Top-Down X-Ray Inspection Trailer

• US 20110026673A1
• Filed: 07/26/2010
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Science and Engineering Incorporated (OSI Systems Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: American Science and Engineering Incorporated (OSI Systems Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mastronardi, Richard, Rothschild, Peter J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,345,819 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/57
• 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

Abstract

A system and method for inspecting a vehicle by means of one or more sources and detectors of penetrating radiation. The source(s) and detector(s) are carried on a mobile conveyance and deployed at a point of operation. One source swings away from the conveyance on a deployable member, such as a boom, such that the source can irradiate a vehicle from above or below. A detector deploys outwardly from the mobile conveyance, remaining mechanically coupled to the mobile conveyance in a position in a horizontal plane, such that the detector intercepts penetrating radiation from the source positioned above the inspected vehicle, which penetrating radiation has interacted with the inspected vehicle. A ramp may be provided to allow the inspected vehicle to be driven to a position between the vertically irradiating source and a transmission detector.

Claims

1. An inspection system for inspecting an object, the system comprising:

a. a conveyance capable of on-road travel characterized by an axis along a direction of road travel;

b. a source of penetrating radiation disposed on a deployable member coupled to the conveyance for providing a first beam of penetrating radiation directed in a substantially vertical direction;

c. a detector mechanically coupled to the conveyance for detecting penetrating radiation from the source after interaction of the object with the penetrating radiation and for generation of a detector signal corresponding to detected radiation; and

d. a controller for creating an image of contents of the object based at least on the detector signal.

2. The inspection system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the deployable member is a boom.

3. The inspection system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the boom is capable of extension outward at approximately 90°

to the central axis of the conveyance during the course of inspection.

4. The inspection system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the conveyance is self-propelled.

5. The inspection system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the conveyance includes a trailer.

6. The inspection system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the detector mechanically coupled to the conveyance is deployed from the conveyance prior to inspection operation.

7. The inspection system set forth in claim 4, wherein the detector is mechanically supported by an underlying surface during self-propelled passage thereover by an inspected vehicle.

8. The inspection system set forth in claim 4, further comprising at least one ramp coupled to the detector for facilitating passage thereover by an inspected vehicle.

9. The inspection system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first source of penetrating radiation includes a collimator for shaping the beam of penetrating radiation.

10. The inspection system set forth in claim 1, wherein the first source of penetrating radiation includes a collimator for shaping the beam of penetrating radiation into a fan beam.

11. The inspection system set forth in claim 1, wherein the first source of penetrating radiation includes a beam scanning mechanism.

12. The inspection system as set forth in claim 10, wherein the beam scanning mechanism is a rotating chopper wheel.

13. The inspection system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising at least one scatter detector for detecting penetrating radiation scattered by contents of the object and for generating a scatter signal.

14. The inspection system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a display for displaying an image of material disposed within the object based at least on the transmission signal.

15. The inspection system set forth in claim 1, wherein the detector is disposed on a module deployed from the conveyance for inspection operation.

16. The inspection system set forth in claim 1, wherein the source is disposed beneath the object of inspection.