Nondestructive inspection heads for components having limited surrounding space

• US 7,950,297 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2007
• Issued: 05/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Energy Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Energy Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Moore, Michael Charles, Moore, Charles Crawford, Fair, Michael F., Metala, Michael J., Bauer, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams; Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fayyaz; Nashmiya
• Application Number:
  US11/776,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20090126493A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,420 Days
• Field of Search: 736/18, 736/44, 736/19, 736/20, 738/658
• US Class Current: 73/865.8
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/101 one transducer
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/269 Various geometry objects
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/902 by moving the sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/225 Supports, positioning or alignment in moving situation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/265 by moving the sensor relative to a stationary material

Abstract

An inspection head where non-destructive inspection is structured to fit into narrow spaces, and to accurately and repeatably move an inspection probe along a surface to be inspected. Movement of the inspection head along an X, Y, Z, Θ, and Φ-axis is precisely controlled by individual drive mechanisms.

Claims

1. A nondestructive inspection head system for the inspection of a turbine disk component on a turbine rotor assembly, comprising:

means for raising and lowering an interchangeable inspection head along a Y-axis into a location to be inspected;

the interchangeable inspection head configured to inspect a turbine disk component comprising;

a Y-axis drive;

a drive selected from the group consisting of an X-axis drive, a Θ

-axis drive and a Φ

-axis drive;

a Z-axis drive,

wherein the Z-axis drive includes a motor structured to drive the head in a first direction, and a spring structured to drive the head in an opposing direction,

wherein a plurality of interconnected, substantially parallel slides adjacent to each other and structured to slide with respect to each other;

an arm structured to actuate sliding motion of the slides;

a spring structured to bias the arm in a first direction; and

a motor-driven pulley structured to move the arm in the opposing direction;

a sensor; and

a coupling medium delivery/recirculation system structured to;

dispense a coupling media between the sensor and the turbine disk, and recirculate the coupling media via a catch basin arranged below the turbine disk.

2. The inspection head system according to claim 1, further comprising a θ

-axis drive.

3. The inspection head system according to claim 2, wherein the θ

-axis drive includes a motor-driven belt, with the belt driving a leadscrew operatively connected to a gear that is operatively connected to the head.

4. The inspection head system according to claim 1, wherein the X-axis drive includes a lead screw actuated by a motor-driven pulley.

5. The inspection head system according to claim 1, further comprising a probe holder structured to hold a probe in a floating manner.

6. The inspection head system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of ultrasound and eddy current.

7. The inspection head system according to claim 6, wherein the sensor comprises a pair of ultrasonic probes.

8. The inspection head system according to claim 6, wherein the coupling media is water.

9. The inspection head system according to claim 1, further comprising at least two rollers structured to engage a surface of the component being inspected.

10. The inspection head system according to claim 5, wherein the probe is secured within a probe housing, and the probe is spring-biased away from the probe housing.

11. A nondestructive inspection head system for the inspection of a turbine disk component on a turbine rotor assembly, comprising:

a base having a stand and rail support structured to raise and lower an interchangeable inspection head along a Y-axis into a location to be inspected of the turbine disk component;

the interchangeable head comprising;

an Y-axis drive operatively connected to the head;

a drive selected from the group consisting of a X-axis drive, a θ

-axis drive and a Φ

-axis drive, operatively connected to the head;

a Z-axis drive operatively connected to the head,

wherein the Z-axis drive includes a motor structured to drive the head in a first direction, and a spring structured to drive the head in an opposing direction,

wherein a plurality of interconnected, substantially parallel slides adjacent to each other and structured to slide with respect to each other;

an arm structured to actuate sliding motion of the slides;

a spring structured to bias the arm in a first direction; and

a motor-driven pulley structured to move the arm in the opposing direction; and

a sensor operatively connected to the X, Y or Φ

-axis drive that detects defects in an inspected turbine disk component; and

a coupling medium delivery/recirculation system structured to;

dispense a coupling media between the sensor and the inspected turbine disk component, and

recirculate the coupling media via a catch basin arranged below the inspected turbine disk component.

12. The inspection head system according to claim 11, wherein the inspected turbine disk component comprises an attached turbine blade.

13. The inspection head system according to claim 12, wherein the blade is a steam turbine blade.

14. The inspection head system according to claim 13, further comprising a probe connected to the head selected from the group consisting of ultrasound and eddy current.

15. The inspection head system according to claim 12, further comprising a probe holder structured to hold a probe in a floating manner, and wherein the probe is secured within a probe housing and the probe is spring-biased away from the probe housing.