Shipping container interrogation apparatus and methods

• US 20100186483A1
• Filed: 07/24/2009
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Research International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Research International Incorporated
• Inventors: Saaski, Elroc W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,881,574 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/31.30
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2226 Sampling from a closed space, e.g. food package, head space
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/022 sampling for security purposes, e.g. contraband, warfare agents
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2223 aerosol sampling devices

Abstract

A shipping container interrogation apparatus and method that utilizes the tubular frame members of the container to deliver input air to the interior of the container, and to receive sample air from the interior of the container. A detection apparatus may be used to detect an unauthorized material in the sample air that is received from the interior of the container. Sample air from the detection apparatus may be recycled back into the container by use of a tubular frame member of the container. Input air may be delivered to the interior of the container with turbulence and in any desired direction or pattern for better interrogation of the interior of the container.

Claims

1. A shipping container interrogation apparatus;

wherein said interrogation apparatus comprises a shipping container; and

wherein said shipping container comprises;

an interior; and

an air transfer tubular frame member;

wherein said air transfer tubular frame member is operable to either receive input air and deliver said input air to said interior of said shipping container or is operable to receive sample air from said interior of said shipping container.

2. The interrogation apparatus of claim 1, wherein said shipping container tubular frame member comprises an air input tubular frame member;

and wherein said air input tubular frame member comprises an air input exterior port that is operable to receive said input air; and

wherein said air input tubular frame member further comprises an air input interior port that is operable to deliver said input air from said air input tubular frame member to said interior of said shipping container.

3. The interrogation apparatus of claim 2, wherein interrogation apparatus further comprises an air input pump that is operable to deliver input air to said air input tubular frame member.

4. The interrogation apparatus of claim 2, wherein said shipping container further comprises a shipping container top wall;

wherein said air input interior port comprises a discharge opening having a top and a height; and

wherein said top of said discharge opening is located within said interior of said shipping container at a vertical distance from said shipping container top wall that is not greater than about 10 times said height of said discharge opening.

5. The interrogation apparatus of claim 2, wherein said air input interior port comprises a discharge opening having a width and a height;

wherein said discharge opening comprises a shape that is least generally rectangular; and

wherein said shape has an aspect ratio of at least about 3;

1.

6. The interrogation apparatus of claim 2, wherein said air input interior port comprises a nozzle that is operable to direct at least part of said input air that is delivered to said interior of said container in at least one of a predetermined flow direction, a predetermined flow pattern, and a predetermined turbulent flow characteristic within said interior of said container.

7. The interrogation apparatus of claim 2, wherein said shipping container further comprises a shipping container top wall;

wherein said air input interior port comprises a nozzle;

wherein said nozzle comprises a discharge opening having a top and a height; and

wherein said top of said discharge opening is located within said interior of said shipping container at a vertical distance from said shipping container top wall that is not greater than about 10 times said height of said discharge opening.

8. The interrogation apparatus of claim 2, wherein said air input interior port comprises a nozzle;

wherein said nozzle comprises a discharge opening having a width and a height;

wherein said discharge opening comprises a shape that is least generally rectangular; and

wherein said shape has an aspect ratio of at least about 3;

1.

9. The interrogation apparatus of claim 1, wherein said shipping container tubular frame member comprises a sample air output tubular frame member;

wherein said air transfer tubular frame member comprises a sample air output interior port that is operable to receive sample air from said interior of said shipping container; and

wherein said sample air output tubular frame member further comprises a sample air output exterior port that is operable to receive said sample air from said sample air output tubular frame member.

10. The interrogation apparatus of claim 9, wherein said interrogation apparatus further comprises a sample air output pump that is operable to receive sample air from said sample air output exterior port.

11. The interrogation apparatus of claim 9, wherein said interrogation apparatus comprises a detection apparatus that is operable to receive sample air from said sample air output exterior port.

12. The interrogation apparatus of claim 1, wherein said shipping container comprises first and second said shipping container tubular frame members;

wherein said first shipping container tubular frame member comprises an air input tubular frame member;

wherein said air input tubular frame member comprises an air input exterior port that is operable to receive said input air;

wherein said air input tubular frame member further comprises an air input interior port that is operable to deliver said input air from said air input tubular frame member to said interior of said shipping container;

wherein said second shipping container tubular frame member comprises a sample air output tubular frame member, wherein said sample air output tubular frame member comprises a sample air output interior port that is operable to receive sample air from said interior of said shipping container; and

wherein said sample air output tubular frame member further comprises a sample air output exterior port that is operable to receive said sample air from said sample air output tubular frame member.

