Retractable Support Assembly for Mobile X-Ray Inspection Apparatus

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional radiation scanning inspection apparatuses, when mounted on vehicles, face issues with excessive load on the rear bearing, potential component damage, and safety concerns due to their fixed and extended length, which is not suitable for mobile inspection needs.

Innovation Solution

A mobile inspection apparatus with a retractable support assembly and drive devices that allow the ray source and detector to switch between retracted and operating positions, shortening the overall length during transport and extending for inspection, thereby reducing the load on the rear axle and improving safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the inspection apparatus is installed at the rear end of the vehicle chassis, then the scanning inspection function is achieved, but the load on the rear bearing becomes too large causing component damage and failure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescanning inspection functionVSAvoidrear bearing load capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The support assembly is designed to be movable between extended and retracted positions. During inspection, it extends to provide the necessary scanning function; during transport, it retracts to reduce rear bearing load. This dynamic configuration allows the system to adapt to different operational requirements, resolving the contradiction between inspection functionality and bearing load capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the main shaft of the chassis vehicle is made very long to accommodate the inspection apparatus, then the scanning function is enabled, but the vehicle exceeds the length required for traveling on the road and safety is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescanning functionVSAvoidvehicle length
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The support assembly can dynamically change its length by extending during inspection operations and retracting during transport. This eliminates the need for a permanently long main shaft, allowing the vehicle to meet road length requirements while still providing the necessary scanning functionality when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The inspection apparatus is segmented into a movable support assembly that can be independently extended or retracted from the main vehicle body. This segmentation allows the vehicle chassis to maintain a compact, road-compliant length while the support assembly provides the extended functionality required for scanning operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If the support assembly is extended for scanning inspection, then the inspection capability is improved, but the overall length of the apparatus increases making it unsuitable for transport

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinspection capabilityVSAvoidapparatus length
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The support assembly is designed with dynamic extension and retraction capabilities. It extends to a longer configuration during inspection operations to provide adequate scanning capability, and retracts to a compact configuration during transport to meet length requirements. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction between inspection capability and transportability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4206750A1Mobile inspection apparatus and mobile inspection method
Publication Date: 2023.07.05 NUCTECH BEIJING CO LTD
  • EP4206750A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4206750A1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP4206750A1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

A mobile inspection apparatus and a mobile inspection method are provided. The mobile inspection apparatus including: a moving body (100) arranged movably; a support assembly, mounted on the moving body (100), and configured to retract relative to the moving body (100) in a transport state of the mobile inspection apparatus and to extend relative to the moving body (100) in an inspection state of the mobile inspection apparatus; a ray source (5) and a detector (13) mounted on the support assembly; and a first drive device (4) configured to drive the support assembly to rotate relative to the moving body (100) so as to switch the ray source (5) and the detector (13) between a retracted position and an operating position, such that in the transport state, the ray source (5) and the detector (13) are located in the retracted position, and in the inspection state, the ray source (5) and the detector (13) are located in the operating position.