Eddy current probe for inspecting interiors of gas turbines, said probe having pivotal adjustments and a borescope

• US 4,139,822 A
• Filed: 06/14/1977
• Issued: 02/13/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Urich, Robert H., Freeman, Maurice A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Corcoran, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US05/806,544
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 324/219-221, 324/226, 324/237, 324/238, 324/240, 324/260, 324/262, 73/623, 73/633, 73/637, 73/640, 74/99, 74/88, 74/25
• US Class Current: 324/219
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/9006 Details, e.g. in the structure or functioning of sensors

Abstract

An eddy-current crack detection probe is described which allows inspection of turbomachinery parts of conductive material for cracks without removal of the parts to be inspected from the machine or disassembly of the casings normally restricting physical access to these parts. The crack detection probe is particularly useful for field inspections of the trailing edges of turbine buckets of a gas turbine for cracks not readily detectable by optical techniques. The probe, which is insertable through a small opening in the turbomachine casing and thereafter can be remotely manipulated to assume an appropriate inspection position, includes a small eddy-current sensor and may include a borescope for remote viewing of the sensor and turbine bucket edge to be inspected.

Claims

1. An eddy-current crack detection probe for inspecting a turbine bucket of conductive material disposed within a casing of an assembled turbine without disassembly of said turbine, said probe comprising:

an elongated hollow tube;

an eddy-current sensor pivotably connected to said elongated hollow tube adjacent one end thereof, said sensor movable between a first position permitting insertion of said sensor through a small opening in said casing and a second position permitting inspection of said turbine bucket for the presence of cracks;

a yoke, said yoke rigidly attached to and extending from one end of said hollow tube, and having a yoke pivot axis for pivotably securing said sensor within said yoke;

means for remotely moving said sensor from said first position to said second position and from said second position to said first position, said means for remotely moving said sensor including a rod axially slidable within said tube and a link member pivotally connected at one end to said rod and at the other end to said sensor in a manner such that movement of said rod along its axis will cause rotation of said sensor about said yoke pivot axis, and

a borescope carried within said hollow tube and adapted to allow remote viewing of said eddy-current sensor and the turbine bucket to be inspected to ensure accurate positioning of said sensor and to scan portions of said turbine bucket of particular interest.

2. The probe of claim 1 further including a guide member adapted to engage an edge of said turbine bucket when said sensor is in said second position to align and guide said sensor with and along said edge.

3. The probe of claim 2 further including a sensor head for carrying said eddy-current sensor, said sensor head having a spring for yieldingly urging said sensor away from said head in response to pressure from the surface of the workpiece contacted by the sensor during inspection thereof.

4. The probe of claim 3 further including a support housing assembly having a bore therethrough for slidably carrying said hollow tube, said support housing assembly having means for securing said housing assembly to the casing of an assembled turbine with said sensor head extending through a small opening in said casing, and means for permitting rotational, axial, and angular movement of said hollow tube with respect to its longitudinal axis after said housing assembly has been secured to said casing.

5. The probe of claim 4 further including an eddy-current instrument for furnishing a signal to said sensor and processing an output signal therefrom;

wire means forming an electrical connection between said sensor and said eddy-current instrument and extending internally through said hollow tube; and

a television monitor and television camera optically connected to said borescope for remote viewing of said sensor and the turbine bucket to be inspected.