Method for reestablishing holes in a component

• US 6,723,951 B1
• Filed: 06/04/2003
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Energy Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
• Inventors: McGraw, Julie M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Heinrich, Samuel M.
• Application Number:
  US10/454,800
• Time in Patent Office: 321 Days
• Field of Search: 219/121.67, 219/121.7, 219/121.71, 219/121.72, 219/121.82, 219/121.83, 219/121.85
• US Class Current: 219/121.71
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2101/001 Turbines
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/04 Automatically aligning, aiming or focusing the laser beam, e.g. using the back-scattered light
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/384 of specially shaped holes
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 2700/06 Cooling passages of turbine components, e.g. unblocking or preventing blocking of cooling passages of turbine components
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 5/005 Repairing methods or devices
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2230/80 Repairing, retrofitting or upgrading methods
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/80 Diagnostics

Abstract

A method for determining the angular orientation of a hole in a component relative to the component'"'"'s surface includes the step of angularly varying a machine vision system and a hole in a component relative to each other such that the machine vision system views the hole at a plurality of angles. The machine vision system determines the angular orientation of the hole relative to the component surface by detecting the angle at which the greatest amount of light emanates from the hole. The machine vision system and the hole in the component can be angulary varied relative to each other by moving the machine vision system at various angles relative to the hole in the component, or by moving the component at various angles relative to the machine vision system. The component can be a turbine engine component.

Claims

1. A method for determining the angular orientation of a hole in a component relative to the components surface comprising the step of:

angularly varying a machine vision system and a hole in a component relative to each other such that the machine vision system views the hole at a plurality of angles, wherein the machine vision system determines the angular orientation of the hole relative to the component surface by detecting the angle at which the greatest amount of light emanates from the hole.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the component is a turbine engine component.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the machine vision system and the hole in the component are angularly varied relative to each other by moving the machine vision system at various angles relative to the hole in the component.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the machine vision system is moved hemispherically about the hole in the component.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the machine vision system and the hole in the component are angularly varied relative to each other by moving the component at various angles relative to the machine vision system.

6. The method of claim 1 further including the step of positioning a light source relative to the component so that light shines through the hole in the component toward the machine vision system.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

aligning a drill with the centerline of the hole at the angular orientation of the hole relative to the component surface as determined by the machine vision system; and

drilling the hole so as to substantially clear any obstructions from the hole.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the drill is a laser.

9. The method of claim 1 further including the step of:

scanning the surface of the component with the machine vision system to identify the presence of the hole in the component.

10. A method for reestablishing an opening in a component comprising the steps of:

backlighting a component having at least one hole so that light can pass through the at least one hole in the component;

scanning an outer surface of the component with a machine vision system to generally locate the at least one hole;

angularly varying the machine vision system and the at least one hole relative to each other so that the machine vision system views the hole at a plurality of angles, the machine vision system being programmed to determine the angular orientation of the at least one hole relative to the outer surface of the component by detecting the angular orientation at which the greatest amount of light emanates from the opening; and

drilling the at least one hole in the component at the angular orientation determined by the machine vision system.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the machine vision system and the hole in the component are angularly varied relative to each other by moving the machine vision system relative to the component.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the machine vision system and the hole in the component are angularly varied relative to each other by moving the component relative to the machine vision system.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the machine vision system and the hole in the component are angularly varied relative to each other by moving both the component and the machine vision system.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the machine vision system scans generally perpendicular to the outer surface of the component in a predefined area.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the vision system includes a camera, a vision processor, and a video monitor.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the component is placed upon a multi-axis table.

17. A method for reestablishing an opening in a turbine engine component comprising the steps of:

placing a turbine engine component atop a multi-axis table controlled by a CNC, the component having a surface including at least one hole;

backlighting the component so as to allow light to emanate from the at least one hole in the component;

scanning the component surface with a machine vision system to locate the at least one hole;

varying the angle at which the machine vision system views the at least one hole by positioning the machine vision system at various angles relative to the at least one hole in the component, wherein the machine vision system determines the angular orientation of the at least one hole relative to the component surface by detecting the angle at which the greatest amount of light emanates from the at least one hole, the machine vision system further determining the centerline of the at least one hole;

aligning a laser with the at least one hole at the angular orientation determined by the machine vision system; and

laser drilling the at least one hole substantially along the centerline of the at least one hole so as to substantially remove any obstructions from the at least hole while maintaining the geometry of the at least hole and the orientation at which the at least one hole was originally cut is maintained.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the turbine engine component is selected from the group consisting of transitions, turbine vanes or turbine blades.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the at least one hole is a cooling hole.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the CNC is programmed to control the multi-axis table, the laser and at least part of the machine vision system.