849 results about "Cargo container" patented technology

The invention is a modular vehicle having an air vehicle that can be coupled to cargo containers, land vehicles, sea vehicles, medical transport modules, etc. In one embodiment the air vehicle has a plurality of propellers positioned around a main airframe, which can provide vertical thrust and / or horizontal thrust. One or more of the propellers may be configured to tilt forward, backward, and / or side-to-side with respect to the airframe.

A scanning unit for identifying contraband within objects, such as cargo containers and luggage, moving through the unit along a first path comprises at least one source of a beam of radiation movable across a second path that is transverse to the first path and extends partially around the first path. A stationary detector transverse to the first path also extends partially around the first path, positioned to detect radiation transmitted through the object during scanning. In one example, a plurality of movable X-ray sources are supported by a semi-circular rail perpendicular to the first path and the detector, which may be a detector array is also semi-circular and perpendicular to the path. A fan beam may also be used. Radiographic images may be obtained and / or computed tomography (“CT”) images may be reconstructed. The images may be analyzed for contraband. Methods of scanning objects are also disclosed.

A method for identifying at least one threat to the homeland security. Each threat is either hidden inside at least one cargo container before transit, or is placed inside at least one cargo container while in transit. Each threat while interacting with its surrounding generates a unique threat signature.The method comprises the following steps: (A) detecting at least one threat signature; and (B) processing each detected threat signature to determine a likelihood of at least one threat to become a threat to the homeland security.

Method for monitoring a cargo container in which a transmitter is arranged on the container and periodically transmits messages to a remote site or location according to a schedule of messages. When a message is not received according to the schedule, which may be the result of tampering with the transmitter or another nefarious action involving the container, it may be considered that the container has been stolen. A rate of transmission of the messages may be modified based on a condition of the vehicle, such as the presence of a driver inside the vehicle, a distance between a driver inside the vehicle and the vehicle, the vehicle being at rest after motion of the vehicle stops, a location of the vehicle, biometric identification of a driver of the vehicle and deviation of the vehicle from an expected route, and / or based on current time and weather around the vehicle.

A system and method for monitoring a cargo container. The novel system (100) includes a sensor module (10) mounted in each target area (20) and a central monitoring system (40). Each sensor module (10) includes one or more sensors (22) and a transceiver (28) for transmitting data from the sensors to the central monitoring system (40). The central monitoring system (40) includes a transceiver (44) for receiving the data from all sensor modules (10) and a local master processor (46) for processing and analyzing the data. In the preferred embodiment, each transceiver (28) is capable of receiving and retransmitting signals of other sensor modules to relay signals of a particular sensor module (10) in a daisy chain fashion to and from the central monitoring system (40).

The invention is a modular vehicle having an air vehicle that can be coupled to cargo containers, land vehicles, sea vehicles, medical transport modules, etc. In one embodiment the air vehicle has a plurality of propellers positioned around a main airframe, which can provide vertical thrust and / or horizontal thrust. One or more of the propellers may be configured to tilt forward, backward, and / or side-to-side with respect to the airframe.

A cargo container is modified to carry a fracing proppant such as sand from a quarry or source to the frac site. Openings are cut in the top and bottom of a cargo container and hydraulically operated sliding doors are placed there under. A hopper module with the walls being inclined to approximately the angle of repose for the proppant is installed inside the cargo container. The hopper module is sealed inside the cargo container so that a proppant enters through the top opening at the quarry and flows out through the bottom opening at the fracing site.

A cargo container inspection device for inspection of conventional cargo containers being lifted by a crane. The device is adapted for attachment to conventional cargo lifting cranes at used in ports to be at a position adjacent to a cargo container when said cargo container is elevated by said crane. Nuclear material and chemical material detectors of the device inspect the interior of the cargo container for contraband material. If contraband is detected, the container may be marked for segregation and further inspection. Concurrent with the inspection an imaging device records and transmits images of the container and the nuclear and chemical readings from the nuclear and chemical detectors. The device will activate telephonic, electronic, and audible warnings in addition to marking the container if contraband is detected.

