Radiation shielded door

• US 20080025470A1
• Filed: 07/26/2007
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Smiths Heimann GmbH
• Original Assignee: Smiths Heimann GmbH
• Inventors: Streyl, Andreas
• Application Number:
  US11/878,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20080025470A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/203
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/0008 Detecting hidden objects, e.g. weapons, explosives sorting of materials or articles according to radioactive properties B07C5/342; investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation G01N23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/20 Detecting prohibited goods, e.g. weapons, explosives, hazardous substances, contraband or smuggled objects
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 3/00 Shielding characterised by its physical form, e.g. granules, or shape of the material

Abstract

A radiation-shielded door is provided, especially for use in an X-ray testing device. Radiation shielded closures in the form of lead curtains are disadvantageous in that they graze the object to be tested, thereby impairing the same and no longer covering the entire opening of the radiation tunnel. These disadvantages are avoided by using a radiation-shielded door which is configured by at least two movably arranged, radiation-absorbing lamellae forming the door, the faces of which are levers interlinked to give a lazy tongs-type mechanism.

Claims

1. A radiation shielding door for an X-ray inspection system, comprising:

at least two movably arranged radiation-absorbing plates that form the door, the radiation-absorbing plates having end faces that form levers and that are joined in the manner of lazy tongs.

2. The radiation shielding door according to claim 1, wherein the plates are made of a metallic carrier material and are coated with lead.

3. The radiation shielding door) according to claim 1, wherein the plates are made of a nonmetallic carrier material to which lead is glued.

4. The radiation shielding door according to claim 1, wherein the plates are made of a strongly radiation absorbent material, in particular Densimed.

5. The radiation shielding door according to claim 1, further comprising a motor-driven actuating unit, in particular electric or pneumatic, for opening and closing the door.

6. The radiation shielding door according to claim 1, wherein the door is opened by an actuating unit or manually, and is closed by gravity, and wherein the door is held in place in an opened position by a magnet and/or a mechanical holding device.

7. The radiation shielding door according to claim 1, further comprising sensors that detect a size of an object that is to be inspected.

8. The radiation shielding door according to claim 1, further comprising sensors that detect a position of the door.

9. The radiation shielding door according to claim 1, wherein one or more lead flaps are attached to at least one plate.