General Electric Company

Joseph Anthony Traxler

Michael L Dziech

Brenda Catherine Tenley

Wayne Lee Lawrence

Michael Wayne Fields

James Michael Donovan

James P O'Connell

Glenn D Givens

A method and system for inspecting components, such as a rotating component of a turbomachines having one or more slots along a perimeter thereof. The method entails mounting to a robotic apparatus a probe assembly that includes a holder assembly to which a probe tip is mounted, an eddy current coil within the probe tip and adjacent a first face thereof, a touch probe contact located at a second face of the probe tip, an element for enabling relative movement between the probe tip and holder assembly, and an element for biasing the probe tip relative to the holder assembly in a direction parallel to the movement. The probe tip is then placed in a slot and caused to travel along the surface of the slot to electromagnetically inspect the slot for cracks in its surface while the first face of the probe tip is maintained in contact with a slot surface.

Nondestructive robotic inspection method and system therefor

A method for inspecting a gas turbine engine component includes positioning an ultrasonic probe assembly proximate to a surface of the component, wherein the ultrasonic probe assembly includes a body portion and an inspection bar, coupling the inspection bar to the body portion such that the inspection bar is substantially vertical with respect to the body portion, moving the ultrasonic probe assembly along a substantially horizontal axis while generating ultrasonic data of the component, coupling the inspection bar to the body portion such that the inspection bar is substantially horizontal with respect to the body portion, moving the ultrasonic probe assembly along a substantially vertical axis while generating ultrasonic data of the component, and utilizing the generated data to reconstruct an image of the component.

Method and apparatus for inspecting a component

A method for inspecting a gas turbine engine rotor disk, wherein the rotor disk includes a plurality of dovetail slots, includes providing a probe assembly including an eddy current probe and a probe fixture, wherein the eddy current probe includes a body portion and a tip portion including an eddy current probe coil. The method also includes inserting the eddy current probe into the probe fixture, coupling the probe fixture to the rotor disk such that at least a portion of the probe fixture is coupled to at least one of the dovetail slots, and such that the eddy current probe is positioned adjacent the rotor disk, generating an eddy current in the rotor disk using the eddy current probe coil, and inspecting the rotor disk using the probe assembly.

Methods and apparatus for inspecting a component

A rotor disk is inspected using an inspection apparatus including an inspection fixture which has a base, and at least one guide extending from the base. Each guide is slidably engagable to one of the rotor slots of the rotor disk and has a guide side shaped to slidably conform to the rotor slot side, and a guide bottom having a guide bottom surface which, in combination with a slot bottom surface, defines an elongated inspection cavity extending parallel to the axis of revolution of the rotor disk. The inspection fixture is mated to the rotor disk such that each guide slides into one of the rotor slots. A sensor apparatus includes a sensor, such as an eddy current sensor, sized to slide into the inspection cavity with a close facing relation thereto, and a sensor drive that moves the sensor parallel to a direction of elongation of the inspection cavity. Inspection is performed by inserting the sensor into the inspection cavity, and sensing the rotor slot bottom using the sensor.

Rotor slot bottom inspection apparatus and method

A fixture for use with eddy current inspection probes facilitates inspection of airfoil leading and trailing edges. The fixture includes a fixture body having a hole formed in one side thereof for receiving a probe and a V-groove formed in another side thereof for receiving a workpiece surface. A clamp arm is pivotally mounted to the fixture body, and a spring is disposed between the clamp arm and the fixture body. The spring biases one end of the clamp arm towards the fixture body so that a workpiece can be clamped between the clamp arm and the fixture body.

Fixture for eddy current inspection probes

Calibration of an eddy current inspection system having an eddy current probe and a rotatable turntable is accomplished using a circular calibration standard having a notch of known dimensions formed therein. The calibration standard is mounted on the turntable for rotation therewith. The eddy current probe is positioned adjacent to the calibration standard, and the calibration standard is then rotated so that the probe scans the notch. By providing a rotating scan of the calibration standard, higher scan speeds and more accurate calibrations are achieved.

Growing community of inventors

Hamilton, OH, United States of America

Joseph Anthony Traxler