A modular cradle for reinforcing, transporting, and stacking cargo containers used in the transportation and storage of bulk cargo in the oil and gas industry so as to allow compliance with construction and shipping standards adopted by the oil and gas industry is disclosed. The cargo cradle is comprised of a rectangular frame for holding and supporting a cargo container. The cradle has attached lifting lugs positioned within the interior of the cargo cradle for attachment of lifting cables. The lifting lugs are positioned so as to allow cradles to be stacked one upon the other. The container cradles interlock when stacked.

A readily relocatable X-ray imaging system for inspecting the contents of vehicles and containers, and a method for using the same. In a preferred embodiment, the system is relatively small in size, and is used for inspecting commercial vehicles, cargo containers, and other large objects. The X-ray imaging, system comprises a substantially arch-shaped collapsible frame having an X-ray source and detectors disposed thereon. The frame is preferably collapsible via a plurality of hinges disposed thereon. A deployment means may be attached to the frame for deploying the frame into an X-ray imaging position, and for collapsing the frame into a transport position.The collapsible X-ray frame may remain stationary during X-ray imaging while a vehicle or container is driven through or towed through an inspection area defined under the frame. Alternatively, the collapsible X-ray frame may be movable relative to a stationary vehicle or container during X-ray imaging.

The objective of the present invention is to detect, using a universal method, any “movement” inside of the object being monitored, while maintaining the security of a container. The movement inside of the object to be monitored includes 1) a human movement when a human enters into a container to be monitored, 2) a movement to bring a foreign article in, 3) a movement to take cargo out. To achieve the objective, this invention uses the concept of a so-called “inside-seal”. In actual configuration, a plurality of communication units (communication nodes) are installed on the walls of the container. These communication units have a predetermined powered communication capability and form a communication network communicating with each other. A communication status between each node and all of the other nodes provided in the network, and a network graph matrix is generated which defines the nodal relationship between the nodes. Since the matrix is determined not only by the property of the object to be monitored, but also by the spatial condition within the container, it is possible to detect even a small change in the space. According to the first preferred embodiment, each node transmits a low power electric wave which can reach only neighboring nodes, and each node can transmit data to remote nodes only by relaying the data to the neighboring nodes. The relaying counts (HOP counts) of each node to communicate with all of the other nodes are obtained, and based on these relaying counts, a network graph matrix is generated which defines the relaying counts to communicate between all nodes. According to the second preferred embodiment, each node transmits UWB waves to all of the other nodes, which can reach to all of the other nodes, and the distances between all the nodes are measured and a network graph matrix between all the nodes is generated.

A method for loading and unloading of dry bulk freight containers vertically, and a device in the form of an improved intermodal dry bulk freight container for vertical loading and unloading. Standardized corner locks may be used and dimensions may be selected so as to provide a standardized cargo container.The present invention teaches that an intermodal dry bulk freight container may be loaded in either the customary horizontal orientation of such devices, or in a vertical orientation in which one end is opened and elevated. In particular, however, such a container may advantageously be emptied by elevating it into the vertical orientation. The method of the invention is thus to provide only a single hopper and yet allow one hopper to empty the entire container, as well as providing a more efficient gravity feed of bulk cargo as it is off loaded.The present invention furthermore teaches an intermodal dry bulk freight container suitable for this method of operation. In the presently preferred embodiment, the container is loaded conventionally via hatches on the top of the container when it is in a horizontal orientation, but is unloaded via a single hopper located at the lower end when the container is raised into the vertical orientation.

A character recognition system is described, in particular a system suitable for use in monitoring cargo container codes or vehicle number plates. An image of the code is first analyzed to extract potential characters. As part of this process, long horizontal and vertical line segments are filtered out. The extracted potential characters are then input to a two-level character recognition means. The first level comprises a neural network classifier that classifies a character into a smaller set of possible characters; and then the second level comprises another neural network classifier which identifies which character among the smaller set of possible characters the extracted character is.

