Radon detection system
First Claim
1. A radon detection system comprising:
- first means for measuring an airborne radon level, said first means comprising a particulate filter for collecting at least one radon decay product, means for directing ambient air through said filter, a first detector for detecting radon decay product collected by said filter, and a second detector for detecting radon gas in the filtered air exiting form said filter;
second means for monitoring at least one additional environmental parameter other than radon level; and
recording means connected to said first and second means for recording on a common recording medium the measured radon level and the contemporanious value of said additional environmental parameter.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A radon detection system is provided with the capability of monitoring certain environmental parameters together with certain other conditions indicative of possible tampering. The environmental data allows the calculation of an accurate projection of average long-term radon levels in the structure under test on the basis of a relatively short measurement period, while the tamper data indicates whether an attempt has been made to tamper with the detection unit or the measurement conditions during the test period. When an indication of possible tampering occurs, the system enters an accelerated data collection mode during which data is gathered that can later be used to determine whether tampering has actually occurred. The detection system may be provided with first and second detectors for separately monitoring airborne levels of radon gas and radon decay products. The radon gas detector may include a scintillation cell, and means may be provided to purge and then bypass the scintillation cell when high radon gas concentrations are detected. Methods for measuring and reporting radon gas and decay product concentrations are also disclosed.
80 Citations
73 Claims
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1. A radon detection system comprising:
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first means for measuring an airborne radon level, said first means comprising a particulate filter for collecting at least one radon decay product, means for directing ambient air through said filter, a first detector for detecting radon decay product collected by said filter, and a second detector for detecting radon gas in the filtered air exiting form said filter; second means for monitoring at least one additional environmental parameter other than radon level; and recording means connected to said first and second means for recording on a common recording medium the measured radon level and the contemporanious value of said additional environmental parameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A radon detection system comprising:
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first means for measuring an airborne radon level; second means for monitoring at least one additional parameter indicative of possible tampering; and recording means connected to said first and second means for recording on a common recording medium the measured radon level and the contemporaneous value of said additional parameter. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A radon detection method comprising the steps of:
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measuring an airborne radon level; monitoring at least one additional parameter indicative of possible tampering; and recording on a common recording medium the measured radon level and the contemporaneous value of said additional parameter. - View Dependent Claims (13, 15, 16, 17)
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14. The method of claim wherein the step of measuring an airborne radon level comprises separately measuring the level of airborne radon gas and the level of at least one airborne radon decay product, and wherein said additional parameter comprises the ratio between the measured level of radon gas and the measured level of said radon decay product.
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18. A radon detection system comprising:
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first means for measuring an airborne radon level; second means for measuring a plurality of additional parameters indicative of possible tampering; recording means for recording the measured radon level and the contemporaneous values of said additional parameters; and control means connected to said first and second means and to said recording means for causing the measured radon level and the contemporaneous values of said additional parameters to be recorded at predetermined intervals, said control means being responsive to an abnormal value of at least one of said additional parameters to reduce the length of said intervals in order to increase the recording rate when possible tampering in indicated. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A radon detection method comprising the steps of:
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measuring an airborne radon level; monitoring a plurality of additional parameters indicative of possible tampering; in the absence of an indication of possible tampering, recording the measured radon level and the contemporaneous values of said additional parameters at a first recording rate; in response to possible tampering indicated by an abnormal value of at least one of said additional parameters, recording the measured radon level and the contemporaneous values of said additional parameters at a second recording rate greater than said first recording rate. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A radon detection method comprising the steps of:
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measuring an airborne radon level; contemporaneously monitoring at least one additional parameter indicative of possible tampering; and validating the measured radon level by determining from the contemporaneous value of said additional parameter whether tampering is likely to have occurred. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A radon detection system for continuously monitoring airborne levels of radon gas and of at least one airborne radon decay product, comprising:
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an air flow path; means for maintaining a continuous flow of air in said air flow path; a particulate filter in said air flow path for removing and collecting at least one radon decay product from the air flow; a first detector for detecting the radon decay product collected by said particulate filter; and a second detector for detecting radon gas in the filtered air flow exiting from said particulate filter. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A radon detection method comprising the steps of:
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causing ambient air to flow through a particulate filter in order to remove and collect at least one radon decay product from the air flow; detecting the radon decay product collected by the filter; separately detecting radon gas in the filtered air exiting from said filter. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58)
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59. A radon gas detection system comprising:
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an air flow path; means for maintaining a continuous flow of air in said air flow path; a detector in said air flow path for detecting radon gas in said air flow; and bypass means in said air flow path for selectively causing the air flow to bypass said detector, said bypass means comprising an air flow bypass line connected in parallel with said detector and a valve for selectively directing the air flow through the detector or through the bypass line. - View Dependent Claims (60)
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61. A radon detection system comprising;
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an air flow path; means for maintaining a continuous flow of air in said air flow path; a detector in said air flow path for detecting radon gas in said air flow; a filter for removing radon gas from the air flow; and means for selectively connecting said filter into the air flow path at a point upstream of said detector relative to the air flow direction; wherein at least a portion of the air flow path upstream of said detector relative to the air flow direction includes first and second branches, said first branch including the filter and said second branch bypassing the filter, and wherein said means for selectively connecting the filter into the air flow comprises a valve for selectively directing the air flow through the first branch or through the second branch. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64)
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65. A radon detection system comprising:
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an air flow path; means for maintaining a continuous flow of air in said air flow path; a detector for detecting radon gas in said air flow; a filter for removing radon gas from said air flow; and a valve in said air flow path for selectively directing the air flow into a first branch, a second branch, or a third branch, said first branch including said detector and said filter connected in series with the filter located upstream of the detector relative to the air flow direction, said second branch including said detector and bypassing said filter, and said third branch bypassing said detector and said filter. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 68)
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69. A method for operating a radon detection system comprising an air flow path, means for maintaining a continuous flow of air in said air flow path, and a detector in said air flow path for detecting radon gas in said air flow, said method comprising the steps of:
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during a first time interval, directing the air flow to said detector without intermediate filtering to remove radon gas; and during a second time interval, filtering the air flow to remove radon gas before the air reaches said detector. - View Dependent Claims (70)
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71. A method for operating a radon detection system comprising an air flow path, means for maintaining a continuous flow of air in said air flow path, and a detector in said air flow path for detecting radon gas in said air flow, said method comprising the steps of:
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during a first time interval, directing the air flow to said detector; and during a second time interval, causing the air flow to bypass said detector. - View Dependent Claims (72)
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73. A method for operating a radon detection system comprising a particulate filter, means for causing air to flow through said particulate filter at a predetermined flow rate, and a detector for detecting at least one radon decay product collected by said filter, said method comprising the steps of:
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during a first time interval, causing the air to flow through said particulate filter at a first flow rate; and during a second time interval, causing the air to flow through said particulate filter at a second flow rate; said first flow rate being greater than said second flow rate in order to provide greater detection sensitivity during said first time interval than during said second time interval.
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Specification