Patents by Inventor Joshua DeAscanis

Joshua DeAscanis has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10041371
    Abstract: A robotically articulated inspection scope (56, 69) inserted into a pilot fuel nozzle port (58) of a turbine engine (20) for in-situ measurement of gaps (59) between tips of turbine blades (40A) and the surrounding shroud (44). A non-contact gap measuring device (52) on a distal end (79) of the scope may be navigated through a combustor (28) and transition duct (34) into a position proximate a blade tip gap. The scope may be controlled via computer (68) via a robotic drive (66) affixed to the pilot fuel nozzle port. Multiple scopes may be used to measure gaps (59A-D) at multiple azimuths of the turbine simultaneously. The turbine disk (37) may be rotated on its operating turning gear to sequentially measure each blade at each azimuth. The computer may memorize an interactively navigated path for subsequent automated positioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Joshua DeAscanis, David Letter, Alejandro Bancalari, Clifford Hatcher, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20180209296
    Abstract: A robotically articulated inspection scope (56, 69) inserted into a pilot fuel nozzle port (58) of a turbine engine (20) for in-situ measurement of gaps (59) between tips of turbine blades (40A) and the surrounding shroud (44). A non-contact gap measuring device (52) on a distal end (79) of the scope may be navigated through a combustor (28) and transition duct (34) into a position proximate a blade tip gap. The scope may be controlled via computer (68) via a robotic drive (66) affixed to the pilot fuel nozzle port. Multiple scopes may be used to measure gaps (59A-D) at multiple azimuths of the turbine simultaneously. The turbine disk (37) may be rotated on its operating turning gear to sequentially measure each blade at each azimuth. The computer may memorize an interactively navigated path for subsequent automated positioning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Joshua DeAscanis, David Letter, Alejandro Bancalari, Clifford Hatcher, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10031096
    Abstract: A system for performing acoustic thermography inspection of a turbine blade while the blade is in place in an assembled turbine. The system includes an acoustic thermography stack with a cap and a frame that the acoustic thermography stack is slidably mounted to, said frame including an end frame portion that allows the blade to be clamped between the cap and the end frame portion. The system also includes an air cylinder that provides force to move the acoustic thermography stack up and down a rail of the frame such that the turbine blade may be clamped between the cap and the end frame portion and then excited using the acoustic thermography stack, and a casing that encases the air cylinder, a portion of the acoustic thermography stack and a portion of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Joshua DeAscanis, David J. Meek, Robert G. Shannon, Forrest R. Ruhge, James P. Williams, Clifford Hatcher
  • Patent number: 9948835
    Abstract: Internal components of power generation machinery, such as gas turbine engines, are inspected with a spherical optical camera inspection system mounted on a compact diameter, single-axis inspection scope that is capable of insertion within an inspection port or other accessible insertion site. The inspection scope includes nested, non-rotatable telescoping tubes, which define an extension axis. Circumscribing, telescoping tubes have anti-rotation collars, which are in sliding engagement with a mating axial groove on an outer circumferential surface of a circumscribed tube. The camera is advanced and/or retracted along a scope extension axis by nested, drive tubes, which incorporate at least one external drive screw on a circumscribed drive tube and corresponding female threads formed in a circumscribing drive tube. The spherical camera has a 360-degree field of view, and captures images without rotation about the scope extension axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Joshua DeAscanis, David Letter, Isaac Piersall, Clifford Hatcher, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9778141
    Abstract: Non-destructive evaluation optical inspection systems include video cameras or other reflective-photonic optical instruments, such as laser profilometers or 3D white light laser dimensional scanners, which are incorporated in a camera head. The camera head is coupled to a distal end of a self-supporting and shape-retaining elongate deformable deployment tether. The deployment tether is bendable, for insertion through cavities of power generation machines and orientation of the camera head field of view on the internal area of interest. The deployment tether is capable of being deformed repeatedly, for inspection of different areas of interest. In some embodiments, interchangeable camera heads are selectively coupled to the deployment tether, so that a kit or family of different optical inspection instruments are available to carry out multiple types of inspections within a single or multiple types of power generation machinery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Alejandro Bancalari, Clifford Hatcher, Jr., Forrest R. Ruhge, James P. Williams, Joshua DeAscanis, David Letter, Robert G. Shannon
