Vehicle mounted inspection systems and methods

• US 7,397,891 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2005
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Johnson, James H., Bjorkholm, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): SONG, HOON K
• Application Number:
  US11/210,625
• Publication Number:
  US 20050281390A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 378/57, 378/9, 378197-198, 378/102, 378/10, 378/55
• 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

Vehicles for use in radiation scanning systems to inspect objects are disclosed. In one embodiment, a vehicle has a supporting portion and a radiation source is movably supported by the supporting portion. The source may be moved along the supporting portion to scan an object. The supporting portion may comprise an expandable portion. The vehicle may comprise a truck and an expandable trailer releasably coupled to the truck. The trailer may comprise telescoping rails. In another embodiment, a vehicle with a supporting portion, which may be an expandable portion, movably supports a detector. Vehicles of the first and second embodiments may be driven to an inspection site, where they may be rapidly deployed on opposite sides of an object to be scanned.

Claims

1. A vehicle for use in a radiation scanning system, the vehicle comprising:

a trailer comprising a supporting portion extending longitudinally along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, the supporting portion comprising an expandable portion;

a truck releasably coupled to the trailer; and

a radiation source movable on the supporting portion.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the expandable portion has a first position supported above ground and a second, lowered position, on the ground.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the expandable portion comprises at least one rail to movably support the source.

4. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein:

the at least one rail is telescoping.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the expandable portion is telescoping.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the radiation source is a source of X-ray radiation.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

a base to support the source;

wherein the source is rotatably coupled to the base for selective rotation.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the supporting portion extends longitudinally in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one wheel between the radiation source and the supporting portion, wherein the radiation source is movable on the supporting portion by rolling of the at least one wheel.

10. A vehicle for use in a radiation scanning system, the vehicle comprising:

a supporting portion extending longitudinally along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle; and

a radiation source movable on the supporting portion;

wherein the source is adapted to emit at least two radiation beams in opposite directions, simultaneously.

11. A vehicle for use in a radiation scanning system, the vehicle comprising:

a supporting portion extending longitudinally along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle;

a first radiation source movable on the supporting portion; and

a second radiation source movable on the supporting portion.

12. A vehicle for use in a radiation scanning system, the vehicle comprising:

a trailer comprising a supporting portion extending longitudinally along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, the supporting portion comprising an expandable portion;

a truck releasably coupled to the trailer; and

a detector to detect radiation, the detector being movable on the supporting portion.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein:

the expandable portion has a first position supported above ground and a second, lowered position, on the ground.

14. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein:

the supporting portion comprises at least one rail to movably support the detector.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein:

the at least one rail is telescoping.

16. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein:

the expandable portion is telescoping.

17. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein:

the detector has a deployed position to detect radiation; and

the detector has a non-deployed position.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein:

the non-deployed position is a horizontal position, along the supporting portion.

19. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein:

the detector is adapted to detect X-ray radiation.

20. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein:

the detector is adapted to detect a vertically diverging radiation beam.

21. The vehicle of claim 12, further comprising:

at least one wheel between the detector and the supporting portion, wherein the detector is movable on the supporting portion by rolling the at least one wheel.

22. A vehicle for use in a radiation scanning system, the vehicle comprising:

a trailer comprising a supporting portion, the supporting portion comprising an expandable portion;

a truck releasably coupled to the trailer;

a base movable on the supporting portion; and

a radiation source rotatably coupled to the base, wherein the source is selectively rotatable with respect to the base, to selectively illuminate objects in different locations.

23. The vehicle of claim 22, wherein;

the radiation source is pivotally coupled to the base.

24. The vehicle of claim 23, wherein:

the supporting portion comprises an expandable portion.

25. A vehicle for use in a radiation scanning system, the vehicle comprising:

a forward portion;

a rearward portion;

a supporting portion coupling the forward portion to the rearward portion, the supporting portion being telescopically expandable to vary a length of the vehicle; and

a radiation source movable on the supporting portion, between the forward portion and the rearward portion.

26. The vehicle of claim 25, wherein:

the supporting portion is expandable along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle; and

the radiation source is movable, on the supporting portion, along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

27. The vehicle of claim 25, further comprising:

at least one wheel supporting the forward portion and at least one wheel supporting the rearward portion.

28. The vehicle of claim 25, further comprising:

at least one wheel between the radiation source and the supporting portion, wherein the radiation source is movable on the supporting portion by rolling the at least one wheel.

29. The wheel of claim 28, wherein the radiation source is coupled to the wheel, to enable the radiation source to roll along the supporting portion.

30. The wheel of claim 28, wherein the detector is coupled to the wheel, to enable the detector to roll along the supporting portion.

31. A vehicle for use in a radiation scanning system, the vehicle comprising:

a forward portion;

a rearward portion;

a supporting portion coupling the forward portion to the rearward portion, the supporting portion being telescopically expandable to vary a length of the vehicle; and

a detector movable on the supporting portion, between the forward portion and the rearward portion.

32. The vehicle of claim 31, wherein:

the supporting portion is expandable along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle; and

the radiation source is movable, on the supporting portion, along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

33. The vehicle of claim 31, further comprising:

at least one wheel supporting the forward portion and at least one wheel supporting the rearward portion.

34. The vehicle of claim 31, further comprising:

at least one wheel between the detector and the supporting portion, wherein the detector is movable on the supporting portion by rolling the at least one wheel.

35. A vehicle for use in a radiation scanning system, the vehicle comprising:

a trailer comprising a supporting portion;

a radiation source movable on the supporting portion; and

at least one wheel between the radiation source and the supporting portion, wherein the radiation source is movable on the supporting portion by rolling of the at least one wheel.

36. The vehicle of claim 35, further comprising:

a truck coupled to the trailer.

37. The vehicle of claim 36, wherein:

the truck is releasably coupled to the trailer.

38. The vehicle of claim 35, wherein:

the supporting portion further comprises an expandable portion.

39. The vehicle of claim 35, wherein:

the radiation source is a source of X-ray radiation.

40. The vehicle of claim 35, wherein:

the radiation source is adapted to emit at least two radiation beams in opposite directions, simultaneously.

41. A vehicle for use in a radiation scanning system, the vehicle comprising:

a trailer comprising a supporting portion;

a detector movable on the supporting portion; and

at least one wheel between the detector and the supporting portion, wherein the detector is movable on the supporting portion by rolling of the at least one wheel.

42. The vehicle of claim 41, further comprising:

a truck coupled to the trailer.

43. The vehicle of claim 42, wherein:

the truck is releasably coupled to the trailer.

44. The vehicle of claim 41, wherein:

the supporting portion further comprises an expandable portion.

45. The vehicle of claim 41, wherein:

the detector has a deployed position to detect radiation; and

the detector has a non-deployed position.

46. The vehicle of claim 45, wherein:

the non-deployed position is a horizontal position, along the supporting portion.

47. The vehicle of claim 41, wherein:

the detector is adapted to detect X-ray radiation.

48. The vehicle of claim 41, wherein:

the detector is adapted to detect a vertically diverging radiation beam.