Vehicle-borne radiation monitoring system and lifting device used for it

Abstract

Featuring a vehicle-mounted radiation monitoring system: a loading vehicle (1); a lifting device which is attached to the loading vehicle (1); and Radiation scanning monitoring devices which are rigidly attached to the lifting device and which move up and down together with the lifting device, wherein the radiation scanning monitoring means include an accelerator which has a radiation source (2) for generating X-rays, wherein the lifting device is designed to keep the lifting device and the radiation scanning monitoring means as a whole at a predetermined safety distance from the ground while the loading vehicle (1) is in motion, and to maintain a minimum distance between them of less than the predetermined safety distance during monitoring, wherein the system comprises a rotatable platform (15) which is horizontally rotatable relative to the loading vehicle (1), and a connecting plate (8) which is integrally connected to the rotatable platform (15) and extends over the rear end of the loading vehicle (1), wherein the lifting device is attached to the connecting plate (8), wherein the lifting device is attached below the connecting plate (8), wherein the lifting device has a lifting support (4) and a drive (10), wherein the lifting support (4) has at least one vertical guide cylinder (5) which is rigidly attached to the connecting plate (8) and at least one sliding rod (6), wherein each of these sliding rods (6) is slidably guided in exactly one corresponding guide cylinder (5) and is attached at a lower end to a support (7) of the lifting platform, wherein the radiation scanning monitoring means are rigidly attached to the support (7), wherein the drive has a hydraulic cylinder (10) whose housing is attached to the connecting plate (8) and whose piston rod is attached to the support (7), wherein the lifting device has a safety locking pin (9), which is provided on the guide cylinder (5) to lock the sliding rod (6) therein, wherein, while the vehicle-mounted radiation monitoring system is moving on the road, the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder (10) is retracted into the housing of the hydraulic cylinder (10) and the guide cylinder (5) is locked by a safety locking pin (9) with the corresponding sliding rod (6) so that the accelerator (3) is held in a high position, wherein, while the vehicle-mounted radiation monitoring system performs the scanning process, the safety locking pin (9) is unlocked, so that the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder (10) protrudes from the housing of the hydraulic cylinder (10) to move the accelerator (3) downwards and thereby lower the radiation source (2).

Description

Application area and state of the art

[0001] The present invention relates to a safety monitoring system, in particular a safety monitoring system for a vehicle-mounted radiation monitoring system with a small scanning blind area, and a lifting device used therefor.

[0002] Both large cargo container monitoring systems and security surveillance systems use radiation imaging to obtain non-contact images of objects by scanning their interiors with high-energy penetrating X-rays. To comply with road safety regulations, a safety distance and a specific angle to the ground must be maintained between the vehicle-mounted monitoring system and the road while the vehicle is moving. This typically results in a relatively high position of the radiation source within the scanning elements of the monitoring system. Consequently, a relatively large area in the lower part of the monitored object may go undetected during radiation scanning.In other words, a disadvantage of most existing vehicle-borne radiation monitoring systems is that they have a relatively large sampling blind area.

[0003] The CN 2 572 400 Y shows a vehicle-mounted mobile freight container monitoring system. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 5, the rotating platform 15, which is attached to the scanning vehicle 1, first rotates horizontally by 90° while the cargo container and its transport vehicle are inspected by the monitoring system. Then, the frame 18, the horizontal support arm 19, and the vertical support arm 20 form a portal-shaped frame that spans the cargo container being inspected. Finally, radiation sources 2, which generate X-rays, are positioned opposite the right-angled arms 19 and 20. During the inspection, the radiation sources 2 generate X-rays that penetrate the cargo container and its transport vehicle, and the detectors attached to arms 19 and 20 then detect the transmitted X-rays.During the movement of the monitoring system, the rotating platform 15, which is attached to the scanning vehicle 1, rotates back 90°, and the arms 19 and 20 then overlap to rest horizontally on the scanning vehicle 1. With this monitoring system, the cabin 6 can be positioned a short distance above the ground, so that fan-shaped X-ray beams 12, generated by the radiation sources 2 located in the cabin 6, shine through the cargo container and its transport vehicle at a lower height, thereby increasing the detection range, for example, when the chassis of the container-carrying vehicle is detected. However, due to the short distance between the ground and the cabin 6, risks can arise while the scanning vehicle 1 is moving.

