CONTAINERIZED SYSTEMS

• US 20120033209A1
• Filed: 08/08/2011
• Published: 02/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PaR Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: PaR Systems Inc (Pohlad Family Cos.)
• Inventors: Osterkamp, Mark A., Yawn, Kenneth R., Norris, Alan J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,705,028 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/244
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/0289 Internal structure, e.g. defects, grain size, texture
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/0423 Surface waves, e.g. Rayleigh waves, Love waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/075 by measuring or comparing phase angle measuring frequencies or phase angles per se G01R23/00, G01R25/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/12 by measuring frequency or resonance of acoustic waves measuring frequency or resonant frequency of mechanical vibrations or acoustic waves in general G01H1/06, G01H3/04, G01H13/00; acoustic resonators G10K11/04; vibration or shock testing of structures G01M7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/2418 using optoacoustic interaction with the material, e.g. laser radiation, photoacoustics photoacoustic cells G01N21/1702; measuring characteristics of vibrations by using radiation-sensitive means G01H9/00; acousto-optical conversion techniques for short-range imaging G01S15/8965; sound-producing devices using laser bundle G10K15/046
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/265 by moving the sensor relative to a stationary material

Abstract

Containerized systems are provided. In one embodiment, a containerized system includes a moveable three-dimensional container, a first generator, a second generator, and a scanner. The first generator is located within the container, and the second generator is located outside of the container. The scanner is mechanically supported by the container and transmits waves received from the first and the second generators. The containerized system optionally includes one or more rails connected to the outside of the container, and the scanner moves along the one or more rails. The containerized system may also include a multi-axes arm that positions the scanner and that is mechanically supported by the container. Furthermore, the containerized system may include an interferometer, an electronics rack, and/or an air conditioning unit.

Claims

1. A containerized system comprising:

a moveable three-dimensional container;

a first generator that is located within the container;

a second generator that is located outside of the container; and

a scanner that is mechanically supported by the container and that transmits waves received from the first and the second generators.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more rails are connected to the outside of the container, and wherein the scanner is moveable along the one or more rails.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the scanner is positioned utilizing a multi-axes arm that is mechanically supported by the container.

4. The system of claim 1, and further comprising:

an interferometer that is located within the container.

5. The system of claim 1, and further comprising:

an electronics rack that is located within the container.

6. The system of claim 1, and further comprising:

an air conditioning unit that is mechanically supported by the container.

7. The system of claim 1, and further comprising:

modular panels configured to be connected to each other to form a work cell.

8. A containerized system comprising:

a moveable three-dimensional container;

a generator that is located within the container;

a plurality of modular panels connectable to each other to form a work cell; and

a scanner that receives waves from the generator and that is located within the work cell.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein scanner is supported by the container.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the scanner is supported by the work cell.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the container forms a portion of the work cell.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the work cell is formed separately from the container.

13. A containerized system comprising:

a portable container;

a generator in the container;

a stationary minor that is attached to a fixed position on an outer surface of the container;

a travelling mirror that moves along the outer surface of the container; and

a scanner that receives electromagnetic waves that are generated by the generator and that are reflected by the stationary and the travelling mirrors.

14. The system of claim 13, and further comprising:

a second travelling mirror that moves along the outer surface of the container and that reflects light from the stationary mirror to the travelling mirror.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the container comprises a modified shipping container.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the container comprises a custom design trailer.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the container includes one or more apertures for transferring gas to the generator.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the container includes one or more apertures for transferring heat exchange fluids to the generator.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein one or more panels of the container have interlocks to power down the generator.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the scanner is carried by a carriage that moves the scanner about the outer surface of the container.

21. A method comprising:

securing a generator within a portable container;

transporting the portable container with the generator to an inspection area; and

maintaining the generator in a stationary position while inspecting an object with electromagnetic waves produced by the generator.

22. The method of claim 21, and further comprising:

identifying a defect in the object utilizing an interferometer in the portable container.

23. The method of claim 21, and further comprising:

storing waveforms from the object inspection in an electronics rack in the container.

24. The method of claim 21, and further comprising:

performing data analysis utilizing an operations station associated with the container.

25. The method of claim 21, and further comprising:

reading an identifier associated with the object utilizing a handheld control terminal.

26. The method of claim 21, and further comprising:

moving the object being inspected utilizing one or more rails.

27. The method of claim 21, and further comprising:

regenerating gas for the generator utilizing a catalyst unit in the container.

28. The method of claim 21, and further comprising:

forming a work cell utilizing modular panels.

29. A laser ultrasonic inspection system comprising:

a moveable three-dimensional container;

a gas laser generator that is located within the container;

a solid state laser generator that is located outside of the container; and

a scanner that is mechanically supported by the container and that transmits waves received from the gas laser generator and the solid state laser generator.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the gas laser generator is a carbon dioxide laser generator.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the solid state laser generator is a Nd:

YAG laser generator.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the solid state laser generator is a Yb:

YAG laser generator.

33. The system of claim 29, and further comprising:

modular panels configured to be connected to each other to form a work cell.

34. A laser ultrasonic inspection method comprising:

securing a gas laser generator within a portable container;

transporting the portable container with the gas laser generator to a laser ultrasonic inspection area; and

maintaining the gas laser generator in a stationary position while performing a laser ultrasonic inspection of an object with electromagnetic waves produced by the gas laser generator.

35. The method of claim 34, and further comprising:

forming a work cell utilizing modular panels; and

wherein performing the laser ultrasonic inspection of the object comprises inspecting the object while it is within the work cell.