Rotating carriage assembly for use in scanning cargo conveyances transported by a crane
First Claim
1. A radiation scanning system for scanning an object, comprising:
- a crane system to move the object from a first location to a second location;
a radiation source proximate to the crane system; and
a radiation detector proximate to the crane system, the radiation detector positioned to receive radiation interacting with an object;
wherein the source and detector are positioned such that an object may be moved between the source and the detector by the crane system;
the radiation scanning system further comprising;
a carriage to be coupled to the crane system to engage the object and to move the object from the first location to the second location;
wherein the carriage is configured to rotate the object.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In one example, a radiation scanning system and method rotates a cargo conveyance after removal from a ship for proper orientation with respect to a scanning source and detector, for scanning. A movable carriage may be provided on a crane system, to rotate the cargo conveyance. A rotating flywheel on the carriage rotates in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the cargo conveyance, to counterbalance angular momentum generated by the rotating conveyance, to avoid or minimize twisting of the carriage. Feedback is provided to control the rotation of the flywheel. Once the cargo conveyance is in the predetermined position, the conveyance is moved between the radiation source and detector for scanning by a vertically extending radiation beam.
61 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A radiation scanning system for scanning an object, comprising:
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a crane system to move the object from a first location to a second location;
a radiation source proximate to the crane system; and
a radiation detector proximate to the crane system, the radiation detector positioned to receive radiation interacting with an object;
wherein the source and detector are positioned such that an object may be moved between the source and the detector by the crane system;
the radiation scanning system further comprising;
a carriage to be coupled to the crane system to engage the object and to move the object from the first location to the second location;
wherein the carriage is configured to rotate the object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A radiation scanning system for scanning an object, comprising:
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a crane system to move the object from a first location to a second location;
a radiation source proximate to the crane system;
a radiation detector proximate to the crane system, the radiation detector positioned to receive radiation interacting with an object;
wherein the source and detector are positioned such that an object may be moved between the source and the detector by the crane system; and
a carriage coupled to the crane system to engage the object and to move the object from the first location to the second location;
the carriage comprising;
a first member coupled to the crane system;
a second member rotatably coupled to the first member to be rotated in a first direction and capable of being coupled to the object; and
a rotatable member coupled to the carriage for rotation in a second direction opposite to the first direction, to counterbalance, at least in part, angular momentum generated during rotation of the first member. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for radiation scanning an object, comprising:
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suspending an object in the air;
rotating the object to a predetermined orientation with respect to a radiation source, prior to scanning the object;
scanning the object by a radiation source while in the predetermined orientation; and
detecting radiation after interacting with the object. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of radiation scanning an object, comprising:
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lifting an object by a crane from a ship, in a first orientation;
rotating the object to a second orientation, prior to scanning the object;
counterbalancing, at least in part, angular momentum generated by rotation of the object;
scanning the object by a radiation source in the second orientation; and
detecting radiation after interacting with the object. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A system for radiation scanning an object, comprising:
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means for suspending an object;
means for rotating the suspended object to a predetermined orientation with respect to a radiation source, prior to scanning the object; and
means for scanning the object by a radiation source. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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Specification