Junior Ultrasonic Miniature Air Gap Inspection Crawler

• US 20080087113A1
• Filed: 01/04/2006
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Hatley, Richard, Roney, Robert M., Bagley, Paul C., Hatley, Kenneth J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,681,452 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/865.8
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 9/008 by using ultrasonic waves measuring position using ultrasonic waves G01S15/02
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/34 Testing dynamo-electric machines

Abstract

An inspection head for an air gap inspection device. The inspection head may include a pair of expandable shoes, an inspection device attached to the pair of shoes, and a transducer assembly attached to one of the pair of shoes.

Claims

1. An inspection head for an air gap inspection device, comprising:

a pair of expandable shoes;

an inspection device attached to the pair of shoes; and

a transducer assembly attached to one of the pair of shoes.

2. The inspection head of claim 1, wherein the transducer assembly comprises an ultrasonic transducer.

3. The inspection head of claim 2, wherein the transducer assembly comprises a base and wherein the ultrasonic transducer is attached to the base by a plurality of arms.

4. The inspection head of claim 3, wherein the plurality of arms comprises a lever arm and a straight arm.

5. The inspection head of claim 4, wherein the transducer assembly comprises a motor thread connected to the lever arm.

6. The inspection head of claim 1, wherein the transducer assembly comprises an ultrasonic transducer and wherein the transducer assembly comprises means for pivoting the ultrasonic transducer.

7. The inspection head of claim 1, wherein the inspection device comprises a camera.

8. The inspection head of claim 1, wherein the inspection device comprises a plurality of cameras.

9. An inspection head for an air gap inspection device, comprising:

a pair of expandable shoes;

an inspection device attached to the pair of shoes;

an ultrasonic transducer; and

the ultrasonic transducer attached to one of the pair of shoes via a pivot assembly.

10. The inspection head of claim 9, wherein the pivot assembly comprises a base and wherein the ultrasonic transducer is attached to the base by a plurality of arms.

11. The inspection head of claim 10, wherein the plurality of arms comprises a lever arm and a straight arm.

12. The inspection head of claim 11, wherein the pivot assembly comprises a motor thread connected to the lever arm.

13. The inspection head of claim 9, wherein the inspection device comprises a camera.

14. The inspection head of claim 9, wherein the inspection device comprises a plurality of cameras.