General Electric Company

Ge Infrastructure Technology, LLC

General Electric Technology Gmbh

Christopher Paul Markman

Paulo Cesar Debenest

Selim Akin

Thomas James Batzinger

Shigeo Hirose

Michele Guarnieri

Selami Haydar Icli

Airton Rosa Da Silva, Jr

Giacomo Cimarelli

Giorgio Valsecchi

Brian William Graham

Satoshi Kitano

Salvatore Sessa

Airton Rosa Da Silva

A sensor interface module for an inspection robot includes a scissor lift for varied radial positioning of, and a universal sensor mount for mounting, a selected one of a plurality of different sensors. A visual inspection module for the robot includes an inspection unit for simultaneously visually inspecting a first surface facing a first direction and a spaced, second surface facing an opposing, second direction toward the first surface. The inspection unit includes a first visual sensor and a second visual sensor, each visual sensor facing in a direction different than the first and second directions. A first reflector reflects an image of the first surface to the first visual sensor, and a second reflector reflects an image of the second surface to the second visual sensor. A robot system may include the sensor interface module and the inspection unit.

Sensor interface module with scissor lift for plurality of sensors, and visual inspection module with dual view paths for robot

This disclosure provides systems and methods for in situ gap inspection in a machine, such as a generator, an electric motor, or a turbomachine, with an end region. A robotic crawler is configured to navigate an annular gap of the machine. A visual inspection module is connected to the robotic crawler and includes an extension member for extending a camera into the end region to collect visual inspection data.

End region inspection module and method for in situ gap inspection robot system

Systems and methods for in situ gap inspection in a machine, such as a generator, an electric motor, or a turbomachine are described. A robotic crawler has multidirectional traction modules, an expandable body, and sensor modules. A control system communicates with the robotic crawler to provide a control signal to navigate an inspection path within an annular gap of the machine. The inspection path includes axial and radial movements to inspect the annular gap using the sensor modules.

In situ gap inspection robot system and method

This disclosure provides systems and methods for in situ gap inspection in a machine, such as a generator, an electric motor, or a turbomachine. A robotic crawler includes an expandable body, multidirectional traction modules, and sensor modules. The expandable body is movable between a collapsed state and an expanded state. The multidirectional traction modules are removably connected to and positioned by the expandable body and configured to engage opposed surfaces within an annular gap of the machine. The sensor modules are removably connected to and supported by the expandable body and include a plurality of sensor types to inspect the annular gap of the machine.

Crawler robot for in situ gap inspection

This disclosure provides systems and components for an omnidirectional traction module for use in a robot, such as a crawler robot used in in situ gap inspection in a machine, such as a generator, an electric motor, or a turbomachine. The traction module may include an outer frame and a rotating frame rotatably mounted within the outer frame. At least one drive system may be mounted within the rotating frame. The at least one dive system may have a fixed orientation within the rotating frame. An actuator may be operatively connected to the rotating frame to controllably rotate the rotating frame to a desired orientation for robot travel.

Omnidirectional traction module for a robot

Growing community of inventors

Canton, GA, United States of America

Christopher Paul Markman