Monitoring installation for containers and trucks

• US 6,031,890 A
• Filed: 04/05/1994
• Issued: 02/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Heimann Systems GmbH
• Original Assignee: Heimann Systems GmbH
• Inventors: Donges, Gerhard, Bermbach, Rainer, Geus, Georg
• Primary Examiner(s): Church, Craig E.
• Application Number:
  US08/222,808
• Time in Patent Office: 2,156 Days
• Field of Search: 378/57, 378/206
• US Class Current: 378/57
• 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

Abstract

A monitoring installation for containers and trucks is provided making detection of large items, particularly trucks, at minimal expense possible. An X-ray monitoring installation having low X-ray energy, permits detection of stolen passenger cars, is arranged on a monitoring path.

Claims

1. A monitoring installation for monitoring containers and trucks, comprising:

a drive path through which a truck passes with a driver of the truck driving the truck;

a low-energy and low-current X-ray source having an energy of maximum 140 keV and a current of maximum 1 mA;

said X-ray source being located along the drive path for producing X-rays directed at a cargo area of the truck;

an X-ray detector located along the drive path and arranged to receive X-rays from the X-ray source after the X-rays have passed through the cargo area of the truck; and

light barrier means positioned along said drive path for activating said X-ray source when a cab of the truck has passed the X-ray source.

2. The monitoring installation according to claim 1, wherein said light barrier means comprises a light barrier located downstream of the X-ray source with respect to a direction of truck advance.