Radiation inspection apparatus with adjustable shutter for inspecting different sizes of tubular goods

Claim 2

Apparatus adapted for alternative use with a first radiation detector adapted for loose insertion within tubular members of a first size range moving longitudinally along a predetermined inspection axis and a second smaller radiation detector adapted for loose insertion within tubular members of a second smaller size range moving longitudinally along said inspection axis and comprising: a plurality of radiation sources arranged in a side-by-side relationship positioned exterior of a tubular member moving along said inspection axis; radiation-focussing means including a radiation shield between said radiation sources and said inspection axis and havIng a corresponding number of side-by-side focussing passages respectively aligned with said radiation sources for directing individual radiation beams toward spatially-disposed locations on a transverse plane crossing said inspection axis; and radiation-controlling means cooperatively arranged between said radiation sources and said inspection axis and including a radiation-masking member positioned for selective movement in relation to said focussing passages between selected masking positions, first means on said masking member operable upon movement of said masking member to one of its said masking positions for passing all of said radiation beams to produce a composite radiation pattern of a selected intensity lying across said spatially-disposed locations on said transverse plane and having a lateral width greater than that of the first radiation detector, and second means on said masking member operable upon movement of said masking member to another of its said masking positions for passing less than all of said radiation beams to produce a reduced radiation pattern of a selected intensity lying across less than all of said spatially-disposed locations on said transverse plane and having a lateral width less than that of the second radiation detector.

Claim 3

The inspection apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said first means include first radiation-passage means in said masking member adapted to be aligned with said focussing passages upon movement of said masking member to its said one masking position; and said second means include second radiation-passage means in said masking member adapted to be aligned with less than all of said focussing passages upon movement of said masking member to its said other masking position, and radiation-blocking means on said masking member adapted to be aligned with the remaining ones of said focussing passages upon movement of said masking member to its said other masking position.

Claim 4

The inspection apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said first means include a series of radiation passages spatially disposed along said masking member and adapted to be respectively aligned with all of said focussing passages upon movement of said masking member to its said one masking position; and said second means include a radiation passage in said masking member adapted to be aligned with one of said focussing passages upon movement of said masking member to its said other masking position, and radiation-blocking means on said masking member adapted to be aligned with the remaining ones of said focussing passages upon movement of said masking member to its said other masking position.

Claim 5

The inspection apparatus of claim 3 wherein: said one radiation passage is between said radiationblocking means.

Claim 6

The inspection apparatus of claim 3 wherein: said first means further include radiation-attenuating means in one of said radiation passages for selectively reducing the intensity of the radiation beam passing therethrough when said masking member is in its said one position.

Claim 7

The inspection apparatus of claim 5 wherein: said one radiation passage is separated from said series of radiation passages.

Claim 8

The inspection apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said first means include a series of first radiation passages spatially disposed along said masking member and adapted to be respectively aligned with said focussing passages upon movement of said masking member to its said one masking position; and said second means include a series of second radiation passages spatially disposed along said masking member and adapted to be respectively aligned with said focussing passages upon movement of said masking member to its said other masking position, and radiation-blocking means in all but one of said second radiation passages for blocking said radiation beams from all but one of said radiation sources upon movement of said masking member to its said other masking position.

Claim 9

The inspection apparaTus of claim 7 further including: radiation-attenuating means in one of said first radiation passages for selectively reducing the intensity of the radiation beam passing therethrough when said masking member is in its said one masking position.

Claim 10

The inspection apparatus of claim 7 wherein: said first and second radiation passages are alternately disposed along said masking member.

