SEAL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SYSTEM PROBE

• US 20130335075A1
• Filed: 06/14/2012
• Published: 12/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Davis, Michael Scott, Kuhlmann, Alex James
• Application Number:
  US13/523,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20130335075A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/239
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/1215 Measuring magnetisation; Particular magnetometers therefor G01R33/14 takes precedence; electrodynamic magnetometers G01R33/028
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49995 Shaping one-piece blank by removing material

Abstract

A system includes a probe assembly having sensing circuitry configured to sense at least one parameter relating to a rotating machine and a cable coupled to the sensing circuitry. The probe assembly also includes a molded probe body that is integrally molded about the cable and the sensing circuitry and a machined groove disposed on the molded probe body. The machined groove includes a machined surface.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a probe assembly, comprising;

sensing circuitry configured to sense at least one parameter relating to a rotating machine;

a cable coupled to the sensing circuitry;

a molded probe body that is integrally molded about the cable and the sensing circuitry; and

a machined groove disposed on the molded probe body, wherein the machined groove comprises a machined surface.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the probe assembly comprises a proximity probe.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the proximity probe comprises an eddy current probe.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the probe assembly comprises a temperature probe, a pressure probe, a combustion dynamics probe, a vibration probe, an eddy current probe, a clearance probe, a speed probe, a flow rate probe, or any combination thereof

5. The system of claim 1, comprising a probe assembly having a gasket disposed in the machined groove of the probe assembly.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the probe assembly comprises a fitting disposed about the probe assembly, wherein the gasket seals the machined groove with the fitting.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the machined surface has a second surface finish that is smoother than a first surface finish of an exterior of the molded probe body.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein a first roughness of the first surface finish is greater than approximately 3.2 μ

m, and second roughness of the second surface finish is approximately 0.8 μ

m or less.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the molded probe body comprises a carbon fiber, polyphenyline sulfide, fiberglass, resin, composite, or polyether ether ketone, or combinations thereof.

10. The system of claim 1, comprising a turbomachine having the probe assembly.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the turbomachine comprises a turbine engine.

12. The system of claim 1, comprising a turbomachine monitoring system having a monitoring unit coupled to the probe assembly.

13. A system, comprising:

a proximity probe, comprising;

sensing circuitry configured to sense at least one parameter relating to a turbomachine blade;

a molded probe body that is integrally molded about the sensing circuitry, wherein the molded probe body has an exterior with a first surface finish; and

a machined groove disposed on the molded probe body, wherein the machined groove comprises a machined surface with a second surface finish that is smoother than the first surface finish.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the proximity probe comprises an eddy current probe.

15. The system of claim 13, comprising a turbomachine having the proximity probe, or a turbomachine monitoring system having a monitoring unit coupled to the probe, or a combination thereof.

16. The system of claim 13, comprising a probe assembly having a cable coupled to the sensing circuitry of the proximity probe and a gasket disposed in the machined groove of the probe, wherein the molded probe body is integrally molded about the cable.

17. A method, comprising:

machining a groove in a probe body of a proximity probe after the probe body is integrally molded about sensing circuitry configured to sense at least one parameter relating to a turbomachine, wherein machining the groove creates a machined surface in the groove configured to support a gasket.

18. The method of claim 17, comprising integrally molding the probe body about the sensing circuitry and a cable coupled to the sensing circuitry.

19. The method of claim 17, comprising inserting the gasket in the groove, and mounting the proximity probe to a turbomachine.

20. The method of claim 17, comprising removing cuttings from the groove.