A mobile asset tracking system receives telemetry information from any number of mobile assets (e.g., railcars, truck trailers, intermodal cargo containers, etc.) transporting hazardous or non-hazardous materials. Location data is obtained through GPS satellite locks and is transmitted via a cellular module to a central database for processing. Business rules in the software of the system trigger proactive alert communications to subscribers through common communication protocols such as email, SMS text, and pagers. Personal Computers, Personal Digital Assistants (PDA's), cell phones or other common communication devices widely available to consumers may be utilized for receipt of alerts. Subscribers may be defined as manufacturers of materials, consignees who receive materials, transporters of materials (e.g. railroads, trucking companies, etc.) and communities such as county, state and / or federal emergency management personnel. GIS mapping software is utilized for geographical display of assets to authorized subscribers.

A prefabricated, self-contained, standardised working environment that combines transport-useful physical standards for overall dimensions (a shipping container / cargo container) together with functional standards (such as specified clean air or biological containment standards) related to specific types of work to be carried out, and takes advantage of volume production at an assembly site with appropriate materials and expertise. Optionally, users are provided with “no-touch” control of items like doors or taps, and with management of supplies, event logging, instrument control, communications and the like through a network of computer peripherals and a control unit.

Smart, rollable, mini-pallet cargo container system comprising robust, auditable, secure, sealable, lockable, trackable and pollable, universal, half / quarter-sized boxes particularly useful for moving highly valuable or sensitive, personal, political, military or commercial materials, embodiments include truly verifiable ballot boxes, verifiably secure moving containers. Blast attenuation inserts are disclosed. The boxes include electronic locks containing event memory, sensors and alarms, and RF communications and GPS locator module(s) that radio to a base station the time, location and status of the inventive box, and anomalous events as they occur, including unauthorized attempts to open or break into the container, or potential damage events. In addition, both the locks and comm modules are programmable, and provide extensive, and selectably pollable and down-loadable, printable event, access and transport history and audit trails. The comm system permits remote tracking and real time status check via the Internet, LAN or WAN wireless networks.

An apparatus and method for low frequency asset tracking includes a low frequency transmitter tag associated with a cargo container or other high value commodity, a plurality of receivers that detect low frequency signals, and a microprocessor that uses algorithms and / or data pertaining to the propagation characteristics of the signal to locate the position of the container or high value commodity. The tag may include sensors to monitor container properties or conditions, such as temperature, motion, intrusion, RF fields, or other properties of interest. Sensor data may be modulated on the low frequency transmitter signal.

A system for screening cargo containers is provided including an image generation device, an apparatus for screening cargo containers and an output module. The image generation device generates an image signal conveying information related to the contents of the cargo container. The apparatus receives the image signal and a list of objects conveying objects expected to be present in the cargo container. A processing unit processes the image signal in combination with the list of objects and a group of target images associated with objects to derive mismatch information data. The mismatch information data conveys at least one distinction between the list of objects and the information related to the contents of the cargo container conveyed by the image signal. Information conveying the mismatch information data is released and conveyed to a user of the system by an output module.

A cargo container is constructed to carry a fracing proppant such as sand from a quarry or source to the frac site. An open frame the size of a standard cargo container has an enclosed hopper therein. Upper sliding gate at a top hatch provides for loading the hopper, and a lower sliding gate in a bottom hatch provides for unloading the hopper. The bottom of the hopper is at an angle slightly above the angle of repose of the fracing proppant carried therein.

The present invention is a self-contained mobile inspection system and method and, more specifically, improved methods and systems for detecting materials concealed within a wide variety of receptacles and / or cargo containers. In particular, the present invention is an improved method and system with a novel boom structure that reduces the weight of the boom. The single, light-weight boom of the inspection system is relatively compact in a stowed configuration and has a low height and center of gravity lending to greater maneuverability.

