Radiation scanning of cargo conveyances at seaports and the like

• US 20040156477A1
• Filed: 01/31/2003
• Published: 08/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Varex Imaging Corporation
• Original Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Bjorkholm, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,317,782 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/146
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/04 and forming images of the material
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/005 using Tomography, e.g. CT or SPECT detector details in CT applications G01T1/2985
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/226 using tomography
• CPC Class Codes: G21K 5/10 with provision for relative movement of beam source and object to be irradiated

Abstract

A radiation scanning system comprises a radiation source and a radiation detector that are proximate a crane system that moves objects between the source and the detector for scanning. The source and/or detector may be supported by the crane system or may be near to the crane system. Preferably, the source and detector are supported by the crane system or they are within a profile defined by the crane system. The radiation scanning system is particularly suited to scan cargo conveyances, such as sea cargo conveyances, as they are being removed from or loaded onto a ship. Methods of examining objects are disclosed, as well.

Claims

1. A radiation scanning to scanning system for scanning objects, comprising:

a crane system to move an object from a first location to a second location;

a radiation source proximate the crane system; and

a radiation detector proximate the crane system, positioned to receive radiation interacting with an object between the source and the detector,

wherein the source and detector are positioned such that an object may be moved between the source and the detector by the crane system.

2. The radiation scanning system of claim 1, wherein the object is movable vertically by the crane system, through a space between the source and the detector.

3. The radiation scanning system of claim 1, wherein the source is adapted to emit a horizontally diverging beam towards the detector.

4. The radiation scanning system of claim 3, wherein the source is adapted to emit a fan beam.

5. The radiation scanning system in claim 1, wherein the radiation source is a source of X-ray radiation.

6. The radiation scanning system of claim 5, wherein the radiation source is capable of emitting a radiation beam having a peak energy of at least about 1 MeV.

7. The radiation scanning system of claim 6, wherein the radiation source is capable of emitting a radiation beam of at least about 6 MeV.

8. The radiation scanning system in claim 5, wherein the X-ray source is a linear accelerator.

9. The radiation scanning system of claim 1, wherein the detector and the source are aligned.

10. The radiation scanning system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the source and the detector are supported by the ground.

11. The radiation scanning system of claim 10, wherein the source and the detector are within a profile defined by the crane system.

12. The radiation scanning system of claim 10, wherein the ground is a seaport.

13. The radiation scanning system of claim 1, further comprising a guide in a space proximate the source and the detector, to guide the movement of the object between the source and the detector.

14. The radiation scanning system of claim 1, wherein the source comprises:

a vertically oriented accelerator body having a distal end; and

a shielded target at the distal end of the accelerator body, to emit a radiation beam towards the detector.

15. The radiation scanning system, claim 1, comprising:

a plurality of sources proximate the crane system, each source capable of emitting a radiation beam upon a portion of an object between the source and the detector.

16. The radiation scanning system of claim 1, wherein the source and the detector are separated by a sufficient distance to scan a sea cargo conveyance.

17. The radiation scanning system of claim 1, wherein the crane system comprises:

at least one vertical support;

at least one horizontal support supported by the vertical support;

a conveying system coupled to the horizontal support, to lift an object from a first location, move the object horizontally and lower the object to a second, different location.

18. The radiation scanning system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one rail;

wherein at least one of the source and the detector are movably supported on the rail.

19. A radiation scanning system for scanning objects comprising,

a crane system to move an object from a first location to a second location;

a radiation source supported by the crane system; and

a radiation detector supported by the crane system, positioned to receive radiation interacting with an object between the source and the detector;

wherein the source and the detector are positioned such that an object may be moved vertically between the source and the detector by the crane system during scanning.

20. The radiation scanning system of claim 19, wherein the source comprises:

a vertically oriented accelerator body to accelerate an electron beam, the accelerator body having a distal end; and

a shielded target at the distal end of the accelerator body, to emit a radiation beam towards the detector.

