Shielded radiation assembly

• US 6,278,125 B1
• Filed: 11/23/1998
• Issued: 08/21/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Henkel IP & Holding GmbH (Henkel AG & Co KGaA)
• Original Assignee: Loctite Corporation (Henkel AG & Co KGaA)
• Inventors: Belek, Ronald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson, Bruce C.
• Application Number:
  US09/197,229
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• Field of Search: 250/515.1, 250/517.1, 250/519.1, 250/455.11, 378/203
• US Class Current: 250/519.1
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 3/00 Shielding characterised by its physical form, e.g. granules, or shape of the material

Abstract

A shielded radiation assembly provides easy access to a radiation treatment space while minimizing radiation leakage. The shielded radiation assembly includes a support structure and a radiation shield supported on the support structure. A radiation emitting device is movably supported on the support structure for movement independent of the radiation shield. The radiation shield may be flexible, including a plurality of radiation shielding sections which are supported by the support structure. The radiation shielding section may be formed of the radiation absorbing material.

Claims

1. A shielded radiation assembly comprising:

a support structure;

a radiation shield supported on said support structure; and

a radiation emitting device moveably supported on said support structure for movement independent of said radiation shield;

wherein said shield defines a substantially enclosed space about said radiation emitting device for protecting against radiation leakage.

2. A shielded radiation assembly according to claim 1, wherein said shield is flexible.

3. A shielded radiation assembly according to claim 2, wherein said shield is a curtain.

4. A shielded radiation assembly according to claim 2, wherein said curtain includes a plurality of radiation shielding slats.

5. A shielded radiation assembly according to claim 1, wherein said shield is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of radiation absorbent materials, radiation reflective materials, metal coated materials, coated thermoplastic materials and materials comprising lead.

6. A shielded radiation assembly according to claim 1, wherein said radiation emitting device emits actinic radiation selected from the group consisting of ultraviolet and visible light.

7. A shielded radiation assembly according to claim 1, wherein said support structure includes a base defining a support surface for accommodating an object to be radiated.

8. A shielded radiation assembly according to claim 7, wherein said support structure includes an upright support member extending from said base and a shield support frame for supporting said radiation shield.

9. A shielded radiation assembly according to claim 8, wherein said radiation emitting device is movably supported along said upright support member with respect to said base.

10. A shielded radiation assembly according to claim 9, wherein said frame is supported by said upright support member.

11. A shielded radiation assembly according to claim 10, wherein said frame is movably supported along said upright support member with respect to said base.

12. A shielded radiation assembly according to claim 10, further comprising an adjustable fastening member for movably supporting said radiation emitting device to said upright support member.

13. A shielded radiation assembly according to claim 12, wherein said support frame extends perimeterically about said radiation emitting device.

14. A shielded radiation assembly according to claim 9, wherein said frame is fixably supported by said upright support member.

15. A shielded radiation assembly according to claim 1, further including means for dissipating heat generated by said radiation emitting device.

16. A shielded radiation assembly according to claim 15, wherein said heat dissipating means includes at least one cooling fan supported by said support structure.

17. A shielded radiation assembly comprising:

a support structure;

an ultraviolet radiation emitting device moveably supported on said support structure; and

a flexible radiation shield comprising a plurality of radiation shielding sections supported on said support structure for relative movement with said radiation emitting device;

wherein said shield defines an enclosed space about said ultraviolet radiation emitting device for protecting against radiation leakage.

18. A shielded radiation assembly according to claim 17, wherein said radiation shield is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of radiation absorbent materials, radiation reflective materials and metal coated materials.

19. A shielded radiation assembly according to claim 17, wherein said support structure comprises an upright support member extending from a base and a shield support frame for supporting said radiation shield.

20. A shielded radiation assembly according to claim 19, wherein said radiation emitting device is movably supported along said upright support member with respect to said base.