Method and apparatus for non-destructive testing of components of gas turbine engines made of monocrystalline materials

US7543500B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• ROLLS-ROYCE DEUTSCHLAND LTD & CO KG · DE

Inventors

• Holger Litzenberg · Rangsdorf, DE
• Heike Floege · Zossen, DE
• Jochen Scholz · Lorch, DE
• Anthony Dunhill · Bristol, GB

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 23, 2006
• Grant date: Jun 9, 2009
• Expiry date: Apr 9, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2291/2694
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Single-crystal components of gas turbine engines, like turbine blades, are inspected in the installed state within the engine for cracking in certain critical areas using longitudinal ultrasonic waves. A first, rough orientation of the ultrasonic waves onto the critical area is accomplished under camera-visual control using an ultrasonic probe whose shape conforms to the respective component area and which, therefore, can be form-fitted to the component. For fine-positioning of the ultrasonic waves in the critical area, a reference signal is generated at a component-specific geometrical contour adjacent to the critical area by second ultrasonic waves emitted at a local distance to the first ultrasonic waves. The presence of this signal ensures the safe, disturbance-free detection of cracks in the critical blade area by means of longitudinal sonic waves. The invention includes an apparatus for the performance of the method.