Online tomographic gauging of sheet metal
First Claim
1. A method of determining the dimensions of an object having a left edge and a right edge, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) generating a plurality of fan shaped beams of radiation from a respective plurality of distinct stationary physical locations, wherein each one of said plurality of fan shaped beams is divided into a plurality of fan ray elements;
b) alternately directing each one of said plurality of fan shaped beams towards said object and respective ones of a plurality of detectors, wherein each one of said plurality of fan shaped beams penetrates said object from said left edge of said object to said right edge of said object;
c) detecting several fan ray elements from each of said plurality of fan shaped beams, said several fan ray elements being detected by the plurality of detectors;
d) producing a plurality of data signals corresponding to said detected fan ray elements;
e) correlating each of said plurality of data signals with a physical location corresponding to a respective one of said plurality of detectors to determine the dimensions of the object.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a computer tomography system which measures the thickness and edge position of hot-rolled steel. X-rays produced by two X-ray sources are directed, through the sample being measured, to a plurality of radiation detectors. The radiation detectors measure the attenuation of the X-rays caused by the sample. The attenuation levels sensed by each detector are correlated with each detector'"'"'s physical location. This information is collected as each X-ray source illuminates the radiation detectors. The collected information is triangulated or averaged, as necessary, to determine the dimensions and position of the measured sample.
43 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method of determining the dimensions of an object having a left edge and a right edge, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) generating a plurality of fan shaped beams of radiation from a respective plurality of distinct stationary physical locations, wherein each one of said plurality of fan shaped beams is divided into a plurality of fan ray elements; b) alternately directing each one of said plurality of fan shaped beams towards said object and respective ones of a plurality of detectors, wherein each one of said plurality of fan shaped beams penetrates said object from said left edge of said object to said right edge of said object; c) detecting several fan ray elements from each of said plurality of fan shaped beams, said several fan ray elements being detected by the plurality of detectors; d) producing a plurality of data signals corresponding to said detected fan ray elements; e) correlating each of said plurality of data signals with a physical location corresponding to a respective one of said plurality of detectors to determine the dimensions of the object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 7)
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5. A method of determining the dimensions of an object having a left edge and a right edge, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) generating each of a plurality of fan shaped beams of radiation from a respective distinct stationary physical location, wherein each fan shaped beam is divided into a plurality of fan ray elements; b) directing each of said plurality of fan shaped beams entirely from one of one side of said object and another Side of said object toward said object and a plurality of detectors included in a respective one of a plurality of detector banks each situated entirely on one of another side of said object and one side of said object, wherein each of said plurality of fan shaped beams penetrates said object from said left edge of said object to said right edge of said object; c) detecting several fan ray elements from each of said fan shaped beams, said several fan ray elements detected by the plurality of detectors included in each of said plurality of detector banks; d) producing a plurality of data signals corresponding to said detected fan ray elements; e) correlating said plurality of data signals with a physical location corresponding to a respective one of said plurality of detectors included in said respective one of said plurality of detector banks to determine the dimensions of the object. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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8. A system for determining the dimensions of an object having a left edge and a right edge, said system comprising:
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a plurality of fan ray sources, each transmitting a plurality of fan rays from a respective plurality of stationary locations toward the object; detection means, including a plurality of detectors, for detecting several fan rays from each of said fan ray sources, wherein each of said fan ray sources directs fan rays towards said object and selected ones of said plurality of detectors, and wherein each of said plurality of fan shaped beams penetrates said object from said left edge of said object to said right edge of said object; data means for producing a plurality of data values, each corresponding to the intensity of ones of said detected fan rays; data processing means for processing a plurality of said data values to determine the dimensions of the object. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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11. The system of 10, further comprising further collimator means, coupled to said detection means, for significantly reducing the probability that a scattered ray formed by the intersection of one of said plurality of fan rays with said object will reach said detection means.
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16. The system of 14, wherein each detector further comprises a light pipe coupling the scintillation means to the photomultiplier tube.
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22. Apparatus for use in a steel mill for determining the dimensions of a steel sample having a left edge and a right edge, said apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of fan ray radiation sources, each transmitting a fan shaped beam which includes a respective plurality of fan rays toward same steel sample from a respective plurality of fixed physical locations, each fan shaped beam from each of said plurality of fan ray radiation sources penetrating said steel sample from said left edge to said right edge; detection means, including a plurality of detectors, for detecting several fan rays from each of said radiation sources, and for producing a plurality of data values corresponding to said plurality of fan rays, wherein each of said radiation sources directs fan rays towards said detectors; data processing means for processing selected ones of said plurality of data values to determine the dimensions of said steel sample. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification