Patent classifications
G01N2223/3303
Sample inspection system
There is presented an apparatus for identifying a sample. Such an apparatus may be used to detect unwanted items as part of a security screening system. The apparatus includes a platform for receiving the sample, at least one electromagnetic radiation emitter, a plurality of detectors and a calculator. The electromagnetic radiation emitter is adapted to provide a plurality of conical shells of radiation. Each conical shell has a characteristic propagation axis associated with it. The detectors are arranged to detect radiation diffracted by the sample upon incidence of one or more conical shells of radiation. Each detector is located on the characteristic propagation axis associated with a corresponding conical shell. The calculator is adapted to calculate a parameter of the sample based on the detected diffracted radiation. The parameter includes a lattice spacing of the sample.
PIG INCLUDING AN X-RAY FLUORESCENCE SENSOR
A pig for use in a pipeline is provided for determining the material of the pipeline in the context of an inline inspection. The pig includes a position determination unit and at least one braking arrangement for immobilizing the pig at a certain position in the pipeline. The pig also includes an X-ray fluorescence sensor.
TUBE WELD X-RAY INSPECTION DEVICE
Provided is a tube weld X-ray inspection device for inspecting an abnormality, such as a tube welding part crack, of a heat exchanger by using X-rays.
Automated circumferential pipe scanning system
The present disclosure provide pipe scanning systems suitable for performing integrity and reliability inspection of pipelines, including insulated and non-insulated pipelines. The pipe scanning system may include a track disposed about a surface of the pipeline (e.g., on top of the insulation for insulated pipelines or on top of the pipe for non-insulated pipelines) and a scanning device mounted on the track via a drive carriage. The drive carriage includes components to facilitate movement of the drive carriage and the scanning device along the track such that the scanning device travels about the circumference of the pipeline. The scanning device includes an x-ray emitter and a digital x-ray detector that may capture media content indicative of a scanned section of the pipeline (e.g., a 360° circumferential scan), and the media content may be analyzed to detect the presence of one or more defects, such as corrosion under insulation (CUI).
SCANNING SPECTRAL X-RAY IMAGING USING AN ALTERNATING HIGH VOLTAGE X-RAY SOURCE
Methods, systems, and apparatus for performing scanning spectral tomographic reconstruction of an object. The imaging system includes a power source that is configured to provide an alternating high voltage. The imaging system includes an X-ray source. The X-ray source includes an array of X-ray emitters that allow fast switching “ON” and “OFF” using a grid electrode. The source is configured to generate an X-ray beam with an energy spectrum based on the alternating high voltage and uses X-ray filters. The imaging system includes a controller configured to operate synchronously with the alternating high voltage. The controller is also configured to drive an actuator to position the X-ray source with respect to an object and drive the source in a pre-defined trajectory about the object. At each position in the trajectory, the controller is configured to control the exposure timing of the emitters based on a predefined firing pattern.
X-RAY INSPECTION APPARATUS AND X-RAY INSPECTION METHOD
An X-ray inspection apparatus includes a stage that moves an inspection object, an X-ray source, and/or an X-ray camera by driving a motor, a position detection unit that periodically obtains a position detection value of the motor, and stores the value in association with time, an imaging timing obtaining unit that stores an imaging timing at which imaging is performed by the X-ray camera in association with time, an imaging position calculation unit that calculates relative positions of the inspection object, and the X-ray source and the X-ray camera corresponding to the imaging timing using the position detection value of the motor at the imaging timing, and a reconstruction unit that performs reconstruction using image data captured by the X-ray camera and the relative positions in the image data at the imaging timing.
MOBILE AND FREE-FORM X-RAY IMAGING SYSTEMS AND METHODS
A three-dimensional (3D) x-ray tomographic imaging system includes an x-ray source fixedly attached to a first unmanned vehicle, which can be aerial or otherwise configured for locomotion, and an x-ray detector. A vehicle controller is configured to be operated by an operator, and an optical camera is mounted to the first unmanned vehicle at a fixed position relative to the x-ray source, and an optical pattern is fixed at a position relative to the x-ray detector. The x-ray source and x-ray detector are configured to be positioned on substantially opposite sides of the object, while the x-ray source is rotated radially around the object to one or more imaging positions.
AN ENERGY DISPERSIVE X-RAY DIFFRACTION ANALYSER HAVING AN IMPROVED REFLECTION GEOMETRY
An on-line energy dispersive X-ray diffraction (EDXRD) analyser for mineralogical analysis of material in a process stream or a sample is disclosed. The analyser includes a collimated X-ray source to produce a diverging beam of polychromatic X-rays, and an energy resolving X-ray detector, and a substantially X-ray transparent member having the form of a solid of revolution which is circularly symmetric about a central axis between the collimated X-ray source and the energy resolving X-ray detector, an outer surface of the X-ray transparent member positionable adjacent the material to be analysed. A primary beam collimator is disposed adjacent to or within the substantially X-ray transparent member to substantially prevent direct transmission of polychromatic X-rays emitted from the source to the detector. The analyser is configured such that the diverging beam of polychromatic X-rays are directed towards the substantially X-ray transparent member, and where the energy resolving X-ray detector collects a portion of the beam of X-rays diffracted by the material and outputs a signal containing energy information of the collected, diffracted X-rays.
Method of non-destructive imaging of the internal structure and device for carrying out the method
The invention relates to non-destructive imaging of the internal structure for safe and intuitive operator work. In the context of the invented method, electronic scanning first creates a virtual image of the surface of the object (5) whose internal structure is the subject of research. Part of the surface of the object (5) and the angle of scanning are set by voice or by movement of the operator's body (9). The virtual image of the surface of the object (5) is subsequently projected in the stereoscopic glasses (7), followed by creation of the virtual image of the internal structure of the object (5) for the same angle of scanning. The virtual image of the internal structure is projected in the virtual image of the surface of the object (5), or replaces the virtual image of the object (5).
Radiographic inspection system for pipes and other structures and material loss estimation
Some embodiments include a radiographic inspection system, comprising: a drive mechanism configured to move along a structure; a detector attached to the drive mechanism; a radiation source attached to the drive mechanism and positionable relative to the detector such that a width of the structure casts a radiation shadow on an active area of the detector; and control logic coupled to the detector and configured to: receive an image from the detector; generate side wall loss information based on the image; and generate bottom wall loss information based on the image.