[0004] CN 1 401 995 A also shows a vehicle-mounted freight container monitoring system. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 6, the radiation source device 16 can slide up and down along a vertical guide 11 to meet the detection range requirements for the object being inspected. The radiation source device 16 is moved to a higher position and secured there to prevent damage during transport. Although this system can increase the detection range, risks can still arise during transport because the guide 11 itself is mounted low.

[0005] DE 11 2004 001 870 T5 discloses a vehicle-mounted radiation monitoring system comprising a vehicle and a lifting device attached to it. A radiation scanning monitoring device is provided on this lifting device. The vehicle has a connecting plate linked to a rotatable platform, above which the lifting device is arranged. Beams can be raised along a guide rail by means of a gearbox.

[0006] US Patent 6,920,197 B2 discloses another vehicle-mounted radiation monitoring system, which has a rotating platform with an integrated connecting plate. A control unit for a radiation scanning monitoring device is provided on the connecting plate, and this control unit is located below the connecting plate.

[0007] From JP H08 - 166 359 A, a radiation monitoring system is known in which a loading vehicle under investigation can enter a hall. A movable boom is arranged on the underside of the ceiling in the hall, carrying a radiation scanning monitoring device. This device can be moved laterally in various ways to accommodate the loading vehicle under investigation.

[0008] US Patent 5,692,028 A discloses a vehicle-mounted radiation monitoring system comprising a loading vehicle and radiation scanning monitoring devices. These radiation scanning monitoring devices are mounted on a vertical column of a gantry located near the loading vehicle. They can be moved vertically along with the column, thus changing their height. Detector elements are arranged at the other end of the gantry. This fixed arrangement of the radiation scanning monitoring devices and the detection devices ensures that their precise relationship to one another is always maintained.

[0009] US Patent 5,638,420 A discloses a vehicle-mounted radiation monitoring system with a portal-type vehicle. A radiation scanning monitoring device with a radiation source is arranged on one side of the vehicle between two vertical support columns.

[0010] A moisture meter is known from US patent 4,166,217 A. This meter has a beta radiation source and a beta radiation detector that can be irradiated with it. A sample to be measured is located between them. Task and solution

[0011] In view of the aforementioned disadvantages of the existing state of the art, the object of the invention is to provide a vehicle-mounted radiation monitoring system and a lifting device used for this purpose, which have a simple structure with the advantages of convenient operation and a small scanning blind area.

[0012] This problem is solved by the features of claim 1 and claim 4. The present invention provides a corresponding vehicle-mounted radiation monitoring system comprising a loading vehicle, a lifting device attached to the loading vehicle, and radiation scanning monitoring means rigidly attached to the lifting device, which move up and down together with the lifting device. The lifting device is designed such that the lifting device and the radiation scanning monitoring means as a whole can be spaced a predetermined safety distance from the ground while the loading vehicle is in motion, and to maintain a minimum distance between them during monitoring that is less than the predetermined safety distance.

[0013] Accordingly, a lifting device is provided according to the present invention, which is used in a vehicle-mounted radiation monitoring system for raising and lowering the radiation scanning monitoring means. The system comprises a loading vehicle, radiation scanning monitoring means, and a rotatable platform which is mounted horizontally rotatably relative to the loading vehicle. The lifting device has a connecting plate for connecting the rotatable platform to the lifting support, which extends beyond the ends of the loading vehicle. The lifting support has at least one vertical guide cylinder which is fixedly attached to the connecting plate, and at least one sliding rod, each of which is slidably guided in at least one corresponding guide cylinder and a support which is attached to the lower end of at least one sliding rod.The wearer is trained to carry the radiation scanning monitoring equipment.

[0014] The monitoring system according to the present invention advantageously comprises a rotatable platform which is horizontally rotatable relative to the loading vehicle, and a connecting plate which is integral with the rotatable platform and extends beyond the extended ends of the loading vehicle. The lifting device is attached to the connecting plate.

[0015] The lifting device is advantageously attached below the connecting plate.

[0016] The lifting device advantageously comprises a lifting platform which has at least one vertical guide cylinder rigidly connected to the connecting plate, and at least one sliding rod, each of which is slidably guided in at least one corresponding guide cylinder and a support which is attached to the lower end of at least one sliding rod. The radiation scanning monitoring means are advantageously rigidly attached to the support.

