Process and system for detecting surface anomalies

• US 7,750,643 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Issued: 07/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Rose, Curtis Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HOAI AN D
• Application Number:
  US11/928,399
• Publication Number:
  US 20090108830A1
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 324/718, 324/715, 324/713, 324/691, 324/649, 324/600, 324/525, 324/512, 324/500
• US Class Current: 324/525
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 19/08 Detecting presence of flaws or irregularities
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/20 Investigating the presence of flaws

Abstract

Processes and systems for detecting surface anomalies in components generally includes contacting a surface of the component with a detection apparatus, wherein the detection apparatus includes at least one post, a wire extending from the post and a sensor in operative communication the wire; and sensing the surface anomaly as an increase in resistance of the wire across the surface.

Claims

1. A process for determining the presence of a surface anomaly on a component, comprising:

contacting a surface of the component with a detection apparatus, wherein the detection apparatus comprises at least one post, a wire extending from the at least one post and a sensor in operative communication with the wire;

creating relative movement between the wire and the surface;

measuring a change in resistance as the wire and the surface move with respect to one another; and

sensing the surface anomaly as an increase in resistance of the wire with respect to the surface.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the surface anomaly is a crack at about an edge of a turbine rotor wheel.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein the surface anomaly is a crack and the wire is selected to have a diameter less than a width of the crack.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein the wire is selected from a group consisting of a polymer, a metal, an alloy, a glass, and combinations thereof.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein the detection apparatus is configured to measure a friction force of the wire as it is moved about the surface.

6. The process of claim 1, wherein the wire is an optical glass fiber.

7. The process of claim 1, further comprising recording data provided by the sensor.

8. The process of claim 1, wherein the component comprises a rotor wheel having a dovetail edge and blades attached thereto.

9. The process of claim 1, wherein contacting the surface of the component with the detection apparatus comprises contacting the wire to the surface at a constant pressure.

10. A process for detecting a crack in a turbine rotor wheel, comprising:

providing a turbine rotor wheel;

contacting a surface at about a dovetail edge of the turbine rotor wheel with a detection apparatus, wherein the sensing apparatus comprises at least one post, a wire extending from the at least one post and a sensor in operative communication with the wire;

creating relative movement between the wire and the surface;

measuring a change in resistance as the wire and the surface move with respect to one another; and

sensing the crack as an increase in resistance of the wire with respect to the surface.

11. The process of claim 10, wherein the wire is at a predefined tensile stress.

12. The process of claim 10, wherein the wire is selected from a group consisting of a polymer, a metal, an alloy and a glass.

13. The process of claim 10, wherein the wire is selected to have a diameter less than a width of the crack.

14. The process of claim 10, wherein contacting the surface with the detection apparatus comprises contacting the wire to the surface at a constant pressure.

15. A system for determining the presence of a surface anomaly on an article, comprising:

a detection apparatus comprising at least one post and a wire extending from the at least one post for holding the wire at a predetermined tension;

a sensor in operative communication the wire, the sensor configured for measuring changes in tension in the wire as it is moved relative to a surface of the article; and

indicating the surface anomaly when an increase in tension of the wire is detected.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the article is a turbine component.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the wire is selected from a group consisting of a polymer, a metal, an alloy, a glass, and combinations thereof.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising a recording device in operative communication within the sensor.