Boom with mast assembly

• US 20050100135A1
• Filed: 06/04/2004
• Published: 05/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shook Mobile Technology LP
• Original Assignee: Shook Mobile Technology LP
• Inventors: Lowman, Eric E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,207,713 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/198
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/5433 and having the first pivot on a vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 17/06 specially adapted for particular purposes, e.g. in foundries, forges; combined with auxiliary apparatus serving particular purposes B66C17/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 23/18 specially adapted for use in particular purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 11/046 of the telescoping type
• 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 torsion- and bending resistant boom formed of beams running the length of the structure, a set of pierced, transverse flanges arrayed along, and substantially perpendicular to, the length of the structure, a continuous longitudinal member running the length of the structure, piercing the flanges, and several further longitudinal members, outward of the first member. The longitudinal members are welded to the flanges. An elevatable mast assembly raises and lowers the boom, and has a mast and guides formed of hollow tubes, and rollers between the guides and the mast, the rollers transferring torque loading to the guides.

Claims

1-22. -22. (canceled)

23. A mobile transport for scanning targets with penetrating radiation, for movement relative to the targets along a direction of travel, comprising:

a chassis;

a source of penetrating radiation mounted to said chassis;

one or more receptors for said penetrating radiation;

an instrument boom, said instrument boom comprising a mast assembly and a first boom section having longitudinal and transverse dimensions, said first boom section comprising;

a longitudinal member comprising an external surface;

a plurality of longitudinal sections, each section comprising two ends;

one or more substantially transverse flanges having opposing faces, said flanges defining at least one hole from one face to the other; and

a plurality of longitudinal beams;

wherein said longitudinal member is internal to said longitudinal sections, at least one end of each section is joined to the face of one or more flanges, the longitudinal member extends through the hole in the one or more flanges, the external surface is joined to said one or more flanges, and said longitudinal beams are joined to the flanges; and

wherein said first boom section is supported by said mast assembly, and said one or more receptors are mounted to said instrument boom.

24. The mobile transport of claim 23, wherein said instrument boom is positionable substantially transversely to the direction of travel.

25. The mobile transport of claim 23, the first boom section further comprising a proximal end, and a distal end, wherein said mast assembly supports the proximal end of the first boom section, and said first boom section supports a structure substantially at the distal end.

26. The mobile transport of claim 23, wherein said first boom section extends a distance substantially transverse to the direction of travel from said chassis, wherein said distance is greater than 144 inches.

27. The mobile transport of claim 23,

the instrument boom further comprising a second boom section;

and

first boom section further comprising a distal end;

wherein said second boom section is downwardly extending and is supported by the distal end of the first boom section, and said first boom section'"'"'s longitudinal dimension is in a substantially horizontal plane.

28. The mobile transport of claim 27,

the second boom section comprising proximal and distal ends;

wherein said proximal end of said second boom section is supported by the first boom section, and the distal end of the second boom section translates less than about one inch in any direction relative to the source of penetrating radiation during movement relative to the targets.

29. The mobile transport of claim 27, wherein said first and second boom sections are comprised of type 6061 T6 aluminum.

30. The mobile transport of claim 23, said longitudinal member comprising a tube, wherein said tube is circular in cross-section and continuous along substantially the longitudinal extent of the first boom section.

31. The mobile transport of claim 23, each of said longitudinal sections comprising a tube segment located substantially concentrically externally of said longitudinal member.

32. The mobile transport of claim 23, said longitudinal member comprising a tube, wherein said tube is circular in cross-section and continuous along substantially the longitudinal extent of the first boom section.

33. The mobile transport of claim 23, each of said longitudinal beams comprising a substantially planar inward surface, and one or more legs along the beam'"'"'s longitudinal extent, and said flanges comprising edges, wherein said one or more legs extends from the inward surface substantially normal to the plane of the beam, and said inward surface is joined to said flange edges.

34. The mobile transport of claim 33, said flange edges defining a plurality of depressions corresponding congruently to said one or more legs, wherein said depressions facilitate engagement of said beams and said flange edges.

35-49. -49. (canceled)

50. An elevatable mast assembly for lifting a load above a supporting structure, comprising:

a mast having an elevation axis;

a guide assembly having a plurality of guiding elements, wherein said guiding elements are fixed to the supporting structure; and

a plurality of roller assembly sets, wherein said sets inhibit translation of said mast relative to said guiding elements but permit such translation along the elevation axis.

51. The elevatable mast assembly of claim 50, the mast assembly comprising a plurality of joined parallel mast sections, and said mast sections and said guiding elements comprising metal tubing.

52. The elevatable mast assembly of claim 50, wherein said guiding elements are spaced radially outward of the mast, and said guiding elements and said mast are aligned to said translation axis.

53. The elevatable mast assembly of claim 50,

each of said roller assembly sets comprising a plurality of roller assemblies, each said assembly having at least one roller and a mount;

wherein the mounts of a first set of roller assemblies are fixed to said guiding elements and the mounts of a second set of roller assemblies are fixed to said mast.

54. The elevatable mast assembly of claim 53, further compromising a direction of elevation, wherein said first set is in the direction of elevation from said second set.

55. The elevatable mast assembly of claim 53, wherein said first set is further along said elevation axis than said second set.

56. The elevatable mast assembly of claim 50, each of said roller assembly sets comprising a plurality of rollers, wherein the rollers of at least one set are in rolling contact with said mast and the rollers of at least one other set are in rolling contact with said guiding elements.

57. The elevatable mast assembly of claim 56, wherein said rollers in rolling contact with said mast are above said rollers in rolling contact with said guiding elements.

58. The elevatable mast assembly of claim 50,

said mast comprising at least four parallel mast sections, each of said mast sections comprising a hollow metal tube;

said guide assembly comprising at least four guiding elements, each of said guiding elements comprising a hollow metal tube; and

a screw jack elevation system;

wherein at least one guiding element is located radially outwardly of each of said mast sections from said elevation axis.

59. In a mobile transport for emitting penetrating radiation, for scanning targets with said radiation and for sensing said radiation using sensors, the transport for movement along a direction of travel, a mast system, comprising:

a mast having an translation axis;

a guide assembly having a plurality of guiding elements, wherein said guiding elements are fixed to the supporting structure; and

a plurality of roller assembly sets, wherein said sets guide translation of said mast along the translation axis.

60. The mast system of claim 59,

said mast comprising a plurality of parallel mast sections, each of said mast sections comprising a hollow metal tube,

said guide assembly comprising a plurality of guiding elements, each of said guiding elements comprising a hollow metal tube,

wherein at least one guiding element is located radially outwardly of each of said mast sections from said translation axis.

61. The mast system of claim 59,

each of said roller assembly sets comprising a plurality of roller assemblies, each said assemblies having at least one roller and a mount;

and

the mast assembly further compromising a direction of elevation;

wherein the mounts of a first set of roller assemblies are fixed to said guiding elements the mounts of a second set of roller assemblies are fixed to said mast, and said first set is in the direction of elevation from said second set.

62. The mast system assembly of claim 59,

comprising at least a first and second roller assembly set, each of said roller assembly sets comprising a plurality of rollers;

wherein the rollers of the first set are in rolling contact with said mast, the rollers of the second set are in rolling contact with said guiding elements, and said rollers in rolling contact with said mast are above said rollers in rolling contact with said guiding elements.