Patent ID: 7302036
Filing Date: 2007-11-27
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for non-intrusively inspecting circuit breakers, comprising: receiving at least one circuit breaker, wherein the circuit breaker comprises a tank having an interior with one or more connector assemblies; placing an X-ray unit at a first location of an exterior of the tank; placing at least one digital imaging plate at a second location of the exterior the tank; generating X-rays from the X-ray unit, such that at least a portion of the generated X-rays traverse a plane that includes at least a portion of the one or more connector assemblies and at least a portion of the at least one digital imaging plate; retrieving an image from each digital imaging plate, wherein each image includes at least a portion of the one or more connector assemblies; and determining an extent of wear of the one or more connector assemblies by determining a scaling associated with the image.