Patents by Inventor Zhong Ouyang
Zhong Ouyang 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).
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Publication number: 20160318135Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2015Publication date: November 3, 2016Applicant: United Technologies CorporationInventors: David A. Raulerson, Kevin D. Smith, Zhong Ouyang, Lisa J. Brasche, William J. Brindley, David N. Potter
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Publication number: 20160177772Abstract: 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 temperate difference of the fluid exiting the cooling passage relative to the input temperature of the fluid supplied to the cooling passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2015Publication date: June 23, 2016Inventors: Kevin D. Smith, David A. Raulerson, Zhong Ouyang, Lisa J. Brasche
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Publication number: 20150369596Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2014Publication date: December 24, 2015Inventors: Zhong Ouyang, David A. Raulerson, Kevin D. Smith, Hector M. Pinero, Jaimie Taraskevich, Jesse R. Boyer
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Publication number: 20120025079Abstract: A thermal imager has a sensor, a controller, and a flash source. The flash source is an array of IR LEDs. The thermal imager generates a thermal image of a work piece by generating an IR pulse, and sensing the IR radiation from the part.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2010Publication date: February 2, 2012Inventors: David A. Raulerson, Kevin D. Smith, Zhong Ouyang
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Patent number: 7549339Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2006Date of Patent: June 23, 2009Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Alexander Staroselsky, Thomas J. Martin, Carroll V. Sidwell, Zhong Ouyang, Kevin D. Smith
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Patent number: 7419298Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2005Date of Patent: September 2, 2008Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Zhong Ouyang, Kevin D. Smith
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Publication number: 20080053234Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2006Publication date: March 6, 2008Inventors: Alexander Staroselsky, Thomas J. Martin, Carroll V. Sidwell, Zhong Ouyang, Kevin D. Smith
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Patent number: 7297952Abstract: A method of detecting defects in structures, comprising the steps of inducing mechanical energy in a structure via the emission of a broad-band acoustic signal, and capturing over a time interval a plurality of images of the structure each of the plurality of images comprised of a plurality of pixels arranged in a plurality of rows and columns each indicative of an intensity of infrared energy emitted by a portion of the structure.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2006Date of Patent: November 20, 2007Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: David Raulerson, Zhong Ouyang, Kevin D. Smith
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Publication number: 20070036199Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2005Publication date: February 15, 2007Inventors: Zhong Ouyang, Kevin Smith
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Publication number: 20060151703Abstract: A method of detecting defects in structures, comprising the steps of inducing mechanical energy in a structure via the emission of a broad-band acoustic signal, and capturing over a time interval a plurality of images of the structure each of the plurality of images comprised of a plurality of pixels arranged in a plurality of rows and columns each indicative of an intensity of infrared energy emitted by a portion of the structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2006Publication date: July 13, 2006Inventors: David Raulerson, Zhong Ouyang, Kevin Smith
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Patent number: 7064330Abstract: A method of detecting defects in structures, comprising the steps of inducing mechanical energy in a structure via the emission of a broad-band acoustic signal, and capturing over a time interval a plurality of images of the structure each of the plurality of images comprised of a plurality of pixels arranged in a plurality of rows and columns each indicative of an intensity of infrared energy emitted by a portion of the structure.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2003Date of Patent: June 20, 2006Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: David Raulerson, Zhong Ouyang, Kevin D. Smith
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Publication number: 20040217289Abstract: A method of detecting defects in structures, comprising the steps of inducing mechanical energy in a structure via the emission of a broad-band acoustic signal, and capturing over a time interval a plurality of images of the structure each of the plurality of images comprised of a plurality of pixels arranged in a plurality of rows and columns each indicative of an intensity of infrared energy emitted by a portion of the structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2003Publication date: November 4, 2004Inventors: David Raulerson, Zhong Ouyang, Kevin D. Smith
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Patent number: 6759659Abstract: A thermal imaging system for detecting cracks and defects in a structure. An ultrasonic transducer is coupled to the structure through a malleable coupler. Ultrasonic energy from the transducer causes the defects to heat up, which is detected by a thermal camera. A control unit is employed to provide timing and control for the operation of the ultrasonic transducer and the camera.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2003Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Wayne State UniversityInventors: Robert L. Thomas, Lawrence D. Favro, Xiaoyan Han, Zhong Ouyang, Hua Sui, Gang Sun
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Publication number: 20030205671Abstract: A thermal imaging system for detecting cracks and defects in a structure. An ultrasonic transducer is coupled to the structure through a malleable coupler. Ultrasonic energy from the transducer causes the defects to heat up, which is detected by a thermal camera. A control unit is employed to provide timing and control for the operation of the ultrasonic transducer and the camera.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2003Publication date: November 6, 2003Applicant: Wayne State UniversityInventors: Robert L. Thomas, Lawrence D. Favro, Xiaoyan Han, Zhong Ouyang, Hua Sui, Gang Sung
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Patent number: 6437334Abstract: A thermal imaging system for detecting cracks in a tooth. An ultrasonic dental cleaning tool is used to transmit ultrasonic energy through a jet of water to the tooth that causes cracks in the tooth to heat up. A thermal camera is used to detect the thermal radiation emitted by the heated cracks. The ultrasonic energy is in the form of a pulse where the frequency of the ultrasonic signal is substantially constant within the pulse. The control unit is employed to provide timing and control of the operation of the dental cleaning tool and the camera.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2000Date of Patent: August 20, 2002Assignee: Wayne State UniversityInventors: Robert L. Thomas, Lawrence D. Favro, Xiaoyan Han, Zhong Ouyang, Hua Sui, Gang Sun
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Patent number: 6399948Abstract: A thermal imaging system for detecting cracks and defects in a component. An electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) is coupled to the component, and introduces pulsed sound signals therein. The sound signals cause the defects to heat up. The IR radiation from the heated pulses is detected by a thermal camera. The amplitude of the pulsed signals are substantially constant, and the frequency of the pulsed signal can be changed within each pulse. A control unit is employed to provide timing and control for the operation of the EMAT and the camera.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2000Date of Patent: June 4, 2002Assignee: Wayne State UniversityInventors: Robert L. Thomas, Lawrence D. Favro, Xiaoyan Han, Zhong Ouyang, Hua Sui, Gang Sun, Paul John Zombo, Robert Edward Shannon
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Patent number: 6236049Abstract: A thermal imaging system for detecting cracks and defects in a component. An ultrasonic transducer is coupled to the specimen through a malleable coupler. Ultrasonic energy from the transducer causes the defects to heat up, which is detected by a thermal camera. The ultrasonic energy is in the form of a pulse where the frequency of the ultrasonic signal is substantially constant within the pulse. A control unit is employed to provide timing and control for the operation of the ultrasonic transducer and the camera.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 1999Date of Patent: May 22, 2001Assignee: Wayne State UniversityInventors: Robert L. Thomas, Lawrence D. Favro, Xiaoyan Han, Zhong Ouyang, Hua Sui, Gang Sun