System and method for using a dual modality detector for inspecting objects
First Claim
1. A system for inspecting an object, the system comprising:
- a dual radiation source for alternately irradiating the object with neutrons and x-rays or gamma rays;
a dual modality detector for measuring the alternating radiation passing through the object, the detector detecting small amounts of neutron attenuating material from large amounts of x-ray attenuation material;
means for processing the detected radiation into an image differentiating the small amounts of neutron attenuating material from the large amounts of x-ray attenuation material, the processing means using a ratiometric procedure for detecting small neutron-attenuation inclusions in the object, the ratiometric procedure determining a ratiometric quantity R for various regions of the object, the ratiometric quantity R approximating the ratio;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">R=α
.sub.x /α
.sub.n,where α
x is the linear attenuation coefficient of the object for x-rays and Δ
n is the linear attenuation coefficient of the object for neutrons; and
means for displaying the image generated from the processing means.
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Abstract
A system and method for using the detector to differentiate neutron attenuating material from high x-ray attenuating material in an object. The inspection system is used to detect the presence of nitride in titanium sponge nuggets or residual core material in a hollow-cast turbine engine blades. The inspection system uses a dual radiation source to alternately emit neutrons and x-rays or gamma rays at the object under inspection. A dual modality gas ionization detector detects the radiation passing through the object and sends the detected radiation to a processing means for image generation. The generated image is displayed on a display, enabling objects formed with low and high attenuating material to be distinguished.
33 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A system for inspecting an object, the system comprising:
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a dual radiation source for alternately irradiating the object with neutrons and x-rays or gamma rays; a dual modality detector for measuring the alternating radiation passing through the object, the detector detecting small amounts of neutron attenuating material from large amounts of x-ray attenuation material; means for processing the detected radiation into an image differentiating the small amounts of neutron attenuating material from the large amounts of x-ray attenuation material, the processing means using a ratiometric procedure for detecting small neutron-attenuation inclusions in the object, the ratiometric procedure determining a ratiometric quantity R for various regions of the object, the ratiometric quantity R approximating the ratio;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">R=α
.sub.x /α
.sub.n,where α
x is the linear attenuation coefficient of the object for x-rays and Δ
n is the linear attenuation coefficient of the object for neutrons; andmeans for displaying the image generated from the processing means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for inspecting an object with a dual radiation source, a dual modality gas ionization detector, an image generator and a display, the method comprising the steps off
alternately irradiating the object with neutrons and x-rays or gamma rays; -
detecting the alternating radiation passing through the object; processing the detected radiation into an image differentiating small amounts of neutron attenuating material from large amounts of x-ray attenuating material, the processing step includes using a ratiometric procedure for detecting small neutron-attenuation inclusions in the object, the ratiometric procedure determining a ratiometric quantity R for various regions of the object, the ratiometric quantity R approximating the ratio;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">R=α
.sub.x /α
.sub.n,where α
x is the linear attenuation coefficient of the object for x-rays and Δ
n is the linear attenuation coefficient of the object for neutrons; anddisplaying the image. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification