Spherical Instrument Housing Head for Radiation-Safe Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solutions for orienting instruments in hostile environments, such as radioactive environments, are cumbersome and limited in accessibility, with collimators and detectors being bulky and difficult to position accurately, leading to restricted fields of observation and increased operator exposure to radiation.

Innovation Solution

A partially spherical housing head with a movable second part relative to a first part, allowing rotation around an inclined axis, which enhances the field of observation and action while minimizing equipment size and mass, and incorporating shielding materials for radiation protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If traditional collimators and support masts are used to protect instruments in radioactive environments, then radiation protection is improved, but the equipment becomes heavy and bulky

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveradiation protectionVSAvoidequipment mass
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The housing head is divided into a first part (fixed to support mast) and a second part (movable), allowing the instrument to be positioned within a compact spherical structure while maintaining radiation protection through the housing design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If traditional collimators with cylindrical shapes and support masts are used, then radiation isolation is improved, but the field of observation is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveradiation isolationVSAvoidfield of observation
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The housing head adopts a spherical shape instead of the traditional cylindrical form, allowing the instrument to be oriented in multiple directions and expanding the field of observation while maintaining radiation isolation through the housing structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The second part of the housing head is made movable relative to the first part, enabling dynamic adjustment of the instrument's orientation and expanding the observable solid angles while maintaining radiation protection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If traditional bulky collimators are used to access confined spaces, then radiation protection is improved, but accessibility to confined spaces deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveradiation protectionVSAvoidaccessibility to confined spaces
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The housing head is segmented into movable parts that can be compacted or adjusted, reducing the overall size and bulk of the equipment to enable access to confined spaces while maintaining radiation protection through the housing design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The movable second part allows the housing head to be compacted or adjusted to fit through narrow access points, improving accessibility to confined spaces while the housing structure maintains radiation protection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Measurement precision

If traditional support masts with oriented supports are used, then detector positioning is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetector positioningVSAvoidequipment structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The movable second part of the housing head provides a simpler mechanism for orienting the detector compared to traditional support masts with complex oriented supports, reducing device complexity while maintaining positioning capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The spherical housing head with its movable part provides intuitive multi-directional orientation capability, simplifying the positioning mechanism compared to traditional cylindrical collimators requiring complex support structures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentEP3948899B1Housing head for an instrument comprising a movable part
Publication Date: 2023.03.15 ORANO DS DEMANTELEMENT & SERVICES
  • EP3948899B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3948899B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3948899B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A head (5) for housing an instrument comprises a first part (6) and a second part (7) which is movable relative to the first part (6). The first part (6) is configured to be rigidly connected to a support mast (22). The second part (7) comprises an opening (73) which leads outside of the head (5) and into a housing for the instrument. The housing is located inside the head (5).