  • Patent number: 9726628
    Abstract: A system and method include an acoustic thermography stack and a frame that the stack is slidably mounted to. The frame includes an end frame portion with a blade stop, and an air cylinder provides force to move the stack up and down a rail of the frame such that a turbine blade may be clamped between a cap of the stack and the blade stop. The clamped blade is excited using the stack, and an infrared camera is used to detect critical indications in the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Forrest R. Ruhge, Clifford Hatcher, Jr., James P. Williams, Joshua DeAscanis, Robert G. Shannon
  • Patent number: 9709463
    Abstract: Internal components of power generation machines, such as gas or steam turbines, are inspected with a laser profilometer inspection system that is inserted and positioned within the turbine, for example through an inspection port that is in communication with an open inter-row spacing volume between an opposing turbine vane and turbine blade row. Component surface profile scans are performed to determine relative profile heights along a two-dimensional scan line generated by the profilometer. Three-dimensional profile information is obtained by translating the scan line across the surface. Real time profile information is gathered without physical contact, which is helpful for extracting off-line engineering information about component surface conditions, including surface spallation, perforation, and gaps between components. The system is capable of determining blade tip gap between a turbine blade tip and its opposing abradable surface in the turbine casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua DeAscanis, Clifford Hatcher, Jr., David Letter
  • Patent number: 9670795
    Abstract: Turbine engine rotor corresponding thru-bolts and disc cavities are inspected with a camera inspection system that includes one or both of a thru-bolt male threads inspection apparatus and a rotor disc cavity inspection apparatus. The disc cavity inspection scope apparatus is insertable in one or more of the desired rotor disc cavities and orients an attached inspection camera field of view generally transverse to the circumferential wall in the rotor disc that defines the cavity. Preferably inspection scope apparatus insertion into the disc cavities is performed with a motion control system that monitors spatial position of the camera field of view relative to the recess circumferential wall. The plural camera cavity circumferential wall images are desirably combined to form a composite image of a desired portion of or the entire disc cavity circumferential surface, which aids their inspection evaluation and provides an archived composite image of the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Joshua DeAscanis, James P. Williams, Robert G. Shannon, Forrest R. Ruhge, Clifford Hatcher, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9618424
    Abstract: A method and a system for inspection of gas turbine are presented. An inspection tool is attached on a track which is permanently positioned on site with respect to the gas turbine. The inspection tool includes an extendible shaft with a proximal end attached on the track and a distal end carrying a sensor. The inspection tool moves along the track for accessing an inspection port of the gas turbine by the shaft. A control system is coupled to the inspection tool for controlling the inspection tool for the inspection of the gas turbine. The method and system enable an automated engine inspection which allows for the engine to have been inspected and reviewed by an engineer without having to send the engineer on site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Joshua DeAscanis, Clifford Hatcher, Jr., James P. Williams
  • Patent number: 9599537
    Abstract: A method of generating a comprehensive image (87) of interior surfaces (78, 80) of machine components such as a gas turbine combustor basket (59) and transition duct (34) by digitally stitching together multiple photographs (82) thereof, and analyzing the comprehensive image by contouring (91, 95A-B) of colors and shadings thereon, and quantifying and tracking aspects of the contours (A, B, C) over time for indications of degradation (89) of the interior surfaces. A scope (58) may be inserted into a port (56) in the combustor with a camera (72, 74) in a rotatable end (70) of the scope for obtaining a circumferential set (84) of photos at each axial position along a length of the combustor and transition duct. A 3D surface scanning device (76) in the scope may define the geometry of the interior surface for 3D photographic modeling thereof providing a virtual walk-through inspection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Joshua DeAscanis, William D. Clark, Clifford Hatcher, Jr., Forrest R. Ruhge
