The Boeing Company
High speed pipe inspection system

Abstract:

A method, apparatus, and system for scanning an elongate structure. A scanner in a scanning system is moved axially along the elongate structure using a translating structure in the scanning system. The elongate structure is scanned axially using an x-ray beam emitted by the scanner as the scanner moves axially along the elongate structure to perform an axial scan. The x-ray beam has a first orientation. A location on the elongate structure having an inconsistency is detected while scanning the elongate structure axially. The elongate structure is scanned at the location with the x-ray beam in a second orientation.