Title: Instrument for detecting contamination on metallic surfaces by measuring surface potential differences

Abstract: Instrument for the non-destructive detection of contamination on the surface of a metallic object. A reference electrode contains sufficient radioactive material to ionize the air in a gap between the electrode and the metallic object. A buffer amplifier has its input terminals connected to sense the surface potential difference between the electrode and the metallic object. The air gap is typically from one to ten millimeters wide. The input circuit of the buffer amplifier has a resistance very much larger than that of the air gap when the air is ionized. The buffer amplifier drives an alarm device or a display device. A single voltage pick-up is conveniently embodied in a portable hand-held probe. A plurality of voltage pick-ups is incorporated into an array for simultaneously making multiple measurements of surface condition over a large area.

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Inventors: Guttenplan, Jack D. (Santa Ana, CA, US)
Yancey, Herbert W. (Downey, CA, US)

Application Number: 842022
Filing Date: 1977-10-14
Publication_date: 1980-03-04
Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation (El Segundo, CA)
Primary Class(es): 324/459 324/71.1
Other Classes:
US Patent Ref:

2954474	Sep, 1960	Lawrance	324/33.
4006063	Feb, 1977	Ensanian	324/71.

Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Rolinec, Rudolph V.
Assistant Examiner: Snow, Walter
Attorney: Hamann; H. Fredrick, Friedman; Gilbert H.