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An apparatus (2) for determining thickness of refractory material (4) lining a metal vessel (6) is disclosed. The apparatus includes a radiation source (16) for emitting radiation through a metal wall of the vessel and into the refractory material, wherein some of the radiation is scattered by the r

An apparatus (2) for determining thickness of refractory material (4) lining a metal vessel (6) is disclosed. The apparatus includes a radiation source (16) for emitting radiation through a metal wall of the vessel and into the refractory material, wherein some of the radiation is scattered by the refractory material, and a radiation detector (20) for detecting radiation scattered by the refractory material through the wall of the vessel. A converter provides an output signal dependent on the quantity of radiation scattered by the refractory material through the wall of the vessel and detected by the radiation detector.

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1. An apparatus for determining thickness of refractory material lining a metal vessel, the apparatus comprising: a source of gamma radiation for emitting gamma radiation through a metal wall of the vessel and into said lining material, wherein some of said gamma radiation is scattered by said linin

1. An apparatus for determining thickness of refractory material lining a metal vessel, the apparatus comprising: a source of gamma radiation for emitting gamma radiation through a metal wall of the vessel and into said lining material, wherein some of said gamma radiation is scattered by said lining material;a radiation detector for detecting said gamma radiation scattered by said lining material through the wall of the vessel;a shield for attenuating radiation transmitted directly from said source of gamma radiation to said radiation detector, wherein the shield comprises a collimator member of radiation attenuating material having at least one slot for accommodating said source of gamma radiation; anda converter for providing at least one output signal dependent on the quantity of radiation scattered by said lining material through the wall of the vessel and detected by said radiation detector. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the radiation detector comprises at least one scintillation crystal and at least one photomultiplier. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first adjustor for adjusting a distance between the source of gamma radiation and the radiation detector. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second adjustor for adjusting a distance of the source of gamma radiation and/or radiation detector from the wall of the vessel. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said source of gamma radiation is arranged between 5 mm and 40 mm from an edge of said slot in a first direction. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one said slot extends 10 mm to 50 mm from said source of gamma radiation in a second direction. 7. An apparatus for determining thickness of refractory material lining a metal vessel, the apparatus comprising: a source of gamma radiation for emitting gamma radiation through a metal wall of the vessel and into said lining material, wherein some of said gamma radiation is scattered by said lining material;a radiation detector for detecting said gamma radiation scattered by said lining material through the wall of the vessel;a converter for providing at least one output signal dependent on the quantity of radiation scattered by said lining material through the wall of the vessel and detected by said radiation detector; andat least one magnet for maintaining the source of gamma radiation and/or radiation detector within a predetermined distance of the wall of the vessel. 8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the at least one magnet comprises at least one magnetic wheel adapted to engage a wall of the vessel. 9. An apparatus for determining thickness of refractory material lining a metal vessel, the apparatus comprising: a source of gamma radiation for emitting gamma radiation through a metal wall of the vessel and into said lining material, wherein some of said gamma radiation is scattered by said lining material;a radiation detector for detecting said gamma radiation scattered by said lining material through the wall of the vessel;a converter for providing at least one output signal dependent on the quantity of radiation scattered by said lining material through the wall of the vessel and detected by said radiation detector; andat least one winch apparatus for enabling the apparatus to scan a surface of the vessel assisted by gravity. 10. An apparatus for determining thickness of refractory material lining a metal vessel, the apparatus comprising: a source of gamma radiation for emitting gamma radiation through a metal wall of the vessel and into said lining material, wherein some of said gamma radiation is scattered by said lining material;a radiation detector for detecting said gamma radiation scattered by said lining material through the wall of the vessel;a converter for providing at least one output signal dependent on the quantity of radiation scattered by said lining material through the wall of the vessel and detected by said radiation detector;an air gap located such that, during operation of the apparatus, the air gap is between the detector and a surface of an object being scanned; andan air extractor operable to vent air from the air gap out of the apparatus. 11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the apparatus comprises ducting linking the air extractor to the air gap. 12. An apparatus for determining thickness of refractory material lining a metal vessel, the apparatus comprising: a source of gamma radiation for emitting gamma radiation through a metal wall of the vessel and into said lining material, wherein some of said gamma radiation is scattered by said lining material;a radiation detector for detecting said gamma radiation scattered by said lining material through the wall of the vessel;a converter for providing at least one output signal dependent on the quantity of radiation scattered by said lining material through the wall of the vessel and detected by said radiation detector;an air gap located such that, during operation of the apparatus, the air gap is between the detector and a surface of an object being scanned; andan air supplier configured to draw ambient air from the apparatus' surroundings and urge the ambient air towards the air gap. 13. A method of determining thickness of lining material lining a metal vessel, the method comprising: emitting gamma radiation from a gamma radiation source through a metal wall of the vessel and into said lining material, wherein some of said gamma radiation is scattered by said lining material;detecting, using a radiation detector, gamma radiation scattered by said lining material through the wall of the vessel;withdrawing air from an air gap located between the radiation detector and the wall of the vessel; andproviding at least one output signal dependent on the quantity of gamma radiation detected. 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the method comprises maintaining an air curtain between the radiation detector and the wall of the vessel. 15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the method comprises urging air toward an entrance of the air gap using an air supplier. 16. The method according to claim 15, wherein a greater volume of air is urged toward the air gap by the air supplier than is withdrawn from the air gap.