Combined 2D and 3D nondestructive examination

US7689003B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• SIEMENS ENERGY, INC. · US

Inventors

• Robert E. Shannon · Oviedo, US
• Clifford Hatcher, Jr. · Orlando, US
• Claudio Laloni · Taufkirchen, DE
• Frank Forster · Oberkirch, DE
• Fredrick M. Davis · Orlando, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 19, 2006
• Grant date: Mar 30, 2010
• Expiry date: Jan 28, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06T2207/30164
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An inspection apparatus (10) applying two dimensional nondestructive examination images onto a three dimensional solid model of a component (12) to display a virtual component (73) that may be manipulated to perform a nondestructive inspection. The two dimensional nondestructive examination images may be acquired from a plurality of views of the component in order to provide full coverage of the surface to be inspected, with appropriate stitching of images in regions of overlap between adjacent views. The two dimensional images (62) may be color or black and white photographs or ultraviolet or infrared images, for example. Multiple types of nondestructive examination images, results of inspection data evaluations, and design, operational and/or maintenance information may be displayed separately or jointly on the three dimensional solid model. Surface features of interest that are mapped as defined areas (76) on the three dimensional solid model may be displayed simultaneously in different views on 2D and 3D images of the virtual component.