KR101972853B1 - Single-axis inspection scope with sperical camera and method for internal inspection of power generation machinery - Google Patents

Abstract

Internal components of a power generation machinery such as gas turbine engines are spherical members mounted on a compact diameter, single-axis inspection scope, is tested with a spherical optical camera inspection system, which allows insertion within the inspection port or other accessible insertion point. The inspection scope includes nested non-rotatable telescoping tubes defining an extension axis. Circumscribing telescopic tubes have anti-rotation collars that slidably engage the matching axial groove on the circumferential surface of the circumscribed tube. The camera is advanced and / or retracted along the scope extension axis by the mounted drive tubes, which are mounted on the circumscribed drive tube with at least one external drive screw and a corresponding And female threads. The spherical camera has a 360 degree field of view and captures images without rotation around the scope extension axis.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a single-axis inspection scope equipped with a spherical camera and an internal inspection method of the power generation machinery.

This application is a continuation-in-part of US Utility Patent Application Serial No. 14 / 803,149, filed July 20, 2015, entitled " Optical Inspection Scope with Deformable, Self-Supporting Deployment Tether & This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Utility Patent Application serial number, filed January 31, 2012, entitled " System and Method for Automated Optical Inspection of Industrial Gas Turbines and Other Power Generation Machinery with Multi-Axis Inspection Scope & Filed on August 23, 2012 and entitled " Hybrid Scope-Turbine Combustor Hardware Visual Inspection ", filed on August 23, 2012, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 13 / 362,352, now U.S. Patent No. 8,713,999 issued May 6, The United States Patent Application Serial No. 61 / 692,393, entitled " Tooling That Can Be Used To Inspect The Row 1 Turbine Blades While They Are On Turning Gear (1-1000 rpm) 61 / 692,409, filed on August 23, 2012, entitled " Vision Scope - 3D Scanner Tip for Visual Inspection and Measurement ", which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 61 / 692,409, Are incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention relates to non-destructive, non-destructive, visual inspection of power generation machinery, such as gas turbine engines. More particularly, the present invention relates to visual inspection of power generating machinery, such as gas turbine engines, using an inspection system having a single-axis inspection scope and a spherical camera. In many embodiments, the inspection scope is inserted with the camera into the inspection port of the machine.

As described in U.S. Patent No. 8,713,999 entitled " System and Method for Automated Optical Inspection of Industrial Gas Turbines and Other Power Generation Machinery with Multi-Axis Inspection Scope " issued May 6, 2014, BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Machinery, such as generators, or steam or gas turbine engines, often operate continuously in predetermined inspection and maintenance periods, at which time the generator is inspected for any components identified during inspection, For maintenance, it is removed from the line and shut down. A further discussion herein will focus on exemplary gas turbine engine testing. Once cooled, the static gas turbine engine is now inspected by optical camera inspection systems. Inspection scope embodiments shown and described in U.S. Patent No. 8,713,999 include multi-axis inspection scopes, which allow rotation and jointing of jointed scope segments, To facilitate selective orientation of the optical inspection camera field of view within the engine. In some embodiments described in U.S. Patent No. 8,713,999, the inspection scope has a single translational axis with the ability to rotate the camera field of view 360 degrees. Rotating vision scope embodiments of a single translational motion axis are described as being useful for insertion between vane rows and blades in a turbine engine.

The present inventors have found that for inserting into relatively small engine test ports of diameters as small as 1.709 inches (43.41 millimeters), it is desirable to develop an optical camera inspection system with a small diameter component envelope I recognized the need. Thus, by use of the exemplary embodiments described herein, any ports or other passageways greater than 43.41 millimeters are potential scope insertion sites, such as combustor pilot nozzle passages .

