Rotating carriage assembly for use in scanning cargo conveyances transported by a crane
First Claim
1. A radiation scanning system for scanning an object, comprising:
- a crane system to move the object from a first location to a second location;
a radiation source proximate to the crane system; and
a radiation detector proximate to the crane system, the radiation detector positioned to receive radiation interacting with an object;
wherein the source and detector are positioned such that an object may be moved between the source and the detector by the crane system;
the radiation scanning system further comprising;
a carriage coupled to the crane system to engage the object and to move the object from the first location to the second location; and
a rotatable member coupled to the carriage;
wherein;
the carriage is configured to rotate the object in a first direction, from a first orientation to a second orientation, prior to moving the object between the radiation source and radiation detector;
the rotatable member is rotatable in a second direction different from the first direction, while the carriage rotates the object in the first direction.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In one example, a radiation scanning system and method rotates a cargo conveyance after removal from a ship for proper orientation with respect to a scanning source and detector, for scanning. A movable carriage may be provided on a crane system, to rotate the cargo conveyance. A rotating flywheel on the carriage rotates in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the cargo conveyance, to counterbalance angular momentum generated by the rotating conveyance, to avoid or minimize twisting of the carriage. Feedback is provided to control the rotation of the flywheel. Once the cargo conveyance is in the predetermined position, the conveyance is moved between the radiation source and detector for scanning by a vertically extending radiation beam.
105 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A radiation scanning system for scanning an object, comprising:
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a crane system to move the object from a first location to a second location; a radiation source proximate to the crane system; and a radiation detector proximate to the crane system, the radiation detector positioned to receive radiation interacting with an object; wherein the source and detector are positioned such that an object may be moved between the source and the detector by the crane system; the radiation scanning system further comprising; a carriage coupled to the crane system to engage the object and to move the object from the first location to the second location; and a rotatable member coupled to the carriage; wherein; the carriage is configured to rotate the object in a first direction, from a first orientation to a second orientation, prior to moving the object between the radiation source and radiation detector; the rotatable member is rotatable in a second direction different from the first direction, while the carriage rotates the object in the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 37, 38, 39)
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11. A method for radiation scanning an object, comprising:
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suspending an object in the air; rotating the object to a predetermined orientation with respect to a radiation source, prior to scanning the object, by a support coupled to the object; counterbalancing, at least in part, angular momentum generated by rotating the object by generating second angular momentum in a direction different than a direction of angular momentum generated by rotating the object, while rotating the object; scanning the object by a radiation source while in the predetermined orientation; and detecting radiation after interacting with the object. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 40)
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19. A radiation scanning system for scanning an object, comprising:
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a crane system to move the object from a first location to a second location; a radiation source proximate to the crane system; and a radiation detector proximate to the crane system, the radiation detector positioned to receive radiation interacting with an object; the radiation scanning system further comprising; a carriage to be coupled to the crane system to engage the object and to move the object from the first location to the second location; and a rotatable member a carriage coupled; wherein; the carriage is configured to rotate the object in a first direction from a first orientation to a second orientation; the rotatable member is rotatable in a second direction different from the first direction, while the carriage rotates the object in the first direction; and
,rotation of the object in the first direction generates first angular momentum in the first direction and the rotatable member is configured to generate second angular momentum in the second direction during rotation of the rotatable member to counterbalance, at least in part, the first angular momentum. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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20. A method for radiation scanning an object, comprising:
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suspending an object in the air; rotating the object to a predetermined orientation with respect to a radiation source, prior to scanning the object; counterbalancing, at least in part, angular momentum generated by rotating the object by generating second angular momentum in a direction different than a direction of angular momentum generated by rotating the object, while rotating the object; scanning the object by a radiation source while in the predetermined orientation; and detecting radiation after interacting with the object.
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31. A method of radiation scanning an object, comprising:
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lifting an object by a crane from a seaport, in a first orientation; rotating the object in a first direction to a second orientation; counterbalancing, at least in part, angular momentum generated by rotating the object by generating second angular momentum in a direction different than a direction of angular momentum generated by rotating the object, while rotating the object; scanning the object by a radiation source in the second orientation; and detecting radiation after interacting with the object. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 41)
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Specification