Systems and methods for managing inspections

• US 6,772,098 B1
• Filed: 07/11/2001
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Chan, Ahdee Quan, Stark, Randal Raymond, Ranganath, Sampath
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff, Marc
• Assistant Examiner(s): West, Jeffrey R.
• Application Number:
  US09/682,030
• Publication Number:
  US 20040143419A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: 702/182, 702/183, 702/184, 702/185, 702/188, 700/9, 376/216, 376/217
• US Class Current: 702/188
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32226 Computer assisted repair, maintenance of system components
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A method is provided for managing inspection requirements using a network-based system. The system includes a server system coupled to a centralized database and at least one client system. The method includes receiving information relating to a plurality of components of a specific plant and storing the information into a centralized database. The method further includes cross-referencing the information received, updating the centralized database based on the information received and providing information in response to an inquiry.

Claims

1. A method for managing inspection requirements using a network-based system including a server system coupled to a centralized database and at least one client system, said method comprising:

receiving information relating to components in a plant, including weld inspection information;

storing the information into the centralized database;

cross-referencing the information received;

updating the centralized database based on the information received;

modifying inspection requirements based on inspection result information;

determining next required inspection of each plant component based on inspection result information and regulatory requirements;

developing a schedule of future inspection requirements sortable by inspection date, component, inspection criteria satisfaction, and defect indication;

notifying a user of events affecting the inspection schedule, including at least one of updated inspection guidelines, revised industry component findings, component manufacturer safety information alerts, and inspection results; and

providing information in response to an inquiry including information relating to component identification, component description, inspection type, last inspection date, inspection criteria result, defect indication, inspection comments, next required inspection, and a basis for the next required inspection.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein receiving information comprises receiving data relevant to at least one of inspection regulations, inspection recommendations, and fleet experience with the components.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein receiving information comprises the receiving data for at least one of a Boiling Water Reactor Plant, Pressurized Water Reactor Plant, and an Advanced Liquid Metal Reactor Plant.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein receiving information comprises receiving data for at least one of a Core Spray, CP Stiffener Beams, a Control Rod Drive Housing, Control Rod Guide Tubes, a Pipe Bracket, a Core Spray Sparger, a FW Sparger, a Incore Housing, a Incore Guide Tube, a SRM/IRM, a Jet Pump, a Moisture Separator, a RPV Interior, a Shroud, a CDR Stub Tube, a Steam Dryer, and a TG Align Pin.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein receiving information comprises the receiving data for at least one of a plurality of plants.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein storing data comprises storing data including at least one of component location, component description, and component inspection history.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein storing the information comprises storing examination information for at least one of ultrasonic testing, enhanced visual testing, visual testing, and eddy current testing.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein cross-referencing the information comprises correlating at least one of inspection regulations, inspection recommendations, and fleet inspection results data to the components of specific plants.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein cross-referencing the information comprises correlating inspection regulations to inspection results.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein providing information in response to an inquiry comprises:

downloading requested information from the server system; and

displaying requested information on the client system in response to the inquiry.

11. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein providing information comprises:

displaying information on the client system identifying at least one of an option relating to at least one of a plurality of plants; and

receiving an inquiry from the client system regarding at least one of an option relating to at least one of a plurality of plants.

12. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein providing information comprises:

displaying information on the client system identifying at least one of an option relating to a Core Spray, CP Stiffener Beams, a Control Rod Drive Housing, Control Rod Guide Tubes, a Pipe Bracket, a Core Spray Sparger, a FW Sparger, a Incore Housing, a Incore Guide Tube, a SRM/IRM, a Jet Pump, a Moisture Separator, a RPV Interior, a Shroud, a CDR Stub Tube, a Steam Dryer, and a TG Align Pin; and

receiving an inquiry from the client system regarding at least one of an option relating to a Core Spray, CP Stiffener Beams, a Control Rod Drive Housing, Control Rod Guide Tubes, a Pipe Bracket, a Core Spray Sparger, a FW Sparger, a Incore Housing, a Incore Guide Tube, a SRM/(IRM, a Jet Pump, a Moisture Separator, a RPV Interior, a Shroud, a CDR Stub Tube, a Steam Dryer, and a TG Align Pin.

13. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein providing information comprises:

accessing the centralized database;

searching the database regarding the specific inquiry;

retrieving information from the database; and

transmitting the retrieved information to the client system for display by the client system.

14. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein providing information includes providing at least one of historical inspection data and future inspection requirements.

15. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein providing information includes providing future inspection requirements for at least one of a specified time range and a specified component.

16. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the client system and the server system are connected via a network and wherein the network is one of a wide area network, a local area network, an intranet and the Internet.

17. A network-based system for managing inspection requirements, said system comprising:

a client system comprising a browser;

a data storage device for storing information;

a server system configured to be coupled to said client system and said data storage device said server system further configured to;

receive information relating to inspection of components of a specific plant;

store the information into a centralized database;

update the centralized database based on the information received;

modify inspection requirements based upon inspection result information;

determine next required inspection of each plant component based on the inspection result information and regulatory requirements;

cross-reference the information received against the components;

provide a schedule of future inspection requirements sortable by inspection date, component, inspection criteria satisfaction, and defect indication;

notify a user of events affecting the inspection schedule, including at least one of undated inspection guidelines, revised industry component findings, component manufacturer safety information alerts, and inspection results; and

provide information in response to an inquiry including information relating to component identification, component description, inspection type, last inspection date, inspection criteria result, defect indication, inspection comments, next required inspection, and a basis for the next required inspection.

18. A network-based system in accordance with claim 17 further configured to be protected from access by unauthorized individuals.

19. A network-based system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said server system further configured with a processing component for searching and processing received inquiries against the data storage device containing information collected by a collection component.

20. A network-based system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said server system further configured with a processing component for cross-referencing inspection regulations and component information.

21. A network-based system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said server system further configured with a retrieving component to retrieve information from the data storage device.

22. A network-based system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said server system further configured to store data relevant to at least one of fleet inspection results, inspection requirements, inspection recommendations, criteria information, and indication information.

23. A network-based system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said server system further configured to add and delete information.

24. A network-based system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said server system further configured to enter information on-line.

25. A network-based system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said server system configured to provide information in response to an inquiry further configured to:

download requested information from a server system; and

display requested information on a client system in response to the inquiry.

26. A network-based system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said server system further configured to submit a request through pull-down lists.

27. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for managing inspection requirements, said program comprising:

a code segment that receives information relating to components including inspection regulations and inspection results;

a code segment that maintains a database by adding, deleting and updating information relating to components;

a code segment that generates inspection requirements based on the information relating to components;

a code segment that determines next required inspection of each plant component based on inspection results information and regulatory requirements;

a code segment that provides a schedule of future inspection requirements sortable by inspection date, component, inspection criteria satisfaction, and defect indication;

a code segment that notifies a user of events affecting the inspection schedule, including at least one of updated inspection guidelines, revised industry component findings, component manufacturer safety information alerts, and inspection results; and

a code segment that provides information to be displayed on a user system including information relating to component identification, component description, inspection type, last inspection date, inspection criteria result, defect indication, inspection comments, next required inspection, and a basis for the next required inspection.

28. A computer program in accordance with claim 27 further comprising a code segment configured to provide information to determine inspection requirements for a specific component in accordance with inspection regulations.

29. A computer program in accordance with claim 28 further comprising a code segment that provides at least one of an option to filter inspection requirements based on at least one of a time range, a component, an indication and a criteria.

30. A computer program in accordance with claim 28 further comprising:

a code segment that accesses the database;

a code segment that searches the database regarding the specific inquiry;

a code segment that retrieves information from the database; and

a code segment that causes the retrieved information to be displayed on the system.