Portable control station for the inspection of people and luggage

A portable control station for the inspection of people and luggage includes a portable, container-like room module, which on two opposite walls has at least one door each. Between the doors, a passage zone for people is formed inside the room module. In the area of the passage zone, a people inspection device is arranged, and alongside the passage zone an inspection device for luggage with a control area is located.

This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) on German Patent Application No. 10 2004 043 158.2 filed in Germany on Sep. 3, 2004, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a portable control station for the inspection of people and luggage.

2. Description of the Background Art

For the inspection of people and luggage, before entering security-relevant zones, a multitude of methods and devices are known. As is commonly known, X-ray inspection devices for luggage and metal detectors for passenger control are permanent fixtures at airports to check the passengers and their luggage for security-relevant objects like weapons, explosives etc.

Likewise, mobile X-ray inspection devices are already known, with which objects to be inspected can be transilluminated with X-rays. DE 195 32 965 A, for example, describes a mobile, motored X-ray inspection device for large-volume goods that is designed as a special-purpose vehicle and can be driven to be employed at various locations. DE 40 23 415 is directed to a mobile inspection apparatus for luggage, whereby the elements of an X-ray inspection device, namely power supply for the radiation generators, the radiation generators, the radiation receivers and a control area are arranged in a portable container. A transport path leads through the container for the objects to be inspected, which are thus inspected while passing through the container.

Conventional mobile inspection devices, however, are less suited for the protection of time-limited meetings, like sports or cultural events, conventions etc., particularly, if they take place in public streets or places because they are not able to check participants and their hand luggage with sufficient speed and thoroughness. Permanently installed devices are too costly for these meetings and/or cannot be employed due to local conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a mobile inspection device for people and their hand luggage, whereby the mobile inspection device can be moved quickly and without much expenditure to various places of employment and is able to quickly inspect people and their luggage.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, this object is achieved with a mobile inspection unit that is constructed as a portable control station, which includes a portable, container-like room module that has on two opposite walls at least one door on each wall, between which a passage zone for people is formed inside the room module, and whereby, in the area of the passage zone, a people inspection device is arranged, and whereby an inspection device for luggage with a control area is arranged next to the passage zone.

Thus, the control station contains the inspection devices and pieces of equipment that are required for the inspection of people and luggage, which can vary depending on the place of employment and the security requirements. It can be easily transported as one unit, containing all the required inspection devices and pieces of equipment, and can be quickly employed requiring no special expenditure or tools. One advantage of the control station is that it can be used as a checkpoint between an uncontrolled spatial area and a controlled area, for example, at the entrance area of a closed sports facility. Likewise, it can be employed advantageously at the exit of production or research facilities to inspect personnel leaving the facility to avoid theft or the unauthorized removal of objects or materials, for example, nuclear materials from nuclear facilities.

The meaning of “container-like” for the room module is that its size, shape, weight and stability is such that it can be transported by air, sea, or land in conventional transport vehicles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The control station illustrated inFIGS. 1-3serves to inspect persons and their hand luggage, who are visitors at an event, for example, a sports event. It was set up for this event as a check point in the entrance area of the athletic grounds so that all visitors have to go through the control station for inspection.

The control station includes a portable, container-like room module1, which on two opposite walls has at least one door2,3each. The doors2,3are hinged on an upper edge of the respective wall, so that during transport, they can be pivoted downwards to close the room module1. Between door2at an entrance side and door3at an exit side, a passage zone4for people is formed, in the area of which a people inspection device5is arranged.

During operation, doors2,3are folded up in a horizontal position, as illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3, so that they can be used as, for example, a canopy. The doors2,3, thus expand the weather-protected area of the control station. In this area, a control person can perform additional manual inspections of luggage as well as people if it is deemed necessary.

In a preferred embodiment, the people inspection device5is a door-shaped metal detector, which has to be passed through to check for metal objects, for example, weapons. Alternatively, or additionally, detection devices for explosives, drugs, radioactive materials or other materials hidden on the body, the presence of which is to be checked, can be arranged in the passage zone4.

Next to the passage zone4, a luggage inspection station6is arranged, which is used to screen people's carry-on bags for objects or materials of interest. In a preferred embodiment, a conventional X-ray inspection device is used, whereby the carry-on luggage is x-rayed, and thus examined for the presence of weapons, explosives etc. As an alternative, or in addition, other conventional inspection devices for luggage can be installed, for example, devices based on X-ray diffraction or nuclear quadrupol resonance. Depending on the targeted application of the control station, the luggage is thus inspected for relevant objects and/or materials, for example, weapons, explosives, drugs, chemical, biological or nuclear materials, with the person simultaneously passing through the room module1.

The luggage inspection station6includes a conveyor belt7that transports the pieces of luggage through the inspection station6. The transport path of the conveyor belt7is extended on both ends by a roller belt conveyor8, which projects from the room module1and is folded down during operation. During transportation, the roller belt conveyor8is folded up, whereby it is then located inside the room module1.

Inside the room module1, next to the luggage inspection station6, a control area9for the luggage inspection station6and associated electronics for data evaluation can be permanently installed. A screen (not further shown) for the inspection station6is positioned on a sideboard10. The sideboard10also serves a dual purpose by blocking the control area9in order to keep people, e.g., non-personnel, from entering.

In the event that the control station also has the function to detect and/or identify people, the necessary personal identification systems can also be installed in the control area9and sideboard10, or in another suitable location.

As illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3, below each door2,3, on a lower edge of the sidewall of room module1, hinged bottom flaps11,12, which can be pivoted upwards, is attached. In the state of operation, as illustrated inFIG. 1, each bottom flap11,12is folded down, thus forming a stable floor below its corresponding folded-up door2,3. For use during the winter months, e.g., cold weather, it is possible to enclose the expanded inspection room below the folded-up doors2,3by hanging a tarpaulin13on each side extending from the folded-up door2,3to the folded-down bottom flap11,12. To heat the control room, a temperature control unit, i.e., a portable heater14is provided, which during operation can be positioned outside and next to the room module1, and warmed air is channeled into the room module1through an existing opening for heating the room module1. In an alternative embodiment, the temperature control unit can be an air-conditioning device that lowers the temperature of the room module1. To make the control station energy-independent, a power generator15is carried along, which during operation can be positioned to the side next to room module1and supplies all devices with the required power.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in the figures, the elements required for the inspection of people and luggage are duplicated. Thus, there are two identical inspection paths, which makes it possible to double the inspection rate for people and luggage. The corresponding doors2,3and bottom plates11,12along the lateral side of the room module1are also duplicated. This setup allows one half of the room module1to be closed off so that only one inspection path is being used to adjust to lesser traffic and thus, lesser inspection personnel. For practical purposes, the elements of both inspection paths are arranged in a mirror-inverted manner so that the control areas9of the two luggage inspection devices6are next to each other on the inside.

For application in dangerous areas, the frame, the walls and the doors2,3of the room module1are of suitably solid and protective construction to provide a secure room for the people and the inspection devices that are present in the room module1. If necessary, bullet-proof glass or protective shields against other dangers can be mounted in targeted areas.

FIG. 4illustrates a further embodiment of the present invention. The room module1can be provided with one or more slide out wall sections20in order to increase the working area within the room module1for personnel during the inspection of people and luggage. During transport of the room module1, the slide out wall sections20are then retracted into the room module1. The slide out wall sections20can also be extracted and retracted either manually or through a motor. In addition, the doors2,3can be integrated into the slide out wall sections20, or the slide out wall sections20can be positioned between the doors2,3on a side of the room module1, for example, or any other desirable configuration.