Mobile x-ray scan speed control
A conveyance and methods for x-ray inspection of an object. The conveyance has a bed with attached wheels and detector elements disposed along a pontine structure coupled to the conveyance. A source of penetrating radiation is coupled to the conveyance and disposed so as to irradiate each of the detector elements from a single position. An automated manual transmission couples power from an engine to a set of the wheels of the conveyance, both for road travel and for x-ray inspection.
1. A conveyance for X-ray inspection of an object, the conveyance comprising:
a bed having a longitudinal axis parallel to a direction of motion;
a plurality of wheels coupled to the bed;
a plurality of detector elements disposed along a pontine structure coupled to the conveyance;
a source of penetrating radiation coupled to the conveyance and disposed so as to irradiate each of the detector elements from a single position; and
an automated manual transmission for coupling power from an engine to a set of the plurality of wheels both for road travel and for X-ray inspection operations.
2. The conveyance in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the conveyance is adapted for operation under autonomous control.
3. The conveyance in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the pontine structure is adapted for deployment during inspection operation.
4. The conveyance in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the automated manual transmission includes a dual-clutch transmission.
5. The conveyance in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising a rear axle differential adapted to provide motion of the conveyance at a specified velocity.
6. The conveyance in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the conveyance weighs less than 15 tons.
7. A method for inspecting an object, the method comprising:
irradiating, from a single position on a bed of a conveyance, the conveyance having a plurality of wheels, each of a plurality of detector elements disposed along a pontine structure coupled to the conveyance; and
coupling power via an automated manual transmission to a set of the plurality of wheels of the conveyance for road travel and for X-ray inspection operations.
8. The method in accordance with claim 7 , wherein coupling power via the automated manual transmission includes coupling power to the set of the plurality of wheels via a dual-clutch transmission.
9. The method in accordance with claim 7 , wherein coupling power via the automated manual transmission includes coupling power to the set of the plurality of wheels via a rear axle differential adapted to provide motion of the conveyance at a specified velocity.
10. The method in accordance with claim 7 , further comprising deploying the pontine structure from the conveyance for inspection operations.
11. A conveyance for X-ray inspection of an object, the conveyance comprising:
a bed having a longitudinal axis parallel to a direction of motion;
a plurality of wheels coupled to the bed;
a plurality of detector elements disposed along a U-shaped structure coupled to the conveyance;
a source of penetrating radiation coupled to the conveyance and disposed so as to irradiate each of the detector elements from a single position; and
a transmission configured to perform a clutch operation that engages a succession of gears without an intervention by a driver, wherein the transmission is adapted to couple power from an engine to a set of the plurality of wheels both for road travel and for X-ray inspection operations.
12. The conveyance in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the conveyance is adapted for operation under autonomous control.
13. The conveyance in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the U-shaped structure is adapted for deployment during inspection operation.
14. The conveyance in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the transmission includes a dual-clutch transmission.
15. The conveyance in accordance with claim 11 , further comprising a rear axle differential adapted to provide motion of the conveyance at a specified velocity.
16. The conveyance in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the conveyance weighs less than 15 tons.
17. A method for inspecting an object, the method comprising:
irradiating, from a single position on a bed of a conveyance, the conveyance having a plurality of wheels, each of a plurality of detector elements disposed along a U-shaped structure coupled to the conveyance; and
coupling power via a transmission configured to perform a clutch operation that engages a succession of gears without an intervention by a driver to at least some of the plurality of wheels of the conveyance for road travel and for X-ray inspection operations.
18. The method in accordance with claim 17 , wherein coupling power via the transmission includes coupling power to the set of the plurality of wheels via a dual-clutch transmission.
19. The method in accordance with claim 17 , wherein coupling power via the transmission includes coupling power to the set of the plurality of wheels via a rear axle differential adapted to provide motion of the conveyance at a specified velocity.
20. The method in accordance with claim 17 , further comprising deploying the U-shaped structure from the conveyance for inspection operations.
21. A conveyance for X-ray inspection of an object, the conveyance comprising:
a bed having a longitudinal axis parallel to a direction of motion;
a plurality of wheels coupled to the bed;
a plurality of detector elements disposed along a bridge shaped structure coupled to the conveyance;
a source of penetrating radiation coupled to the conveyance and disposed so as to irradiate each of the detector elements from a single position; and
a transmission configured to perform a clutch operation that engages a succession of gears without an intervention by a driver, wherein the transmission is adapted to couple power from an engine to a set of the plurality of wheels both for road travel and for X-ray inspection operations.
22. The conveyance in accordance with claim 21 , wherein the conveyance is adapted for operation under autonomous control.
23. The conveyance in accordance with claim 21 , wherein the bridge shaped structure is adapted for deployment during inspection operation.
24. The conveyance in accordance with claim 21 , wherein the transmission includes a dual-clutch transmission.
25. The conveyance in accordance with claim 21 , further comprising a rear axle differential adapted to provide motion of the conveyance at a specified velocity.
26. The conveyance in accordance with claim 21 , wherein the conveyance weighs less than 15 tons.
27. A method for inspecting an object, the method comprising:
irradiating, from a single position on a bed of a conveyance, the conveyance having a plurality of wheels, each of a plurality of detector elements disposed along a bridge shaped structure coupled to the conveyance; and
coupling power via a transmission configured to perform a clutch operation that engages a succession of gears without an intervention by a driver to at least some of the plurality of wheels of the conveyance for road travel and for X-ray inspection operations.
28. The method in accordance with claim 27 , wherein coupling power via the transmission includes coupling power to the set of the plurality of wheels via a dual-clutch transmission.
29. The method in accordance with claim 27 , wherein coupling power via the transmission includes coupling power to the set of the plurality of wheels via a rear axle differential adapted to provide motion of the conveyance at a specified velocity.
30. The method in accordance with claim 27 , further comprising deploying the bridge shaped structure from the conveyance for inspection operations.