  • Publication number: 20170004827
    Abstract: A wearable device is provided that is configured to carry out an inspection of a gas turbine or other type of system. The device may include a processor, a data store, at least one output device, and at least one input device. The processor in the wearable device is responsive to inputs through the at least one input device and set of tasks stored in the data store corresponding to an inspection of a system to provide outputs through the at least one output device that prompt a user to gather data associated with the system being inspected using the wearable device while the wearable device is mounted to the user without the user holding the wearable device with the hand of the user. Also, the processor in the wearable device is configured to generate and output an inspection report responsive to the set of tasks and the data gathered using the wearable device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Alejandro Bancalari, Clifford Hatcher, JR., Forrest R. Ruhge, Joshua DeAscanis
  • Patent number: 9494487
    Abstract: Turbine engine rotor corresponding thru-bolts and disc cavities are inspected with a camera inspection system that includes one or both of a thru-bolt male threads inspection apparatus and a rotor disc cavity inspection apparatus. The thru-bolts threads inspection apparatus engages the male threads and advances along the bolt threads pattern, selectively capturing camera images at desired spatial positions along the threads pattern. The plural camera threads images are desirably combined to form a composite image of a desired portion of or the entire thru-bolt male threads profiles, which aids their inspection evaluation and provides an archived composite image of the profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua DeAscanis, James P. Williams, Robert G. Shannon, Forrest R. Ruhge, Clifford Hatcher, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20160330351
    Abstract: Internal components of power generation machinery, such as gas turbine engines, are inspected with a spherical optical camera inspection system mounted on a compact diameter, single-axis inspection scope that is capable of insertion within an inspection port or other accessible insertion site. The inspection scope includes nested, non-rotatable telescoping tubes, which define an extension axis. Circumscribing, telescoping tubes have anti-rotation collars, which are in sliding engagement with a mating axial groove on an outer circumferential surface of a circumscribed tube. The camera is advanced and/or retracted along a scope extension axis by nested, drive tubes, which incorporate at least one external drive screw on a circumscribed drive tube and corresponding female threads formed in a circumscribing drive tube. The spherical camera has a 360-degree field of view, and captures images without rotation about the scope extension axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Joshua DeAscanis, David Letter, Isaac Piersall, Clifford Hatcher, JR.
  • Publication number: 20160212360
    Abstract: Thermographic inspection of an internal component (28, 34) of power production equipment (20) by inserting an ultrasound energizer (74A) into an inspection portal of the equipment to contact an exterior of the component, and inserting a camera scope via a second portal into an interior (52, 54) of the component. A motorized drive (66) may mount on a pilot fuel port (58) of a gas turbine to move the scope robotically within a combustor (28) and transition duct (34). A distal camera housing (69) on the scope pivots (64) and contains an infrared camera with a lateral field of view (85) that rotates about an axis 78 by rotating (73) a distal mirror head (70) on the housing or by rotating (73?) the housing (69?). Circumferential sets of thermographic images are acquired by rotating the field of view and translating it along a navigation path in the component interior.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: James P. Williams, Joshua DeAscanis, Jason E. Williams, James F. Landy
  • Publication number: 20160202198
    Abstract: A system for performing acoustic thermography inspection of a turbine blade while the blade is in place in an assembled turbine. The system includes an acoustic thermography stack with a cap and a frame that the acoustic thermography stack is slidably mounted to, said frame including an end frame portion that allows the blade to be clamped between the cap and the end frame portion. The system also includes an air cylinder that provides force to move the acoustic thermography stack up and down a rail of the frame such that the turbine blade may be clamped between the cap and the end frame portion and then excited using the acoustic thermography stack, and a casing that encases the air cylinder, a portion of the acoustic thermography stack and a portion of the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Joshua DeAscanis, David J. Meek, Robert G. Shannon, Forrest R. Ruhge, James P. Williams, Clifford Hatcher, JR.