Exemplary embodiments of the optical inspection scope of the present invention are insertable into an engine, or other generation machinery, inspection ports or other potential scope insertion sites, as small as 1.709 inches (43.41 millimeters) . The internal components of the generator, such as the gas turbine engine, are inspected by a spherical optical camera inspection system mounted on a compact diameter, short-axis inspection scope. The scope including the camera is insertable within the inspection port or other accessible insertion site. The inspection scope includes nested, non-rotatable telescoping tubes defining an extension axis. The circumscribing tubes have anti-rotation collars which form axial grooves that mate on the outer circumferential surface of the circumscribed tube, (Sliding engagement). In some embodiments, the mating anti-rotation collar includes one or more ball bearings that engage and mate with corresponding axial grooves to form a linear sliding bearing. The spherical camera has a field of view of 360 degrees and captures internal images of the engine or other generator without rotation around the scope extension axis. The camera is advanced and / or retracted along the scope extension axis by nested drive tubes which are mounted on the circumscribed drive tube with at least one external drive screw, And corresponding female threads formed in the drive tube. In some embodiments, the camera field of view is advanced within the inspected generator and images are captured at each of the forward positions. In some embodiments, an image processing system combines each of the images into a navigable composite image.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention feature a system for internal inspection of a generator. The system includes a single, elongate inspection scope for insertion into an inspection port of the generator. The inspection scope has first and second retractable tubes each having a distal end, a distal end and an axial length. The second stretch tube has an axial groove on its outer circumferential surface. The first extensible tube has a first anti-rotation collar coupled to the distal end of its distal end and slidingly engaging an axial groove of the second extensible tube. The scope is also retained within the stretch tubes and has first and second implanted drive tubes each having a leading end and a trailing end and an axial length. The first drive tube has a first drive bushing coupled to its distal end, both of which are rotatable within the expansion tubes, and the first drive bushing has a bore with female drive threads And The second drive tube defines external drive threads that engage with the first drive bushing female threads. The camera mounting collar is rigidly coupled to the respective distal ends of the second stretch tube and the second drive tube, which prevents their relative rotation. A rotatable drive hub is coupled to the leading end of the first drive tube for selective rotation thereof. A mounting flange is coupled to the first extension tube for attachment to the generator test port. The system also includes a spherical camera having a 360 degree field of view and coupled to the camera mounting collar for insertion into the generator and capture of the inspection images therein.

In some embodiments, the distal end of the rotatable drive hub is oriented within the distal end of the first retractable tube and is engaged within the first drive tube, while the distal end portion of the drive hub is driven by a driven gear. In this particular embodiment, the first drive gear is meshed with the driven gear to rotate the driven gear and the drive hub. The drive device is coupled to a first drive gear, such as a hand crank or an electric motor. Some embodiments include electric motor drives and a hand crank in parallel, each coupled to its own drive gear. In some embodiments, one or more anti-rotation collars retain a ball bearing that engages a corresponding axial groove formed in the outer periphery of the mating circumscribed extensible tube, which ball bearing is combined to form a linear bearing assembly . In some embodiments, the camera is retained in a camera housing coupled to the camera mounting collar. In some embodiments, the camera housing also includes an illumination system, such as an array of light emitting diodes (LEDs). In some embodiments, the system includes a position encoder for correlating hub rotation with axial displacement of the camera field of view; And an image processing system coupled to the camera and the position encoder for storing a plurality of images taken at different camera axial displacement positions and combining the plurality of test images into a composite image. In some embodiments, the inspection scope includes more than two expansion tubes and / or more than two endurable drive tubes.

Other exemplary embodiments of the present invention feature a system for internal inspection of a generator. The system includes a single, elongate inspection scope for inserting into the inspection port of the generator, the inspection scope defining an extension axis. The scope has first, second, third and fourth embedding stretch tubes; Each of these tubes has a leading end and a trailing end and an axial length. Each of the second, third and fourth stretch tubes has an axial groove on its outer circumferential surface. The first extensible tube has a first anti-rotation collar coupled to the distal end of its distal end and slidingly engaged with the axial groove of the second extensible tube. The second extensible tube has a second anti-rotation collar coupled to the distal end of its distal end and sliding engagement with the axial groove of the third extensible tube. The third extensible tube has a third anti-rotation collar coupled to the distal end of its distal end and sliding engagement with the axial groove of the fourth extensible tube. The scope also has first, second, and third retractable drive tubes that are retained within the stretch tubes having a leading end, a trailing end, and an axial length, respectively. The first drive tube has a first drive bushing coupled to its distal end, both of which are rotatable within the fourth expansion tube. The first drive bushing defines a bore having female drive threads. The second drive tube defines external male threads engaging with the first drive bushing female threads and has a second drive bushing coupled to its distal end, both of which are rotatable within the fourth expansion tube. The second drive bushing defines a bore having female drive threads. The third drive tube defines external male type drive threads that engage with the second drive bushing female threads. The inspection system further includes a camera mounting collar rigidly coupled to the respective distal ends of the fourth stretch tube and the third drive tube to prevent relative rotation thereof. The rotatable drive hub is coupled to the leading end of the first drive tube for selective rotation thereof. The mounting flange is coupled to the first telescopic tube for attachment to the generator test port. The inspection system also includes a spherical camera having a 360 degree field of view coupled to the camera mounting collar for insertion into the generator and capture of inspection images therein. In some embodiments, the system includes: a position encoder for correlating axial rotation of the camera field with hub rotation; And an image processing system coupled to the camera and the position encoder for storing a plurality of images taken at different camera axial displacement positions and combining the plurality of scan images into a searchable composite image.

