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. 21, 2004
Filed:
May. 02, 2003
Charles C. Moore, Hibbs, PA (US);
Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation, Orlando, FL (US);
Abstract
A self-aligning turbine disc inspection apparatus ( ) for positioning a non-destructive examination sensor ( ) proximate the disc web surface ( ) of a turbine rotor assembly ( ). The apparatus supports the sensor at a proper height above a support surface ( ) while simultaneously providing passive freedom of movement in X, Y and theta directions so that the sensor is free to follow the slight movements of the web surface as the rotor assembly is rotated on a test stand. The freedoms of movement are provided by a first sled ( ) rolling on a base ( ), by a theta alignment assembly ( ) rotating on the first sled, and a second sled ( ) sliding on the theta alignment assembly. A vertical drive assembly ( ) attached to the second sled provides a selectable height. The sensor may be moved across the disc web surface by a motorized slide ( ) attached to a head assembly ( ) attached to the vertical drive assembly. A radial centering assembly ( ) makes contact with the rotor assembly at two spaced-apart points to ensure that the inspection apparatus is positioned at a bottom-dead-center location.