Kevin D Harding

US Patent:

6874932, Apr 5, 2005

Filed:

Jun 30, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/609812

Inventors:

John William Devitt - Maineville OH, US
Anthony S. Bauco - Horseheads NY, US
Craig Alan Cantello - