Senior Ultrasonic Miniature Air Gap Inspection Crawler

• US 20080087112A1
• Filed: 01/04/2006
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Hatley, Richard, Roney, Robert M., Bagley, Paul C., Hatley, Kenneth J.
• Application Number:
  US11/306,600
• Publication Number:
  US 20080087112A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/865.8
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/2693 Rotor or turbine parts
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/265 by moving the sensor relative to a stationary material
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/34 Testing dynamo-electric machines

Abstract

An air gap inspection device for a generator field or stator core. The inspection device may include first and second side drive modules and a center drive module disposed between the side drive modules. The first, the second, and the center drive modules may include a track for driving on the generator field or the stator core. The inspection device also may have a transverse assembly connected to the center drive module. The transverse assembly may include an ultrasonic module.

Claims

1. An air gap inspection device for a generator field or stator core, comprising:

a first and a second side drive modules;

a center drive module disposed between the side drive modules;

the first, the second, and the center drive modules comprising a track for driving on the generator field or the stator core; and

a transverse assembly connected to the center drive module;

the transverse assembly comprising an ultrasonic module.

2. The air gap inspection device of claim 1, wherein the transverse assembly comprises a mounting block.

3. The air gap inspection device of claim 2, wherein the transverse assembly comprises a transverse block maneuverable along the mounting block.

4. The air gap inspection device of claim 3, wherein the transverse assembly comprises a screw thread for maneuvering the transverse block along the mounting block.

5. The air gap inspection device of claim 1, wherein the transverse assembly comprises a maneuverable transverse block.

6. The air gap inspection device of claim 5, wherein the transverse block comprises a plurality of connecting links attached to the ultrasonic module.

7. The air gap inspection device of claim 5, wherein the transverse block comprises a plurality of swing arms attached to the ultrasonic module.

8. The air gap inspection device of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic module comprises an ultrasonic transducer.

9. The air gap inspection device of claim 8, wherein the ultrasonic transducer comprises a plurality of ultrasonic transducers.

10. The air gap inspection device of claim 1, further comprising a camera assembly positioned on the transverse assembly.

11. An air gap inspection device for a generator field or stator core, comprising:

a first and a second side drive modules;

a center drive module disposed between the side drive modules;

a maneuverable transverse block connected to the center drive module; and

an ultrasonic module;

the ultrasonic module positioned on the maneuverable transverse block via a plurality of swing arms.

12. The air gap inspection device of claim 11, wherein the transverse block comprises a plurality of connecting links attached to the ultrasonic module.

13. The air gap inspection device of claim 11, wherein the ultrasonic module comprises an ultrasonic transducer.

14. The air gap inspection device of claim 13, wherein the ultrasonic transducer comprises a plurality of ultrasonic transducers.

15. The air gap inspection device of claim 11, further comprising a camera assembly positioned on the transverse assembly.