Further exemplary embodiments of the present invention feature a method for internal inspection of a generator. Upon execution of the method, a system for inspection of the generator is provided. The system includes a single, elongate inspection scope for inserting into the inspection port of the generator, the inspection scope defining an extension axis. The provided scope has first and second retractable tubes each having a distal end, a distal end and an axial length, respectively. The second stretch tube has an axial groove on its outer circumferential surface. The first extensible tube has a first anti-rotation collar coupled to the distal end of its distal end and slidingly engaged with the axial groove of the second extensible tube. The first and second enclosed drive tubes are retained in stretch tubes having a leading end and a trailing end, respectively, and an axial length, respectively. The first drive tube has a first drive bushing coupled to its distal end, both of which are rotatable within the expandable tubes. The first drive bushing defines a bore having female drive threads. The second drive tube defines external male drive threads that engage with the first drive bushing female threads. The scope also has a camera mounting collar rigidly coupled to the respective distal ends of the second stretch tube and the second drive tube to prevent their relative rotation. The rotatable drive hub is coupled to the leading end of the first drive tube for selective rotation thereof. The mounting flange is coupled to the first telescopic tube for attachment to the generator test port. A spherical camera with a 360 degree field of view is coupled to the camera mounting collar for insertion into the generator and capture of inspection images inside. Upon execution of the method, the mounting flange of the provided inspection scope is attached to the inspection port of the generator, or to another inspection entrance site of the generator, while inserting the inspection scope therein. Thereafter, the drive hub is rotated, thereby rotating the first drive tube, thereby advancing the second drive tube and camera field of view within the generator without rotating the camera about the extension axis of the inspection scope. As the camera field of view is advanced within the generator, each camera image within the generator is captured at a plurality of locations

The features of the exemplary embodiments of the invention described herein may be applied jointly or in any combination, either in any combination or sub-combination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Exemplary embodiments of the present invention can be understood by considering the following detailed description together with the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of an inspection scope of the present invention inserted into an inspection port of a power generation machine, such as an inspection port of a gas turbine engine.
Figure 2 is a top perspective view of a controller box of the inspection scope of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is an end perspective view of the controller box of Figure 2 showing the drive gears and the driven gear after removal of the gear cover.
Figure 4 is a top perspective view of the controller box of Figure 2 showing the manually-cranked drive gear and motorized drive gears to each other engaging the driven gear after removal of the outer covers.
Figure 5 is an axial cross-sectional view taken through the telescoping tubes and drive tubes of the inspection scope of Figure 1;
FIG. 6 is a detailed partial axial cross-sectional view taken through an external extensible tube and a rotatable drive hub at the leading end of the inspection scope of FIG. 5;
Figure 7 is a detailed partial axial cross-sectional view taken through both the telescopic tubes and drive tubes at the distal end of the inspection scope of Figure 5;
Figure 8 is an elevational axial cross sectional view of the inspection scope of Figure 7 taken perpendicularly to the view of Figure 7 and through the anti-rotation collar of the first or outer extensible tube.
9 is a cross-sectional view of the anti-rotation collar of the scope of Fig. 1, taken along line 9-9 in Fig.
Figure 10 is a top plan view of the camera housing of the scope of Figure 1;
11 is a perspective view of the camera head of Fig.
Figure 12 is a block diagram of the electrical circuits included in the inspection scope of Figure 1;
To facilitate understanding, the same reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. The drawings are not drawn to scale.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are utilized for inspection of internal components of power generation machinery, such as gas turbine engines. The internal components of the engine are inspected by a spherical optical camera inspection system mounted on a single-axis inspection scope with a compact diameter insertable within the inspection port or other accessible insertion site. In some embodiments, an inspection scope with a camera is inserted through a combustor pilot port, through a corresponding combustor transition, and in terms of low 1 blades and vanes, Stop before the vanes. The system is capable of capturing images along a camera translation path. A plurality of images are combined to generate a composite image of components within the inspection path. In some embodiments, the composite image is similar and navigable to " street view " geographic path images available on some internet-based maps and trip navigation sites (navigable).

The inspection scope includes nested, non-rotatable telescopic tubes defining an extension axis. The circumscribing, telescopic tubes have anti-rotation collars, which are slidingly engaged with axial grooves mating on the outer circumferential surface of the circumscribed tube, the grooves and collar engaging the linear slide linear slide. The camera is advanced and / or retracted along the scope extension axis by the nested drive tubes, which drive tubes include corresponding female threads formed on the circumscribed drive tube with at least one external drive screw and mating and outcrossing drive tube do. In some embodiments, the female threads are formed in a drive bushing that is coupled to a corresponding drive tube. The spherical camera has a field of view of 360 degrees and captures images without rotation around the scope extension axis.

