Crane mounted cargo container inspection apparatus and method

• US 6,936,820 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2003
• Issued: 08/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bartlett Support Services Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bartlett Support Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Peoples, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): TANINGCO, MARCUS H
• Application Number:
  US10/423,551
• Publication Number:
  US 20030201394A1
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 250/336.1, 250/358.1, 250/359.1, 250/360.1, 378/53, 378/54, 378/57, 378/86, 378/88, 378/89
• US Class Current: 250/336.1
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 19/002 Container cranes B66C19/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/26 Passive interrogation, i.e. by measuring radiation emitted by objects or goods
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/271 using a network, e.g. a remote expert, accessing remote data or the like

Abstract

A cargo container inspection device for inspection of conventional cargo containers being lifted by a crane. The device is adapted for attachment to conventional cargo lifting cranes used in ports positioned adjacent to a cargo container elevated by the crane. If nuclear or chemical contraband is detected, the container may be marked for segregation and further inspection. Concurrent with the inspection an imaging device records and transmits images of the container and any nuclear and chemical readings. The device will activate telephonic, electronic, and audible warnings in addition to marking the container if contraband is detected.

Claims

1. A cargo container inspection device for cargo containers being lifted by a crane comprising:

said cargo inspection device adapted for attachment to a crane at a fixed position adjacent to a cargo container being held in an elevated position by said crane;

said cargo inspection device having a means to determine the presence of nuclear material inside said cargo container and generate a nuclear reading representative of any said nuclear material detected;

means to communicate said nuclear reading to a computing device programmed to receive said nuclear reading and determine if said reading is representative of nuclear material which is contraband nuclear material; and

said computing device initiating a series of alarm actions should said nuclear reading be determined to be contraband nuclear material.

2. The cargo container inspection device of claim 1 additionally comprising:

means for attachment of a marker identifying said container, to the exterior of said container.

3. The cargo container inspection device of claim 2 additionally comprising:

said marker attached by said means for attachment of a marker to said container being one or a combination of markers from a group consisting of visible paint from a paint dispenser, visible paint from a paintball gun, paint from a paint dispenser which is only visible with a visual aid device, paint from a paintball gun which is only visible with a visual aid device, and a beacon attached magnetically or adhesively to the outside surface of said cargo container.

4. The cargo container inspection device of claim 1 additionally comprising:

means to image said container exterior while engaged with said crane; and

said means to image said container exterior capable of one or a combination of;

recording an exterior image of said container, communicating exterior images of said container to a remote location, and communicating exterior images of said container to a remote location with said nuclear reading superimposed on said exterior image of said container.

5. The cargo container inspection device of claim 2 additionally comprising:

means to image said container exterior while engaged with said crane; and

said means to image said container exterior capable of one or a combination of;

recording an exterior image of said container, communicating exterior images of said container to a remote location, and communicating exterior images of said container to a remote location with said nuclear reading superimposed on said exterior image of said container.

6. The cargo container inspection device of claim 3 additionally comprising:

means to image said container exterior while engaged with said crane; and

said means to image said container exterior capable of one or a combination of;

recording an exterior image of said container, communicating exterior images of said container to a remote location, and communicating exterior images of said container to a remote location with said nuclear reading superimposed on said image of said container.

7. The cargo container inspection device of claim 1 additionally comprising said alarm actions being one or a combination of alarm actions from a group of alarm actions initiated by said inspection device consisting of:

(I) activating a telephonic communication device adapted for control by said by said inspection device to dial a phone number and deliver a message giving one or a combination of the location, time and a nuclear reading value;

(ii) activating an imaging device adapted for control by said inspection device to image the container with an electronic or photographic image of the exterior of said container and record the nuclear reading value for archive or for immediate email to remote responsible parties;

(iii) causing a means to mark said container adapted for activation by said inspection device to apply a marking identifying said container to the exterior of said container;

(iv) causing an electronic transmission device adapted for control by said inspection device to send an alert message to one or a plurality of electronic signs or other means for electronic display of indicia;

(v) activating a switching device adapted for activation by said inspection device to one or a combination of switched actions including flashing a light, sounding an audible alarm, and disabling the crane to prevent the lowering of said container;

(vi) activating a video recording means adapted for control by said inspection device to record an exterior image of the offending container with the detector nuclear reading values annotated to the video recording;

(vii) activating said computer to execute preprogrammed actions to warn and minimize exposure to workers and/or segregating potentially dangerous containers to a safe area; and

(viii) initiating an imaging means adapted for activation by said detection device to transmit to remote viewing locations, real time video of the exterior of the offending container and its subsequent movements.

