The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 05, 1999
Filed:
Feb. 25, 1998
Larry David Frederick, Huntsville, AL (US);
Larry David Frederick, Jr, Madison, AL (US);
General Electric Co., Wilmington, NC (US);
Abstract
A radiation detector assembly employing an enlarged volume scintillation element and a photomultiplier tube. The scintillation element is surrounded by a reflective material and may be enclosed within a rigid shield for protection against shock and/or humidity. A Sidewall Axial Restraint and Compliance Assembly (SARCA) is positioned radially outside the reflective tape. Radial springs are placed outside the SARCA to provide stiff restraint in the axial and radial directions, The SARCA and springs provide for thermal expansion of the element. A two-stage axial biasing means is positioned at an end of the element, and an optical window may be positioned at the other end. Non-cylindrical portions may be formed along the circumference of the element. These non-cylindrical portions enable a larger element to be placed within the shield. In an alternative embodiment, the element is positioned apart from the photomultiplier tube with no window therebetween. The element is restrained from moving axially toward the photomultiplier tube by a ring attached to the SARCA and fitting in a groove extending around the element, or the element may be in contact with an optical coupler that is bonded to the photomultiplier tube faceplate.