1 shows an exemplary generator, such as a gas turbine engine 20, which includes an inspection port 22 having an internal passage minimum clearance diameter Dp. The term " port " as used herein encompasses dedicated inspection ports that are sealed after the completion of inspections, or any other type of entry aperture that allows passage of the inspection scope into the engine. Exemplary entry gaps or other types of inspection access sites include a combustion pilot nozzle insertion gap in a combustor or a manway access cover of a gas turbine engine. The exemplary inspection system 28 includes an inspection scope 30 having an extension portion 32 for insertion into the engine 20 and the controller box 34 is retained on the exterior side of the engine. The inspection scope 30 includes a mounting collar 36 that is coupled to the retractable portion 32 with a mounting flange 38 attached to the inspection port 22 by fasteners 40. The mounting collar 36 includes a collar-retaining clamp 42 that is adjustably clamped along the exterior surface of the exterior or first extensible tube 44. The retaining clamp 42 is selectively positioned and axially clamped relative to the first stretch tube 44, as needed or desired for any particular inspection procedure. The camera-mounting collar 46 is coupled to the distal end of the examination scope elongate portion 32 and is coupled to the camera housing 48. Camera housing 48 has a 360 degree field of view (" FOV ") to capture images of components within engine 20 without having to pan (pan) the camera FOV about the extension axis of inspection scope stretch 32 quot;: field of view). The spherical camera 50 has a first camera lens 52 on one side of the camera housing 48 and a second camera lens 54 on the other side of the camera housing, Is oriented 180 degrees opposite to the first camera lens 52 in this particular embodiment. Inspection scope 30 may be used for real-time monitoring of images captured by camera 50 or for storing images previously captured and retrieved in controller box 34, And a visual display (56). Optionally, the camera images are viewed remotely, and the inspection scope is remotely controlled by an external computing device, such as a tablet computer 58. Tablet computer 58 communicates with inspection scope 30 by a hardwire cable (not shown) or by a wireless communication pathway. The inspection scope stretchable portion 32 and the camera housing 48 have a maximum outer diameter D that is smaller than the port minimum clearance diameter Dp. The working embodiments of the inspection scope are structured with a maximum outer diameter of 1.68 inches (42.67 millimeters) and a stretch extension range of 48 inches (1220 millimeters) along the extension axis (T).

Figs. 2-4 illustrate the portion of the tip scope of the inspection scope extensible portion 32 and the first or outer extensible tube 44 thereof. Fig. The controller box 34 includes an externally accessible hand crank socket 62 and a removable gear cover 60 for selective coupling to a hand crank 69. [ . The toothed driven gear 64 engages mating teeth of a first drive gear 66 having a drive gear hub extension 68 that is coupled to an external hand crank socket 62 . 4, the hand crank 69 is shown to be coupled directly to the drive gear 64 without the gear cover 60 or the hand crank socket 62 so that the scope extension portion 32 is engaged with the drive gear 64 Desc / Clms Page number 5 > how it advances or retracts along a stretch extension axis / dimension (T) by rotation. The inspection scope 30 also includes an electric drive (not shown) for advancing and retracting the telescopic portion 32 in parallel with and in parallel with a manual or hand-cranking drive motorized drive. The tooth type second drive gear 70 meshes with the mating teeth of the driven gear 64. An electric motor 72, which is a known motor used in motion control systems, drives a second drive gear 70. In this embodiment, the motor 72 includes a rotary positon encoder that generates encoder data indicative of the number of motor shaft turns. The inspection scope 30 converts the rotary motions R of the driven gear 64 into a linear translation T of the extensible portion 32. Thus, the rotational motion of the motor drive shaft and the position encoder data correlate with the linear translational motion (T) of the stretchable portion 32. Other types of known position encoders may be substituted by the motor internal position encoder 74. The driven gear 64 is coupled to the rotatable drive hub 76 so that the rotation of the drive gear 64 by the first drive gear 66 or the second drive gear 70 also drives the drive hub 76 .

Figs. 1 and 5 to 9 show the internal structure of the inspection scope stretchable portion 32. Fig. The leading end of the stretchable portion 32 retains the driven gear 64 and the rotatable hub 76 while the camera mounting collar 46 and the camera receiving mounting screw 78 are oriented on its distal end . The first or outer extensible tube 44 may be coupled to a drive hub roller bearing 80 and hub support bushing 82 for mounting of the rotatable hub 76 as well as to a first or outer drive tube 86 The drive tube support bushing 84 is retention for retention of the drive tube support bushing 84. The first drive tube is coupled to a hub (76) rotatable by a first pin (88). The rotation of the driven gear 64 in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction R thereby rotates the hub 76 and the first drive tube 86. The other downstream of the first drive tube 86, the interconnections to the distal second drive tube 112 and the third drive tube 122, and their operation are described in further detail herein.