A system for detecting and graphically displaying a contents of a fast-moving target object comprises: a radiation source, having a position such that at least a portion of radiation emitted from the radiation source passes through the fast-moving target object, the fast-moving target object having a variable velocity and acceleration while maintaining a substantially constant distance from the radiation source and being selected from the group consisting of: a vehicle, a cargo container and a railroad car; a velocity measuring device configured to measure the variable velocity of the fast-moving target object; a detector array comprising a plurality of photon detectors, having a position such that at least some of the at least a portion of the radiation passing through the target object is received thereby, the detector array having a variable count time according to the variable velocity and a grid unit size; a counter circuit coupled to the detector array for discretely counting a number of photons entering individual photon detectors, the counter circuit measuring a count rate according to a contents within the fast-moving target object; a high baud-rate interface coupled to the counter circuit for sending count information from the counter circuit at a rate fast enough to support real-time data transfer therethrough; and a processor coupled to the velocity measuring device and to the high-baud-rate interface, receiving count information from the high baud-rate interface and generating distortion-free image data in real time as a function of the count information and the variable velocity. A method for using the system is also disclosed.

A roller unit that can be used to retrofit a cargo carrying surface makes loading and unloading of the cargo carrying surface easier by transforming the cargo carrying surface to include a conveyor system. The roller unit includes at least two trays in which are mounted rollers, the trays being connected by a crosspiece. The roller unit is designed to be installed on cargo carrying surfaces such as portable platforms, including Flatracks or CROPs, and in cargo containers of any type.

A system for tracking cargo containers contained within a terminal includes a tag transmitter adapted to be positioned on container handling equipment and operative for transmitting a wireless RF signal based on an event affecting the location of a container handled by the container handling equipment. A plurality of spaced apart access points are positioned at known locations within the terminal that receive the wireless RF signals from the tag transmitter. A processor is operatively connected to the locating access points for geolocating the tag transmitter and determining the container location at the time the event occurs.

A fire in an enclosed space in an aircraft is, for example, visually detected early since smoke generated by a beginning fire is initially permitted to escape from the enclosed space. The enclosed space is, for example, an overhead luggage bin or a goods container holding food or freight. The smoke can pass through a flow passage either in the form of a gap or a leak between a lid and walls, or between a door and a door frame, or between walls and other walls joined together. Intumescent material is installed along the gaps or leaks and expands into the gaps or leaks when the fire has generated a temperature sufficient for causing the expansion of the intumescent material. Preferably a guide surface assures that the intumescent material expands into the gaps and leaks and cannot expand away from gaps and leaks.

Method for monitoring a cargo container in which a transmitter is arranged on the container and periodically transmits messages to a remote site or location according to a schedule of messages. When a message is not received according to the schedule, which may be the result of tampering with the transmitter or another nefarious action involving the container, it may be considered that the container has been stolen. A rate of transmission of the messages may be modified based on a condition of the vehicle, such as the presence of a driver inside the vehicle, a distance between a driver inside the vehicle and the vehicle, the vehicle being at rest after motion of the vehicle stops, a location of the vehicle, biometric identification of a driver of the vehicle and deviation of the vehicle from an expected route, and / or based on current time and weather around the vehicle.

A method of expediting a release procedure of at least one cargo container at least one border crossing or at least one customs entry point by detecting each statistically significant threat (SST) signal associated with at least one said cargo container while in transit, and by tracking and reporting to an appropriate party the position coordinates and a security status of each cargo container that generated at least one said SST signal. The appropriate party is selected from the group consisting of: {Homeland Security agency; and a cargo security agency}. The cargo security agency is further selected from the group consisting of: {a consignee; a steamship line; a customs broker; a freight forwarder; and a terminal operator}.

A novel real-time cargo condition management system and a related method of operation utilizes a unique data synchronization between a remote real-time vehicle on-board diagnostics (OBD) monitoring architecture and a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag attached to a cargo container to track real-time conditions of the cargo container. For example, the cargo container's currently-experienced acceleration and interior temperature can be accurately tracked by a remote monitoring station through a unique data synchronization among a vehicle OBD unit in a truck, an RFID reader installed in the cargo holding area of the truck that periodically scans the RFID tag attached to the cargo container, and an OBD data transceiver unit that wirelessly transmits vehicle OBD data correlated to the RFID tag attached to the cargo container. Similarly, the cargo container's location can be accurately tracked by synchronizing the RFID tag information to the OBD data transceiver unit.