Ultrasonic miniature air gap inspection crawler

• US 7,201,055 B1
• Filed: 10/10/2005
• Issued: 04/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Hatley, Kenneth, Roney, Robert M., Bagley, Paul C., Hatley, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams; Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shah; Samir M.
• Application Number:
  US11/163,196
• Publication Number:
  US 20070089544A1
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 736/18, 736/19, 736/20, 736/23, 736/33, 736/34, 376/249, 376/252
• US Class Current: 73/618
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/34 Testing dynamo-electric machines
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 15/00 Methods or apparatus specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining or repairing of dynamo-electric machines

Abstract

A miniature air gap inspection crawler. The miniature air gap inspection crawler may include a base, a linear drive mechanism and a circumferential drive mechanism such that either the linear drive mechanism or the circumferential drive mechanism may be employed, and an inspection module connected to the base.

Claims

1. A miniature air gap inspection crawler, comprising:

a base;

a linear drive mechanism connected to the base to drive the miniature air gap inspection crawler;

a circumferential drive mechanism connected to the base to drive the miniature air gap inspection crawler;

wherein either the linear drive mechanism or the circumferential drive mechanism may be employed; and

an inspection module connected to the base.

2. The crawler of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a plurality of magnets positioned therein.

3. The crawler of claim 2, wherein the base comprises a retractable keeper plate positioned adjacent to the plurality of magnets.

4. The crawler assembly of claim 1, wherein the linear drive mechanism comprises a pair of belt assemblies.

5. The crawler of claim 1, wherein the circumferential drive mechanism comprises a pair of wing assemblies.

6. The crawler of claim 5, wherein the pair of wing assemblies may be maneuvered about the base such that either the linear drive mechanism or the circumferential drive mechanism may be employed.

7. The crawler of claim 1, wherein the circumferential drive mechanism comprises a pair of drive roller assemblies.

8. The crawler of claim 1, wherein the inspection module comprises an ultrasonic device.

9. The crawler of claim 1, wherein the inspection module comprises a camera.

10. The crawler of claim 1, further comprising a traverse assembly mounted to the base and wherein the inspection module is positioned within the traverse assembly.

11. The crawler of claim 10, wherein the traverse assembly comprises a screw assembly for movement in a first direction.

12. The crawler of claim 10, wherein the traverse assembly comprises a plurality of swing arms for movement in a second direction.

13. A method of inspecting a generator field with a crawler having a linear drive mechanism and a circumferential drive mechanism, comprising;

attaching magnetically the crawler to the field;

engaging the circumferential drive mechanism to drive the crawler;

traveling in a circumferential direction;

inspecting the generator field;

disengaging the circumferential drive mechanism;

engaging the linear drive mechanism to drive the crawler; and

traveling in a linear direction.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of inspecting the generator field comprises conducting an ultrasonic inspection of the field.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of inspecting the generator field comprises conducting a visual inspection of the field.

16. A miniature air gap inspection crawler, comprising:

a base;

a plurality of magnets positioned within the base;

a linear drive mechanism connected to the base to drive the miniature air gap inspection crawler;

a circumferential drive mechanism connected to the base to drive the miniature air gap inspection crawler;

wherein either the linear drive mechanism or the circumferential drive mechanism may be employed; and

an ultrasonic inspection module connected to the base.

17. The crawler assembly of claim 16, wherein the linear drive mechanism comprises a pair of belt assemblies.

18. The crawler of claim 16, wherein the circumferential drive mechanism comprises a pair of wing assemblies.

19. The crawler of claim 18, wherein the pair of wing assemblies may be maneuvered about the base such that either the linear drive mechanism or the circumferential drive mechanism may be employed.

20. The crawler of claim 16, wherein the circumferential drive mechanism comprises a pair of drive roller assemblies.