21. The radiation scanning system of claim 19, wherein the shielded target comprises:

a tube extending from the accelerator body to receive an electron beam accelerated by the accelerator body; and

a target material in the tube, to generate radiation upon impact by the electron beam; and

shielding material around the target, wherein the shielding material collimates the generated radiation into a horizontally diverging beam.

22. The radiation scanning system of claim 19, wherein the crane system comprises:

at least one vertical support;

at least one horizontal support supported by the vertical support;

a conveying system coupled to the horizontal support, to lift an object from a first location and lower the object to a second, different location.

23. The radiation scanning system of claim 21, wherein the conveying system can convey the object along a horizontal axis.

24. The radiation scanning system of claim 19, comprising:

a plurality of sources supported by the crane system, each source being adapted to emit a radiation beam upon a portion of the object.

25. The radiation scanning system of claim 24, wherein each source is adapted to emit a horizontally diverging radiation beam.

26. The radiation scanning system of claim 19, wherein the source is adapted to emit a horizontally diverging radiation beam.

27. A radiation scanning system, comprising:

moving means for lifting an object from one location and lowering the object to a second location

generating means for generating radiation; and

detecting means for detecting radiation interacting with the object;

wherein the moving means moves the object between the generating means and the detecting means.

28. A method of examining contents of an object, comprising:

moving an object along a first vertical axis;

moving the object along a second vertical axis different than the first vertical axis, through a horizontally diverging radiation beam; and

detecting radiation interacting with the object.

29. The method of claim 28, comprising:

lifting the object from a first location along the first vertical axis; and

lowering the object along the second vertical axis, through the radiation beam, to a second location.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the object is a cargo conveyance, the first location is on a ship and the second location is on a seaport, the method comprising:

lifting the cargo conveyance from the ship; and

lowering the object through a radiation beam onto the seaport.

31. The method of claim 28, comprising:

lifting the object from a first location along the first vertical axis, through the radiation beam; and

lowering the object along the second vertical axis, to the second location.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the object is a cargo conveyance, the first location is on a seaport and the second location is on a ship, the method comprising:

lifting the cargo conveyance from the seaport, through the radiation beam; and

lowering the cargo conveyance onto the ship.

33. The method of claim 28, comprising moving the object through a fan beam of radiation.

34. The method of claim 28, comprising moving the object through a cone beam of radiation.

35. The method of claim 28, comprising moving the object by a crane system.

36. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

moving at least one of a source of the horizontally diverging beam and a detector to detect radiation interacting with the object, into a position for operation.

37. A method of examining contents of an object, comprising:

moving an object by a crane system from a first location to a second location, through a radiation beam; and

detecting radiation from an interaction of the object with the radiation beam.

38. The method of claim 37, comprising:

lifting the object by the crane system, from a first location;

lowering the object by the crane system, to a second location; and

scanning the object while lowering the object.

39. The method in claim 37, comprising:

lifting the object from a ship; and

lowering the object onto a seaport.

40. The method of claim 37, comprising:

lifting the object by the crane system, from a first location;

scanning the object while lifting the object; and

lowering the object by the crane system, to a second location.

41. The method of claim 40, comprising:

lifting the object from a seaport; and

lowering the object onto a ship.

42. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

moving the object horizontally between moving the object from the first location and moving the object from the second location.

43. The method of claim 42, comprising:

moving the object horizontally through the radiation beam.

44. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

moving at least one of a source of the radiation beam and a detector to detect radiation into position with respect to the crane system.

45. The method of claim 44, comprising:

moving at least one of a source of the radiation beam and a detector to detect radiation into position with respect to the crane system, along a respective rail.

46. A seaport comprising:

a plurality of docking stations;

a plurality of crane systems, each crane system being positioned at a respective docking station;

at least one rail through each docking station;

a radiation source; and

a radiation detector positioned detect radiation emitted by the source and interacting with an object under examination;

wherein at least one of the source and the detector are movably supported on the rail, to move from one docking station to another.