Steerable Endoscope Cam Track for Turbine Inspection

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for inspecting turbine blades in jet engines are time-consuming and require physical contact, leading to costly downtime as multiple blades need to be individually removed and inspected, which is undesirable and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A steerable inspection tool with an elongate portion that can be advanced through the engine housing without contacting the blades, using a system of cams and wires to maneuver an ultrasonic sensor into position for non-contact inspection, allowing for quick examination of multiple blades without physical contact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If physical contact inspection methods are used, then inspection thoroughness is improved, but inspection time and downtime increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinspection thoroughnessVSAvoidinspection time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection methods with an automated endoscope system that uses ultrasonic sensors and cameras to inspect turbine blades. The endoscope can be advanced through the engine housing and maneuvered around blades using wire actuators and cam mechanisms, eliminating the need to physically remove and handle each blade while maintaining thorough inspection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If blades are individually removed and inspected, then inspection accuracy is improved, but device complexity and operational difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinspection accuracyVSAvoidoperational difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The endoscope system is designed as a universal inspection tool that can inspect multiple turbine blades without requiring different procedures or tools for each blade. The single endoscope device can be advanced through the housing and repositioned to inspect any blade in the engine, eliminating the need for individual blade removal and simplifying the overall inspection process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The endoscope acts as an intermediary tool that accesses the turbine blades through the engine housing without requiring direct physical contact or blade removal. The wire actuators and cam mechanisms serve as intermediaries to maneuver the endoscope into position, reducing operational complexity compared to manual blade handling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If endoscope is advanced through tortuous spaces, then non-contact inspection capability is improved, but control precision and positioning accuracy become more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenon-contact inspection capabilityVSAvoidpositioning accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The endoscope system employs dynamic control mechanisms including wire actuators that can be tensioned and relaxed to change the shape and orientation of the endoscope during advancement. The cam mechanisms provide dynamic positioning control as the endoscope moves through tortuous spaces, allowing the system to adapt its configuration to reach different inspection locations while maintaining positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP1880242B1Endoscope with cam track for following a predetermined path

Publication Date: 2017.03.01 ROLLS ROYCE PLC

AI summary

A tool (12) has a flange (28) attached to an engine housing. A primary cam (20) is rotated to advance segments into the housing and a second rotational cam (22) causes the segments (16) to turn relative to each other as they are being inserted into the housing. This causes the segments (16) to follow a predetermined path as they extend into the housing to bring a sensor (24) at the end of the segments into a sensing position.