Alstom Technology Limited

General Electric Company

General Electric Technology Gmbh

Roland Richard Moser

Josef Erni

Jacques Brignac

Bernhard Mark

Francesco Mondada

Christopher John Hulme

Radivoje S Popovic

Pavel Kejik

Serge Reymond

Roland Siegwart

Sophie Betty Claire Duval

Bernard Revaz

Klaus Germerdonk

Philipp Roth

Niklaus Hugi

Wolfgang Fischer

Peter Lang

Simon Christoph Honold

Jörgen Rönnqvist

Patrick Schoeneich

Frederic Rochat

Bernd Rabensteiner

Philipp Isler

Fabien Tache

Reto Kaufmann

Maximilian Hobelsberger

A method for creating a three-dimensional (3D) mark in a protective coating including at least one of a TBC and a bond coating over a metal part, is provided. The method may include positioning a mask over the protective coating, the mask including an opening pattern therein; and performing an abrasive waterjet process on the protective coating using the mask. The abrasive waterjet erodes a first portion of the protective coating exposed through the first opening pattern to create the 3D mark. The mask is removed, leaving the 3D mark in the protective coating. The 3D mark only partially penetrates through the protective coating. A metal part may include a metal body, a protective coating over the metal body, and the 3D mark in the protective coating, is also provided. The 3D mark in the protective coating may include an opening having a width of between 30 and 300 micrometers.

Creating 3D mark on protective coating on metal part using mask and metal part so formed

A vehicle is provided for the independent inspection of hard-to-reach inner spaces which are bounded by ferromagnetic inner walls, especially in large cast parts, such as steam chests of a steam turbine. The vehicle includes at least two wheels which are rotatable around a common axis, are at a distance from each other in the axial direction, and can be driven independently of each other. With such a vehicle, the entire inner space can be inspected if the vehicle has adherence elements which hold the vehicle against the gravity force with the wheels on the respective inner wall.

Vehicle and method for the independent inspection of hard-to-reach inner spaces

A process for producing a reference body () provided with a slot () as a test crack for the nondestructive testing of materials can be used flexibly and includes the following steps:

Process for producing a body provided with a slot as a test crack

In a rolling element () for the polydirectional travel of a vehicle on a magnetically attractive underlying surface (), a compact, robust and simple design is made possible in that the rolling element () has a spherical element () and at least one permanent magnet (). The spherical element () supports the at least one permanent magnet () in such a way that the at least one permanent magnet () maintains its spatial orientation when the spherical element () rolls on the underlying surface (), and the spherical element () is held in contact against the underlying surface () by the magnetic interaction of the at least one permanent magnet () with the underlying surface ().

Rolling element for the polydirectional travel of a vehicle, and vehicle having such a rolling element

Removal of the rotor of a large electrical machine is costly and time consuming, and in particular the outage time of a power plant, which is needed for the removal of a generator rotor, is very expensive and should be minimized. To avoid opening of the generator for inspection and maintenance instrument carriages can be used. A method allows the reliable guidance for an in-situ instrument carrier inside the annular gap of a generator and a corresponding instrument carrier. The method avoids the use of sensors and active control systems for the guidance of the instrument carrier. A passively self-guiding system and method takes advantage of the internal structure of a generator and uses the passive centering properties of magnets to guide the instrument carrier through the annular gap of a generator.

Self-guiding instrument carrier for in-situ operation in a generator

In a method for determining geometrical characteristics (d) of an anomaly () which changes the electrical conductivity in the region near the surface of an electrically conducting, in particular a metallic test object (), a considerable simplification is achieved in that, in the region of the anomaly () in the test object (), eddy currents () of different frequencies are excited, and the magnetic field (B), which is produced by the excited eddy currents, is scanned in the vicinity of the anomaly () and the geometric characteristics of the anomaly are exclusively deduced from the distribution of the magnetic field (B).

Method for determining geometric characteristics of an anomaly in a test object and measuring apparatus for carrying out the method

A method is provided for determination of an operating temperature in a thermally highly loaded device. Multiple individual passive measurement elements, having a measurable physical parameter depending on a constant temperature set during heat treatment, are provided. The parameter is set differently for each of the different measurement elements which are combined to form an array. In a first measurement, values of the physical parameter for the array are determined before the array is subjected to the operating temperature. The array is subjected to the operating temperature in the device and in a second measurement, values are determined for all the measurement elements in the array. First and second measurement values of the physical parameter for each of the measurement elements are compared and the temperature of the heat treatment of that measurement element whose value of the physical parameter has changed the least is taken as the measured temperature.

