Video inspection system with deformable, self-supporting deployment tether

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9778141-B2
Application number	US-201514803149-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 20, 2015
Priority date	Jan 31, 2012
Publication date	Oct 3, 2017
Grant date	Oct 3, 2017

Abstract

Non-destructive evaluation optical inspection systems include video cameras or other reflective-photonic optical instruments, such as laser profilometers or 3D white light laser dimensional scanners, which are incorporated in a camera head. The camera head is coupled to a distal end of a self-supporting and shape-retaining elongate deformable deployment tether. The deployment tether is bendable, for insertion through cavities of power generation machines and orientation of the camera head field of view on the internal area of interest. The deployment tether is capable of being deformed repeatedly, for inspection of different areas of interest. In some embodiments, interchangeable camera heads are selectively coupled to the deployment tether, so that a kit or family of different optical inspection instruments are available to carry out multiple types of inspections within a single or multiple types of power generation machinery.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A video inspection system, comprising:
a self-supporting and shape-retaining, elongate deformable tubular deployment tether having distal and proximal ends, the tether constructed of a metallic inner tube, defining a lumen therethrough, that is radially circumscribed by a polymeric outer layer that is bonded thereto;
a camera head, coupled to the distal end of the deployment tether;
a five mega pixel (5 MP) or greater personal computer, tablet computing device, or smart telephone video camera board, coupled to the camera head and a USB-type cable retained within the tube lumen, for capturing video images;
a video control system, coupled to the video camera board, via the USB-type cable, for receiving camera video images for further processing, and a non-volatile memory device coupled thereto, for storage of camera video images; the video control system including a personal computer or a tablet computing device or a smart telephone;
a selectively engageable coupling element coupled to the deployment tether distal end and the camera head, for selectively engaging the tether and camera head to each other; and
a plurality of additional, replaceable camera heads respectively having different reflective-photonic, non-destructive evaluation instruments coupled thereto.

2. The system of claim 1 , the respective different reflective-photonic, non-destructive evaluation instruments comprising video or still cameras, laser profilometers, or 3-D laser scanners.

3. The system of claim 1 , the deployment tether comprising a deformable metallic inner tube capable of multiple, sequential bending deformations along a common portion of said tube without cracking the inner tube.

4. The system of claim 3 , the deformable metallic inner tube comprising aluminum material.

5. A method for internal non-destructive inspection of areas of interest within a power generation machine, comprising:
providing a power generation machine, having areas of interest therein that are in communication with corresponding internal passages, which passages are externally accessible from outside the machine;
providing a video inspection scope system, including:
a self-supporting and shape-retaining, elongate deformable tubular deployment tether having distal and proximal ends, the tether constructed of a metallic inner tube, defining a lumen therethrough, that is radially circumscribed by a polymeric outer layer that is bonded thereto;
a camera head, coupled to the distal end of the deployment tether;
a video camera coupled to the camera head, for capturing video images within a camera field of view; and
a video control system, coupled to the video camera, for receiving camera video images for further processing;

inspecting a first internal area of interest within the provided power generation machine by:
bending the metallic inner tube to conform elongate profile of the deployment tether to a first deformation profile, to facilitate insertion of the tether and camera head proximate the first internal area of interest within the power generation machine through a corresponding internal passage that is in communication therewith;
inserting the first deformation profile deployment tether and camera head into the corresponding power generation machine internal passage, so that the camera head is proximate the first area of interest;
moving the deployment tether proximal end, orienting the camera field of view to include the first area of interest therein, and capturing an image thereof with the camera; and
transferring the camera captured image of the first area of interest to the video control system.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
withdrawing at least a portion of the first deformation profile deployment tether and camera head from the power generation machine;
bending the metallic inner tube to conform elongate profile of the deployment tether to a second deformation profile, to facilitate insertion of the tether and camera head proximate a second area of interest within the power generation machine through a corresponding internal passage that is in communication therewith;
inserting the second deformation profile deployment tether and camera head into the corresponding power generation machine internal passage, so that the camera head is proximate the second area of interest;
orienting the camera field of view to include the second area of interest therein and capturing an image thereof with the camera; and
transferring the camera captured image of the second area of interest to the video control system.

7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising sequentially deforming a common section of said metallic inner tube during one or more power generation machine internal inspections without cracking the inner tube.

8. The method of claim 5 , the provided power generation machine comprising a combustion turbine engine, or a steam turbine engine, or a generator.

9. The method of claim 5 , the provided video camera comprising a five mega pixel (5 MP) or greater personal computer, tablet computing device, or smart telephone camera board that is coupled to the video control system via a USB-type cable retained within the tube lumen.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
the provided video scope system further having:
a selectively engageable a selectively engageable coupling element coupled to the deployment tether distal end and the camera head, for selectively engaging the tether and camera head to each other, and
a plurality of additional, replaceable camera heads respectively having different reflective-photonic, non-destructive evaluation instruments coupled thereto; and

selectively changing camera heads prior to inspecting one or more areas of interest within one or plural power generation machines.

11. The method of claim 10 , the respective provided different reflective-photonic, non-destructive evaluation instruments comprising video or still cameras, laser profilometers, or 3-D laser scanners.

12. The method of claim 11 , the video control system receiving images from the reflective-photonic non-destructive instruments by a wireless signal transmission system.

13. The method of claim 5 , the provided video control system comprising a personal computer, tablet computing device, or smart telephone and a non-volatile memory device coupled thereto, for storage of camera video images.

14. The method of claim 13 , the provided video control system receiving images from the video camera by a wireless signal transmission system.

15. A method for internal non-destructive inspection of areas of interest within a combustion turbine engine, comprising:
providing a combustion turbine engine having:
compressor and turbine sections including therein a rotatable rotor with rows of blades affixed thereto, and rows of stationary vanes interposed between the blade rows;
a combustor section interposed between the compressor and turbine sections; and
respective internal passages that are in communication with internal areas of interest within the respective compressor, turbine and combustor sections, the passages externally accessible from outside the engine;

providing a video inspection scope system, having
a self-supporting and shape-retaining, elongate deformable tubular deployment tether having distal and proximal ends, the tether constructed of a metallic inner tube, defining a lumen therethrough, that is radially circumscribed by a polymeric outer layer that is bonded thereto;
a camera head, coupled to the distal end of the deployment tether;
a video camera coupled to the camera

Assignees

• Siemens Energy Inc

Inventors

• Bancalari Alejandro
• Hatcher Jr Clifford
• Ruhge Forrest R
• Williams James P
• Deascanis Joshua
• Letter David
• Shannon Robert G

Classifications

• H04N23/54

  Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils · CPC title

• H04N23/555

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

• H04N23/50

  Constructional details · CPC title

• H04N23/51

  Housings · CPC title

• G01N21/954

  Inspecting the inner surface of hollow bodies, e.g. bores · CPC title