The test scope stretch portion 32 includes a first or outer 44, second 92, third 96 and fourth 100 stretchable telescoping tubes which are thus either first or second Outer, 86, second 112 and third or inner 122 drive tubes. Advancing or retracting the drive tubes and stretch tubes adjusts the axial length T of the test scope elongation portion 32. The extensible tubes 44,92, 96 and 100 include anti-rotation feature features that prevent rotation of the camera housing 48 about an extension axis of the extensible portion 32. [ Each adjacent pair of extensible tubes includes one or more linear bearings, the extensible tube comprising an anti-rotation collar and one or more retained ball bearings, which are attached to the circumference of the circumscribed extensible tube Ride on in the mating axial groove formed. The compact linear bearing construction allows a relatively small maximum diameter (D) of 1.68 inch (42.67 millimeters) of stretch tubes and collars. More specifically, the first stretch tube 44 has a first anti-rotation collar 90 that engages a corresponding axial groove formed in the second stretch tube 92. As a result, the second extensible tube has a second anti-rotation collar 94 that engages an axial groove formed in the third extensible tube 96. The third stretch tube 96 has a third anti-rotation collar 98 that eventually engages the axial groove formed in the fourth or inner elastic tube 100. The fourth tube collar 102 is rigidly coupled to the fourth telescoping tube 100 which ultimately couples the tube rigidly to the camera mounting collar 46. The screws 124 eventually allow the camera mounting collar 46 to be rigidly coupled to the third or inner drive tube 122 so that the camera housing 48 is positioned at the center of the extension axis of the telescopic portion 32 of the examination scope . The rigid attachment of the third drive tube 122 to the camera mounting collar 46 is achieved through the lumen 128 and clearance 128 of the third drive tube formed in the camera mounting collar 46, (48) and the controller box (34).

The construction and operation of the first, second and third or inner drive tubes 86, 112, 122 will now be described with reference to Figures 6-8. As described above, the rotation of the rotatable hub 76 in either direction R rotates the first or outer drive tube 86 interconnected by the first pin 88. The first drive bushing 104 is rigidly coupled to the distal end of the first drive tube 86 by a first drive bushing pin 106. The first drive bushing 104 and the first drive tube 86 are freely rotatable within the inner lumen of the fourth or inner flexible tube 100. The first drive bushing 104 includes internal female drive threads that engage corresponding external male drive threads 110 formed on the periphery of the second drive tube 112 (acme profile) drive threads). The rotation of the first drive tube 86 advances the external drive threads 110 relative to the rotating first drive bushing 104 and thereby along the extension axis T to the right in Figure 8 Advance the second drive tube. The pivot stop is included in a pin or screw that is driven into a tip end of the second drive tube 112, such as a trough in the profile of the threads 110, such that the first drive tube 86 and the second drive tube < (112). When the distal end rotation stop portion of the second drive tube 112 contacts the first drive bushing 104, an additional rotation of the rotatable hub 76 also initiates rotation of the second drive tube.

The distal end of the second drive tube 112 includes a rigidly mounted second drive bushing 114 which is rigidly connected to each other by a second drive bushing pin 116. The second drive bushing 114 defines female threads that engage with corresponding male outer threads 118 on the outer periphery of the third or inner drive tube 122. The second drive bushing 114 and the second drive tube 112 are freely rotatable within the inner lumen of the fourth or inner flexible tube 100. The second drive bushing 114 includes inner female drive threads 108 (e.g., acme-profile drive threads) 108 that engage corresponding outer male drive threads 120 formed on the outer periphery of the third drive tube 122 ). Rotation of the second drive tube 112 along with the first drive tube 86 advances the external drive threads 120 relative to the rotating second drive bushing 114 and thus along the extension axis T , And advances the third drive tube 122 to the right in Fig. The pivot stop is included in a pin or screw that is driven into the tip end of the third drive tube 122, such as a trough in the profile of the threads 120, and the second drive tube 112 and the third or inner Thereby preventing axial separation between the drive tubes 122. The inner drive tube 122 is rigidly coupled to the camera mounting collar 46 and the fourth or inner telescopic tube 100. The inner drive tube can not rotate about the extension axis T.

Figs. 8 and 9 show details of a linear bearing structure that prevents relative rotation between the expansion tubes 44, 92, 96 and 100. Fig. Concentrating on the mating interface between the circumscribing first extensible tube 44 and the second extensible tube 92 in contact with and in contact with the tube, the second extensible tube 92 is located on the extension axis of the test scope And has parallel axial grooves 132. The axial groove 132 terminates at the inboard of the distal end and distal end of the second retractable tube 92 to prevent axial separation from the first retractable tube 44. The first anti-rotation collar 90 retains the ball bearings 134 that engage the axial groove 132. Each of the ball bearing tensioning screws 136 selectively adjusts the pressure of the ball bearing 134 relative to the mating axial groove 132. Each of the second anti-rotation collar 94 and the third anti-rotation collar 98 includes the same linear bearing structure as the first anti-rotation collar 90, Axial grooves (including axial separation during tube extension) and ball bearings. All of the anti-rotation collars described above are attached to their corresponding extensible tubes by retention screws 138.

Figs. 8, 10 and 11 show further structural details of the camera housing 48. Fig. The camera housing 48 is coupled to the camera mounting collar 46 by a storage mounting screw 78. The housing 48 retains the spherical camera 50 and defines clearances for the camera lenses 52 and 54 on both sides of the housing. In this illustrative embodiment, the spherical camera 50 with a 360 degree field of view is an off-the-shelf commercially available camera with corresponding operating software, such as that of Tokyo, Japan Model theta S camera manufactured by Ricoh Company, Ltd. and sold by Ricoh USA, Inc. of Malvern, Pennsylvania, USA. In addition, the camera housing 48 provides illumination, gaps 140 for retention of light emitting diodes (LEDs). LED cable 146 and camera cable 148 pass through third drive tube lumen 126 and camera mounting collar crevices 128 and are then surrounded by a shank portion of mounting collar 46 Thereby providing strain relief protection for the connections of these cables to the LEDs 140 and the camera 50, respectively.

The block diagram of FIG. 12 illustrates an interoperable connection of components and subsystems within inspection system 28. The electromechanical structures of the inspection scope 30, the controller box 34 and the camera housing 48 are schematically illustrated as dashed lines. The power supply 142 shown herein for illustrative purposes within the controller box 34 includes a controller 144, a display 56, a motor 72, The illumination system 140, and the camera 50. [0033] The controller 144 controls the illumination 140, the camera 50, the motor 72 and, in some embodiments, receives encoder data from the encoder 74. In some embodiments, the controller 144 may communicate with the controller 144 via any known type of data communications network, including the Internet, or via a known wireless router 150 or directly or indirectly And has wireless communication capability for communication. In some embodiments, the controller 144 and / or the camera 50 may communicate with a tablet computer 58 or an image processor 154 or any other type of known workstation and wireless ) Or hard-wired communication.

Referring to Figures 1, 3 and 12, the inspection system 28 is configured to attach the inspection scope 30 mounting flange 38 to the inspection port 22 or other generator inspection entry site, Is used to inspect the internal structure of the generator 20, such as a gas turbine engine, by inserting an inspection scope extensible portion 32 that includes a housing 48. If the inspection scope 30 is positioned for inspection, the camera housing 48 can be moved to the drive box 66 by using the hand crank 69 coupled to the controller box 34 to drive the driven gear 64 and its attached drive hub 76 Is advanced into the generator by rotating or by actuating a self-contained internal motor 72 so that the extension of the inspection scope without rotating the camera 50 about the extension axis T of the inspection scope, The second drive tube 112 and / or the third drive tube 122 are rotated by using the 360 degree spherical camera 50 in the generator along the axis T to rotate the first drive tube 86, And ultimately advances the camera housing 48. The 360 degree images generated within the camera field of view are captured at one or more positions along the extension axis T. [

In many inspection embodiments, the images of the camera 50 are captured at a plurality of locations along the extension axis T. In embodiments in which the position encoder 74, such as the position encoder 74 of the motor 72, is provided in the inspection scope 30, the encoder is positioned at a position that correlates with the axial displacement of the camera 50 along the extension axis T And generates output data. The image processing system of the controller 144, remote tablet or other computer 58 or remote dedicated image processing workstation 154 uses the position encoder 74 output data to determine the axial displacement position of the camera field of view , And correlates the determined axial displacement position (T) with the corresponding position in the corresponding camera image. Correlation of the image with the encoder 74 output location data is performed by well known commercially available data acquisition hardware and software. In some embodiments, controller 144 and / or remote computers, such as tablet computer 58 and / or image processing system 154, archive images and / or encoder position data. In some embodiments, real-time and / or archived images may also be viewed on the display 56 of the controller box 34. In some embodiments, the controller 144 automatically controls advancement of the camera housing 48 along the axis of extension T by controlling the motor 72 with a feedback loop by the encoder 74 .