8. The cargo container inspection device of claim 1 additionally comprising:

said cargo inspection device having a means for detection of chemical contraband in the said container by sampling air from the interior of said container and generating a chemical reading representative of any said chemical contraband detected;

means to communicate said chemical reading to said computing device programmed to receive said chemical reading and determine if said chemical reading is representative of chemical material which is contraband chemical material; and

said computing device initiating a series of alarm actions should said nuclear reading or said chemical reading be determined to be contraband nuclear material or contraband chemical material respectively.

9. The cargo container inspection device of claim 2 additionally comprising:

said cargo inspection device having a means for detection of chemical contraband in the container by sampling air from the container and generate a chemical reading representative of any said chemical contraband detected;

means to communicate said chemical reading to said computing device programmed to receive said chemical reading and determine if said chemical reading is representative of chemical material which is contraband chemical material; and

said computing device initiating a series of alarm actions should said nuclear reading or said chemical reading be determined to be contraband nuclear material or contraband chemical material respectively.

10. The cargo container inspection device of claim 3 additionally comprising:

said cargo inspection device having a means for detection of chemical contraband in the raised container by sampling air from the container and generate a chemical reading representative of any said chemical contraband detected;

means to communicate said chemical reading to said computing device programmed to receive said chemical reading and determine if said chemical reading is representative of chemical material which is contraband chemical material; and

said computing device initiating a series of alarm actions should said nuclear reading or said chemical reading be determined to be contraband nuclear material or contraband chemical material respectively.

11. The cargo container inspection device of claim 4 additionally comprising:

said cargo inspection device having a means for detection of chemical contraband in the raised container by sampling air from the container and generate a chemical reading representative of any said chemical contraband detected;

means to communicate said chemical reading to said computing device programmed to receive said chemical reading and determine if said chemical reading is representative of chemical material which is contraband chemical material; and

said computing device initiating a series of alarm actions should said nuclear reading or said chemical reading be determined to be contraband nuclear material or contraband chemical material respectively.

12. The cargo container inspection device of claim 5 additionally comprising:

said cargo inspection device having a means for detection of chemical contraband in the raised container by sampling air from the container and generate a chemical reading representative of any said chemical contraband detected;

means to communicate said chemical reading to said computing device programmed to receive said chemical reading and determine if said chemical reading is representative of chemical material which is contraband chemical material; and

said computing device initiating a series of alarm actions should said nuclear reading or said chemical reading be determined to be contraband nuclear material or contraband chemical material respectively.

13. The cargo container inspection device of claim 6 additionally comprising:

said cargo inspection device having a means for detection of chemical contraband in the raised container by sampling air from the container and generate a chemical reading representative of any said chemical contraband detected;

means to communicate said chemical reading to said computing device programmed to receive said chemical reading and determine if said chemical reading is representative of chemical material which is contraband chemical material; and

said computing device initiating a series of alarm actions should said nuclear reading or said chemical reading be determined to be contraband nuclear material or contraband chemical material respectively.

14. The cargo container inspection device of claim 8 additionally comprising said alarm actions being one or a combination of alarm actions from a group of alarm actions initiated by said inspection device consisting of:

(I) activating a telephonic communication device adapted for control by said by said inspection device to dial a phone number and deliver a message giving one or a combination of the location, time and a nuclear reading value;

(ii) activating an imaging device adapted for control by said inspection device to image the container an electronic or photographic image of the exterior of said container and record the nuclear reading value for archive or for immediate email to remote responsible parties;

(iii) causing a means to mark said container adapted for activation by said inspection device to apply a marking identifying said container to the exterior of said container;

(iv) causing an electronic transmission device adapted for control by said inspection device to send an alert message to one or a plurality of electronic signs or other means for electronic display of indicia;

(v) activating a switching device adapted for activation by said inspection device to one or a combination of switched actions including flashing a light, sounding an audible alarm, and disabling the crane to prevent the lowering of said container;

(vi) activating a video recording means adapted for control by said inspection device to record an exterior image of the offending container with the detector nuclear reading values annotated to the video recording;

(vii) activating said computer to execute preprogrammed actions to warn and minimize exposure to workers and/or segregating potentially dangerous containers to a safe area; and

(viii) initiating an imaging means adapted for activation by said detection device to transmit to remote viewing locations, real time video of the exterior of the offending container and its subsequent movements.

