Rapidly relocatable modular cargo container scanner
First Claim
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1. A cargo inspection system, the system comprising:
- a first lead-in conveyor disposed on a first trailer for receiving a cargo container for inspection;
an inspection module disposed on a second trailer distinct from the first trailer for scanning the cargo container with penetrating radiation, detecting penetrating radiation that has interacted with the cargo container, and producing an inspection signal;
an exit conveyor disposed on a third trailer distinct from the second trailer and the first trailer for impelling the cargo container following scanning; and
a processor adapted for receiving the inspection signal over a course of passage of the cargo container through the inspection module and for producing therefrom an image characterizing contents of the cargo container.
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Abstract
An X-ray cargo inspection system and method. A lead-in conveyor on a first trailer receives a cargo container for inspection. An inspection module disposed on a second trailer then scans the cargo container with penetrating radiation, detects penetrating radiation that has interacted with the cargo container, and produces an inspection signal. An exit conveyor disposed on a third trailer projects the cargo container following scanning. The inspection module may contain transmission or scatter detectors, or both. Multiple lead-in conveyors may serve to load additional cargo containers for subsequent scanning by the inspection module.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A cargo inspection system, the system comprising:
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a first lead-in conveyor disposed on a first trailer for receiving a cargo container for inspection; an inspection module disposed on a second trailer distinct from the first trailer for scanning the cargo container with penetrating radiation, detecting penetrating radiation that has interacted with the cargo container, and producing an inspection signal; an exit conveyor disposed on a third trailer distinct from the second trailer and the first trailer for impelling the cargo container following scanning; and a processor adapted for receiving the inspection signal over a course of passage of the cargo container through the inspection module and for producing therefrom an image characterizing contents of the cargo container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for inspecting cargo disposed in a cargo container, the method comprising:
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impelling the cargo container on a lead-in conveyor disposed on a first trailer toward an inspection module disposed on a second trailer distinct from the first trailer; scanning the cargo container with penetrating radiation; detecting the penetration radiation after interaction with contents of the cargo container to generate a detector signal; impelling the cargo container on an exit conveyor disposed on a third trailer distinct from the second trailer and the first trailer following scanning; and receiving the detector signal over a course of passage of the cargo container through the inspection module and producing therefrom an image characterizing contents of the cargo container. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A cargo inspection system, the system comprising:
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a first lead-in conveyor disposed on a first conveyance for receiving a cargo container for inspection; an inspection module disposed on a second conveyance distinct from the first conveyance for scanning the cargo container with penetrating radiation, detecting penetrating radiation that has interacted with the cargo container, and producing an inspection signal; an exit conveyor, distinct from the first lead-in conveyor, disposed on a third conveyance distinct from the second conveyance and the first conveyance for impelling the cargo container following scanning; and a processor adapted for receiving the inspection signal over a course of passage of the cargo container through the inspection module and for producing therefrom an image characterizing contents of the cargo container. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for inspecting cargo disposed in a cargo container, the method comprising:
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impelling the cargo container on a lead-in conveyor disposed on a first conveyance toward an inspection module disposed on a second conveyance distinct from the first conveyance; scanning the cargo container with penetrating radiation; detecting the penetration radiation after interaction with contents of the cargo container to generate a detector signal; receiving the detector signal over a course of passage of the cargo container through the inspection module; impelling the cargo container on an exit conveyor, distinct from the lead-in conveyor, disposed on a third conveyance distinct from the second conveyance and the first conveyance following scanning; and producing an image from the detector signal, wherein the image characterizes contents of the cargo container. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification