Thermal inspection systems
First Claim
1. A system for thermal inspection of a component having at least one cooling hole, the system comprising:
- a fluid source configured to supply a warm flow and a cool flow, indirectly or directly, to at least one internal passage of the component;
an imager configured to capture a time series of images corresponding to a transient thermal response of the component to the warm and cool flows, wherein the thermal response corresponds to a plurality of intensity or temperature values for an external surface of the component;
at least one flow meter configured to measure the warm and cool flows supplied to the component; and
a processor operably connected to the imager and configured to;
determine the transient thermal response of the component around a transition time interrogating a second derivative of the intensity or temperature values with respect to time around the transition time, wherein the flow supplied to the component switches from the warm flow to the cool flow at the transition time, andcompare the transient thermal response around the transition time with one or more baseline values or with an acceptable range of values by comparing the second derivative of the intensity or temperature values with the respective baseline value or with the respective acceptable range of values, to determine if the component meets a desired specification.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A thermal inspection system includes a fluid source configured to supply a warm flow and a cool flow, indirectly or directly, to internal passage(s) of a component. The system includes an imager configured to capture a time series of images corresponding to a transient thermal response of the component to the warm and cool flows. The system further includes at least one flow meter configured to measure the warm and cool flows supplied to the component and a processor operably connected to the imager. The processor determines the transient thermal response of the component around a transition time. The flow supplied to the component switches from the warm flow to the cool flow at the transition time. The processor compares the transient thermal response around the transition time with one or more baseline values or with an acceptable range of values to determine if the component meets a desired specification.
47 Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A system for thermal inspection of a component having at least one cooling hole, the system comprising:
-
a fluid source configured to supply a warm flow and a cool flow, indirectly or directly, to at least one internal passage of the component; an imager configured to capture a time series of images corresponding to a transient thermal response of the component to the warm and cool flows, wherein the thermal response corresponds to a plurality of intensity or temperature values for an external surface of the component; at least one flow meter configured to measure the warm and cool flows supplied to the component; and a processor operably connected to the imager and configured to; determine the transient thermal response of the component around a transition time interrogating a second derivative of the intensity or temperature values with respect to time around the transition time, wherein the flow supplied to the component switches from the warm flow to the cool flow at the transition time, and compare the transient thermal response around the transition time with one or more baseline values or with an acceptable range of values by comparing the second derivative of the intensity or temperature values with the respective baseline value or with the respective acceptable range of values, to determine if the component meets a desired specification. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A system for thermal inspection of a component having a plurality of cooling holes and a plurality of internal passages, the system comprising:
-
a plenum in fluid communication with at least one of the internal passages of the component; a fluid source configured to supply a warm flow and a cool flow to the plenum; at least one flow meter configured to measure a mass flow rate for the warm and cool flows supplied to the plenum; an imager configured to capture a time series of images corresponding to a transient thermal response of the component to the warm and cool flows, wherein the thermal response corresponds to a plurality of intensity or temperature values for an external surface of the component; a plurality of actuated air flow stops configured to selectively interrupt the fluid communication between the plenum and respective ones of the internal passages; and a processor operably connected to the imager and configured to; determine the transient thermal response of the component around a transition time, wherein the flow supplied to the component switches from the warm flow to the cool flow at the transition time, and compare the transient thermal response around the transition time with one or more baseline values or with an acceptable range of values to determine if the component meets a desired specification. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification