System and method for performing a visual inspection of a gas turbine engine

• US 9,458,735 B1
• Filed: 02/10/2016
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Diwinsky, David Scott, Lim, Ser Nam
• Primary Examiner(s): Perungavoor, Sath V
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown, Jr., Howard D
• Application Number:
  US15/040,310
• Time in Patent Office: 237 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 21/003 Arrangements for testing or measuring for measuring vibrations G01H
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/24 Casings modified for heating or cooling F01D25/14; Casing parts, e.g. diaphragms, casing fastenings casings for rotary machines or engines in general F16M ; special arrangements in stators dealing with breaking-off of part of rotor F01D21/045
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 5/005 Repairing methods or devices
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/32 in gas turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/80 Diagnostics
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/14 Testing gas-turbine engines or jet-propulsion engines
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8803 Visual inspection measuring projectors G01B9/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/95 characterised by the material or shape of the object to be examined G01N21/89 - G01N21/91, G01N21/94 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/9515 Objects of complex shape, e.g. examined with use of a surface follower device measuring contours and curvatures G01B11/24
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/954 Inspecting the inner surface of hollow bodies, e.g. bores
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/062 LED's
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/12 Circuits of general importance; Signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2423 of the distal end
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30164 Workpiece; Machine component
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0008 checking presence/absence

Abstract

A method for performing a visual inspection of a gas turbine engine may generally include inserting a plurality of optical probes through a plurality of access ports of the gas turbine engine. The access ports may be spaced apart axially along a longitudinal axis of the gas turbine engine such that the optical probes provide internal views of the gas turbine engine from a plurality of different axial locations along the gas turbine engine. The method may also include coupling the optical probes to a computing device, rotating the gas turbine engine about the longitudinal axis as the optical probes are used to simultaneously obtain images of an interior of the gas turbine engine at the different axial locations and receiving, with the computing device, image data associated with the images obtained by each of the optical probes at the different axial locations.

Claims

1. A method for performing a visual inspection of a gas turbine engine, the method comprising:

inserting a plurality of optical probes through a plurality of access ports of the gas turbine engine, the plurality of access ports being spaced apart axially along a longitudinal axis of the gas turbine engine such that the plurality of optical probes provide internal views of the gas turbine engine from a plurality of different axial locations along the gas turbine engine;

coupling the plurality of optical probes to a computing device;

rotating the gas turbine engine about the longitudinal axis as the plurality of optical probes are used to simultaneously obtain images of an interior of the gas turbine engine at the plurality of different axial locations; and

receiving, with the computing device, image data associated with the images obtained by each of the plurality of optical probes at the plurality of different axial locations.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of access ports are spaced apart axially along at least a portion of a compressor of the gas turbine engine such that each access port is located at or adjacent to a different stage of a plurality of stages of the compressor.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein rotating the gas turbine engine comprises rotating the gas turbine engine about the longitudinal axis as the plurality of optical probes are used to obtain images of a plurality of compressor blades located at each of the plurality of stages of the compressor.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising inspecting the plurality of compressor blades for defects or damage based on the image data associated with the obtained images.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of access ports are spaced apart axially along at least a portion of a turbine of the gas turbine engine such that each access port is located at or adjacent to a different stage of a plurality of stages of the turbine.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein rotating the gas turbine engine comprises rotating the gas turbine engine about the longitudinal axis as the plurality of optical probes are used to obtain images of a plurality of turbine blades located at each of the plurality of stages of the turbine.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising inspecting the plurality of turbine blades for defects or damage based on the image data associated with the obtained images.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein an orientation of a probe tip of each of the plurality of optical probes is adjustable within the gas turbine engine, further comprising adjusting, with the computing device, the orientation of at least one of the probe tips as images of the interior of the gas turbine engine are being obtained.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing for display, by the computing device, the image data on a display device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the image data within a memory associated with the computing device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein rotating the gas turbine engine comprises transmitting, by the computing device, control signals to a motor rotatably coupled to the gas turbine engine such that the motor rotates the gas turbine engine at a controlled speed about the longitudinal axis.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of optical probes corresponds to one of a borescope, a videoscope or a fiberscope.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of optical probes includes a light source for illuminating the interior of the gas turbine engine.

14. A method for performing a visual inspection of a gas turbine engine, the method comprising:

inserting a plurality of optical probes through a plurality of access ports of the gas turbine engine, the plurality of access ports being spaced apart axially along a longitudinal axis of the gas turbine engine such that the plurality of optical probes provide internal views of the gas turbine engine from a plurality of different axial locations along the gas turbine engine;

coupling the plurality of optical probes to a computing device;

transmitting, by the computing device, control signals to a motor rotatably coupled to the gas turbine engine such that the motor rotates the gas turbine engine at a controlled speed about the longitudinal axis as the plurality of optical probes are used to simultaneously obtain images of an interior of the gas turbine engine at the plurality of different axial locations;

receiving, with the computing device, image data associated with the images obtained by each of the plurality of optical probes at the plurality of different axial locations; and

transmitting, with the computing device, the image data to a data center located remote to the computing device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of access ports are spaced apart axially along at least a portion of a compressor of the gas turbine engine such that each access port is located at or adjacent to a different stage of a plurality of stages of the compressor.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein rotating the gas turbine engine comprises rotating the gas turbine engine about the longitudinal axis as the plurality of optical probes are used to obtain images of a plurality of compressor blades located at each of the plurality of stages of the compressor.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising inspecting the plurality of compressor blades for defects or damage based on the image data associated with the obtained images.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of access ports are spaced apart axially along at least a portion of a turbine of the gas turbine engine such that each access port is located at or adjacent to a different stage of a plurality of stages of the turbine.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein rotating the gas turbine engine comprises rotating the gas turbine engine about the longitudinal axis as the plurality of optical probes are used to obtain images of a plurality of turbine blades located at each of the plurality of stages of the turbine.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising inspecting the plurality of turbine blades for defects or damage based on the image data associated with the obtained images.