Collapsed Component Dimensioning via Reference Shape Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Measuring collapsed circular components, such as gas turbine shroud segments, is challenging due to internal stresses causing small but significant shape deviations, requiring time-consuming and error-prone methods to restore the original shape for accurate dimensioning.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a coordinate measurement machine with a touch trigger probe that detects and maps multiple points on a collapsed component to a reference shape, allowing for accurate dimensioning without reconfiguring the component, using a sensor to locate points along a common axis and adjusting its position to ensure accurate data collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the component is measured in its collapsed state, then the measurement process is simplified and time-consuming restoration is avoided, but the measurement accuracy deteriorates due to internal stress-induced shape deviations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a digital copy (point cloud) of the collapsed component's actual geometry and maps it onto a reference shape representing the intended non-collapsed geometry. This allows measurement of the component in its free collapsed state while still obtaining accurate dimensional data by comparing the mapped points against the reference dimensions, avoiding both physical restoration and direct measurement of the distorted shape.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a reference shape as an intermediary between the collapsed component and the measurement evaluation process. The reference shape serves as a mediator that translates the distorted point cloud data into meaningful dimensional information, allowing accurate measurement without requiring the component to be in its original geometry or requiring complex direct measurement of the collapsed form.
2Measurement precision
If the component is restored to its original shape for measurement, then measurement accuracy is improved, but the process becomes time-consuming and operationally complex
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of physically restoring the component, the patent creates a digital representation (point cloud) of the collapsed geometry and computationally maps it to the reference shape. This eliminates the need for complex physical restoration operations while maintaining measurement accuracy through the mapping process that accounts for the collapsed state.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical process of physically restoring the component to its original shape with a computational mapping process. The measurement system automatically maps the collapsed point cloud onto the reference shape using algorithmic transformations, eliminating the need for manual restoration operations and reducing operational complexity.
3Device complexity
If traditional measurement methods are used on collapsed components, then the equipment and procedures are simple, but the measurement accuracy deteriorates due to inability to account for internal stress deformations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a coordinate measuring machine to create a precise digital point cloud copy of the collapsed component, then maps these points onto a reference shape. This approach maintains relative simplicity in the physical measurement system while achieving high accuracy through the computational mapping that corrects for internal stress deformations automatically.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the measurement parameters from direct physical measurements of the collapsed shape to mapped coordinates on the reference shape. By changing the parameter representation from actual collapsed geometry to reference-based coordinates, the system achieves high measurement accuracy while keeping the physical measurement equipment relatively simple.
Data Source
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Figure 3
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AI summary
This invention relates to a method of measuring a collapsed component, comprising: laying the component to be measured on a bed; detecting the location of a plurality of points on the component; storing the location of each of the points relative to at least one other point; mapping the plurality of points on to a reference shape which corresponds to the component in a non-collapsed state to provide mapped data points; and, using the mapped data points to determine the dimensions of the component.