casing and adjacent a side of the x-ray source;
f. an x-ray detector heat-sink disposed in another opening in the engine component casing and adjacent a side of the x-ray detector;
g. the x-ray source heat-sink separated f

Assignees

• Moxtek Inc

Inventors

• Jones Vincent Floyd
• Paas Daniel N

Classifications

• G21F5/02

  with provision for restricted exposure of a radiation source within the container · CPC title

• G01N2223/301

  portable apparatus · CPC title

• G01N2223/076

  X-ray fluorescence · CPC title

• H05G1/06 Primary

  X-ray tube and at least part of the power supply apparatus being mounted within the same housing · CPC title

• G21F5/06

  Details of, or accessories to, the containers · CPC title