Ge Inspection Technologies, Gmbh

Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC

General Electric Company

Baker Hughes, a Ge Compnay, LLC

Ge Sensing & Inspection Technologies, Gmbh

James J Delmonico

Thomas Karpen

Joshua Lynn Scott

Joseph Vincent Lopez

Andrew Tang

Matthew William Pankow

Kevin Andrew Coombs

Bradford James Morse

Melissa Rose Stancato

Bryan David Maule

Bryan Christopher Morris

Nicholas Anthony Stancato

Joseph John Waclawski

Dennis Lavin

Marjorie L Buerkle

Todd B Abernethy

Richard A Monroe

Thomas Durkee Britton

Dennis W McEnery

Dennis William Mcenery

A method includes transmitting an instruction to a motive power supply of an elastically deformable device to drive the elastically deformable device in accordance with a drive setting; measuring a force exerted on the elastically deformable device with a sensor; outputting an observed value representative of the force; comparing the observed value with a reference value corresponding with a predetermined force to be exerted on the elastically deformable device; and adjusting the drive setting based on a determination that the observed value is outside of a predetermined range of the reference value. The method prevents slack in the elastically deformable device over time. Related apparatuses, systems, techniques and articles are also described.

Cable force adjustment

A non-destructive testing device includes a tubular housing including a proximal end and a distal end. A conduit section is arranged at the proximal end, and a bendable articulation section secured to the conduit section and arranged at the distal end. A plurality of actuation systems each includes a control cable extending along the tubular housing and arranged at a respective circumferential position within the bendable articulation section, and an actuator disposed at the proximal end of the tubular housing and secured to the control cable.

Articulated non-destructive testing device having a plurality of actuation systems and a method of articulating the device

Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for articulating visual inspection devices are provided. For example, a method can include receiving an inspection template by a control system associated with the visual inspection device. The inspection template can include data associated with at least one point of interest in a scene viewable to the visual inspection device. The method can further include generating, by the control system, an articulation path based on the data. The method can also include actuating an electro-mechanical system of the visual inspection device according to the articulation path.

Method and system for articulation of a visual inspection device

Various exemplary devices and methods are provided for adjusting brightness of a light source. In general, the devices and methods can allow brightness of a light source to be adjusted by varying a power supply of the light source. The power supply can be varied in response to a user input. In one exemplary embodiment, the light source can be included as part of a scope, e.g., a borescope, an endoscope, etc., configured to be advanced into a target and to gather one or more video images and/or one or more still images within the target using a camera. The light source can be configured to illuminate the target at a selected one of the variable amounts of brightness. A white balance of the light source can be configured to automatically adjust in response to the selected amount of brightness.

Methods and devices for adjusting brightness of a light source

A method and system for steering an insertion tube of a video inspection device is disclosed for detecting a precise steering request made by displacing a pointing device from its stationary position and then returning the pointing device to or near its stationary position within a short interval of time. This precise steering request is then used by the video inspection device to steer the insertion tube a fixed distance in a direction based on the direction of the displacement of the pointing device for precise positioning of the camera head of the insertion tube.

Method and system for steering an insertion tube of a video inspection device

An inspection apparatus can include a handset and an elongated inspection tube extending from the handset. For reduction of heat energy radiating from one or more components of the apparatus, the apparatus can include a particularly designed heat sink assembly.

Inspection apparatus having heat sink assembly

An inspection apparatus can be provided in a system with a workstation computer. In one embodiment, the inspection apparatus can include a user interface enabling the inspection apparatus to initiate, responsively to an action by an inspector, an IP based voice communication connection with an external computer of the system. In one embodiment, the inspection apparatus and the workstation computer can be in communication with a central server that can receive data collected by said the inspection apparatus and can receive data requests from the workstation computer.

IP based voice communication enabled inspection system

An inspection apparatus can comprise at least one light source for illuminating a target. The at least one light source can be disposed and/or controlled in such manner as to reduce a heat generation by the at least one light source and in such manner as to reduce a power consumption of the at least one light source.

Inspection apparatus having illumination assembly

A visual inspection apparatus can include a handset, elongated inspection tube extending from the handset and a light source bank disposed within a hand held housing of the handset. For reduction of heat energy radiating from the light source bank, the apparatus can include one or more of a thermal control system and a particularly designed heat sink assembly.

Visual inspection apparatus having light source bank

An industrial inspection handset is disclosed, comprising a connector for connecting a peripheral device to the handset, wherein the connector is oriented such that the peripheral device can extend substantially parallel to the housing surface of the handset, and a cover tethered to the handset by a first tab, wherein the cover when mounted on the housing of the handset encloses the connector and the peripheral device. In an alternative embodiment, the handset comprises a connector oriented such that the peripheral device can extend substantially perpendicular to the housing surface of the handset, and a cover tethered to the handset by a first tab and a second tab, wherein the cover when mounted on the mounting member encloses the connector. A method of replacing a cover tethered to an industrial inspection handset is also disclosed, wherein the first cover is tethered to the handset by a first tab, comprising the steps of removing the first cover from the first tab; forcing the first tab through an opening in the handset and into the interior of the handset; and tethering a second cover to the handset by inserting a second tab attached to the second cover through the opening in the handset.

Integrated storage for industrial inspection handset

An industrial inspection handset is disclosed, comprising a battery assembly for providing power to the handset, wherein the battery assembly comprises a connector for connecting a battery charger, a battery circuit for communicating with a processor in the handset, and a battery charge indicator on the surface of the battery assembly connected to the battery circuit for providing a visual indication of the charge remaining in the battery assembly. A method of power management for an industrial inspection handset is also disclosed comprising the steps of setting a first maximum power output value for the camera illumination for the insertion, monitoring an imager signal processor, to determine that the gain value of the image signal processor is less than a predetermined gain value, and setting a lower second maximum power output value for the camera illumination in order to increase the gain value. Additional methods of power management for an industrial inspection handset are disclosed, comprising the steps of setting a first maximum power output value for the articulation of the insertion tube attached to the handset, monitoring the operator controls to determine that there has been no articulation for a first predetermined amount of time, monitoring the position of the insertion tube to determine whether the insertion tube position is inside or outside of a predetermined zone of coordinates, and reducing or turning off the articulation power to hold the position of the insertion tube.

Growing community of inventors

Skaneateles, NY, United States of America

James J Delmonico