Henry S Dowling

US Patent:

44790546, Oct 23, 1984

Filed:

Dec 7, 1981

Appl. No.:

6/328341

Inventors:

Richard S. Kampf - Costa Mesa CA
Henry G. Dowling - Atlanta GA

Assignee:

Beckman Instruments, Inc. - Fullerton CA

International Classification:

G01T 708

US Classification:

250328

Abstract:

An assembly for sealing the access passageway to a detector chamber in a scintillation counter instrument. The seal is designed to prevent the entry of any exterior light or environment that could affect the counting or scintillation process when a sample is positioned in the detector chamber. The sealing mechanism operates in conjunction with the scintillation instrument's flexible transport or elevator mechanism that moves a sample containing vial into the detector chamber. A plurality of rotating blades engage the elevator mechanism to form the tight seal. Included in the arrangement is a redundant system to provide a dual sealing capability. The sealing mechanism operates in conjunction with the flexible transport member which allows itself to be centered by the sealing mechanism to achieve the required light seal.