Relocatable X-Ray Imaging System and Method for Inspecting Commercial Vehicles and Cargo Containers

• US 20120177176A1
• Filed: 06/24/2011
• Published: 07/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rapiscan Systems Incorporated (OSI Systems Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Rapiscan Systems Incorporated (OSI Systems Incorporated)
• Inventors: Carver, James, Kotowski, Andreas F.
• Granted Patent: US 9,285,498 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/57
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/04 and forming images of the material
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/083 the radiation being X-rays
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/087 using polyenergetic X-rays
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/10 the material being confined in a container, e.g. in a luggage X-ray scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/20 Detecting prohibited goods, e.g. weapons, explosives, hazardous substances, contraband or smuggled objects
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/22 Active interrogation, i.e. by irradiating objects or goods using external radiation sources, e.g. using gamma rays or cosmic rays
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/224 Multiple energy techniques using one type of radiation, e.g. X-rays of different energies
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/232 having relative motion between the source, detector and object other than by conveyor G01V5/226 takes precedence

Abstract

A readily relocatable X-ray imaging system for inspecting the contents of vehicles and containers, and a method for using the same. In a preferred embodiment, the system is relatively small in size, and is used for inspecting commercial vehicles, cargo containers, and other large objects. The X-ray imaging, system comprises a substantially arch-shaped collapsible frame having an X-ray source and detectors disposed thereon. The frame is preferably collapsible via a plurality of hinges disposed thereon. A deployment means may be attached to the frame for deploying the frame into an X-ray imaging position, and for collapsing the frame into a transport position.

The collapsible X-ray frame may remain stationary during X-ray imaging while a vehicle or container is driven through or towed through an inspection area defined under the frame. Alternatively, the collapsible X-ray frame may be movable relative to a stationary vehicle or container during X-ray imaging.

Claims

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

24. (canceled)

25. (canceled)

26. (canceled)

27. (canceled)

28. (canceled)

29. (canceled)

30. (canceled)

31. (canceled)

32. (canceled)

33. (canceled)

34. (canceled)

35. (canceled)

36. (canceled)

37. (canceled)

38. (canceled)

39. (canceled)

40. (canceled)

41. (canceled)

42. (canceled)

43. (canceled)

44. (canceled)

45. (canceled)

46. (canceled)

47. (canceled)

48. (canceled)

49. (canceled)

50. (canceled)

51. (canceled)

52. (canceled)

53. (canceled)

54. (canceled)

55. An inspection system comprising:

An inverted U-shaped frame, wherein said inverted U-shaped frame comprises a first leg section, a second leg section, and a support beam section and wherein at least one of said first leg section, second leg section, and support beam section comprises a plurality of truss beams; and

A control system, wherein said control system is configured to deploy the inverted U-shaped frame by moving said first leg section, second leg section, and support beam section from a first configuration to a second configuration, wherein, in the first configuration, the first leg section, second leg section, and support beam section have a first collective height, wherein, in the second configuration, the first leg section, second leg section, and support beam section have a second collective height, and wherein the second collective height is greater than the first collective height.

1. (canceled)

56. The inspection system of claim 55 wherein, in the second configuration, the first leg section, second leg section, and support beam section form the inverted U-shaped frame.

57. The inspection system of claim 55 wherein, in the first configuration, the first leg section, second leg section, and support beam section do not form the inverted U-shaped frame.

58. The inspection system of claim 55 wherein the control system deploys the inverted U-shaped frame by moving the first and second leg sections away from one another such that the support beam section pivots into a locked position.

59. The inspection system of claim 58 wherein, upon deployment, the support beam section is substantially perpendicular to the first and second leg sections.

60. The inspection system of claim 55 wherein the support beam section comprises a first end and a second end and wherein the first leg section is pivotally attached to the first end.

61. The inspection system of claim 56 wherein the support beam section comprises a second end, opposite said first end, and wherein the second leg section is pivotally attached to the second end.

62. The inspection system of claim 55 wherein the first leg section comprises an X-ray source and wherein the second leg section comprises a detector array.

63. The inspection system of claim 62 wherein the control system deploys the inverted U-shaped frame by moving the first leg section and second leg section away from one another such that the support beam section pivots into an imaging position in which the X-ray source and detector array are substantially parallel to one another.

64. The inspection system of claim 63 wherein, in the first configuration, at least one of the first leg section, second leg section, or support beam section are attached to a bed section of the delivery vehicle.

65. The inspection system of claim 64 wherein the control system deploys the inverted U-shaped frame by inclining the bed section of the delivery vehicle until a base portion of at least one of the first leg section or second leg section contacts a surface of an inspection site.

66. The inspection system of claim 55 wherein the control system is adapted to generate an X-ray beam from a scanner toward an object to be imaged, receive detected X-rays from a detector array after the X-ray beam passes through the object;

and produce an output signal representative of the object.

63-1. The inspection system of claim 55 further comprising a delivery vehicle.

67. An inspection system comprising:

An inverted U-shaped frame, wherein said inverted U-shaped frame comprises a first leg section, a second leg section, and a support beam section; and

A control system, wherein said control system is configured to deploy the inverted U-shaped frame by moving said first leg section, second leg section, and support beam section from a first configuration to a second configuration, wherein, in the first configuration, the first leg section, second leg section, and support beam section have a first collective height, wherein, in the second configuration, the first leg section, second leg section, and support beam section have a second collective height, wherein the second collective height is greater than the first collective height, and wherein, in the second configuration, the first leg section, second leg section, and support beam section form the inverted U-shaped frame.

68. The inspection system of claim 67 wherein, in the first configuration, the first leg section, second leg section, and support beam section do not form the inverted U-shaped frame.

69. The inspection system of claim 67 wherein the control system deploys the inverted U-shaped frame by moving the first and second leg sections away from one another such that the support beam section pivots into a locked position.

70. The inspection system of claim 69 wherein, upon deployment, the support beam section is substantially perpendicular to the first and second leg sections.

71. The inspection system of claim 67 wherein the support beam section comprises a first end and a second end and wherein the first leg section is pivotally attached to the first end.

72. The inspection system of claim 71 wherein the support beam section comprises a second end, opposite said first end, and wherein the second leg section is pivotally attached to the second end.

73. The inspection system of claim 67 wherein the first leg section comprises an X-ray source and wherein the second leg section comprises a detector array.

74. The inspection system of claim 73 wherein the control system deploys the inverted U-shaped frame by moving the first leg section and second leg section away from one another such that the support beam section pivots into an imaging position in which the X-ray source and detector array are substantially parallel to one another.

75. The inspection system of claim 67 wherein, in the first configuration, at least one of the first leg section, second leg section, or support beam section are attached to a bed section of a delivery vehicle.