[0017] The number of guide cylinders and sliding rods is preferably four.

[0018] According to the invention, the lifting device has a safety locking pin which is provided on the guide cylinder to lock the sliding rod in it.

[0019] According to the invention, the lifting device has a drive with a hydraulic cylinder, the housing of which is attached to the connecting plate and the piston rod of which is attached to the support.

[0020] The predetermined safety distance and the minimum distance preferably depend on the distance of the support to the ground.

[0021] The radiation scanning monitoring devices include an accelerator that contains a radiation source for generating X-rays.

[0022] Another embodiment of a vehicle-mounted radiation monitoring system according to the present invention comprises a loading vehicle, a rotatable platform rotatably mounted horizontally to the loading vehicle, a connecting plate integrally connected to the rotatable platform and projecting beyond the ends of the loading vehicle, a support rigidly connected to the connecting plate, and radiation scanning monitoring means rigidly attached to the support. The rotatable platform is designed to move up and down relative to the loading vehicle, causing the integrally connected support to move up and down, thereby causing the radiation scanning monitoring means attached to the support to move up and down.

[0023] The vehicle-mounted radiation monitoring system according to the present invention has the following advantages and positive results: Due to the arrangement of the lifting device on the loading vehicle, the radiation sources in the accelerator, which is mounted on the lifting device, move up and down with the accelerator's up-and-down movement. This allows the accelerator to be raised to a higher position while the vehicle-mounted radiation monitoring system, according to the present invention, moves along the road, thus achieving a greater distance from the ground and a larger angle to the ground. During scanning monitoring, the accelerator can be lowered to achieve a lower position for the radiation sources, thereby reducing the scanning blind angle.Furthermore, the invention is achieved by incorporating the lifting device into the existing structure, resulting in a relatively simple design with the advantages of convenient operation and reliable safety features, since only the drive needs to be started or stopped to put the lifting device into operation. Brief description of the drawings Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic top view of a vehicle-mounted radiation monitoring system according to the invention in the transport state, Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic top view of a vehicle-mounted radiation monitoring system according to the invention in the scanning state, Fig. Figure 3 shows a schematic top view of a lifting device according to the invention, Fig. Figure 4 shows a side view of the lifting device. Fig. 3, Fig. Figure 5 shows a schematic top view of a known vehicle-mounted radiation monitoring system, and Fig. Figure 6 shows a schematic top view of another known vehicle-mounted radiation monitoring system. Detailed description of preferred embodiments

[0024] The following embodiments are used for illustrative purposes only and not to limit the invention. In the drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same elements in the different views.

[0025] As in Fig. 1 and Fig. As shown in Figure 2, a vehicle-mounted radiation monitoring system according to the invention comprises a loading vehicle 1, at the rear end of which a lifting device is attached, which is equipped with a lifting platform 4 and corresponding drives. Radiation scanning monitoring means, which are attached to the lifting platform 4, have a type of accelerator for scanning monitoring, to which radiation sources 2 for generating X-rays are attached. The vehicle-mounted radiation monitoring system according to the present invention has essentially the same construction as the known vehicle-mounted radiation monitoring systems disclosed in CN 2 572 400 Y and CN 1 401 995 A, to which reference is expressly made herein in their entirety, with the exception of the lifting device used in the present invention.Therefore, for the sake of clarity, the description of the parts or structures of the system that do not relate to the lifting device of the invention has been omitted, and reference is made to the aforementioned prior art.

[0026] As in Fig. 3 and Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the loading vehicle 1 is equipped at its rear end with a connecting plate 8, which is attached to the rotatable platform 15 and rotates together with it. Preferably, the connecting plate 8 and the rotatable platform 15 lie in the same horizontal plane. Alternatively, the connecting plate 8 forms a horizontal part of the rotatable platform 15, which projects beyond the rear end of the loading vehicle. The lifting support 4 according to the present invention preferably consists of four guide cylinders 5, which are rigidly attached to the connecting plate 8, four sliding rods 6, each of which is slidably guided in corresponding guide cylinders 5, and a support 7, which is attached to the lower end of the four sliding rods 6 for supporting the accelerator 3 rigidly attached thereto. However, the lifting support is not limited to the construction described above.It is obvious to a person skilled in the art from the disclosure that any other devices by means of which the desired lifting can be achieved are usable. This means that the lifting platform 4 can be designed such that the lifting platform 4 and the accelerator 3 as a whole are spaced a predetermined safety distance from the ground while the loading vehicle 1 is in motion, and to allow a minimum distance between them during the inspection, which is smaller than the predetermined safety distance. The guide cylinder 5 is equipped with a safety locking pin 9 for locking the corresponding sliding rod 6 therein. The functionality of the safety locking pin 9 ensures the safe maintenance of a high position of the accelerator 3 to guarantee safety while the vehicle-mounted radiation monitoring system according to the present invention is moving on the road.

