Detecting concealed security threats

• US 7,188,513 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2005
• Issued: 03/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Laura W. Wilson
• Original Assignee: Marshall Wilson
• Inventors: Wilson, Marshall
• Primary Examiner(s): LARKIN, DANIEL SEAN
• Application Number:
  US11/186,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20060226998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 73/310.1, 73/310.2, 73/310.3, 73/310.5, 738/63, 738/648.1
• US Class Current: 73/31.05
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2226 Sampling from a closed space, e.g. food package, head space
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/021 Correlating sampling sites with geographical information, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/022 sampling for security purposes, e.g. contraband, warfare agents
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/20 Detecting prohibited goods, e.g. weapons, explosives, hazardous substances, contraband or smuggled objects

Abstract

Systems, methods and apparatus for detecting concealed security threats by sampling molecules of substances for assessment wherein these molecules may be contained in the air in or near concealed security threats. Inspection of cargo containers by sampling the air contained therein and then analyzing the sampled air from the container for security threats including chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-explosive threats without requiring the modification of the existing container, the movement of the container to a particular inspection site, and without opening the container. Nuclear security threats may also be scanned for with close proximity nuclear radiation detection sensors closely coupled to areas at or near the concealed security threats. In addition, detection of other types of contraband, including illegal substances, embargoed materials and human and/or animal stowaways may also be assessed. The concealed security threat detection system generally includes a detection system comprising a detector array, an air-moving device, and one or more air-sampling devices. This system may be mounted upon a vehicle for mobility, run on tracks, cables and pulleys, telescoping and swiveling arms, etc.

Claims

1. A portable inspection apparatus for withdrawing samples of air from within a plurality of stacked containers and contemporaneously analyzing these air samples for determining a plurality of different security threats, said apparatus comprising:

an air sampling device adapted for withdrawing samples of air from within a plurality of stacked containers;

a positioning mechanism moveably coupled to the air sampling device and adapted for positioning the air sampling device proximate to an air vent of each of the plurality of stacked containers, wherein the positioning mechanism comprises at least one cable and at least one pulley;

a conduit coupled to the air sampling device;

an air distribution manifold having an inlet coupled to the conduit;

a plurality of sensors coupled to the air distribution manifold; and

an air-moving device coupled to an outlet of the air distribution manifold such that when the air moving device is operating the sample of air from a respective one of the plurality of stacked containers is drawn into the air distribution manifold;

whereby the air distribution manifold receives and then distributes to the plurality of sensors the sample of air from the respective one of the plurality of stacked containers;

wherein each of the plurality of sensors detects a different security threat contemporaneously with the withdrawal of the sample of air from within the respective one of the plurality of stacked containers.

2. The portable inspection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the air sampling device further comprises a vent cup adapted for withdrawing the air samples through vents associated with each of the plurality of stacked containers, each of the vents having one or more openings through which passes the air sample.

3. The portable inspection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the vent cup comprises a housing that fits over the one or more openings in the vents.

4. The portable inspection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an illumination device and a video camera for observing an area around the air sampling device.

5. The portable inspection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an acoustic source for vibrating each of the plurality of stacked containers so as to agitate particles therein into the air samples taken therefrom.

6. The portable inspection apparatus according to claim 5, the acoustic source is a thumping device.

7. The portable inspection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a nuclear sensor attached to the air sampling device.

8. The portable inspection apparatus according to claim 7, the nuclear sensor takes radiation samples while the air sampling device is proximate to each of the plurality of stacked containers.

9. The portable inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors are selected from the group consisting of sensors for sensing chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-explosive materials;

illicit drugs, hazardous industrial materials, and chemical vapors.

10. A portable inspection apparatus for withdrawing samples of air from within a plurality of stacked containers and contemporaneously analyzing these air samples for determining a plurality of different security threats, said apparatus comprising:

an air sampling device adapted for withdrawing samples of air from within a plurality of stacked containers;

a positioning mechanism moveably coupled to the air sampling device and adapted for positioning the air sampling device proximate to an air vent of each of the plurality of stacked containers, wherein the positioning mechanism attaches to at least one of the plurality of stacked containers;

a conduit coupled to the air sampling device;

an air distribution manifold having an inlet coupled to the conduit;

a plurality of sensors coupled to the air distribution manifold; and

an air-moving device coupled to an outlet of the air distribution manifold such that when the air moving device is operating the sample of air from a respective one of the plurality of stacked containers is drawn into the air distribution manifold;

whereby the air distribution manifold receives and then distributes to the plurality of sensors the sample of air from the respective one of the plurality of stacked containers;

wherein each of the plurality of sensors detects a different security threat contemporaneously with the withdrawal of the sample of air from within the respective one of the plurality of stacked containers.

11. The portable inspection apparatus of claim 10, wherein the air sampling device further comprises a vent cup adapted for withdrawing the air samples through vents associated with each of the plurality of stacked containers, each of the vents having one or more openings through which passes the air sample.

12. The portable inspection apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the vent cup comprises a housing that fits over the one or more openings in the vents.

13. The portable inspection apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising an illumination device and a video camera for observing an area around the air sampling device.

14. The portable inspection apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising an acoustic source for vibrating each of the plurality of stacked containers so as to agitate particles therein into the air samples taken therefrom.

15. The portable inspection apparatus according to claim 14, the acoustic source is a thumping device.

16. The portable inspection apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a nuclear sensor attached to the air sampling device.

17. The portable inspection apparatus according to claim 16, the nuclear sensor takes radiation samples while the air sampling device is proximate to each of the plurality of stacked containers.

18. The portable inspection apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of sensors are selected from the group consisting of sensors for sensing chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-explosive materials;

illicit drugs, hazardous industrial materials, and chemical vapors.