×

Managing non-destructive evaluation data

  • US 9,804,997 B2
  • Filed: 06/25/2013
  • Issued: 10/31/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2009
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A method of managing non-destructive evaluation (NDE) data for manufacturing and/or maintenance purposes in a system of the type that includes at least one processing unit and a memory, the method comprising:

  • retrieving a first dataset of NDE data for at least a portion of a first asset of a particular type of asset, wherein the first asset comprises a physical object from which the first dataset of NDE data is collected during non-destructive evaluation of the first asset;

    retrieving a second dataset of NDE data for at least a portion of a second asset of the same particular type of asset, wherein the second asset comprises a physical object from which the second NDE data is collected during non-destructive evaluation of the second asset;

    the first and second datasets containing inspection information for the respective asset wherein the inspection information of a dataset includes information that is indicative of a potential problem at a location in the NDE data of the dataset;

    the first dataset and the second dataset of NDE data having previously been aligned to an independent simulated model of the at least a portion of an asset of the particular type of asset with an alignment algorithm selected based on an evaluation of the datasets, the model being a previously existing computer depiction of a geometrical representation of the physical object of the particular type of asset, the simulated model further being independently generated with respect to the NDE data of the first and second datasets using at least one of golden NDE data or data from a CAD/CADD program;

    processing the first dataset of NDE data to determine a first indication of a potential problem and a corresponding first location of the first indication of the potential problem on the independent simulated model;

    processing the second dataset of NDE data to determine a second indication of a potential problem and a corresponding second location of the second indication of the potential problem on the independent simulated model; and

    using the at least one processing unit, determining a trend that is reflective of repeated indications of a potential problem in a portion of the particular type of asset across the multiple assets based at least in part on the determined first location and the determined second location.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×