High speed digital radiographic inspection of piping
First Claim
1. A system for high-speed radiographic inspection of a fluid transport vessel, said system comprising:
- (a) a radiation source and a radiation detector, said source being aligned with said detector longitudinally along an outside surface of said vessel, said source and said detector being positioned on opposite sides of said outside surface;
(b) first positioning means for moving said source and said detector longitudinally with respect to said vessel;
(c) second positioning means for moving said source and said detector circumferentially with respect to said vessel;
(d) a controller for controlling said first and said second positioning means; and
(e) a real-time imaging unit wherein said imaging unit receives image data signals from said detector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for high-speed radiographic inspection of fluid transport vessels in which a radiation source and a radiation detector are positioned on opposite sides of the outside surface of the vessel. A positioning system is provided for moving and locating the radiation source and radiation detector longitudinally with respect to the vessel and for moving the radiation source and radiation detector circumferentially with respect to the vessel. In operation, the positioning system causes the radiation source and radiation detector to spiral along the vessel in a coordinated manner while the radiation source illuminates an adjacent region of the vessel with radiation. The radiation is converted into corresponding electrical signals used to generate images of objects in the radiation path. Finally, an operator inspects the images for defects.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system for high-speed radiographic inspection of a fluid transport vessel, said system comprising:
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(a) a radiation source and a radiation detector, said source being aligned with said detector longitudinally along an outside surface of said vessel, said source and said detector being positioned on opposite sides of said outside surface;
(b) first positioning means for moving said source and said detector longitudinally with respect to said vessel;
(c) second positioning means for moving said source and said detector circumferentially with respect to said vessel;
(d) a controller for controlling said first and said second positioning means; and
(e) a real-time imaging unit wherein said imaging unit receives image data signals from said detector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for high-speed radiographic inspection of a fluid transport vessel, said method comprising:
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(a) providing a radiation source and a radiation detector, said source being aligned with said detector longitudinally along an outside surface of said vessel; and
(b) causing said source and said detector to move longitudinally with respect to said vessel while said source is illuminating an adjacent region of said vessel with radiation. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification