Patent · US Expired

Method of detecting a contraband substance

US4580440A · kind A · utility

81Cited by

5References

23Claims

0Family size

Assignee

British Aerospace Public Company Limited, Bracknell Division · GB

Inventors

Neil M. Reid · Thornhill, CA
William R. Davidson · Thornhill, CA

Key dates

Filing date	Jul 17, 1984
Grant date	Apr 8, 1986
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Jul 17, 2004

Classification

Technology area (CPC G)Physics
CPC primaryG01N2001/2833
WIPO fieldMeasurement
WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method of detecting contraband substances in freight cargo containers in which the container is agitated to disturb particulates therein, and air containing such particulates is then sampled and the particulates collected. The collected particulates include naturally occurring particulates which have absorbed vapors of the contraband substance during the entire time that the container has been closed, and also include particulates of the contraband substance itself. The collected particulates are heated to drive off vapors indicative of the contraband substance and the vapors are analyzed in a mass analyzer.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.