Claim 11

Apparatus adapted for alternative use with a first radiation detector adapted for loose insertion within tubular members of a first size range moving longitudinally along a predetermined inspection axis and a second smaller radiation detector adapted for loose insertion within tubular members of a second smaller size range moving longitudinally along said inspection axis and comprising: a plurality of radiation sources arranged in a side-by-side relationship for rotation about the exterior of a tubular member moving along said inspection axis; radiation-focussing means including a radiation shield carrying said radiation sources and having a corresponding number of inwardly-directed focussing passages respectively aligned with said radiation sources for directing individual radiation beams therefrom toward spatially-disposed locations on a transverse plane crossing said inspection axis; and radiation-controlling means cooperatively arranged between said radiation sources and said inspection axis and including a radiation-masking member positioned for selective movement in relation to said focussing passages between selected masking positions, first means on said masking member operable upon movement of said masking member to one of its said masking position for passing all of said radiation beams to produce on said transverse plane a composite radiation pattern of a selected intensity and of a lateral width greater than that of the first radiation detector, and second means on said masking member operable upon movement of said masking member to another of its said masking positions for passing less than all of said radiation beams to produce on said transverse plane a reduced radiation pattern of a selected intensity and of a lateral width less than that of the second radiation detector.

Claim 12

Apparatus adapted for alternative use with a first radiation detector adapted for loose insertion within tubular members of a first size range moving longitudinally along a predetermined inspection axis and a second smaller radiation detector adapted for loose insertion within tubular members of a second smaller size range moving longitudinally along said inspection axis and comprising: a plurality of radiation sources arranged in a side-by-side relationship for rotation about the exterior of a tubular member moving along said inspection axis; radiation-focussing means including a radiation shield carrying said radiation sources and having a corresponding number of inwardly-directed focussing passages respectively aligned with said radiation sources for directing individual radiation beams therefrom toward spatially-disposed locations on a transverse plane crossing said inspection axis; and radiation-controlling means cooperatively arranged between said radiation sources and said inspection axis and including a radiation-masking member positioned for selective movement in relation to said focussing passages between selected masking positions, first means on said masking member operable upon movement of said masking member to one of its said masking position for passing all of said radiation beams to produce on said transverse plane a composite radiation pattern of a selected intensity and of a lateral width greater than that of the first radiation detector, and second means on said masking member operable upon movement of said masking member to another of its said masking positions for passing less than all of said radiation beams to produce on said transverse plane a reduced radiation pattern of a selected intensity and of a lateral width less than that of the second radiation detector.

Claim 13

The inspection apparatus of claim 10 wherein: there is an odd number of said radiation sources and focussing passages with one of said radiation sources and focussing passages being directed along a radiation beam axis intersecting said inspection axis and the remaining ones of said radiation sources and said focussing passages being equally disposed on opposite sides of said one radiation source and focussing passage for distributing said radiation patterns symmetrically across said inspection axis.

Claim 14

The inspection apparatus of claim 10 wherein: said first means include first radiation passages spatially disposed along said masking member and adapted to be respectively aligned with said focussing passages upon movement of said masking member to its said one masking position; and said second means include second radiation passages spatially disposed along said masking member and adapted to be respectively aligned with said focussing passages upon movement of said masking member to its said other masking position, and radiation-blocking means in all but one of said second radiation passages for blocking said radiation beams from all but one of said radiation sources upon movement of said masking member to its said other masking position.

Claim 15

The inspection apparatus of claim 12 further including: radiation-attenuating means in one of said first radiation passages cooperatively arranged for selectively reducing the intensity of the radiation beam passing therethrough when said masking member is in its said one masking position.

Claim 16

The inspection apparatus of claim 12 wherein: said first and second radiation passages are alternately disposed along said masking member.

Claim 17

Apparatus adapted for inspecting tubular members moving longitudinally along a predetermined inspection axis and comprising: means adapted to support an elongated tubular member for axial movement along a selected inspection axis; a body of radiation-attenuating material mounted for rotation about a tubular member moving along said inspection axis and carrying at least three radiation sources arranged in a side-by-side relationship; radiation-focussing means on said rotatable body including a first focussing passage arranged therein in alignment between a first one of said radiation sources and a selected point of intersection with said inspection axis to direct an inwardly-directed narrowly-focussed first radiation beam toward said inspection axis for producing a substantially-uniform reduced radiation pattern of a selected reduced dimension extending transversely across said point of intersection, and at least second and third focussing passages respectively arranged in said rotatable body in alignment with second and third ones of said radiation sources and on opposite sides of said first focussing passage to direct inwardly-directed narrowly-focussed second and third radiation beams on opposite sides of said reduced radiation beam for producing in conjunction with said first radiation beam a substantially-uniform composite radiation pattern of a selected enlarged dimension extending transversely across said inspection axis; and radiation-controlling means cooperatively arranged on said rotatable body and including a radiation-masking member positioned for selective movement across said focussing passages between first and second masking positions, first means on said masking member cooperatively arranged for substantially blocking said second and third radiation beams whenever said masking member is in its said first masking position, and second means on said masking member cooperatively arranged for substantially passing all of said radiation beams whenever said masking member is in its said second masking position.