In some embodiments, the image processing system combines a plurality of test images into a searchable composite image, wherever it is located, and this composite image is a " street view " available in some web- Similar to geographic mapping. Commercially available image combining and image search software packages operable on a controller and / or computer hardware platforms are available from Kratano Gesellschaft mbH, Deutschkreutz, Austria, Includes the krpano Panorama Viewer available from.

An exemplary controller 144 or tablet computer 58 or remote workstation 154 platform architecture and software modules executed by an internal processor of each device It will be appreciated that the exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in various forms of hardware, software, firmware, special purpose processors, or combinations thereof, Will also be understood. Advantageously, aspects of embodiments of the present invention are implemented in software as a tangibly embodied program on a non-volatile, non-transitory signal, program storage device. The program may be uploaded to and executed by a machine including any suitable architecture. Preferably, the machine includes one or more central processing units (CPU), random access memory (RAM), and input / output (I / O) (S). ≪ / RTI > The computer platform also includes an operating system and microinstruction code. The various processes and functions described herein may be part of a program executed through an operating system or part of a microinstruction code (or a combination thereof). In addition, various other peripheral devices may be coupled to the computer / controller platform.

Because some of the component system components and method steps depicted in the accompanying drawings are preferably implemented in software, actual connections between system components (or process steps) may be programmed ) ≪ / RTI > manner. In particular, some of the computer platforms or devices may be interconnected using any existing or later discovered networking technology; All of which may be connected via a larger network system, such as a corporate network, a metropolitan network, or a global network, such as the Internet.

While various embodiments including the present invention have been shown and described in detail herein, those skilled in the art can readily devise many other varied embodiments that still include the claimed invention. The invention is not limited in its application to the exemplary embodiments details of the arrangements and configurations of components illustrated or described in the Figures. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. It is intended that the use of " comprise ", " comprise " or " have " and variations thereof herein should include the items listed below and their equivalents as well as additional items. Unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms " attached, " " coupled, " " supported, " and " coupled, " and variations thereof are used extensively and include direct and indirect attachments, And includes couplings. In addition, " connected " or " coupled " is not limited to physical, mechanical, or electrical connections or couplings.

Claims (20)

