United Technologies Corporation

Raytheon Technologies Corporation

Rtx Corporation

Wayne State University

Other

Zhong Ouyang

Kevin D Smith

Andrew DeBiccari

William J Brindley

David A Raulerson

Xuan Liu

Robert L Thomas

Lawrence D Favro

Xiaoyan Han

Gang Sun

Hua Sui

Nigel David Sawyers-Abbott

Ron I Prihar

Garrett Kernozicky

Christopher J Bischof

Lisa J Brasche

Kathryn Macauley

Jesse R Boyer

Alexander Staroselsky

Nicholas M LoRicco

Paul John Zombo

Thomas J Martin

Elizabeth F Vinson

Robert E Shannon

Hector M Pinero

Lawrence P Roberts

Carroll V Sidwell

David Norwood Potter

Jaimie Taraskevich

Jaimie Schweitzer

Derek J Michaels

Adam F Knapp

Andrew Debiccari

David Raulerson

A method of determining a repair method for a defect in a bladed rotor can comprise comparing the defect in a three-dimensional model of an inspected integrally bladed rotor (IBR) to a plurality of known defects from a repair database; determining the defect is matching a known defect in the plurality of known defects in the repair database; and generating a repair process associated with the known defect in response to determining the defect is matching the known defect. A method can also comprise determining a potential repair process; performing a structural simulation of a finite element model for the inspected IBR with the potential repair; performing an aerodynamic simulation of an aerodynamic model for the inspected IBR with the potential repair; and generating the potential repair process for the defect in response to determining the inspected IBR with the potential repair meets structural and the aerodynamic criteria.

Blend approach based inspection and analysis systems and methods

A system for magnetically inspecting a metallic component uses a manipulator configured to manipulate a relative position between a part fixture that holds the metallic component and a probe fixture that holds a magnetic probe, thereby causing the probe tip to trace an inspection route along the surface of the metallic component so that the probe tip contacts the metallic component such that an angular difference between the probe axis and a vector normal to the surface is less than a predetermined angle delta. The magnetic probe has a probe tip that measures magnetic permeability of the metallic component along the inspection route, which the controller receives. A method of performing the magnetic inspection is also disclosed.

Automated inspection for internal corrosion

An inspection device is disclosed herein. The inspection device may comprise: a support structure; a motor; a shaft operably coupled to the motor, the shaft extending from a first side of the support structure to a second side of the support structure, the shaft configured to couple to a bladed rotor; an optical device moveably coupled to the support structure; and a broad-band energy source configured to generate acoustic energy through the bladed rotor during inspection.

Inspection systems and methods for sealing surfaces

An article of manufacture may include a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising: commanding, via the processor, a first scan of a bladed rotor; generating, via the processor, a three-dimensional model based on a first set of data received from a first scanner; comparing, via the processor, the three-dimensional model to an acceptable three-dimensional model of the bladed rotor; determining, via the processor, areas of interest based on the comparison; and commanding, via the processor, a contact probe to perform a non-destructive inspection on the areas of interest.

Multi-stage inspection systems and methods

A method is provided that involves rotational equipment that includes a case and a first rotor blade within the case. During the method, a probe is arranged within the case adjacent the first rotor blade. A magnetic characteristic of the first rotor blade is measured using the probe. Presence of internal corrosion within the first rotor blade is determined based on the measured magnetic characteristic.

Determining presence of internal corrosion within a rotor blade by measuring magnetic characteristic(s)

Disclosed is a method of detecting mixed mode corrosion of a turbine airfoil. The method includes heat treating the turbine airfoil at a temperature of 1600 to 2100&#xb0; F. in a Ni/Co oxide reducing atmosphere; and scanning the heat treated turbine airfoil with a magnetometer to determine the presence of mixed mode corrosion, wherein the turbine airfoil comprises a nickel superalloy and has internal passages.

Method of nondestructive turbine airfoil inspection and repair

A magnetoscop inspection system includes a magnetoscop, a computed tomography unit, and a corrosion model unit. The magnetoscop measures a permeability at a plurality of inspection points of a turbine component. The computed tomography unit generates a measured profile of a hollowed portion of the turbine component based at least in part on the permeability at the measured inspection points. The corrosion model unit stores in memory at least one reference computed tomography profile of a known turbine component. The magnetoscop inspection system determines a structural integrity of the turbine component based on a comparison between the measured profile and the reference profile corresponding to the turbine component currently under inspection.

