Method and an apparatus for inspecting articles
US6153889A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 12, 1999 |
| Grant date | Nov 28, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 12, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N25/72
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus (42) for inspecting an as cast turbine blade (40), with impingement cooling passages (36) (see FIG. 2 ), comprises a vacuum pump (52) arranged to evacuate the interior of the turbine blade (40) through pipe (48) and valve (54) and a supply of steam (46) arranged to supply steam to the interior of the turbine blade (40) through the pipe (48) and a valve (50). An infrared camera (56) is arranged to view the outer surface (32) of the turbine blade (40) to detect hot spots produced on the outer surface (32) of the turbine blade (40) by jets of steam impinging on the inner surface (35) of the turbine blade (40) from the cooling passages (36). A processor (60) records the images produced by the camera (56) and analyses the images to determine if the cooling passages (36) have been formed and if they have been formed in the correct position.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.