13. The interrogation apparatus of claim 12, wherein said shipping container further comprises two walls;

and wherein said first and second said shipping container tubular frame members both comprise part of a common one of said two walls.

14. The interrogation apparatus of claim 12, wherein said shipping container further comprises two walls;

and wherein said first and second tubular frame members each comprise part of a different one of said two walls.

15. The interrogation apparatus of claim 12, wherein said interrogation apparatus further comprises a sample air recycling conduit that is operable to convey said sample air from said sample air output tubular frame member to said air input tubular frame member.

16. The interrogation apparatus of claim 1 wherein said air transfer tubular frame member comprises an air cavity and an air transfer exterior port;

wherein said shipping container further comprises a sidewall, wherein said sidewall comprises corrugated material that comprises a repeating array of corrugation exterior portions and corrugation interior portions;

wherein adjacent pairs of said corrugation exterior portions and said corrugation interior portions are joined by respective corrugation sides;

wherein said air transfer exterior port is located between an adjacent pair of said corrugation exterior portions and comprises an exterior air plenum that is in fluid communication with said air cavity of said air transfer tubular frame member.

17. The interrogation apparatus of claim 1 wherein said air transfer tubular frame member comprises an air cavity and an transfer exterior port;

wherein said shipping container further comprises a sidewall, wherein said sidewall comprises corrugated material that comprises a repeating array of corrugation exterior portions and corrugation interior portions;

wherein adjacent pairs of said corrugation exterior portions and said corrugation interior portions are joined by respective corrugation sides;

wherein said air transfer exterior port is located between an adjacent pair of said corrugation exterior portions and comprises a tubular element that is in fluid communication with said air cavity of said air transfer tubular frame member.

18. The interrogation apparatus of claim 1, wherein said container further comprises a pair of sidewalls and a top wall;

wherein said top wall has a longitudinal centerline that is situated halfway between said pair of sidewalls; and

wherein said interrogation apparatus further comprises a vibration apparatus that is operable to apply a time-periodic lateral rocking motion to said top wall with respect to said longitudinal centerline.

19. The interrogation apparatus of claim 18, wherein said lateral rocking motion is used to excite even harmonics of said top wall of said container in a direction that is at least generally at about a right angle with respect to said longitudinal centerline.

20. The interrogation apparatus of claim 1, wherein said container comprises a wall;

and wherein said interrogation apparatus further comprises an air transfer port in said wall that is operable to either receive said input air and deliver said input air to said interior of said shipping container or is operable to receive said sample air from said interior of said shipping container.

21. A method for interrogating a shipping container;

wherein said shipping container comprises an interior; and

an air transfer tubular frame member; and

wherein said method comprises the step of using said air transfer tubular frame member for at least one of delivering input air to said interior of said shipping container and receiving sample air from said interior of said shipping container.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said air transfer tubular frame member comprises an air input tubular frame member;

and wherein method further comprises the step of using said air input tubular frame member for delivering said input air to said interior of said shipping container.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said air transfer tubular frame member comprises a sample air output tubular frame member;

and wherein method further comprises the step of using said sample air output tubular frame member for receiving said sample air from said interior of said shipping container.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein said shipping container comprises first and second said air transfer tubular frame members, wherein said first said air transfer tubular frame member comprises an air input tubular frame member;

wherein said second said air transfer tubular frame member comprises a sample air output tubular frame member; and

wherein said method further comprises the steps of using said air input tubular frame member for delivering said input air to said interior of said shipping container; and

using said sample air output tubular frame member for receiving said sample air from said interior of said shipping container.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein said method further comprises the step of using a detection apparatus for receiving said sample air from said sample air output tubular frame member and for detecting an unauthorized material in said sample air.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein said method further comprises the step of conveying said sample air from said sample air output tubular frame member to said air input tubular frame member.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein said method further comprises the step of delivering at least part of said input air to said interior of said shipping container in at least one of a predetermined flow direction, a predetermined flow pattern, and a predetermined turbulent flow characteristic within said shipping container.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein said container further comprises a pair of sidewalls and a top wall;

wherein said top wall has a longitudinal centerline that is situated halfway between said pair of sidewalls; and

wherein said method further comprises the step of applying a time-periodic lateral rocking motion to said top wall with respect to said longitudinal centerline.

29. The interrogation apparatus of claim 28, wherein said method further comprises the step of exciting even harmonics of said top wall of said container in a direction that is at least generally at about a right angle with respect to said longitudinal centerline.