Multi-zone automatic magnetoscop inspection system

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for inspecting a component of a gas turbine engine, which includes a sleeve configured to surround a component of a gas turbine engine, the sleeve including: a pair of opposing wall members being secured to each other at at least one of a pair of opposite ends; an internal cavity located between the pair of opposing wall members, wherein the internal cavity extends from one end of the sleeve to an opposite end of the sleeve; and a plurality of orifices extending through the pair of opposing wall members, and wherein a probe is inserted in each orifice in one of the pair of opposing wall members to determine the state of the internal cavities of a gas turbine component and determine the structural integrity of the component.

Apparatus and method and system for inspecting a component of a gas turbine engine

Systems and methods are disclosed herein for repairing components. A material layer may be deposited on a surface of a component. The material layer may cover a cooling hole. A pulsed heat source may heat the component and the material layer. An infrared camera may take a series of images of the component. A location of the cooling hole may be identified based on thermal properties of the component. A removal tool may remove a portion of the material layer in order to expose the cooling hole.

Systems and methods for thermal location of cooling holes

Apparatus and associated methods relate to predicting precursor to coating spallation. Heat is provided to a first surface of a member. A time sequence of thermal images is captured of the first surface and/or a second surface of the member. Each of the images includes a two-dimensional array of image data. Each of the image data of the two-dimensional array of image data corresponds to an xy-coordinate pair. A two-dimensional array of thermal diffusivities is calculated based on the captured time sequence of thermal images. Each of the thermal diffusivities of the two-dimensional array of thermal diffusivities corresponds to the xy-coordinate pair. Each of the calculated thermal diffusivities of the two dimensional array of thermal diffusivities are compared with a predetermined threshold. If the calculated thermal diffusivity is greater than the predetermined threshold, then precursor to coating spallation of the thermal barrier coating at the corresponding xy-coordinate pair is predicted.

Method and system for detecting precursor to coating spallation

A thermal inspection system is provided for a gas turbine engine hot section component with a cooling passage. This thermal inspection system includes a fluid subsystem operable to supply a fluid into the cooling passage. The thermal inspection system also includes a thermal camera subsystem operable to monitor a fluid temperature difference of the fluid exiting the cooling passage relative to the input temperature of the fluid supplied to the cooling passage.

Thermal inspection system

A method of determining the thickness of an internal wall in a gas turbine engine component includes the steps of utilizing flash thermography to measure a complete thickness of a component between an outer wall and at least one enlarged cooling channel at a location where an outer cooling channel is positioned between the outer wall and the at least one enlarged cooling channel and where at least one member spans the cooling channel, such that the thickness is through the member which spans the outer cooling channel. An outer thickness of the component is measured from the outer wall to an outer wall of the outer cooling channel. A thickness is determined from an inner wall of the outer cooling channel to the at least one enlarged cooling channel by subtracting the measured outer thickness from the complete thickness, and also subtracting a known thickness of the outer cooling channel.

Flash thermography double wall thickness measurement

A method of identifying a flaw in a part is provided that includes vibrating a part to induce heat. The heat originates in any flaws in the part. A thermal image is obtained using, for example, an infrared camera. A mathematical representation of the thermophysics, such as the heat conduction or thermal energy equations using the boundary element method or finite element method is used to identify a source and an intensity of the heat identified with the thermal image. Using the source and intensity of the heat, flaw characteristics for the part can be determined. The method is employed using an inspection system that includes a vibration device for vibrating the part. An imaging device, such as an infrared camera, measures temperature on the surface of the part. An assumption is made or additional measurements are taken to obtain values for surface flux or surface heat transfer coefficients. A processor communicates with the imaging device for receiving the surface temperature. The processor includes computer memory having part characteristics and mathematical equations. The processor uses the measured surface temperature, assumed or measured heat flux or heat transfer coefficients, part characteristics and mathematical equations to determine the flaw characteristics in the part.

Inverse thermal acoustic imaging part inspection

An inspection apparatus includes a light source positioned to direct light to a first surface of a workpiece. An infrared detector is positioned to receive radiation from the first surface. A data acquisition and processing computer is coupled to the light source and the infrared detector. The computer triggers the light source to emit the light a number of instances. The computer acquires thermal data from the infrared detector for a number of times after each of the instances. The computer is configured to process the data using a theoretical solution to analyze the thermal data based upon an average of the thermal data for a number of each of corresponding ones of the times from different ones of the instances.

Growing community of inventors

Glastonbury, CT, United States of America

Zhong Ouyang