Abstract: Inspecting a turbine includes positioning respective ends of a plurality of optical fibers within a high temperature region of the turbine wherein the respective first ends are aligned as a one-dimensional array. Energy emitted from an image area on a component of the turbine, is received at the ends of the optical fiber. The optical fibers convey the received energy to the other ends of the fibers that are located outside of the turbine. Outside the turbine an image of the respective other ends is captured, wherein the other ends are also aligned in a one-dimensional area. Additionally, for imaging a rotating component, a plurality of one-dimensional images of the other ends can be respectively captured at corresponding rotational positions of the component and used to create a two-dimensional image of the rotating component.

Abstract: A remote viewing device including a hand-holdable control unit. The control unit supports a display device and a drive assembly. The drive assembly is removably attached to the control unit and provides mechanical power to an insertion tube. A distal end of the insertion tube includes an inspection head for insertion into a structure for imaging the interior of the structure. The insertion tube is removably attached to the drive assembly by a connector assembly, where the connector assembly is operable, when attached, to convey mechanical power from the drive assembly for moving the articulated tip in response to a user input at the control unit, and to convey images from the inspection head to the display device.

Abstract: Internal components of power generation machinery, such as gas and steam turbines are inspected with an optical camera inspection system that is capable of automatically positioning the camera field of view (FOV) to an area of interest within the machinery along a pre-designated navigation path and capturing images without human intervention. Automatic camera positioning and image capture can be initiated automatically or after receipt of operator permission. The pre-designated navigation path can be defined by operator manual positioning of an inspection scope within the power machine or a similar one of the same type and recording of positioning steps for future replication. The navigation path can also be defined by virtual simulation. The inspection system includes a multi-axis inspection scope suitable for inspection within the turbine section of a gas turbine.

Abstract: Internal components of power generation machinery, such as gas and steam turbines are inspected with an optical camera inspection system that is capable of automatically positioning the camera field of view (FOV) to an area of interest within the machinery along a pre-designated navigation path and capturing images without human intervention. Automatic camera positioning and image capture can be initiated automatically or after receipt of operator permission. The pre-designated navigation path can be defined by operator manual positioning of an inspection scope within the power machine or a similar one of the same type and recording of positioning steps for future replication. The navigation path can also be defined by virtual simulation. The inspection system includes an articulated multi-axis inspection scope.

Abstract: Internal components of power generation machinery, such as gas and steam turbines are inspected with an optical camera inspection system that is capable of automatically positioning the camera field of view (FOV) to an area of interest within the machinery along a pre-designated navigation path and capturing images without human intervention. Automatic camera positioning and image capture can be initiated automatically or after receipt of operator permission. The pre-designated navigation path can be defined by operator manual positioning of an inspection scope within the power machine or a similar one of the same type and recording of positioning steps for future replication. The navigation path can also be defined by virtual simulation.

Abstract: A system and method of performing acoustic thermography in which invalid data is filtered from data used to detect defects on a structure. An ultrasonic sound input signal is provided to a structure to produce a thermal image output. A sensor senses an input energy corresponding to the sound input signal and produces an input energy signal. The input energy signal is transformed to a test spectrum and is compared to a reference spectrum. The comparison of the test spectrum to the reference spectrum is used to determine whether to include the thermal image output in an analysis for detecting defects in the structure.

Abstract: Systems and methods for inspecting a device are disclosed. The method includes arranging the device in a known position relative to a plurality of movable cameras. The plurality of movable cameras is mounted on a controllable actuator. The plurality of cameras is pointed at the device by controlling the controllable actuator to position the camera with a user interface. An image of the device generated by the camera is displayed on a mobile and wireless display. The computing device also causes a rendered virtual image of the device to be displayed on the mobile and wireless display. A stream of interest and a region of interest is selected at the mobile and wireless display from the images generated by the cameras.

Abstract: An object in a hot atmosphere with a temperature greater than 400 F in a gas turbine moves in a 3D space. The movement may include a vibrational movement. The movement includes a rotational movement about an axis and a translational movement along the axis. Images of the object are recorded with a camera, which may be a high-speed camera. The object s provided with a pattern that is tracked in images. Warpings of sub-patches in a reference image of the object are determined to form standard format warped areas. The warpings are applied piece-wise to areas in following images to create corrected images. Standard tracking such as SSD tracking is applied to the piece-wise corrected images to determine a movement of the object. The image correction and object tracking are performed by a processor.

Abstract: A method for determining geometric properties of a target shape such as a shape of a perimeter of a strut shield (36) for use in a gas turbine (10). The method includes obtaining a digital image of at least a portion of a first object including a first feature (164) (106). The image including the first feature (164) is displayed on a display device (108). During a reconstruction process, one or more control points (168A, 168B, 168C, 168D) are associated with feature points (164A, 164B, 164C) along an extent of the displayed first feature (164) (109). Using the associated one or more control points (168A, 168B, 168C and 168D), a data file is created that corresponds to the first feature (164) (114). The data file includes geometric properties of the feature points (164A, 164B, 164C).

Abstract: An inspection system formed at least from an inspection system housing including at least one internal chamber that supports an extendible camera support shaft extending distally through a pilot nozzle port into a combustor of a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The inspection system may include a camera capable of capturing high quality images together with position coordinates. Thus, the inspection system enables images in a combustor of a gas turbine engine to be captured and recaptured at a subsequent outage so that the images may be analyzed and compared for preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, and the like. The inspection system may include three degrees of freedom for the camera mounted on the extendible camera support shaft.

Abstract: A method for detecting surface discontinuities in a test specimen. The method includes applying a one or more substances including a detection medium to the test specimen wherein the detection medium enters at least one surface discontinuity in the test specimen. The specimen surface is monitored for discontinuity signatures produced by the detection medium. The monitoring includes monitoring the detection medium to detect a temperature differential indicative of a surface discontinuity in the test specimen wherein the discontinuity signatures include a warm signature emitted by the detection medium that has entered the surface discontinuity.

Abstract: A system (8) for monitoring a high-temperature region of interest in a turbine engine (10) is provided. The system includes an internally cooled stationary vane (12) located in a path of a working gas of the turbine. A monitoring port (14) is located in the stationary vane. A monitoring instrument (16) is operatively connected to the monitoring port of the stationary vane to provide a field of view of the region of interest.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a high-temperature region of interest in a turbine engine (10) is provided. The method includes providing an internally-cooled stationary vane (12). The method may further include locating at least one monitoring port (14) in the stationary vane and operatively connecting a monitoring instrument (16) to the monitoring port to provide a field of view of a region of interest.

Abstract: A system and method of performing acoustic thermography in which invalid data is filtered from data used to detect defects on a structure. An ultrasonic sound input signal is provided to a structure to produce a thermal image output. A sensor senses an input energy corresponding to the sound input signal and produces an input energy signal. The input energy signal is transformed to a test spectrum and is compared to a reference spectrum. The comparison of the test spectrum to the reference spectrum is used to determine whether to include the thermal image output in an analysis for detecting defects in the structure.

Abstract: A method for detecting surface discontinuities in a test specimen. The method includes applying a one or more substances including a detection medium to the test specimen wherein the detection medium enters at least one surface discontinuity in the test specimen. The specimen surface is monitored for discontinuity signatures produced by the detection medium. The monitoring includes monitoring the detection medium to detect a temperature differential indicative of a surface discontinuity in the test specimen wherein the discontinuity signatures include a warm signature emitted by the detection medium that has entered the surface discontinuity.

Abstract: A method for removing a coating layer from a substrate structure. The method includes the steps of positioning a sheet of interface material on the substrate structure with a first, inner face of the interface material in engagement with a predetermined area of the coating layer, and exciting a second, outer face of the interface material with an ultrasonic frequency kinetic energy. The ultrasonic energy causes the predetermined area of the coating layer in contact with the inner face of the interface Material to be substantially completely removed.

Abstract: An inspection apparatus (10) applying two dimensional nondestructive examination images onto a three dimensional solid model of a component (12) to display a virtual component (73) that may be manipulated to perform a nondestructive inspection. The two dimensional nondestructive examination images may be acquired from a plurality of views of the component in order to provide full coverage of the surface to be inspected, with appropriate stitching of images in regions of overlap between adjacent views. The two dimensional images (62) may be color or black and white photographs or ultraviolet or infrared images, for example. Multiple types of nondestructive examination images, results of inspection data evaluations, and design, operational and/or maintenance information may be displayed separately or jointly on the three dimensional solid model.

Abstract: An inspection apparatus (10) applying two dimensional nondestructive examination images onto a three dimensional solid model of a component (12) to display a virtual component (73) that may be manipulated to perform a nondestructive inspection. The two dimensional nondestructive examination images may be acquired from a plurality of views of the component in order to provide full coverage of the surface to be inspected, with appropriate stitching of images in regions of overlap between adjacent views. The two dimensional images (62) may be color or black and white photographs or ultraviolet or infrared images, for example. Multiple types of nondestructive examination images, results of inspection data evaluations, and design, operational and/or maintenance information may be displayed separately or jointly on the three dimensional solid model.

Abstract: A remote viewing device including a hand-holdable control unit. The control unit supports a display device and a drive assembly. The drive assembly is removably attached to the control unit and provides mechanical power to an insertion tube. A distal end of the insertion tube includes an inspection head for insertion into a structure for imaging the interior of the structure. The insertion tube is removably attached to the drive assembly by a connector assembly, where the connector assembly is operable, when attached, to convey mechanical power from the drive assembly for moving the articulated tip in response to a user input at the control unit, and to convey images from the inspection head to the display device.

Abstract: An inspection system includes a cooling apparatus for conducting visual inspections within operating temperature environments, such as, for example, the interior of a combustion turbine shortly after shut down. The cooling apparatus provides cooling for an inspection probe such as a video borescope. The cooling apparatus includes an articulating guide tube having a control portion, an elongate flexible portion and an articulating section. The video borescope is inserted down through the articulating guide tube. A thermal protective sleeve surrounds and thermally insulates a portion of the articulating guide tube. Vortex coolers circulate cooled, compressed air within the cooling apparatus, thereby maintaining a cool video borescope operating temperature.