System and method for locating a probe within a gas turbine engine
First Claim
1. A system for locating probes within a gas turbine engine, the system comprising:
- a plurality of location transmitters, each location transmitter of the plurality of location transmitters being respectively positioned within an access port of the gas turbine engine such that each location transmitter of the plurality of location transmitters are at a known location relative to the gas turbine engine;
a probe inserted through an access port of the gas turbine engine that is different than the access ports into which the location transmitters of the plurality of location transmitters are positioned, the probe including a probe tip and a location signal receiver, the location signal receiver being configured to receive location-related signals transmitted from the plurality of location transmitters; and
a computing device communicatively coupled to the probe, the computing device being configured to;
determine a current location of the probe tip within the gas turbine engine based on the location-related signals received by the location signal receiver and the known locations of the plurality of location transmitters;
identify a virtual location of the probe tip within a three-dimensional model of the gas turbine engine corresponding to the current location of the probe tip within the gas turbine engine; and
provide for display the three-dimensional model of the gas turbine engine, wherein the virtual location of the probe tip is displayed as a visual indicator within the three-dimensional model.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for locating probes within a gas turbine engine may generally include positioning a plurality of location transmitters relative to the engine and inserting a probe through an access port of the engine, wherein the probe includes a probe tip and a location signal receiver configured to receive location-related signals transmitted from the location transmitters. The method may also include determining a current location of the probe tip within the engine based at least in part on the location-related signals and identifying a virtual location of the probe tip within a three-dimensional model of the engine corresponding to the current location of the probe tip within the engine. Moreover, the method may include providing for display the three-dimensional model of the engine, wherein the virtual location of the probe tip is displayed as a visual indicator within the three-dimensional model.
29 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system for locating probes within a gas turbine engine, the system comprising:
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a plurality of location transmitters, each location transmitter of the plurality of location transmitters being respectively positioned within an access port of the gas turbine engine such that each location transmitter of the plurality of location transmitters are at a known location relative to the gas turbine engine; a probe inserted through an access port of the gas turbine engine that is different than the access ports into which the location transmitters of the plurality of location transmitters are positioned, the probe including a probe tip and a location signal receiver, the location signal receiver being configured to receive location-related signals transmitted from the plurality of location transmitters; and a computing device communicatively coupled to the probe, the computing device being configured to; determine a current location of the probe tip within the gas turbine engine based on the location-related signals received by the location signal receiver and the known locations of the plurality of location transmitters; identify a virtual location of the probe tip within a three-dimensional model of the gas turbine engine corresponding to the current location of the probe tip within the gas turbine engine; and provide for display the three-dimensional model of the gas turbine engine, wherein the virtual location of the probe tip is displayed as a visual indicator within the three-dimensional model. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification