New Developments from Industry Dennis Steele Research and Development Continental Eagle Corp.

COTTON SEED VARIETIES Today there are many different cotton seed varieties. Each variety has its own set of characteristics. Some are easy to gin—some are difficult. All have different seed weights when compared on a per bale basis. Some yield high fiber qualities—some not. Some yield high turnouts—some not so high.

COTTON SEED VARIETIES These different varieties present a challenge to today’s gin manager. How does the gin manager know how much seed is in the storage area? How does the gin manager determine how much seed to credit to one grower versus another?

CURRENT OPTIONS TO ESTIMATE SEED WEIGHT 1.The “formula” or “factoring”. This works if you have a long history of records and the growing season is the same every year. What if you have a different type of growing season, or what if you get a new variety? 2.Seed scales. These are very good estimates of seed weight. However, they are typically of two types: the balance beam type or the load cell type. These consist of many mechanical parts, require attention for maintenance and cleanliness and require a lot of space and equipment modification to install.

Continental Eagle Corp. has a third option for estimating seed weight

Continental Eagle Corp. together with Ohmart/Vega Corp. has developed a new method of weighing cotton seed at the cotton gin. It requires minimal (if any) modifications to existing equipment to install. It requires minimal maintenance during the ginning season. It has no moving parts.

The system uses radiation-based technology designed to measure the weight of cotton seed continuously as it travels in an auger box. Information is sent to two totalizer displays. One display can be used to accumulate the weight for the year. One display can be used to accumulate the weight since the meter was “zeroed”.

WEIGHMAX NUCLEAR SEED SCALE

OLD TECHNOLOGY NEW APPLICATION Ohmart/Vega has been producing radiation-based measuring equipment since Now Continental Eagle Corp. is applying Ohmart/Vega’s technology and expertise to weigh: A few of the products currently being weighed using Ohmart/Vega systems include: CoalPotatoesGold Wood chipsGypsum board cotton seed

PRINCIPLES of OPERATION Sealed Emitter (radioactive source in a holder) Beam of low level radiation Detector 4-20 ma signal to remote display

Sealed Emitter (source) Contains 1 mCi of Cs-137 inside a lead free, all welded, 304 stainless steel, fireproof housing. PRINCIPLES of OPERATION

Radiation beam A fan shaped (collimated) beam passes perpendicular to and thru the flow of cotton seed to the detector. The greater the amount of seed passing thru the beam, the less the amount of radiation reaching the detector. PRINCIPLES of OPERATION

Detector Consists of an ion chamber and electronics. The radiation passes thru the cotton seed and strikes the ion chamber producing an electrical signal proportional to the amount of radiation detected. Using this and the RPM of the auger, the electronics convert this information into a 4-20 ma signal to be used by the display. Ion chamber Electronics Nema 4X enclosure

ADVANTAGES OF NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY Radiation emitted from the source is stable and predictable over time. Technology for collecting radiation and converting this information into a useable signal is reliable and proven. Absorption of radiation by materials is constant and predictable. Not affected by external surroundings such as dust, humidity, and abrasion. NO MOVING PARTS

RADIATION The source in this application is Cs-137. The radiation it gives off consists of Gamma rays. Gamma rays are penetrating, but in general do not have the ability to make things radioactive. The amount of radiation is about 1.00 mRem/h at 12” from the source. (It decreases as distance increases). COMPARISONS Americans receive about 300 mRem a year just walking around. Passengers in an airplane at 39,000 ft. receive about.8mRem/h. A chest x-ray is about 10 mRem.