General Electric Company

Gary Lamberton

Curtis Wayne Rose

Robert V Falsetti

Kathleen Blanche Morey

Manuel Kenneth Bueno

Andrew Batton Witney

Robert Charles Shaffer

Michael Rowe

Manuel K Bueno

Robert Shaffer

Methods and devices are provided for detecting, corrosion and cracks in fastener nuts. In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus can be configured to couple to a fastener nut to facilitate inspection of the fastener nut for detection of flaws in the fastener nut, such as corrosion and cracks. The apparatus can be configured to couple to the fastener nut when the fastener nut is mounted on a fastener and in use in a larger system such as a subsea drilling apparatus or other system in which fasteners with fastener nuts attached thereto are used. The apparatus can include an ultrasonic probe configured to facilitate inspection of the fastener nut using ultrasonic waves.

Corrosion and crack detection for fastener nuts

A method of inspecting a connection joint including a first side coupled to an opposite second side along a bond, extending along an edge. The method includes generating at least one first sound wave at a first location on the first side, wherein the first location is at a first distance from the edge. The method also includes receiving the at least one first sound wave at a plurality of sensors coupled to the second side and determining that the bond is present at the first location. The method further includes generating at least one second sound wave at a second location on the first side, wherein the second location is offset a predetermined distance from the first location. The method also includes receiving the at least one second sound wave at the plurality of sensors and determining a width of the bond.

Methods and systems for inspecting a wind turbine blade

The present application provides a method of inspecting a bond joint. The method may include the steps of applying an exothermic adhesive to a first shell and/or a second shell, attaching the first shell to the second shell via the exothermic adhesive to create the bond joint, allowing the exothermic adhesive to cure, and imaging the heat released by the exothermic adhesive along the bond joint. The bond joint may be a turbine blade bond joint.

Thermographic inspection system for composite wind turbine blade

A method of making a flexible delay line for a transducer, a flexible delay line, and a transducer are provided. The method includes providing a mold having a desired geometry, applying a flexible material to the mold, curing the flexible material in the mold, and removing the cured material from the mold. The cured material forms a flexible delay line having a geometry conforming to a face of the ultrasonic transducer. The flexible delay line for a transducer includes a flexible material having an aperture shaped to receive a face of the transducer. The flexible delay line is operable to conform to a flat or an irregular surface.

Method of making a flexible delay line, a flexible delay line and a transducer

Systems, devices, and methods, adapted to immersively test/inspect machine components (e.g., tubes, conduits, etc.) in an in-situ manner are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes: a first seal member configured to sealingly engage a first portion of a machine component; a base system connected to the first seal member and configured to extend within the machine component, the base system including: a housing; and a inspection device disposed within the housing and configured to inspect the machine component; and a second seal member connected to the base system and configured to sealingly engage a second portion of the machine component.

Immersion inspection system for a machine and related method of operation

A method and apparatus for determining a dimension of a defect in a component is disclosed. A linear array of acoustic transducers is used to propagate a focused ultrasonic beam along a first focal line. The focused ultrasonic beam is moved across the defect in a first array direction substantially perpendicular to the first focal line. The dimension of the defect is determined from at least one reflection of the focused ultrasonic beam from the defect as the focused ultrasonic beam moves across the defect.

Method of determining a size of a defect using an ultrasonic linear phased array

A cold spray coating process is disclosed. The cold spray coating process includes positioning a cold spray nozzle relative to a bearing assembly, rotating the bearing assembly, and directing a powdered babbitt material through the cold spray nozzle, to a surface of the rotating bearing assembly. The powdered babbitt material adheres to the surface of the rotating bearing assembly, forming a coating on the surface. Another cold spray coating process includes positioning the cold spray nozzle relative to a bearing assembly, rotating the cold spray nozzle, and directing a powdered babbitt material through the cold spray nozzle, to a surface of the bearing assembly. The powdered babbitt material adheres to the surface, the rotating of the cold spray nozzle forming a coating on the surface. Another cold spray coating process includes monitoring properties of the coating on the surface of the bearing assembly with a coating monitor.

Cold spray coating process

A method, system and article adapted for ultrasonic inspection of the article. The article is disk-shaped and has axially-oriented slots circumferentially spaced from each other at a periphery of the article, with members secured at the periphery of the article such that each member has a retention feature that extends into and engages a corresponding one of the slots so as to secure the members to the slots. Cavities are defined by and between the slots and radially-inward extremities of the retention features within the slots. The inspection method and system entail the use of at least one ultrasonic transducer placed within at least a first of the cavities defined by a first of the slots. The transducer is configured and oriented to perform a diagnostic technique on the article by emitting an ultrasonic signal that intersects an interior surface of a second of the slots immediately adjacent the first slot.

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Glenville, NY, United States of America

Gary Lamberton