System and method for online inspection of turbines including temperature and vibration compensating lens mount
US9366855B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 31, 2012 |
| Grant date | Jun 14, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 7, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03B17/55
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Optical camera systems for nondestructive internal inspection of online, operating power generation turbines, including gas turbine combustor and turbine sections that are at high operating temperatures in the range of over 600° C. (1112° F.). The system includes one or more temperature and vibration-compensating lens systems in the optical tube mount. The lens is circumferentially retained within a lens mount, with a mounting ring in contact with only the lens axial face. A biasing element exerts axially oriented biasing force on the first lens face through the first mounting ring, allowing for mount flexure in response to operational turbine vibration and temperature changes. The lens mount is advantageously combined with aspheric lenses capable of withstanding continuous operating temperatures above 600° C. The aspheric lenses, alone or in combination with spherical lenses, establish a wider field of view, and require fewer lenses in combination than lens mounts incorporating only spherical lenses.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.