General Electric Company

Ge Inspection Technologies, Gmbh

Jeffrey Bishop Draper

Matthew Barton Wolf

Lance Edmund Maggy

Jean-Francois Bureau

Michael Alphonse Terhaar

Ryan Walter Tosto

Modular probe

An inspection assembly for inspecting a hollow member, with a probe head, which includes at least one sensor, and a flexible shaft connected to the probe head to transmit motive force. The shaft encloses at least one wire operatively connected to the probe head for sensory operation of the sensor. The shaft has a first part adjacent to the probe head and a second part distal therefrom. The first part is relatively more flexible that the second part. The shaft has an improved ability to follow a torturous path of the hollow member and for aiding in kink prevention of the shaft. In one aspect, the first part is made of polymer material and has a reduced-diameter and corrugations. Optionally, at least one non-metallic retrieval cable is enclosed within the shaft and connected to the probe head for transmitting a pulling force to the probe head.

Low row steam generator inspection probe

An inspection assembly for insertion inspection of an elongate hollow member. The inspection assembly includes a probe head including at least one sensor for sensing a characteristic of the elongate hollow member as the probe head is moved internally within the elongate hollow member. The assembly includes a flexible shaft connected to the probe head and transmitting a motive force to the probe head to move the probe head within the elongate hollow member. The flexible shaft encloses at least one wire operatively connected between the probe head and at least one component external to the elongate hollow member for sensory operation of the at least one sensor. The flexible shaft is at least partially corrugated.

A connector system for attaching a probe to a probe shaft mating assembly comprising: a probe shaft mating assembly comprising a connector body, a plunger chamber located within the connector body, a spring located within the plunger chamber, a locking ball channel extending through the connector body from the plunger chamber to the outer surface of the connector body, a locking ball located within the locking ball channel, and a plunger located within the plunger chamber adjacent to the spring, wherein the locking ball is in contact with the outer surface of the plunger; a probe comprising a probe body, a probe shaft chamber located within the probe shaft facing end of the probe body, and a locking ball receiver located in the probe body adjacent to the probe shaft chamber; wherein the diameter of the probe shaft chamber is larger than that of the probe shaft mating assembly such that when the plunger and the spring are moved from a first position to a second position, the locking ball moves inwardly towards the plunger chamber and below the outer surface of the connector body allowing the probe facing end of the probe shaft mating assembly to enter the probe shaft chamber, and when the plunger and spring are moved from the second position to the first position, the locking ball moves towards the surface of the connector body, extending beyond the outer surface of the connector body such that the locking ball engages the locking ball receiver and fixes the probe to the probe shaft mating assembly.

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McVeytown, PA, United States of America

Jeffrey Bishop Draper