Combustor imaging inspection system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9228941-B2
Application number	US-201213671300-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 7, 2012
Priority date	Nov 7, 2012
Publication date	Jan 5, 2016
Grant date	Jan 5, 2016

Abstract

An imaging inspection system and inspection method for a combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine having an imaging inspection device and a controller. The imaging inspection device includes a combustor interface, an inspection head having a first camera, an inspection head extender, a roll actuator, and a pitch actuator. The controller is configured to manipulate the inspection head in a predefined sequence.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An imaging inspection system for a combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine, the imaging inspection system comprising:
a combustor interface configured to secure at least a portion of the imaging inspection system to a combustor of the gas turbine engine;
an inspection head including a first camera;
an inspection head extender, the inspection head extender mechanically coupled to the combustor interface and to the inspection head, the inspection head extender configured to position the inspection head into the combustion chamber;
a first actuator configured to move a view of the first camera in a first direction;
a second actuator configured to move the view of the first camera in a second direction different from the first direction;
a controller configured to control the first actuator and the second actuator to manipulate the inspection head in a predefined sequence;
an inner platform configured to support the inspection head extender; and
an outer casing comprising a structural member mechanically coupled to the combustor interface, and configured to traverse an open chamber between an injector port on the outside of the gas turbine engine and a combustion chamber dome, the outer casing further configured to receive and support the inner platform, the outer casing further configured to be installed into the injector port with or without the inner platform.

2. The imaging inspection system of claim 1 , further comprising an indexing key, the indexing key establishing the starting reference, the starting reference including a location reference for the imaging inspection system relative to the combustion chamber to be inspected.

3. The imaging inspection system of claim 1 , wherein the inspection head further includes a second camera.

4. The imaging inspection system of claim 1 , wherein the inspection head further includes a proximity sensor.

5. The imaging inspection system of claim 1 , wherein the controller includes a user interface, the user interface including
a first trigger configured to initiate the predefined sequence of inspection head manipulations,
a second trigger configured to manually override to the predefined sequence of inspection head manipulations,
a third trigger configured stop to the predefined sequence of inspection head manipulations,
a display configured to provide real-time images taken by the first camera, and
one or more user controls configured to manually manipulate the inspection head.

6. The imaging inspection system of claim 1 , wherein the controller includes a processor and a memory;
wherein the predefined sequence of manipulations of the inspection head include maneuvering and operating the first camera along a predetermined path via commands from the processor; and
wherein the controller is configured to record video of the combustion chamber along the predetermined path.

7. The imaging inspection system of claim 1 , further comprising a wireless transceiver communicably coupled to the controller, the wireless transceiver configured to receive data from the first camera and transmit commands from the controller.

8. An imaging inspection system for a combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine, the imaging inspection system comprising:
an inspection head including a first camera;
an inspection head extender mechanically coupled to the inspection head, the inspection head extender indexed to a reference on the combustion chamber;
a first actuator configured to move a view of the first camera in a first direction;
a second actuator configured to move the view of the first camera in a second direction different from the first direction;
a processor and a control module configured together to issue commands to operate the first camera and to cause the first actuator and the second actuator to move the inspection head according to a predetermined path, the control module being programmed to store instructions for a predefined sequence of the inspection head manipulations defining the predetermined path;
a memory configured to host the control module and a imagery module, the imagery module configured to record imagery received from the first camera; and
a first trigger configured to initiate the predefined sequence of the inspection head manipulations.

9. The imaging inspection system of claim 8 , wherein the first camera is a video camera; and
wherein the inspection head further includes a second camera and a proximity sensor.

10. The imaging inspection system of claim 8 , further comprising an inspection device housing, the inspection device housing including a combustor interface, an inner platform, and an outer casing, the combustor interface configured to mount to an injector port, the inner platform configured to support the inspection head, the outer casing configured to receive and support the inner platform; and
wherein the first actuator includes a roll actuator; and
wherein the second actuator includes a pitch actuator.

11. The imaging inspection system of claim 10 , wherein the inspection head extender has a fixed length and is configured to support the inspection head at the fixed length within the combustion chamber; and
wherein the inspection head extender is supported by the inner platform;
wherein the inner platform is configured to support the inspection head via the inspection head extender; and
wherein the first camera is configured to vary its focal distance.

12. A method for inspecting a combustion chamber for a combustor of a gas turbine engine with an imaging inspection system including a combustion interface, an inspection head, an inspection head extender, a first actuator, a second actuator, and a controller having a first trigger, the method comprising:
removing an injector from an injector port of the combustor;
installing at least a portion of the imaging inspection system into the injector port;
securing at least the portion of the imaging inspection system to the injector port-using the combustor interface;
positioning the inspection head including a first camera into the combustion chamber using the inspection head extender, the inspection head extender being mechanically coupled to the combustor interface and to the inspection head;
performing an automated sequence of manipulations of the inspection head by directing the first actuator to move a view of the first camera in a first direction with the controller and by directing the second actuator to move a view of the first camera in a second direction with the controller, the second direction being different from the first direction;
initiating the automated sequence of manipulations of the inspection head with the first trigger;
recording data obtained via the automated sequence of manipulations of the inspection head; and
removing the inspection head from the combustion chamber and detaching the portion of the imaging inspection head secured to the injector port.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein securing the portion of the imaging inspection system to the injector port includes indexing the inspection head to the combustion chamber so as to establish the starting reference for the inspection head.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first actuator is a roll actuator and the second actuator is a pitch actuator and performing the automated sequence of manipulations of the inspection head includes rotating the camera about a primary axis via the first actuator, and pitching the camera about an axis perpendicular to the primary axis via the second actuator.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the imaging inspection syst

Assignees

• Solar Turbines Inc

Inventors

• Arellano Leonel
• Brown Nathaniel David

Classifications

• H04N23/555

  for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes · CPC title

• G01N21/47 Primary

  Scattering, i.e. diffuse reflection (G01N21/25, G01N21/41 take precedence {G01N21/55 takes precedence}) · CPC title

• H04N2005/2255

  Electricity · mapped topic