Method and apparatus for inspection of containers

• US 20080165362A1
• Filed: 04/27/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Portal Technologies LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Portal Technologies LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Inventors: Aikaterinidis, Antonios
• Application Number:
  US11/790,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20080165362A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/427
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/48 Arrangements of indicating or measuring devices
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/54 Gates or closures for manholes B65D90/10; covers or similar closure members, for pressure vessels in general F16J13/00; valves per se F16K; doors for containers B65D90/008
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 1/101 for containers B66C1/223 and B66C1/663 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/02 Devices for withdrawing samples sampling of foundation soil E02D1/04; collecting or conveying radioactive samples G01T7/00, e.g. G01T7/02, G01T7/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2202 involving separation of sample components during sampling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/024 passengers or luggage
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/0088 Biological contaminants; Fouling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/019 Biological contaminants; Fouling

Abstract

A method of inspecting a container during transfer of the container includes connecting a crane to the container by way of a spreader bar, causing a probe to engage an inspection port on the container, and probing the container. The probe may be an imaging probe, a camera, or another device for inspecting the contents of the container. The probe may be shielded, and the probe or shield may penetrate the inspection port with sufficient force to disengage a spring-loaded mount of a retractable port seal. The inspection port may be at a side wall of the container. Based on the findings of the probe, the container may be identified for further inspection. An apparatus for inspecting a container, a method of fitting a container for inspection, and an apparatus which may be fit to a container to facilitate inspection thereof are also disclosed.

Claims

1. ) A method of inspecting a container during transfer of the container, the method comprising:

connecting a crane to the container by way of a spreader bar;

causing an imaging probe to enter the container by way of an inspection port; and

imaging contents of the container.

2. ) The method of claim 1, wherein the imaging probe is selected from the group consisting of:

camera;

infrared camera;

ultrasonic imager;

sonar imager; and

combinations thereof.

3. ) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of causing an imaging probe to enter the container comprises penetrating the inspection port with sufficient force to disengage a spring-loaded mount of a retractable port seal.

4. ) The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying the container for further inspection.

5. ) The method of claim 1, further comprising:

illuminating the contents of the container.

6. ) A method of inspecting a container during transfer of the container, the method comprising:

connecting a crane to the container by way of a spreader bar;

causing a probe to enter the container by way of an inspection port disposed at a side of the container; and

probing the container.

7. ) The method of claim 6, wherein the probe is selected from the group consisting of:

camera;

chemical sampler;

x-ray probe;

sniffer;

gamma-ray detector;

sonic sampler;

ultrasonic probe;

infrared camera;

ultrasonic imager;

sonar imager; and

combinations thereof.

8. ) A method of fitting a container for inspection, the inspection to occur during transfer of the container, the method comprising:

creating an opening in a side wall of the container;

attaching a spring-loaded mount to the side wall at the opening; and

attaching a retractable port seal to the spring-loaded mount.

9. ) The method of claim 8, wherein the opening is created by a method selected from the group consisting of:

drilling;

milling;

cutting;

laser cutting;

arc cutting;

sawing;

shearing;

perforating; and

combinations thereof.

10. ) The method of claim 9, wherein the spring-loaded mount is attached by a method selected from the group consisting of:

direct bolting;

riveting;

bolting through a mounting block;

welding; and

combinations thereof.

11. ) An apparatus for inspecting a container during transfer of the container, the apparatus comprising:

a deployment arm pivotably attached to a spreader bar of a crane; and

an imaging probe attached to the deployment arm.

12. ) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the deployment arm is attached to the spreader bar by way of a base.

13. ) The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

a driver connected to the deployment arm and the base, the driver configured to provide force sufficient to disengage a spring-loaded mount of a retractable port seal.

14. ) The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a driver connected to the deployment arm and the imaging probe, the driver configured to provide force sufficient to disengage a spring-loaded mount of a retractable port seal.

15. ) The apparatus of claim 11, the apparatus further comprising:

a protective covering for the imaging probe, the protective covering being retractable after disengaging a spring-loaded mount of a retractable port seal.

16. ) An apparatus for facilitating inspection of a container during transit, the apparatus comprising:

a spring-loaded mount attached to a side wall of the container at an opening therein; and

a retractable port seal attached to the spring-loaded mount.

17. ) The apparatus of claim 16, the apparatus further comprising:

a contact plate attached at an exterior surface of the retractable port seal, the contact plate comprising indicia for alignment of a probe.

18. ) The apparatus of claim 16, the apparatus further comprising:

a sealing ring attached to and surrounding the opening.

19. ) The apparatus of claim 16, the apparatus further comprising:

a mounting block attached between the spring-loaded mount and the side wall and configured to receive bolts for attaching to the side wall.

20. ) The apparatus of claim 16, the apparatus further comprising:

a spring configured to keep the retractable port seal engaged with the side wall until impacted by sufficient force.

21. ) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the spring-loaded mount comprises a spring-loaded cylinder hinge attached to the retractable port seal.

22. ) The apparatus of claim 16, the apparatus further comprising:

a second spring-loaded mount attached to the container at a second opening; and

a second retractable port seal attached to the second spring-loaded mount.

23. ) A container predesigned for inspection, the inspection to occur during transfer of the container, the container comprising:

at least one side wall having an opening therein,

a spring-loaded mount attached to the side wall at the opening; and

a retractable port seal attached to the spring-loaded mount.