30. A shipping container interrogation apparatus;

wherein said interrogation apparatus comprises a shipping container; and

wherein said shipping container comprises an interior;

an air input exterior port;

a sample air output exterior port;

a detection apparatus; and

an air pump;

wherein said air input exterior port is operable to receive input air and to deliver said input air to said interior of said shipping container;

wherein said air input exterior port has an air discharge opening;

wherein said air discharge opening has a top, a width, and a height;

wherein said top of said discharge opening is located within said interior of said shipping container at a vertical distance from said shipping container top wall that is not greater than about 10 times said height of said discharge opening;

wherein said sample air output exterior port is operable to receive sample air from said interior of said shipping container;

wherein detection apparatus is operable to receive sample air from said sample air output exterior port and to detect an unauthorized material in said sample air; and

wherein said air pump is operable to urge said input air to enter said air input exterior port, to urge said sample air out of said sample air output exterior port, and to urge said sample air through said detection apparatus.

31. The interrogation apparatus of claim 30, wherein said container further comprises a wall;

and wherein said interrogation apparatus further comprises an air transfer tubular frame member that is operable to either receive said input air and deliver said input air to said interior of said shipping container or is operable to receive said sample air from said interior of said shipping container.

32. The interrogation apparatus of claim 30, wherein said shipping container further comprises two walls;

and wherein said air input exterior port and said sample air output exterior port both comprise part of a common one of said two walls.

33. The interrogation apparatus of claim 30, wherein said shipping container further comprises two walls, and wherein said air input exterior port and said sample air output exterior port each comprise part of a different one of said two walls.

34. The interrogation apparatus of claim 30, wherein said interrogation apparatus further comprises a nozzle;

and wherein said nozzle comprises said air discharge opening.

35. The interrogation apparatus of claim 30, wherein said air discharge opening is operable to direct at least part of said input air that is delivered to said interior of said container in at least one of a predetermined flow direction, a predetermined flow pattern, and a predetermined turbulent flow characteristic within said shipping container.

36. The interrogation apparatus of claim 30, wherein said air input exterior port comprises a nozzle;

wherein said nozzle comprises said air discharge opening; and

wherein said nozzle is operable to direct at least part of said input air that is delivered to said interior of said container in at least one of a predetermined flow direction, a predetermined flow pattern, and a predetermined turbulent flow characteristic within said shipping container.

37. The interrogation apparatus of claim 30, wherein said shipping container further comprises a shipping container top wall;

wherein said air discharge opening comprises a shape that is least generally rectangular; and

wherein said shape has an aspect ratio of at least about 3;

1.

38. The interrogation apparatus of claim 37, wherein said interrogation apparatus further comprises a nozzle;

and wherein said nozzle comprises said air discharge opening.

39. The interrogation apparatus of claim 30, wherein said container further comprises a pair of sidewalls and a top wall;

wherein said top wall has a longitudinal centerline that is situated halfway between said pair of sidewalls; and

wherein said interrogation apparatus further comprises a vibration apparatus that is operable to apply a time-periodic lateral rocking motion to said top wall with respect to said longitudinal centerline.

40. The interrogation apparatus of claim 39, wherein said lateral rocking motion is used to excite even harmonics of said top wall of said container in a direction that is at least generally at about a right angle with respect to said longitudinal centerline.

41. A method for interrogating a shipping container;

wherein said shipping container comprises an interior;

an air input exterior port; and

a sample air output exterior port; and

wherein said method comprises the steps of;

(a) using said air input exterior port for delivering input air to said interior of said shipping container;

(b) using said sample air output exterior port for receiving sample air from said interior of said shipping container; and

(c) using a detection apparatus for receiving said sample air from said sample air output exterior port and for detecting an unauthorized material in said sample air.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein step (a) of said method further comprises the step of delivering at least part of said input air to said interior of said shipping container in at least one of a predetermined flow direction, a predetermined flow pattern, and a predetermined turbulent flow characteristic within said shipping container.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein said container further comprises a pair of sidewalls and a top wall;

wherein said top wall has a longitudinal centerline that is situated halfway between said pair of sidewalls; and

wherein said method further comprises the step of applying a time-periodic lateral rocking motion to said top wall with respect to said longitudinal centerline.

44. The interrogation apparatus of claim 43, wherein said method further comprises the step of exciting even harmonics of said top wall of said container in a direction that is at least generally at about a right angle with respect to said longitudinal centerline.