Thermal inspection systems

US8244488B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• General Electric Company · US

Inventors

• Jason Randolph Allen · Niskayuna, US
• Jared Michael Crosby · Scotia, US
• Christopher Joseph Uhl · Cincinnati, US
• Michael Orlando Cimini · Lancaster, US
• Bianca Mary McCartt · Cincinnati, US
• James Caddell · Milford, US
• Jared Reece Reynolds · Fort Thomas, US
• Robert William Tait · Plano, US
• Andrew Frank Ferro · West Chester, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 25, 2010
• Grant date: Aug 14, 2012
• Expiry date: Jan 6, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01M99/002
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A thermal inspection system includes a fluid source configured to supply a warm flow and a cool flow, indirectly or directly, to internal passage(s) of a component. The system includes an imager configured to capture a time series of images corresponding to a transient thermal response of the component to the warm and cool flows. The system further includes at least one flow meter configured to measure the warm and cool flows supplied to the component and a processor operably connected to the imager. The processor determines the transient thermal response of the component around a transition time. The flow supplied to the component switches from the warm flow to the cool flow at the transition time. The processor compares the transient thermal response around the transition time with one or more baseline values or with an acceptable range of values to determine if the component meets a desired specification.