[0027] The drive according to the present invention consists of a hydraulic cylinder 10, the housing of which is attached to the connecting plate 8 and the piston rod of which is accordingly attached to the accelerator carrier 7. The drive can also have another suitable design, such as pneumatic cylinders, screw and threaded mechanisms, or the like. The lifting device according to the present invention can also be attached to other suitable structures on the loading vehicle or positioned thereon in another way. Furthermore, the lifting device according to the present invention can also be designed differently; for example, the rotatable platform 15 can be designed to move up and down as a whole. Naturally, a high-performance hydraulic cylinder is required for its lifting.The integrated holder moves up and down, resulting in an up and down movement of the radiation scanning monitoring means attached to the holder to achieve the same effect as the combination of the aforementioned lifting support 4 and its drive.

[0028] The basic operating principle of the monitoring system, which essentially corresponds to existing systems, according to the present invention, will now be described. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, when inspecting a cargo container and its transport vehicle, the monitoring system first rotates the rotatable platform 15, which is mounted on the loading vehicle 1, horizontally by 90°. Then, the horizontal support arm 19 and the vertical support arm 20 form a portal-shaped frame that extends over the cargo container (not shown). Finally, the radiation sources 2, which generate X-rays, are positioned opposite the right-angled arms 19 and 20. During the inspection, the radiation sources 2 generate X-rays that penetrate the cargo container and its transport vehicle, and the detectors attached to the arms 19 and 20 then detect the transmitted X-rays.During transport or movement of the monitoring system, the rotating platform 15, which is attached to the loading vehicle 1, rotates back by 90° and the arms 19 and 20 overlap to rest horizontally on the loading vehicle 1, as shown in . Fig. 1 is shown.

[0029] The operating principle of the lifting device according to the present invention will now be explained. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, while the vehicle-mounted radiation monitoring system according to the present invention is moving on the road, the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder 10 is retracted into the housing of the hydraulic cylinder 10, and the guide cylinder 5 is locked by a safety locking pin 9 with the corresponding sliding rod 6 to ensure that the accelerator 3 is held in a raised position for safety. Therefore, the distance h between the lower end surface of the support 7 of the lifting platform 4 and the ground, i.e., the ground clearance, is relatively large. The angle α formed between the surface formed by the lower end of the rear vehicle tires and the left side of the lower end surface of the support 7 and the ground, i.e., the ground angle, is also relatively large. In other words, both the ground clearance h and the ground angle α can meet the legal requirements for road traffic safety.

[0030] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the ground clearance h and the ground angle α are no longer of great importance while the vehicle-mounted radiation monitoring system according to the present invention performs the scanning process; instead, the largest possible scanning area for checking the entire interior of the object to be inspected is paramount. Simultaneously, the safety locking pin 9 is unlocked, allowing the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder 10 to protrude from the housing of the hydraulic cylinder in order to move the accelerator 3 downwards and thereby lower the radiation sources, effectively reducing the scanning blind zone by providing lower scanning ranges.

[0031] According to the arrangement of the lifting device in the vehicle-mounted radiation monitoring system as described in the present invention, the radiation sources inside the accelerator can be moved to a higher or lower position depending on the upward and downward movement of the lifting device and, consequently, the accelerator attached thereto. Therefore, the invention is not only suitable for complying with the legal requirements of road traffic safety, but also for significantly reducing the scanning blind zone, while maintaining the advantages of convenient operation and reliable safety performance.

[0032] As shown herein, it is obvious to a person skilled in the art that, in describing the present invention, the following directional terms “above, downwards, forwards, backwards, vertical and horizontals” and all other similar directional terms refer to the direction of a normally moving or stopped loading vehicle 1.

