System and method for performing electronic triage of a turbine part

• US 6,594,533 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2001
• Issued: 07/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Phillips, Ann Mary, Pallos, Kevin Julius, Rajiv, Vrinda
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): KOSOWSKI, ALEXANDER J
• Application Number:
  US09/681,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20020123827A1
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7, 705/8, 705/29, 702/81, 707/104.1, 700/90
• US Class Current: 700/90
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 6/002 Repairing turbine components, e.g. moving or stationary blades, rotors, B23P6/045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 5/005 Repairing methods or devices
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/30 in turbines

Abstract

A system and method for performing electronic triage of a turbine part. A triage storage unit stores a variety of repair information. A repair triage application facilitates the repair of the turbine part in accordance with the repair information stored in the triage storage unit. A computing unit is configured to execute the repair triage application. A second computing unit is configured to serve the triage storage unit and the repair triage application to the first computing unit over a network.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating repair of a turbine part, comprising:

a triage storage unit that stores a plurality of repair information comprising part pedigree information, component design criteria, operational parameters, repair history, repair statistics and repair analytics;

a repair triage application that facilitates the repair of the part in accordance with the plurality of repair information stored in the triage storage unit, wherein the repair triage application comprises a parts tracking module that tracks the part during inspection and repair, a decision support module that determines whether the part needs repair or removal from future use, and a customer tracking module that enables a customer of the part to track the status during inspection and repair; and

a first computing unit configured to execute the repair triage application.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the parts tracking module comprises a job module that assigns a job number for the part and provides job information for the part during inspection and repair.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the job information comprises inspection schedule and inspection results and repair schedule and repair results.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the parts tracking module comprises an inspection schedule module that plans the inspection for the part.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the parts tracking module comprises a repair schedule module that plans the repair of the part.

6. A The system according to claim 1, wherein the decision support module comprises a conditions search module that searches the triage storage unit for other parts that have experienced similar conditions.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the decision support module comprises a cost benefit analysis module that determines the costs and benefits associated with repairing the part or scrapping the part.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the decision support module comprises a repair solution module that recommends a solution to repair the part.

9. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a second computing unit configured to serve the triage storage unit and the repair triage application to the first computing unit over a network.

10. A system for facilitating repair of a turbine part, comprising:

a triage storage unit that stores a plurality of repair information comprising part pedigree information, component design criteria, operational parameters, repair history, repair statistics and repair analytics;

a repair triage application that facilitates the repair of the part in accordance with the plurality of repair information stored in the triage storage unit, wherein the repair triage application comprises a parts tracking module that tracks the part during inspection and repair, a decision support module that determines whether the part needs repair or removal from future use, and a customer tracking module that enables a customer of the part to track the status during inspection and repair;

a first computing unit configured to execute the repair triage application;

a network; and

a second computing unit configured to serve the triage storage unit and the repair triage application to the first computing unit over the network.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the parts tracking module comprises a job module that assigns a job number for the part and provides job information for the part during inspection and repair.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the job information comprises inspection schedule and inspection results and repair schedule and repair results.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein the parts tracking module comprises an inspection schedule module that plans the inspection for the part.

14. The system according to claim 10, wherein the parts tracking module comprises a repair schedule module that plans the repair of the part.

15. The system according to claim 10, wherein the decision support module comprises a conditions search module that searches the triage storage unit for other parts that have experienced similar conditions.

16. The system according to claim 10, wherein the decision support module comprises a cost benefit analysis module that determines the costs and benefits associated with repairing the part or scrapping the part.

17. The system according to claim 10, wherein the decision support module comprises a repair solution module that recommends a solution to repair the part.

18. A system for facilitating repair of a turbine part, comprising:

means for storing a plurality of repair information comprising part pedigree information, component design criteria, operational parameters, repair history, repair statistics and repair analytics;

means for facilitating the repair of the part in accordance with the plurality of repair information stored in the storing means, wherein the facilitating means comprises means for tracking the part during inspection and repair, means for determining whether the part needs repair or removal from future use, and means for enabling a customer of the part to track the status during inspection and repair; and

means for executing the facilitating means.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the tracking means comprises means for assigning a job number for the part and providing job information for the part during inspection and repair.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the job information comprises inspection schedule and inspection results and repair schedule and repair results.

21. The system according to claim 18, wherein the tracking means comprises means for planning the inspection for the part.

22. The system according to claim 18, wherein the tracking means comprises means for planning the repair of the part.

23. The system according to claim 18, wherein the determining means comprises means for searching the triage storage unit for other parts that have experienced similar conditions.

24. The system according to claim 18, wherein the determining means comprises means for performing a cost benefit analysis that determines the costs and benefits associated with repairing the part or scrapping the part.

25. The system according to claim 18, wherein the determining means comprises means for recommending a solution to repair the part.

26. The system according to claim 18, further comprising means for serving the storing means and the facilitating means to the executing means over a network.

27. A method for facilitating repair of a turbine part, comprising:

storing a plurality of repair information comprising part pedigree information, component design criteria, operational parameters, repair history, repair statistics and repair analytics;

providing a repair triage application that facilitates the repair of the part in accordance with the plurality of repair information;

using a first computing unit configured to execute the repair triage application;

using the repair triage application to track the part during inspection and repair;

using the repair triage application to determine whether the part needs repair or removal from future use; and

using the repair triage application to enable a customer to track the status during inspection and repair.

28. The method according to claim 27, further comprising using the repair triage application to assign a job number for a part and provide job information during inspection and repair.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the job information comprises inspection schedule and inspection results and repair schedule and repair results.

30. The method according to claim 27, further comprising using the repair triage application to schedule the inspection of the part.

31. The method according to claim 27, further comprising using the repair triage application to plan the repair of the part.

32. The method according to claim 27, further comprising using the repair triage application to search the stored plurality of repair information for other parts that have experienced similar conditions.

33. The method according to claim 27, further comprising using the repair triage application to perform a cost benefit analysis that determines the costs and benefits associated with repairing the part or scrapping the part.

34. The method according to claim 27, further comprising using the repair triage application to recommend a solution to repair the part.

35. The method according to claim 27, further comprising configuring a second computing unit to serve the stored plurality of repair information and the repair triage application to the first computing unit over a network.

36. A method for facilitating repair of a turbine part, comprising:

storing a plurality of repair information comprising part pedigree information, component design criteria, operational parameters, repair history, repair statistics and repair analytics;

providing a repair triage application that facilitates the repair of the part in accordance with the plurality of repair information;

using a first computing unit configured to execute the repair triage application;

providing a network;

configuring a second computing unit to serve the plurality of stored information and the repair triage application to the first computing unit over the network;

using the repair triage application to track the part during inspection and repair;

using the repair triage application to determine whether the part needs repair or removal from future use; and

using the repair triage application to enable a customer to track the status during inspection and repair.

37. The method according to claim 36, further comprising using the repair triage application to assign a job number for a part and provide job information during inspection and repair.

38. The method according to claim 37, wherein the job information comprises inspection schedule and inspection results and repair schedule and repair results.

39. The method according to claim 36, further comprising using the repair triage application to schedule the inspection of the part.

40. The method according to claim 36, further comprising using the repair triage application to plan the repair of the part.

41. The method according to claim 36, further comprising using the repair triage application to search the stored plurality of repair information for other parts that have experienced similar conditions.

42. The method according to claim 36, further comprising using the repair triage application to perform a cost benefit analysis that determines the costs and benefits associated with repairing the part or scrapping the part.

43. The method according to claim 36, further comprising using the repair triage application to recommend a solution to repair the part.