Vehicle mounted inspection systems and methods

• US 20050281390A1
• Filed: 08/24/2005
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Johnson, James H., Bjorkholm, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,397,891 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/198
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/0016 Active interrogation, i.e. using an external radiation source, e.g. using pulsed, continuous or cosmic rays
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/22 Active interrogation, i.e. by irradiating objects or goods using external radiation sources, e.g. using gamma rays or cosmic rays

Abstract

Vehicles for use in radiation scanning systems to inspect objects are disclosed. In one embodiment, a vehicle has a supporting portion and a radiation source is movably supported by the supporting portion. The source may be moved along the supporting portion to scan an object. The supporting portion may comprise an expandable portion. The vehicle may comprise a truck and an expandable trailer releasably coupled to the truck. The trailer may comprise telescoping rails. In another embodiment, a vehicle with a supporting portion, which may be an expandable portion, movably supports a detector. Vehicles of the first and second embodiments may be driven to an inspection site, where they may be rapidly deployed on opposite sides of an object to be scanned.

Claims

1. A vehicle for use in a radiation scanning system, the vehicle comprising:

a supporting portion; and

a radiation source movably supported by the supporting portion.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the supporting portion comprises an expandable portion.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein:

the expandable portion has a first position supported above ground and a second, lowered position, on the ground.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the expandable portion comprises at least one rail to movably support the source.

5. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein:

the at least one rail is telescoping.

6. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein:

the expandable portion is telescoping.

7. The vehicle of claim 2, comprising:

a trailer portion comprising the expandable portion; and

a truck releasably coupled to the trailer.

8. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein:

the vehicle has a longitudinal axis; and

the expandable portion is expandable along a direction of the longitudinal axis.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the radiation source is a source of X-ray radiation.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the source is adapted to emit at least two radiation beams in opposite directions, simultaneously.

11. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

a second radiation source movably supported by the supporting portion.

12. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

a base to support the source;

wherein the source is rotatably coupled to the base for selective rotation.

13. A vehicle for use in a radiation scanning system, the vehicle comprising:

a supporting portion; and

a detector to detect radiation, the detector being movably supported by the supporting portion.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein:

the supporting portion comprises an expandable portion.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein:

the expandable portion has a first position supported above ground and a second, lowered position, on the ground.

16. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein:

the supporting portion comprises at least one rail to movably support the detector.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein:

the at least one rail is telescoping.

18. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein:

the expandable portion is telescoping.

19. The vehicle of claim 14, comprising:

a trailer comprising the expandable portion; and

a truck releasably coupled to the first trailer.

20. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein:

the detector has a deployed position to detect radiation; and

the detector has a non-deployed position.

21. The vehicle of claim 20, wherein:

the non-deployed position is a horizontal position, along the supporting portion.

22. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein:

the detector is adapted to detect X-ray radiation.

23. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein:

the detector is adapted to detect a vertically diverging radiation beam.

24. A vehicle for use in a radiation scanning system, the vehicle comprising:

a supporting portion;

a base movably supported by the supporting portion; and

a radiation source rotatably coupled to the base, wherein the source is selectively rotatable about the pivot, to selectively illuminate objects in different locations.

25. The vehicle of claim 24, wherein;

the radiation source is pivotally coupled to the base.

26. The vehicle of claim 24, wherein:

the supporting portion comprises an expandable portion.