High performance security inspection system with physically isolated detection sensors

• US 20090000207A1
• Filed: 03/06/2008
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Morpho Detection (Safran SA)
• Original Assignee: GE Security Incorporated (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Moyer, Brad, Kresse, David E., Clark, Keith A.
• Application Number:
  US12/074,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20090000207A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/506
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/20 Detecting prohibited goods, e.g. weapons, explosives, hazardous substances, contraband or smuggled objects

Abstract

A sealing mechanism for sealing an entrance aperture includes a flange with an interface defining an entrance aperture. A first drive shaft and a second drive shaft are coupled to a first drive element. A first linear rail is positioned on a first side of the entrance aperture. A first door linkage is pivotally coupled to a door, and coupled to the first linear rail and to the first drive element. A first pivoting cam is coupled to the first door linkage. A first cam latch is positioned on the first side of the entrance aperture and sized to receive the first pivoting cam. Contact between the first cam latch and the first cam urges the door inwardly at an angle relative to a direction of movement of the door to urge the door to contact an outer edge of the interface defining the entrance aperture.

Claims

1-33. -33. (canceled)

34. A sealing mechanism for sealing an aperture, comprising:

a flange with an interface defining an entrance aperture;

a first drive shaft;

a second drive shaft;

a drive source for driving said first drive shaft;

left and right drive elements, each separately connected to said first drive shaft and said second shaft;

left and right linear rails, each separately located on opposing sides of said entrance aperture;

left and right door linkages, each pivotally attached to a door, said left and right door linkages each being respectively received by said left and right linear rails and respectively connected to said left and right drive elements, wherein relative motion between said door and said entrance aperture is obtained by driving said left and right drive elements in one of two opposing directions;

pivoting left and right cams, each respectively attached to said left and right door linkages; and

left and right cam latches, each located on opposing sides of said entrance aperture and sized to respectively receive said left and right cams, wherein respective contact between said left end right cam latches and said left and right cams cause said door to travel inwardly at an angle relative to the direction of travel of said door, causing said door to ultimately contact an outer edge of said entrance aperture.

35. The sealing mechanism according to claim 34, further comprising:

a seal formed on said outer edge and facilitating contact with said door.

36. The sealing mechanism according to claim 34, wherein said left and right drive elements each comprise a belt.

37. A sealing mechanism for sealing an entrance aperture to isolate an inspection system, said sealing mechanism comprising:

a flange with an interface defining the entrance aperture;

a first drive shaft;

a second drive shaft;

a first drive element coupled to said first drive shaft and said second shaft;

a first linear rail positioned on a first side of the entrance aperture;

a first door linkage pivotally coupled to a door, said first door linkage coupled to said first linear rail and coupled to said first drive element, wherein relative motion of said door with respect to the entrance aperture is obtained by driving said first drive element in one of a first direction and an opposing second direction;

a first pivoting cam coupled to said first door linkage; and

a first cam latch positioned on said first side of the entrance aperture and sized to receive said first pivoting cam, wherein contact between said first cam latch and said first pivoting cam urges said door to move inwardly at an angle relative to a direction of movement of said door, urging said door to contact an outer edge of said interface defining the entrance aperture.

38. The sealing mechanism according to claim 37, further comprising:

a seal formed on said outer edge and facilitating contact with said door.

39. The sealing mechanism according to claim 37, wherein said first drive element comprises a belt.

40. The sealing mechanism according to claim 37, further comprising:

a drive source for driving said first drive shaft;

41. The sealing mechanism according to claim 37, wherein said first door linkage comprises:

a carriage link;

a first control arm coupled to said carriage link at a first end of said carriage link;

a clamp coupled to said first drive element, and said first control arm pivotally coupled to said clamp.

42. The sealing mechanism according to claim 41, wherein said first control arm further comprises:

a first pin coupling said carriage link to said first control arm; and

a second pin pivotally coupling said door to said first control arm.

43. The sealing mechanism according to claim 41, wherein said first door linkage further comprises:

a first carriage slidably engaging said first linear rail, and said carriage link coupled to said first carriage.

44. The sealing mechanism according to claim 41, wherein said first door linkage further comprises:

a second control arm coupled to said carriage link at an opposing second end of said carriage link; and

a turnbuckle pivotally coupled to said second control arm, and operatively coupling said first control arm to said second control arm.

45. The sealing mechanism according to claim 44, wherein said first door linkage further comprises:

a second carriage slidably engaging said first linear rail, and said carriage link coupled to said second carriage.

46. The sealing mechanism according to claim 41, wherein said first door linkage further comprising:

a bracket coupled to said carriage link; and

a spring coupled between said first control arm and said bracket.

47. The sealing mechanism according to claim 41, wherein said first door linkage further comprising:

a cam spring coupled between said first control arm and said carriage link.

48. The sealing mechanism according to claim 41, wherein said first pivoting cam is pivotally positioned within a recess formed in said carriage link, said first pivoting cam forming an open end engageable with said first cam latch to urge an inner surface of said door to contact a seal formed on said outer edge.

49. A method for sealing an entrance aperture defined by an interface to isolate an inspection system, said method comprising:

coupling a door to a first drive element with a first door linkage, the first door linkage coupled to a first linear rail positioned on a first side of the entrance aperture;

driving a first drive shaft in a first rotational direction to move the first drive element about the first drive shaft and a cooperating second drive shaft; and

engaging a first pivoting cam coupled to the first door linkage with a cam latch positioned on the first side of the entrance aperture to urge the door to move inwardly at an angle relative to a direction of movement of the door, urging the door to contact an outer edge of the interface defining the entrance aperture.