Rotor Blade Image Tracking for Replacement Position Records

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for managing rotor blade inspections and repairs in gas turbine engine rotor blades lack efficiency in tracking and recording component replacement data, particularly in identifying replaced rotor blades and their positions.

Innovation Solution

An assembly comprising an imaging device and a processing system that captures pre-repair and post-repair image data of rotor blades, identifies replaced blades using visual characteristics or machine learning, and records this data in a database, including usage parameters and installation positions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual tracking methods are used for rotor blade replacement data, then system complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and reliability of tracking replaced blades deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses image copying technology to create digital representations of rotor blades with unique identification features. By capturing images before and after replacement and comparing them, the system automatically identifies replaced blades without manual intervention, achieving high tracking precision while maintaining manageable system complexity through automated image processing algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical tracking methods with an automated image processing and comparison system. The processing system automatically identifies rotor blades by comparing pre-repair and post-repair images, substituting human-operated mechanical processes with automated optical and computational systems that provide superior measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If automated image processing is implemented to identify replaced rotor blades, then productivity and measurement precision improve, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintenance efficiencyVSAvoidprocessing system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The processing system is designed to perform multiple functions: capturing images, identifying rotor blades, comparing pre-repair and post-repair data, and recording replacement information. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional system, the patent achieves high productivity through automation while managing overall system complexity rather than multiplying separate specialized systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-service through automated image processing and comparison algorithms that automatically identify replaced rotor blades without requiring external manual analysis. The processing system independently completes the entire tracking workflow from image capture to replacement identification, significantly improving maintenance efficiency while the automated nature keeps operational complexity manageable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Loss of information

If detailed recording of rotor blade positions and usage parameters is implemented, then information completeness improves, but loss of time for data management increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation completenessVSAvoiddata recording time

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent captures and stores images of rotor blades before replacement occurs, creating a pre-repair database with complete position and identification information. This preliminary action ensures that when replacement happens, the system already has the reference data needed for immediate comparison and automatic identification, achieving complete information recording without time loss during the actual replacement process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces manual data recording and analysis processes with automated image processing and comparison algorithms. By substituting human operators who would manually record and analyze blade positions with automated computational systems, the patent achieves complete information management while dramatically reducing the time required for data processing and replacement identification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP4502339A1System and method for recording component replacement data

Publication Date: 2025.02.05 PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP

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AI summary

An assembly (74) for recording rotor blade replacement data for a bladed rotor (86) includes an imaging device (78) and a processing system (76). The imaging device (78) is configured to capture image data for the bladed rotor (86) including a plurality of rotor blades (88). The processing system (76) is configured to identify each of the plurality of rotor blades (88) installed on the bladed rotor (86) in pre-repair image data of the captured image data and store a pre-repair position of each of the identified plurality of rotor blades (88) installed on the bladed rotor (86) in the pre-repair image data, identify each of the plurality of rotor blades (88) installed on the bladed rotor (86) in post-repair image data and store a post-repair position of each of the identified plurality of rotor blades (88) installed on the bladed rotor (86) in the post-repair image data, and identify at least one replaced rotor blade installed on the bladed rotor (86) in the post-repair image data using the pre-repair image data and the post-repair image data.