15. The cargo container inspection device of claim 1 wherein said means to communicate said nuclear reading to a computing device programmed to receive said nuclear reading and determine if said reading is representative of nuclear material which is contraband nuclear material comprises:

transmitting said nuclear reading to a display viewed by a human; and

said human viewing said nuclear reading to determine if said container contains contraband.

16. The cargo container inspection device of claim 8 wherein said means to communicate said nuclear reading to a computing device and said means to communicate said chemical reading to said computing device and determine if said nuclear reading or said chemical reading is contraband comprises:

transmitting said nuclear reading to a display viewed by a human; and

said human viewing said nuclear reading to determine if said container contains contraband.

17. The cargo container inspection device of claim 1 wherein said means to determine the presence of nuclear material inside a cargo container engaged with a lifting crane and generate a nuclear reading representative of any said nuclear material detected comprises one or a combination of nuclear detection devices from a group including a broad beam single scintillation detector, a narrow beam single scintillation detector, a broad beam dual scintillation detector, a combination broad beam single scintillation detector &

thermal neutron detector, a combination narrow beam dual scintillation detector, and a plastic scintillator detector, and a neutron detector array.

18. The cargo container inspection device of claim 8 wherein said means to determine the presence of nuclear material inside a cargo container engaged with a lifting crane and generate a nuclear reading representative of any said nuclear material detected comprises one or a combination of nuclear detection devices from a group including a broad beam single scintillation detector, a narrow beam single scintillation detector, a broad beam dual scintillation detector, a combination broad beam single scintillation detector &

thermal neutron detector, a combination narrow beam dual scintillation detector, and a plastic scintillator detector, and a neutron detector array.

19. The cargo container inspection device of claim 8 wherein said means for detection of chemical contraband in the said container by sampling air from the interior of said container comprises:

an electronic air sampling device adapted for engagement with an aperture communicating with the interior of said container.

20. A method of inspecting cargo containers for contraband nuclear or chemical materials comprising the steps of:

installing means for detection of nuclear and chemical contraband on a cargo container crane in a position which is adjacent to a lifted cargo container;

elevating said cargo container to a held position on said crane;

once elevated, activating said means for detection of nuclear and chemical contraband to inspect the elevated container in said held position;

communicating readings from said means for detection of nuclear and chemical contraband to a computing device programmed to compare said readings with an onboard database of nuclear and chemical detection readings and having said computer ascertain if a match between the container readings and a defined contraband occurs;

if said match occurs causing said inspection device to take one or a combination of actions including;

(I) activating a telephonic communication device adapted for control by said by said inspection device to dial a phone number and deliver a message giving one or a combination of the location, time and a nuclear reading value;

(ii) activating an imaging device adapted for control by said inspection device to image the container with an electronic or photographic image of the container exterior and record the nuclear reading value for archive or for immediate email to remote responsible parties;

(iii) causing a means to mark said container adapted for activation by said inspection device to apply a marking identifying said container to the exterior of said container;

(iv) causing an electronic transmission device adapted for control by said inspection device to send an alert message to one or a plurality of electronic signs or other means for electronic display of indicia;

(v) activating a switching device adapted for activation by said inspection device to one or a combination of switched actions including flashing a light, sounding an audible alarm, and disabling the crane to prevent the lowering of said container;

(vi) activating a video recording means adapted for control by said inspection device to record an image of the exterior of the offending container with the detector nuclear reading values annotated to the video recording;

(vii) activating said computer to execute preprogrammed actions to warn and minimize exposure to workers and/or segregating potentially dangerous containers to a safe area; and

(viii) initiating an imaging means adapted for activation by said detection device to transmit to remote viewing locations, real time video of an image of the exterior of the offending container and;

its subsequent movements.