Portable industrial radiography apparatus

• US 10,151,710 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2015
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peltec Services, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Peltec Services, Inc.
• Inventors: Pellechia, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Allen C.
• Application Number:
  US14/803,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20160021725A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,240 Days
• Field of Search: 378196-198, 378 51, 378 53- 55, 378 58, 378 62
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/301 portable apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/308 support of radiation source
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/04 and forming images of the material
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/083 the radiation being X-rays
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/087 using polyenergetic X-rays
• CPC Class Codes: H05G 1/025 Means for cooling the X-ray tube or the generator

Abstract

A portable industrial radiography apparatus is provided for radiographic non-destructive testing. The portable industrial radiography apparatus includes a support frame, an upright support member attached to the support frame, an elongate lift arm including a first end and a second end, wherein the elongate lift arm is pivotally attached to the upright support member adjacent the second end of the lift arm, an x-ray tube attached to the first end of the elongate lift arm, and a linear actuator positioned between the support frame and the lift arm for manipulating a position of the x-ray tube attached to the first end of the elongate lift arm.

Claims

1. A portable industrial radiography apparatus comprising:

a support frame;

an upright support member attached to the support frame;

an elongate lift arm including a first end and a second end, wherein the elongate lift arm is attached to the upright support member at a pivot adjacent the second end of the elongate lift arm;

an x-ray tube attached to the first end of the elongate lift arm; and

a linear actuator positioned between the support frame and the elongate lift arm for manipulating a position of the x-ray tube attached to the first end of the elongate lift arm.

2. The portable industrial radiography apparatus of claim 1, wherein the linear actuator is attached to the elongate lift arm at a point between the first end of the elongate lift arm and the pivot.

3. The portable industrial radiography apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongate lift arm comprises a shaft and a sleeve, wherein the shaft is slidably inserted into the sleeve.

4. The portable industrial radiography apparatus of claim 3, further comprising one or more pairs of opposing angled rollers mounted on the sleeve, wherein the sleeve supports the shaft with the one or more pairs of opposing angled rollers, the one or more pairs of opposing angled rollers shaped to conform to a shape of the shaft.

5. The portable industrial radiography apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a bracket attached to the sleeve, wherein the one or more pairs of opposing angled rollers are attached to the sleeve at the bracket, and wherein the one or more pairs of opposing angled rollers further comprise a fastener extending through each of the one or more pairs of opposing angled rollers to attach the rollers to the bracket.

6. The portable industrial radiography apparatus of claim 4, wherein the shaft and the sleeve have diamond-shaped cross-sectional areas.

7. The portable industrial radiography apparatus of claim 4, further comprising an actuator attached to the elongate lift arm adjacent the second end of the elongate lift arm, wherein the linear actuator urges the shaft in a direction along a length of the elongate lift arm.

8. The portable industrial radiography apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a friction slip ring and set screw positioned between the x-ray tube and the elongate lift arm, wherein the friction slip ring and set screw enable adjustment of the x-ray tube relative to the elongate lift arm.

9. The portable industrial radiography apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upright support member is positioned at an angle of between 5°

and 60°

relative to a vertical axis.

10. The portable industrial radiography apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a gusset attached between the upright support member and the support frame.

11. The portable industrial radiography apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a housing attached adjacent the upright support member wherein the housing encapsulates the upright support member and the pivot.

12. The portable industrial radiography apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support frame comprises a first leg, a second leg parallel to the first leg, a first cross member extending perpendicular from the first leg to the second leg, and a second cross member parallel to the first cross member.

13. The portable industrial radiography apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an audible area alarm.

14. The portable industrial radiography apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an external chiller, one or more hoses, and a removable coupler, the external chiller in communication with the x-ray tube with the one or more hoses, wherein the one or more hoses are attached to the external chiller with the removable coupler.

15. A portable industrial radiography apparatus comprising:

a support frame;

an upright support member attached to the support frame;

an elongate lift arm including a first end and a second end, wherein the elongate lift arm is attached to the upright support member at a pivot adjacent the second end of the elongate lift arm, the elongate lift arm further comprising;

a shaft and a sleeve, wherein the shaft is slidably inserted into the sleeve, the shaft and the sleeve having diamond-shaped cross-sectional areas and

one or more pairs of opposing angled rollers for supporting the shaft within the sleeve;

an x-ray tube attached to the first end of the elongate lift arm; and

a linear actuator positioned between the support frame and the elongate lift arm for manipulating a position of the x-ray tube attached to the first end of the elongate lift arm.

16. The portable industrial radiography apparatus of claim 15, further comprising an actuator attached to the elongate lift arm adjacent the second end of the elongate lift arm, wherein the linear actuator urges the shaft in a direction along a length of the elongate lift arm.

17. The portable industrial radiography apparatus of claim 15, wherein the shaft and the sleeve have diamond-shaped cross-sectional areas.

18. The portable industrial radiography apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a friction slip ring and set screw adjacent the x-ray tube.

19. The portable industrial radiography apparatus of claim 15, wherein the upright support member is positioned at an angle of between 5°

and 60°

relative to a vertical axis.

20. A portable industrial radiography apparatus comprising:

a support frame including a first leg, a second leg parallel to the first leg, a first cross member extending perpendicular from the first leg to the second leg, and a second cross member parallel to the first cross member;

an upright support member attached to the support frame, the upright support member positioned at an angle of between 5° and

60°

relative to a vertical axis;

an elongate lift arm including a first end and a second end, wherein the elongate lift arm is attached to the upright support member at a pivot adjacent the second end of the elongate lift arm, the elongate lift arm further comprising;

a shaft and a sleeve, wherein the shaft is slidably inserted into the sleeve, the shaft and the sleeve having diamond-shaped cross-sectional areas,

one or more pairs of opposing angled rollers for supporting the shaft within the sleeve, and

an actuator attached to the elongate lift arm adjacent the second end of the elongate lift arm, wherein the actuator urges the shaft in a direction along a length of the elongate lift arm;

an x-ray tube, a friction slip ring, and a set screw, the x-ray tube attached to the first end of the elongate lift arm adjacent the friction slip ring and the set screw; and

a linear actuator positioned between the support frame and the elongate lift arm for manipulating a position of the x-ray tube attached to the first end of the elongate lift arm.