Nautical X-ray inspection system
AssigneeAmerican Science and Engineering, Inc.
InventorsAlex Chalmers, Charles Squires
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for inspecting a physical object in a nautical environment includes a radiation source capable of directing a beam of penetrating radiation toward the physical object, and a detector capable of detecting the reaction of the physical object to the penetrating radiation. In addition to detecting the reaction, the detector is capable of delivering an output signal characterizing the physical object. Accordingly, the output signal is based upon the reaction of the physical object to the penetrating radiation.
Claims25
An apparatus for inspecting a nautical vessel in a nautical environment, the apparatus comprising:
- a radiation source capable of directing a beam of penetrating radiation toward the nautical vessel, the nautical vessel having a reaction to the beam of penetrating radiation;
- a detector capable of detecting the reaction of the nautical vessel, the detector being capable of delivering an output signal characterizing the nautical vessel, the output signal being based upon the reaction of the nautical vessel;
- and
- a platform supporting the radiation source and the detector, the platform being physically unsupported by the nautical vessel.
A method of inspecting a nautical vessel in a nautical environment, the method comprising:
- spacing a radiation source from the nautical vessel, a body of water separating the radiation source from the nautical vessel;
- directing a beam of penetrating radiation from the radiation source toward the nautical vessel;
- moving the beam of radiation relative to the nautical vessel, the nautical vessel having a reaction to the beam of radiation;
- detecting the reaction of the nautical vessel;
- and
- producing an output signal characterizing the nautical vessel, the output signal being based upon the detected reaction of the nautical vessel.
A system for inspecting a nautical vessel in a nautical environment, the system comprising:
- an X-ray source for directing X-ray radiation toward the nautical vessel, the nautical vessel having a reaction to the X-ray radiation;
- and
- a scatter-based detector for detecting the reaction of the nautical vessel and producing an output signal based upon the reaction of the nautical vessel, a body of water separating the system from the nautical vessel.
An apparatus for inspecting a nautical vessel in a nautical environment, the apparatus comprising:
- means for spacing a radiation source from the nautical vessel, a body of water separating the radiation source from the nautical vessel;
- means for directing a beam of penetrating radiation from the radiation source toward the nautical vessel;
- means for moving the beam of radiation relative to the nautical vessel, the nautical vessel having a reaction to the beam of radiation;
- means for detecting the reaction of the nautical vessel;
- and
- means for producing an output signal characterizing the nautical vessel, the output signal being based upon the detected reaction of the nautical vessel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.