1. A radioisotope generation system comprising:
a radioisotope generator operable to dispense radioactive eluate into a container; and
a monitoring system operable while the radiation generator system dispenses eluate into the container to monitor the amount of eluate dispensed into the container and to generate a signal indicative of the amount of eluate dispensed into the container, the monitoring system comprising at least one of: (i) a level sensor operable to sense a level of eluate in the container, the level corresponding to the amount of eluate in the container; (ii) a timer operable to monitor an elapsed time during which eluate is dispensed into the container, the elapsed time being relative to a time at which the dispensing of eluate into the container is initiated, the elapsed time corresponding to the amount of eluate in the container; and (iii) a sensor operable to determine the weight of eluate in the container, the weight corresponding to the amount of eluate dispensed into the container.
2. A radioisotope generation system as in claim 1 wherein the monitoring system is operable to generate a signal when a desired amount of eluate has been dispensed into the container.
3. A radioisotope generation system as in claim 2 further comprising a selector for selectively setting the desired amount of eluate to be dispensed into the container.
4. A radioisotope generation system as in claim 2 wherein the generation system is operable to automatically interrupt dispensing of the eluate into the container in response to the signal.
5. A radioisotope generation system as in claim 1 wherein the signal is perceptible exterior of the container.
6. A radioisotope generation system as in claim 5 wherein the signal is at least one of visually and audibly perceptible exterior of the container.
7. A radioisotope generation system as in claim 1 wherein the signal is perceptible by a human.
8. A radioisotope generation system as in claim 1 wherein the level sensor is selected from the group consisting of optical sensors, infrared sensors, ultrasonic sensors, inductive sensors, and capacitive sensors.
9-10. (canceled)
11. A radioisotope generation system as in claim 1 wherein the monitoring system comprises the timer and is operable to generate a signal following dispensing of eluate into the container for a predetermined elapsed time wherein the predetermined elapsed time corresponds to a desired amount of eluate to be dispensed into the container.
12. A radioisotope generation system as in claim 11 wherein the predetermined elapsed time is selectively adjustable at least prior to the dispensing of eluate into the container being initiated.
13. A radioisotope generation system as in claim 1 further comprising a timer initiation system operable to automatically start the timer when dispensing of eluate into the container is initiated.
14. A radioisotope generation system as in claim 13 wherein the timer initiation system comprises a sensor selected from the group consisting of hall effect sensors, optical sensors, and RFID tags.
15. (canceled)
16. A method for dispensing radioactive eluate, the method comprising:
dispensing eluate from a radioisotope generator into a container while the container and the generator are in fluid communication;
monitoring the dispensing; and
providing a signal indicative of an amount of the eluate dispensed into the container, wherein the signal is perceptible by a human.
17. A method as in claim 16 wherein the providing comprises providing the signal when the amount of eluate in the container is approximately equal to a desired amount of eluate, the method further comprising interrupting the dispensing of eluate into the container in response to the signal.
18. A method as in claim 17 wherein the interrupting comprises automatically interrupting the dispensing of eluate into the container in response to the signal.
19. A method as in claim 17 wherein the interrupting comprises manually interrupting the dispensing of eluate into the container in response to the signal.
20. A method as in claim 17 further comprising selectively adjusting the desired amount of eluate to be dispensed into the container, the selectively adjusting being conducted prior to the dispensing of eluate into the container.
21. A method as in claim 16 wherein the monitoring comprises monitoring an elapsed time, starting from initiation of the dispensing, during which eluate is dispensed into the container, the elapsed time corresponding to the amount of eluate dispensed into the container.
22. A method as in claim 16 wherein the monitoring comprises sensing a level of eluate in the container, the level corresponding to an amount of eluate dispensed into the container.
23. A method as in claim 16 wherein the monitoring comprises sensing a weight of the eluate in the container, the weight corresponding to an amount of eluate dispensed into the container.
24. A method as in claim 16 further comprising generating an electrical signal based on the monitoring.
25. A method as in claim 24 wherein the providing results from the electrical signal generated.
26-57. (canceled)
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method for manufacturing a compressed air tank for utility vehicles, in particular for air suspensions of utility vehicles, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) forming a tubular or cylindrical casing having a pair of end faces;
(b) forming at least two bases by drawing or stamping, at least one of said bases andor said casing, having a bore peripherally surrounded by an exterior surface;
(c) laser welding one of said bases to a first one of said pair of end faces of said casing and, laser welding another one of said bases to a second one of said pair of end faces;
(d) providing a sleeve having an opening which passes through said sleeve and having an external peripheral wall located around said opening, said peripheral wall having an indentation, a chamfer or a groove; said indentation, said chamfer or said groove forming a burr or an annular projection;
(e) arranging said sleeve in said bore such that said burr or said annular projection of said sleeve is adjacent said exterior surface, and;
(f) circumferentially laser welding said sleeve circumferentially to said exterior surface by directing a laser beam to fuse said burr or said annular projection, to said exterior surface.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said casing and said bases are formed of metal and further comprising the step of: forming a coating on an inner side of the compressed air tank using an electrostatic powder coating process after carrying out the steps of claim 1.
3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said electrostatic powder coating process comprises a process in which a powder coating is applied to said inner side of the compressed air tank using a tribo lance introduced into the compressed air tank.