The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 16, 2003
Filed:
Sep. 25, 2000
George F. Dailey, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Mark Fischer, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Michael J. Metala, Murrysville, PA (US);
James A. Bauer, Gibsonia, PA (US);
Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation, Orlando, FL (US);
Abstract
An inspection apparatus ( ) for in-situ leak testing of the bell seal ( ) of a steam turbine ( ). The apparatus includes a pair of inflatable bladders ( ) for defining a sealed volume having the bell seal ( ) as its only leakage path. The mass flow rate of pressurized air ( ) at various pressures through the bell seal ( ) is compared to the known flow rates through a similarly designed bell seal having various degrees of degradation. A camera ( ) rotated by motor ( ) between the bladders ( ) provides an indication of the proper positioning of the inspection apparatus ( ) and facilitates a visual inspection of the bell seal ( ) and retaining nut ( ). The inspection apparatus ( ) may be inserted into an inlet to the turbine through a disassembled flow control valve without the need for any disassembly of the turbine.