A system for internal inspection of a power generation machine,
A single-axis extensible inspection scope for insertion into the inspection port of the generator; And
Wherein the inspection scope comprises:
First and second nested telescoping tubes each having a leading end and a trailing end and an axial length, said second stretchable tube having an axial groove on its outer circumferential surface The first stretch tube having a first anti-rotation collar coupled to a distal end of its distal end and sliding engagement with an axial groove of the second stretch tube,
First and second enclosed drive tubes retained within said telescopic tubes having respective distal and proximal end portions and axial lengths, said first drive tube having a pair of Said first drive bushing defining a bore having female drive threads, said first drive bushing having a first drive bushing that is ring-shaped and both of which are rotatable within said telescopic tubes, Said second drive tube defining external male drive threads engaging said first drive bushing female threads,
A camera-mounting collar rigidly coupled to the respective distal ends of the second and the second tube to prevent relative rotation thereof,
A rotatable drive hub coupled to the leading end of the first drive tube for selective rotation thereof,
A mounting flange coupled to said first telescopic tube for attachment to a generator test port;
A spherical camera having a field of view of 360 degrees and coupled to the camera mounting collar for insertion into the generator and for the capture of inspection images therein. ,
System for internal inspection of generator. The method according to claim 1,
A distal portion of a rotatable drive hub that is oriented within the distal end of the first stretch tube and engages within the first drive tube;
A distal end portion of a drive hub coupled to a driven gear outside the first stretch tube;
A first drive gear engaged with the driven gear for rotating the driven gear and the drive hub; And
Further comprising a drive device coupled to the first drive gear,
System for internal inspection of generator. delete delete delete The method according to claim 1,
The first anti-rotation collar retaining a ball bearing engaged in an axial groove of the second sleeve,
System for internal inspection of generator. The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising at least one additional extensible tube interposed between said first and second extensible tubes and said second extensible tube, each additional extensible tube having an inner, An anti-rotation collar of a circumscribing extensible tube slidingly engaging an axial groove of an inscribed flexible tube and an axial groove on its outer circumferential surface for engaging a anti-rotation collar coupled to the distal end of the tube Regulatory,
System for internal inspection of generator. The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising at least one additional drive tube interposed between the first drive tube and the second drive tube and each additional drive tube engaging drive threads of an inscribed drive tube retained therein For engaging the drive bushing of the outer drive tube and the female threads of the drive bushing coupled to the distal end of the drive tube, defining male drive threads on its outer circumferential surface,
System for internal inspection of generator. delete delete delete A system for internal inspection of a power generation machine,
A uniaxially extendable inspection scope for inserting into an inspection port of the generator, the extension axis defining an extension axis; And
Wherein the inspection scope comprises:
First, second, third and fourth nested telescoping tubes each having a distal end, a distal end and an axial length, each of said second, third and fourth telescopic tubes The first elastic tube having an axial groove on its outer circumferential surface, the first elastic tube having a first anti-rotation collar coupled to a distal end of its distal end and sliding engagement with an axial groove of the second elastic tube, The tube having a second anti-rotation collar coupled to a distal end of its distal end and sliding engagement with an axial groove of the third retractable tube, the third retractable tube coupled to a distal end of the distal end, And a third anti-rotation collar slidingly engaged with the axial groove of the second anti-
First, second and third retaining drive tubes in said retractable tubes, each having a leading end and a trailing end, and an axial length, said first drive tube having a coupling at its distal end, Wherein the first drive bushing defines a bore having female drive threads, the second drive tube defines a first drive bushing female thread, the first drive bushing having a first drive bushing, both of which are rotatable within the fourth expansion tube, And a second drive bushing coupled to the distal end thereof, both of which are rotatable within the fourth expansion tube, and the second drive bushing defines a bore having female drive threads And said third drive tube engages said second drive bushing female threads It prescribes the external drive, the male threads -
A camera mounting collar rigidly coupled to respective distal ends of the fourth telescopic tube and the third drive tube to prevent relative rotation thereof,
A rotatable drive hub coupled to the leading end of the first drive tube for selective rotation thereof,
A mounting flange coupled to said first telescopic tube for attachment to a generator test port,
A spherical camera having a field of view of 360 degrees and coupled to the camera mounting collar for insertion into the generator and for the capture of inspection images therein. ,
System for internal inspection of generators 13. The method of claim 12,
Wherein at least one of the anti-rotation collars retains a ball bearing engaged in an axial groove of the second sleeve,
System for internal inspection of generator. 13. The method of claim 12,
A distal portion of a rotatable drive hub that is oriented within the distal end of the first stretch tube and engages within the first drive tube;
A distal end portion of a drive hub coupled to a driven gear outside the first stretch tube;
A first drive gear engaged with the driven gear for rotating the driven gear and the drive hub; And
Further comprising a drive device coupled to the first drive gear,
System for internal inspection of generator. delete delete delete As a method for internal inspection of a generator,
Providing a system for inspecting a generator;
The system comprises:
An elongate, testable scope for inserting into the inspection port of the generator, defining an elongate axis, and
Wherein the inspection scope comprises:
First and second nested telescoping tubes each having a leading end and a trailing end and an axial length, said second stretchable tube having an axial groove on its outer circumferential surface The first extensible tube having a first anti-rotation collar coupled to a distal end of its distal end and slidingly engaging an axial groove of the second extensible tube,
First and second enclosed drive tubes retained within said telescopic tubes having respective distal and proximal end portions and axial lengths, said first drive tube having a pair of Said first drive bushing defining a bore having female drive threads, said first drive bushing having a first drive bushing that is ring-shaped and both of which are rotatable within said telescopic tubes, Said second drive tube defining external male drive threads engaging said first drive bushing female threads,
A camera-mounting collar rigidly coupled to the respective distal ends of the second and the second tube to prevent relative rotation thereof,
A rotatable drive hub coupled to the leading end of the first drive tube for selective rotation thereof,
A mounting flange coupled to said first telescopic tube for attachment to a generator test port,
A spherical camera having a 360 degree field of view and coupled to said camera mounting collar for insertion into a generator and capture of inspection images therein;
Attaching the mounting flange to an inspection port of a generator or another inspection site of a generator while inserting an inspection scope therein;
Rotating the drive hub thereby rotating the first drive tube and advancing the second drive tube and the camera field of view within the generator without rotating the camera about an extension axis of the inspection scope; And
Capturing respective camera images within the generator at a plurality of locations as the camera field of view is advanced within the generator.
Method for internal inspection of a generator. 19. The method of claim 18,
Wherein the provided inspection system comprises a position encoder for correlating the axial displacement of the camera field of view with the hub rotation and generating position output data and a plurality of images taken at different camera axial displacement positions, Further comprising an image processing system coupled to the camera and the position encoder for storing a plurality of inspection images and combining the plurality of inspection images into a composite image;
The image processing system using the position encoder output data to determine an axial displacement position of the camera field of view and correlate the determined axial displacement position with a corresponding position within the camera image;
Wherein the image processing system further comprises combining the plurality of test images into a searchable composite image.
Method for internal inspection of a generator. delete

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