Image recording assemblies and coupling mechanisms for stator vane inspection

• US 8,587,660 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2010
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Mitra, Chayan, Jammu, Vinay Bhaskar, Kumar, Vinod Padmanabhan, Goray, Kunal Ravindra, Pandey, Achalesh Kumar, Babu, Ravi Yoganatha, Inamdar, Munish Vishwas, George, Sheri, Keely, Bhasker Rao
• Primary Examiner(s): Ustaris, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): NAWAZ, TALHA M
• Application Number:
  US12/847,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20120026306A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,208 Days
• Field of Search: 348 61-161
• US Class Current: 348/158
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/0654 Imaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A system is disclosed that includes an image recording assembly for recording images of a stator vane of a compressor and a mechanism configured to magnetically couple the image recording assembly to a rotor blade of a compressor. Additional systems are provided that include image recording assemblies. Methods implementing the disclosed systems are also provided.

Claims

1. A system for recording images of a stator vane of a compressor of a gas turbine engine, comprising:

a first subassembly comprising;

a first image recording device coupled to a first printed circuit board (PCB);

one or more memories coupled to the PCB; and

a first processor coupled to the PCB,

wherein the first subassembly is coupled to an attachment mechanism to form an image recording assembly,

wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a magnet that when activated is configured to directly secure the image recording assembly to a rotor blade of the compressor of the gas turbine engine.

2. The system of claim 1, comprising a second subassembly, wherein the second subassembly comprises:

a second image recording device coupled to a second PCB;

a second one or more memories coupled to the second PCB; and

a second processor coupled to the second PCB,

wherein the second subassembly is coupled to the attachment mechanism.

3. The system of claim 1, comprising a third subassembly, wherein the third subassembly comprises:

a third image recording device coupled to a third PCB;

a third one or more memories coupled to the third PCB; and

a third processor coupled to the third PCB,

wherein the third subassembly is coupled to the attachment mechanism.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises adhesive.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the image recording assembly comprises a switch configured to activate one or both of the image recording device or the attachment mechanism.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the switch comprises a collapsible switch configured to turn the image recording device either ON or OFF.

7. A system for recording images of a stator vane of a compressor of a gas turbine engine, comprising:

a first subassembly comprising;

an image recording device for recording images of the stator vane of a compressor of the gas turbine engine, wherein the image recording device is coupled to a first printed circuit board (PCB) and the PCB is further coupled to one or more memories and a processor;

and

a mechanism configured to directly secure the image recording assembly to a rotor blade of the compressor of the gas turbine engine using one or more magnets.

8. The system of claim 7, comprising a coating on a surface of a housing of the mechanism.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the mechanism comprises an array of magnets and one or more keeper magnets.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the mechanism comprises a Halbach array of magnets.

11. The system of claim 10, comprising a magnetic keeper on one side of the array.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the mechanism comprises an electro-permanent magnet array.

13. A method for operating an image recording assembly for recording images of a stator vane of a compressor of a gas turbine engine, comprising:

inserting an image recording assembly into a compressor housing of the gas turbine engine;

activating an image recording device of the image recording assembly; and

activating a magnetic mechanism to directly secure the image recording assembly to a rotor blade of the compressor of the gas turbine engine

wherein the image recording assembly is coupled to a first printed circuit board (PCB) and the PCB is further coupled to one or more memories and a processor.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein activating the magnetic mechanism comprises powering coils of the magnetic mechanism.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein activating the magnetic mechanism comprises rotating magnets of the magnetic mechanism.

16. The method of claim 13, comprising operating a switch of the image recording assembly to activate one or both of the image recording device or the magnetic mechanism.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein activating the switch of the image recording assembly comprises operating the switch to turn the image recording device either ON or OFF.

18. The method of claim 13, comprising operating a motor to activate the magnetic mechanism.

19. The method of claim 13, comprising coupling the image recording assembly to the rotor blade via an adhesive layer on a housing of the image recording assembly.