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Apparatus for the detection of substances and in particular explosives by neutron irradiation thereof

  • US 5,080,856 A
  • Filed: 04/23/1991
  • Issued: 01/14/1992
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1989
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for the detection of a substance liable to be contained in an object (34) comprising:

  • a first inspection station (I to IV),first irradiation means (2,

         10) for irradiating said object at said first station by thermal neutrons,first detection means (12, 14, 16,

         18) for detecting at least one capture gamma radiation liable to be emitted by the object due to thermal neutron irradiation thereof, said capture gamma radiation characterizing a chemical element in the substance,a second inspection station (V, VI),second irradiation means (10 or 62,

         64) for irradiating the object at said second station by fast neutrons,second detection means (24,

         26) for detecting at least one prompt gamma radiation liable to be emitted by the object due to fast neutron irradiation thereof, said prompt gamma radiation characterizing the chemical element, and the energy of the fast neutrons being at least equal to that of the prompt gamma radiation characterizing the chemical element,displacement means (30), said displacement means havingmeans for bringing the object to the first inspection station (I to IV),means for bringing the object from the first inspection station to the second inspection station (V, VI),means for bringing the object from the first inspection station to a first area,means for bringing the object from the second inspection station to a second area, andprocessing and control means (60) for comparing the intensity of said capture gamma radiation and the intensity of said prompt gamma radiation to a predetermined threshold and to another predetermined threshold respectively, and for controlling the displacement means, so as to displace the object from the first inspection station to one of the first area, if the intensity of said capture gamma radiation is lower than said predetermined threshold, and the second inspection station, if the intensity of said capture gamma radiation is equal to or greater than said predetermined threshold, and from the second inspection station to one of the first area, if the intensity of said prompt gamma radiation is lower than said other predetermined threshold, and the second area, if the intensity of said prompt gamma radiation is equal to or greater than said other predetermined threshold.

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