Method for passive determination of the operating temperature in a thermally highly loaded device, and apparatus for carrying out the method

A method for drilling or cutting a pin surrounded by solid material includes the use of a water jet tool having a nozzle that is arranged at an angle with respect to a main body of the water jet tool. The water jet is directed over a portion of the surface of the pin, and removes that portion thereby fragmenting the pin. In order to minimize damage to the surrounding material, the portions removed touches the interface between the pin and the surrounding solid material at a minimal number of points and over a minimal extent of the interface. The method is applicable in particular to the removal of pins used in a press-fit for the securing of blades on a turbine rotor. The method facilitates 'in situ' removal of pins within a confined space in a short time and at reduced cost.

Method and device for pin removal in a confined space

An apparatus for inspection of a gap between two surfaces, at least one of which is ferromagnetic, for example in a generator, includes a sensor platform () for one or more sensors () and an elongated mount (), which can be moved out, for the sensor platform (). The mount () can be moved in and out of the gap through an access opening, can be moved out over the length of the gap and can be rolled up outside the gap by a drive (). In its moved-out state, the mount () has a curvature in a lateral cross section. In addition, the mount () has a plurality of magnets () by which the mount () is brought into contact with a ferromagnetic surface. The magnets () are attached to the side of the mount () facing away from the ferromagnetic surface, ensuring that the mount () slides along a ferromagnetic surface. The apparatus allows inspection of gaps from a height of 4 mm and is distinguished by a simple and physically small design.

Gap inspection apparatus

A portable, self-contained scanner device for metallurgical, nondestructive testing is provided. The portable, self-contained scanner device includes a chassis having wheels extending beneath a lower surface thereof, a nondestructive testing probe detachably fixed to the chassis, and a computer processor device coupled to the chassis. The computer processor device includes applications executable by the computer processor device for performing the metallurgical, nondestructive testing on a test subject. The scanner device also includes a display device that displays images in response to the metallurgical, nondestructive testing. The chassis, computer processor device, and display device move along the test subject as a single unit.

Portable scanner device for metallurgical, nondestructive testing

An automotive device for the inspection of internal spaces having ferromagnetic surfaces includes at least two magnetic wheels () or caterpillars, or at least two magnetic legs for the advancement of the device along the surfaces to be inspected. According to the invention, the device includes actively powered rotating arms () attached to a wheel (), caterpillar, or leg of the device. Each rotating arm () has a length longer than the shortest distance between the point of attachment of the rotating arm to the device and the surface. When the device is in a position, where there is magnetic contact to the surface in two or more points and the device is no longer able to advance due to the strength of the magnetic forces, the rotating arms are brought into non-magnetic contact with the surface in order to create an air gap between the surface and the magnetic wheel and thus reduce the magnetic forces. The device is thereby enabled to overcome the magnetic forces and advance the device along the surface.

Automotive inspection device

A centering apparatus for internal nondestructive testing of a tube to be inspected includes an elongated shaft member coupled to an inspection probe; a plurality of fingers, pivotally attached at a first end thereof to a mounting surface affixed to the shaft member, the plurality of fingers circumferentially surrounding the shaft member; and an expansion mechanism, disposed between the plurality of fingers and the shaft member, the expansion mechanism configured to selectively and outwardly extend a second end of the plurality of fingers with respect to a longitudinal axis of the shaft member, so as to bring the second end of the plurality of fingers into contact with an inner surface of the tube to be inspected, thereby centering the inspection probe within the tube.

Boiler tube inspection probe with centering mechanism and method of operating the same

A method for drilling or cutting a pin () surrounded by solid material () includes the use of a water jet tool () having a nozzle () that is arranged at an angle with respect to a main body () of the water jet tool (). The water jet is directed over a portion of the surface of the pin (), and removes that portion thereby fragmenting the pin (). In order to minimise damage to the surrounding material, the portions removed touches the interface between the pin and the surrounding solid material at a minimal number of points and over a minimal extent of the interface. The method is applicable in particular to the removal of pins () used in a press-fit for the securing of blades () on a turbine rotor (). The method facilitates 'in situ' removal of pins within a confined space in a short time and at reduced cost.

A drive unit () for an inspection vehicle which can be used on ferromagnetic bases (), especially in generators, which drive unit includes a motor-powered crawler track () and also magnetic devices for holding the drive unit () on the base (). An improved insensitivity to uneven spots in the base is achieved by the crawler track (), in the region where it bears upon the base (), being guided via inner, spring-mounted running wheels (), and by the magnetic devices being integrated in the running wheels ().

Growing community of inventors

Zurich, Switzerland

Roland Richard Moser