Claims

[1] Having a vehicle-mounted radiation monitoring system: a loading vehicle (1); a lifting device which is attached to the loading vehicle (1); and Radiation scanning monitoring devices which are rigidly attached to the lifting device and which move up and down together with the lifting device, wherein the radiation scanning monitoring means include an accelerator which has a radiation source (2) for generating X-rays, wherein the lifting device is designed to keep the lifting device and the radiation scanning monitoring means as a whole at a predetermined safety distance from the ground while the loading vehicle (1) is in motion, and to maintain a minimum distance between them of less than the predetermined safety distance during monitoring, wherein the system comprises a rotatable platform (15) which is horizontally rotatable relative to the loading vehicle (1), and a connecting plate (8) which is integrally connected to the rotatable platform (15) and extends over the rear end of the loading vehicle (1), wherein the lifting device is attached to the connecting plate (8), wherein the lifting device is attached below the connecting plate (8), wherein the lifting device has a lifting support (4) and a drive (10), wherein the lifting support (4) has at least one vertical guide cylinder (5) which is rigidly attached to the connecting plate (8) and at least one sliding rod (6), wherein each of these sliding rods (6) is slidably guided in exactly one corresponding guide cylinder (5) and is attached at a lower end to a support (7) of the lifting platform, wherein the radiation scanning monitoring means are rigidly attached to the support (7), wherein the drive has a hydraulic cylinder (10) whose housing is attached to the connecting plate (8) and whose piston rod is attached to the support (7), wherein the lifting device has a safety locking pin (9), which is provided on the guide cylinder (5) to lock the sliding rod (6) therein, wherein, while the vehicle-mounted radiation monitoring system is moving on the road, the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder (10) is retracted into the housing of the hydraulic cylinder (10) and the guide cylinder (5) is locked by a safety locking pin (9) with the corresponding sliding rod (6) so that the accelerator (3) is held in a high position, wherein, while the vehicle-mounted radiation monitoring system performs the scanning process, the safety locking pin (9) is unlocked, so that the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder (10) protrudes from the housing of the hydraulic cylinder (10) to move the accelerator (3) downwards and thereby lower the radiation source (2). [2] System according to claim 1, characterized by , that at least four guide cylinders (5) and sliding rods (6) are provided. [3] System according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that both the predetermined safety distance and the minimum distance depend on the distance of the support (7) to the ground. [4] Lifting device for use in a vehicle-mounted radiation monitoring system, comprising a loading vehicle (1), radiation scanning monitoring means and a rotatable platform (15) which is horizontally rotatable and accordingly attached to the loading vehicle (1) to move the radiation scanning monitoring means up and down, wherein the radiation monitoring system comprises a connecting plate (8) to rigidly attach the rotatable platform (15), the connecting plate (8) extending beyond the rear end of the loading vehicle (1), wherein the lifting device comprises: a lifting support (4) which has at least one vertical guide cylinder (5) which is rigidly attached to the connecting plate (8) and at least one sliding rod (6), wherein each sliding rod (6) is slidably guided in the corresponding guide cylinder (5) and is attached at a lower end to a support (7) of the lifting support (4), wherein the support (7) is designed to hold the radiation scanning monitoring means, wherein the at least one vertical guide cylinder (5) is attached below the connecting plate (8), while the connecting plate (8) is rigidly connected to the rotatable platform (15), a drive (10), wherein the drive has a hydraulic cylinder (10) whose housing is attached to the connecting plate (8) and whose piston rod is attached to the support (7), wherein the lifting device has a safety locking pin (9) which is provided on the guide cylinder (5) to lock the sliding rod (6) therein, wherein, while the vehicle-mounted radiation monitoring system moves on the road, the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder (10) is retracted into the housing of the hydraulic cylinder (10) and the guide cylinder (5) is locked by a safety locking pin (9) with the corresponding sliding rod (6) so that the accelerator (3) is held in a high position, wherein, while the vehicle-mounted radiation monitoring system performs the scanning process, the safety locking pin (9) is unlocked so that the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder (10) protrudes from the housing of the hydraulic cylinder (10) to move the accelerator (3) downwards and thereby lower the radiation source (2). [5] Device according to claim 4, characterized by, that at least four guide cylinders (5) and sliding rods (6) are provided.

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