Integrated Diagnostic Measurement Corporation

Robert M Crane

Joseph E Bolger

Ira L Morgan

Robert H Rice

A mobile apparatus for and a method of non-contacting, nondestructive, on-line inspection of installed components of plants, facilities or other systems. The apparatus and method use penetrating radiation sources and detectors which can be placed about vertical or horizontal components while they remain in place and in use. The apparatus can operate in multiple scanning modes and the resulting data collected can be processed using both gauging and computerized axial tomographic (CAT) algorithms and techniques. In a gauging analysis, the apparatus and method make use of both a computer-implementable model of the general shape of the component scanned and a computer-generated model of the specific component scanned.

Mobile, multi-mode apparatus and method for nondestructively inspecting

A mobile apparatus for and a method of non-contacting, nondestructive, on-line inspection of installed components of plants, facilities or other systems. The apparatus and method use penetrating radiation sources and detectors mounted on a ring assembly which can be placed about vertical or horizontal components while they remain in place and in use. The ring assembly is held in place by a yoke assembly in a manner that allows the ring to be rotated relative to the yoke assembly so that multiple scans of the same component cross-section can be performed from different angles. The apparatus is also capable of sub-positioning the detectors relative to the source while the ring assembly is stationary to increase the number of scans that can be taken from different angles. The yoke assembly, in turn, is mounted on a beam assembly in a manner that allows the yoke assembly to move relative to the beam assembly. The apparatus can operate in multiple scanning modes and the resulting data collected can be processed using both application-specific, real-time data analysis techniques and available computerized axial tomographic (CAT) scanning data processing algorithms and techniques.

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Austin, TX, United States of America

Robert M Crane