Claim 18

Apparatus adapted for inspecting tubular members moving longitudinally along a predetermined inspection axis and comprising: means adapted to support an elongated tubular member for axial movement along a selected inspection axis; a body of radiation-attenuating material mounted for rotation about a tubular member moving along said inspection axis and carrying at least three radiation sources arranged in a side-by-side relationship; radiation-focussing means on said rotatable body including a first focussing passage arranged therein in alignment between a first one of said radiation sources and a selected point of intersection with said inspection axis to direct an inwardly-directed narrowly-focussed first radiation beam toward said inspection axis for producing a substantially-uniform reduced radiation pattern of a selected reduced dimension extending transversely across said point of intersection, and at least second and third focussing passages respectively arranged in said rotatable body in alignment with second and third ones of said radiation sources and on opposite sides of said first focussing passage to direct inwardly-directed narrowly-focussed second and third radiation beams on opposite sides of said reduced radiation beam for producing in conjunction with said first radiation beam a substantially-uniform composite radiation pattern of a selected enlarged dimension extending transversely across said inspection axis; and radiation-controlling means cooperatively arranged on said rotatable body and including a radiation-masking member positioned for selective movement across said focussing passages between first and second masking positions, first means on said masking member cooperatively arranged for substantially blocking said second and third radiation beams whenever said masking member is in its said first masking position, and second means on said masking member cooperatively arranged for substantially passing all of said radiation beams whenever said masking member is in its said second masking position.

Claim 19

The inspection apparatus of claim 15 wherein: said first means include first and second radiation-attenuation means cooperatively located on said masking member to be respectively situated in a beam-blocking position in said second and third focussing passages only upon movement of said masking member to its said first masking position.

Claim 20

The inspection apparatus of claim 15 wherein: said second means include radiation passage means cooperatively located in said masking member to be in registration with all of said focussing passages only upon movement of said masking member to its said second masking position.

Claim 21

The inspection apparatus of claim 17 wherein: said first means include first and second radiationattenuating means cooperatively located on said masking member to be respectively situated in a beam-blocking position in said second and third focussing passages only upon movement of said masking member to its said first masking position.

Claim 22

The inspection apparatus of claim 17 wherein: said radiation-passage means include first, second and third ports in said masking member respectively adapted for alignment with said first, second and third focussing passages only upon movement of said masking member to its said second masking position.

Claim 23

The inspection apparatus of claim 19 further including: radiation-reducing means in said first port cooperatively arranged to selectively reduce the radiation intensity of said first radiation beam only upon movement of said masking member to its said second masking position.

Claim 24

The inspection apparatus of claim 15 further including: radiation-detecting means including a radiation-sensitive element positioned in said transverse plane and adapted for loose reception in a tubular member moving along said inspection axis for operation only when said masking member is in its said first masking position and cooperatively, shaped for producing uniform output signals for a given wall Thickness and material of a tubular member upon random movements therein of said radiation-sensitive element across said reduced radiation pattern.

Claim 25

The inspection apparatus of claim 15 further including: radiation-detecting means including a radiation-sensitive element positioned in said transverse plane and adapted for loose reception in a tubular member moving along said inspection axis for operation only when said masking member is in its said second masking position and having an effective width less than that of said composite radiation pattern for producing uniform output signals for a given wall thickness and material of a tubular member upon random movements therein of said second radiation-sensitive element across said composite radiation pattern.