Mobile X-ray inspection system for large objects
AssigneeAmerican Science and Engineering, Inc.
InventorsRoderick Swift, Andrew Tybinkowski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for inspecting a cargo container such as a motor vehicle or freight pallet, with penetrating radiation. A source of penetrating radiation is mounted on a moveable bed, thereby allowing a beam of penetrating radiation to sweep the large container. At least one detector is also mounted on the bed, ether on the side of the source or on a boom, so that, as the beam is scanned across the container, the container and any contents of the container are characterized by transmitted or scattered radiation, or both.
Claims25
A device, for inspecting a cargo container with penetrating radiation, the device comprising:
- a. a bed moveable along a first direction having a horizontal component;
- b. a source of penetrating radiation, mounted on the bed, for providing a beam;
- c. a motorized drive for moving the bed in the first direction;
- and
- d. at least one scatter detector mounted on the bed, the at least one scatter detector having a signal output;
- so that the beam is caused to traverse the cargo container as the bed is moved and the at least one scatter detector provides a signal for characterizing the cargo container and any contents of the cargo container.
A method, for producing an X-ray scatter image of a large object, the method comprising:
- (e) providing a device having:
- (i) a bed moveable along a first direction having a horizontal component;
- (ii) a source of penetrating radiation, mounted on the bed, for providing a beam incident upon the large object;
- (iii) a motorized drive for moving the bed in the first direction;
- and
- (iv) at least one scatter detector mounted on the bed and having a signal output;
- (f) using the motorized drive to move the device past an object so as to cause the object to be scanned;
- and
- (g) processing the signal from the signal output of the scatter detector to form an image of the object.
A back scatter image of an object, the image formed by:
- (h) providing a device having:
- (i) a bed moveable along a direction having a horizontal component;
- (ii) a source of penetrating radiation, mounted on the bed, for providing a beam incident upon the large object;
- (iii) a motorized drive for moving the bed in the direction having a horizontal component;
- and
- (iv) a scatter detector mounted on the bed and having a signal output;
- (i) using the motorized drive to move the device past an object so as to cause the object to be scanned;
- and
- (a) processing the signal from the signal output of the scatter detector to form an image of the object.
A system for inspecting a cargo container with penetrating radiation, the system comprising:
- (a) a vehicle having wheels and an engine for propelling the vehicle on highways;
- (b) a source of penetrating radiation, mounted on the vehicle, for providing a beam;
- (c) a motorized scan drive, distinct from the engine, for moving the vehicle in a first scan direction;
- and
- (d) at least one scatter detector mounted on the vehicle, the at least one scatter detector having a signal output, so that the beam is caused to traverse the cargo container as the vehicle is moved in a scan direction and the at least one scatter detector provides a signal for characterizing the cargo container and any contents of the cargo container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.