Borescope Blade Inspection via Automated Attitude and Length Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional blade inspection methods for jet engines require manual handling of borescopes, leading to increased complexity and time consumption, especially when comparing insertion lengths and attitudes between different endoscope views for detailed defect analysis.
Innovation Solution
A blade inspection apparatus and method that includes attitude and insertion length detection sections, allowing for automated comparison and matching of insertion lengths and attitudes between different endoscope views, enabling precise alignment and detailed inspection of blades.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual handling of borescopes is used for blade inspection, then flexibility in inspection approach is maintained, but inspection complexity and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-alignment by automatically detecting insertion length and attitude parameters, comparing them with stored reference data, and adjusting the borescope position without manual intervention. The automated comparison section and attitude detection section enable the system to self-correct positioning errors and identify blade defects efficiently.
2Measurement precision
If multiple endoscope views are used for detailed defect analysis, then inspection accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single endoscope system performs multiple functions by sequentially capturing images at different insertion lengths and attitudes. The storage section stores reference data from the first endoscope view, while the comparison section automatically matches this data with the second endoscope view, eliminating the need for separate specialized devices for each inspection function.
Solution Approach 2:
The inspection process is segmented into distinct phases: first endoscope view capture, data storage, second endoscope view capture, and automated comparison. This segmentation allows complex multi-view inspection to be managed through systematic, step-by-step automated processing rather than requiring complex simultaneous multi-device coordination.
3Measurement precision
If automated detection sections are added to the endoscope, then insertion length and attitude matching accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Manual mechanical measurement of insertion length and attitude is replaced with automated detection sections that use sensors and computational algorithms. The first insertion length detection section and first attitude detection section automatically capture positioning data, which is then processed by the comparison section to achieve precise matching without manual measurement errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection sections provide real-time feedback on insertion length and attitude parameters to the comparison section. This feedback loop enables automatic adjustment and verification of borescope positioning, ensuring accurate alignment with the target blade features while reducing the need for complex manual positioning mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A blade inspection apparatus has a borescope and a PC. The borescope has a distance sensor for detecting an insertion length when an insertion section of the borescope is inserted through a hole provided in a casing in which a rotor of an engine is housed, an acceleration sensor for detecting an attitude of the insertion section, and distance sensors for detecting two distances from the insertion section to two stator vanes on a stator. The PC compares the attitude and two distances detected in the borescope with the attitude and two distances relating to an inspection image stored in a HDD. When a match occurs therebetween, the PC outputs match information.