X-ray inspection system and method for pipes
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsMorteza Safai, Gary Ernest Georgeson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method, a system, and an apparatus for scanning an elongate structure. A scanner in a scanning system is moved on a helical path around the elongate structure. The scanner is moved on the helical path around the elongate structure using a helical track system attached to the elongate structure using a translating structure. An x-ray beam is emitted from the scanner while the scanner moves on the helical path. Backscatter is detected from the x-ray beam encountering the elongate structure.
Claims21
A scanning system comprising:
- a helical track system configured to be placed around an elongate structure, wherein the helical track system comprises helical track sections connected to form a helical track, wherein a prior helical track section in the helical track sections for the helical track is disconnected from a back end of the helical track while the translating structure is on a current helical track section in the helical track sections for the helical track and the prior helical track section is reconnected to a front end of the helical track;
- a translating structure configured to move on the helical track system on a helical path;
- and
- a scanner connected to the translating structure, wherein the scanner is configured to emit an x-ray beam.
A pipe scanning system comprising:
- a helical track system configured to be placed around a pipe, wherein the helical track system comprises helical track sections connected to form a helical track, wherein a prior helical track section is removed from a back end of the helical track sections while the translating structure is on a current helical track section in the helical track sections and the prior helical track section is connected to a front end of the helical track sections;
- a translating structure configured to move on the helical track system on a helical path on the pipe;
- a scanner connected to the translating structure;
- and
- a controller in communication with the translating structure and the scanner, wherein the controller is configured to control the translating structure to move on the helical track system on the helical path and control the scanner to emit an x-ray beam while the translating structure moves on the helical track system on the pipe;
- and detect backscatter from the x-ray beam encountering the pipe.
A method for scanning an elongate structure, the method comprising:
- moving a scanner in a scanning system on a helical path around the elongate structure, wherein the scanner is moved on the helical path around the elongate structure using a helical track system attached to the elongate structure using a translating structure, wherein the helical track system comprises helical track sections connected to form a helical track;
- disconnecting a prior helical track section in the helical track sections for the helical track from a back end of the helical track while the translating structure is on a current helical track section in the helical track sections for the helical track and reconnecting the prior helical track section to a front end of the helical track;
- emitting an x-ray beam from the scanner while the scanner moves on the helical path;
- and
- detecting backscatter from the x-ray beam encountering the elongate structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.