Apparatus for robotically inspecting gas turbine combustion components

• US 6,525,500 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2002
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: McDonnell, Sean Michael, Bousquet, Michael John, Hatley, Richard Michael, Hatley, Kenneth John
• Primary Examiner(s): Fletcher, Marlon T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH, TYRONE W
• Application Number:
  US10/058,428
• Publication Number:
  US 20020089298A1
• Time in Patent Office: 391 Days
• Field of Search: 318/568.11, 318/568.12, 318/568.2, 364/424.02, 382/103, 376/134, 376/143, 376/249, 376/260
• US Class Current: 318/568.12
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 5/00 Manipulators mounted on wheels or on carriages B25J1/00 takes precedence; programme-controlled manipulators B25J9/00 ; vehicle aspects B60, B62, e.g. remote-controlled steering for motor vehicles B62D1/24; control of position of vehicles G05D1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 5/02 travelling along a guideway
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/285 Temporary support structures, e.g. for testing, assembling, installing, repairing; Assembly methods using such structures

Abstract

A robotic inspection system for gas turbine combustion components includes an exterior manipulator for visual inspection of the exterior surface of the impingement sleeve, an interior manipulator for visual inspection of the interior of the transition piece body and an annulus manipulator for inspecting the side weld seams of the transition piece body. The exterior manipulator includes an arcuate segment extending about the annular spaced impingement sleeves and a robotic subassembly including a linear rail and an upper arm and forearm mounting an inspection head pivotally coupled to one another for visual inspection of the top, bottom and side external surfaces of the impingement sleeve. The interior manipulator mounts to the open end of the combustion casing and includes an arm mounted for universal pivotal movement to the mount, actuators for pivoting the arm and motors for extending and rotating an inspection head about pan and tilt axes within the interior of the transition piece body. The annulus manipulator includes a guide plate mounted to the combustor casing and having contoured surfaces tracking the side weld seams. A carriage mounts an inspection head and tracks along the contoured surfaces to track along the seam, affording remote visual inspection thereof.

Claims

1. Apparatus for in situ inspection of the exterior surface of an impingement sleeve of one of a plurality of an annular array of combustors for a gas turbine wherein the turbine has an outer casing about an axis of rotation of a turbine rotor and at least one opening through the casing for access to the impingement sleeve, comprising:

a manipulator having an arcuate segment and a carriage for supporting the segment within the casing, said carriage mounting said arcuate segment, for movement in a circumferential direction relative to the carriage and about the annular array of combustors;

a linear extending rail carried by said segment for circumferential movement therewith;

a first arm carried by said rail for translatory movement therealong and pivotal movement relative to said rail about a first axis;

a second arm coupled at one end to said first arm for pivotal movement about a second axis normal to a plane containing said first arm and said second arm; and

an inspection head carried by said second arm adjacent an opposite end thereof for pivotal movement about pan and tilt axes perpendicular to one another.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first arm is elongated and carried by said rail for rotation about an axis extending lengthwise along said first arm.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said second arm is elongated and is rotatable about an axis extending lengthwise along said second arm.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said second arm is elongated and said pan axis comprises an axis parallel to an axis extending lengthwise of said second arm.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said tilt axis lies parallel to one of said first and second axes.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first arm is elongated and carried by said rail for rotation about an axis extending lengthwise along said first arm, said second arm being elongated and rotatable about an axis extending lengthwise along said second arm, said first and second axes lying parallel to one another, said pan axis extending parallel to the rotational axis of said second arm and said tilt axis lying parallel to said first and second axes.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first and second arms are pivotally carried by said rail and said first arm, respectively, for pivotal movement about axes extending generally normal to one another.

7. Apparatus for in situ inspection of the exterior surface of an impingement sleeve of one of a plurality of an annular array of combustors for a gas turbine wherein the turbine has an outer casing about an axis of rotation of a turbine rotor and at least one opening through the casing for access to the impingement sleeve, comprising:

a manipulator having an arcuate segment and a carriage for supporting the segment within the casing, said carriage mounting said arcuate segment for movement in a circumferential direction about the annular array of combustors;

a linear extending rail carried by said segment;

a first arm carried by said rail for translatory movement therealong and pivotal movement relative to said rail;

a second arm connected to said first arm for pivotal movement;

an inspection head carried by said second arm for movement about pan and tilt axes perpendicular to one another;

said segment including a plurality of discrete arcuate segments connected endwise to one another and extending arcuately about at least the one combustor and a slider for sliding along said rail and carrying said first and second arms and said inspection head.