  • Publication number: 20160069829
    Abstract: A system and method include an acoustic thermography stack and a frame that the stack is slidably mounted to. The frame includes an end frame portion with a blade stop, and an air cylinder provides force to move the stack up and down a rail of the frame such that a turbine blade may be clamped between a cap of the stack and the blade stop. The clamped blade is excited using the stack, and an infrared camera is used to detect critical indications in the blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Forrest R. Ruhge, Clifford Hatcher, JR., Joshua DeAscanis, James P. Williams, Robert G. Shannon
  • Publication number: 20160018292
    Abstract: A method and a system for inspection of gas turbine are presented. An inspection tool is attached on a track which is permanently positioned on site with respect to the gas turbine. The inspection tool includes an extendible shaft with a proximal end attached on the track and a distal end carrying a sensor. The inspection tool moves along the track for accessing an inspection port of the gas turbine by the shaft. A control system is coupled to the inspection tool for controlling the inspection tool for the inspection of the gas turbine. The method and system enable an automated engine inspection which allows for the engine to have been inspected and reviewed by an engineer without having to send the engineer on site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Joshua DeAscanis, Clifford Hatcher, Jr., James P. Williams
  • Publication number: 20150338353
    Abstract: Non-destructive evaluation optical inspection systems include video cameras or other reflective-photonic optical instruments, such as laser profilometers or 3D white light laser dimensional scanners, which are incorporated in a camera head. The camera head is coupled to a distal end of a self-supporting and shape-retaining elongate deformable deployment tether. The deployment tether is bendable, for insertion through cavities of power generation machines and orientation of the camera head field of view on the internal area of interest. The deployment tether is capable of being deformed repeatedly, for inspection of different areas of interest. In some embodiments, interchangeable camera heads are selectively coupled to the deployment tether, so that a kit or family of different optical inspection instruments are available to carry out multiple types of inspections within a single or multiple types of power generation machinery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventors: Alejandro Bancalari, Clifford Hatcher, JR., Forrest R. Ruhge, James P. Williams, Joshua DeAscanis, David Letter, Robert G. Shannon
  • Publication number: 20150300920
    Abstract: Internal components of power generation machines, such as gas or steam turbines, are inspected with a laser profilometer inspection system that is inserted and positioned within the turbine, for example through an inspection port that is in communication with an open inter-row spacing volume between an opposing turbine vane and turbine blade row. Component surface profile scans are performed to determine relative profile heights along a two-dimensional scan line generated by the profilometer. Three-dimensional profile information is obtained by translating the scan line across the surface. Real time profile information is gathered without physical contact, which is helpful for extracting off-line engineering information about component surface conditions, including surface spallation, perforation, and gaps between components. The system is capable of determining blade tip gap between a turbine blade tip and its opposing abradable surface in the turbine casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Joshua DeAscanis, Clifford Hatcher, JR., David Letter
  • Publication number: 20150240657
    Abstract: Turbine engine rotor corresponding thru-bolts and disc cavities are inspected with a camera inspection system that includes one or both of a thru-bolt male threads inspection apparatus and a rotor disc cavity inspection apparatus. The disc cavity inspection scope apparatus is insertable in one or more of the desired rotor disc cavities and orients an attached inspection camera field of view generally transverse to the circumferential wall in the rotor disc that defines the cavity. Preferably inspection scope apparatus insertion into the disc cavities is performed with a motion control system that monitors spatial position of the camera field of view relative to the recess circumferential wall. The plural camera cavity circumferential wall images are desirably combined to form a composite image of a desired portion of or the entire disc cavity circumferential surface, which aids their inspection evaluation and provides an archived composite image of the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Joshua DeAscanis, James P. Williams, Robert G. Shannon, Forrest R. Ruhge, Clifford Hatcher, JR.