Systems and methods for inspecting bristles using a digital camera

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020311908-A1
Application number	US-201916363545-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 25, 2019
Priority date	Mar 25, 2019
Publication date	Oct 1, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method is provided for inspecting a device comprising a plurality of bristles. During this method, image data provided from an electronic optical sensor is received. The image data is indicative of an image of at least a portion of the bristles. A bristle configuration (e.g., an angle) of at least one of the bristles (e.g., an average bristle) in the image is determined by processing the image data with a computer processor

First claim

1 . A method for inspecting a device comprising a plurality of bristles, the method comprising:
receiving image data provided from an electronic optical sensor, the image data indicative of an image of at least a portion of the bristles; and determining a bristle configuration of at least one of the bristles in the image by processing the image data with a computer processor.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein
the device further comprises an annular base that extends circumferentially around a centerline; the plurality of bristles are connected to and project from the annular base; and the determining of the bristle configuration comprises determining an angle between the at least one of the bristles and a reference line.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the reference line is coincident with and perpendicular to the centerline.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of bristles project radially inward from a radial inner periphery of the annular base.

5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of bristles project radially outward from a radial outer periphery of the annular base.

6 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of bristles project axially away from an axial side of the annular base.

7 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the determining of the bristle configuration comprises:
calculating an autocorrelation function on an array of pixels of the image; determining a peak intensity of the autocorrelation function along each row or each column of the array of pixels; fitting a least square error line based on the peak intensity; and determining the angle based on a slope of the least square error line.

8 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the determining of the bristle configuration comprises:
determining a first number of the plurality of bristles located along an x-axis in a quadrant of the image; determining a second number of the plurality of bristles located along a y-axis in the quadrant of the image; and calculating an arctangent of R to determine the angle, wherein R is equal to a quotient of the second number divided by the first number.

9 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
arranging the device with a fixture to locate the device in a known spatial location and orientation; wherein the bristle configuration is determined based on the known spatial location and orientation.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the electronic optical sensor is fixedly mounted to the fixture.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the electronic optical sensor is mounted to the fixture, and the electronic optical sensor is adapted to move relative to the device.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising adjusting the location of the electronic optical sensor based on a configuration of the device.

13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the fixture comprises a first seal locator and a second seal locator, and the device is abutted against the first seal locator and the second seal locator.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising adjusting a location of the first seal locator and/or a location of the second seal locator based on a configuration of the device.

15 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the bristle configuration is determined using an autocorrelation function.

16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the bristle configuration comprises an angle between the at least one of the bristles and a predetermined reference line.

17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the bristle configuration comprises a dimension of the at least one of the bristles.

18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the device is configured as a brush seal for a gas turbine engine.

19 . A method for inspecting a brush seal, the method comprising:
disposing the brush seal with a fixture, wherein the brush seal includes an annular base and a plurality of bristles projecting from the annular base, and wherein the brush seal is abutted against one or more surfaces of the fixture to position the brush seal in a known location and orientation relative to a digital camera; capturing an image of at least a portion of the plurality of bristles using the digital camera to provide image data indicative of the captured image; and processing the image data with a computer processor to determine an angle of at least one of the plurality of bristles relative to a predetermined reference line.

20 . A system for inspecting a brush seal, the system comprising:
a brush seal support comprising a support surface and a plurality of protrusions, the support surface configured to support the brush seal during the inspection, and the plurality of protrusions configured to abut against an edge of the annular brush seal to position the brush seal on the support surface in a known location and orientation; a support stand connected to the brush seal support; an optical sensor mounted to the support stand, the optical sensor configured to capture an image of at least a portion of a plurality of bristles of the brush seal and provide image data indicative of the captured image; and a computer in signal communication with the optical sensor and comprising a processor, the computer configured to receive the image data from the optical sensor and determine a bristle configuration of at least one of the bristles in the image by processing the image data with the processor.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Drescher Joseph D
• Darrow Kamiko L
• Duguay Brian
• Pedersen Erik M
• Ricciardelli Brian
• Balzano Danielle N

Classifications

• H04N23/90

  Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums · CPC title

• G01N21/8851 Primary

  Scan or image signal processing specially adapted therefor, e.g. for scan signal adjustment, for detecting different kinds of defects, for compensating for structures, markings, edges (G01N21/8806 and G01N21/93 - G01N21/95692 take precedence; optical measurement of dimensions G01B11/00; optical scanning G02B26/10; image transformation G06T3/00; computerised image enhancement G06T5/00; image processing per se for flaw detection G06T7/0002) · CPC title

• G06T2207/30164

  Workpiece; Machine component · CPC title

• G01M13/005

  Sealing rings · CPC title

• G01N2021/8887

  based on image processing techniques · CPC title