General Electric Company

Truman F Kellie

Charles W Donaldson

Ching C Lai

J David Landry

Mark B Manley

Teresa M Motz

The present invention relates to an endoscope for the examination of the interiors of lightening holes in gas turbine engine blades. A light beam is projected toward a beam splitter and reflected by the beam splitter into the lightening hole for illumination of the hole. An observation lens system is arranged to allow an observer to view the illuminated hole through the beam splitter.

Endoscope

An optical inspection system is disclosed which determines surface and other features of objects by illuminating them with a light beam having substantially uniform light intensity in space and time. The light beam is derived from a light source whose light intensity may vary in space and time. The surface features of each object are inspected by detecting light reflected from the object through a lens system which focuses the reflected light on an array of photosensitive elements. The output signals provided by the array may be used to provide a measure indicative of the conformance of the inspected surface to predetermined criteria. The inspection system is further capable of determining other features of the inspected object, such as the height of the object, by illuminating the object with a second light beam derived from a second light surface. A portion of the second light beam is eclipsed by the object and the non-eclipsed portions are directed to a second array of photosensitive elements to provide signals indicative of the desired dimension.

Optical inspection system

An invention is disclosed in which a light source provides light beams of different wavelengths which are projected to an object to form images thereon at substantially the same degree of focus and magnification. The reflected images are received by two photosensors, each responsive to one of the wavelengths, which produce signals indicative of surface features of the object. Increased resolution of small surface features is obtained through the similarities of focus and magnification.

Growing community of inventors

West Chester, OH, United States of America

Truman F Kellie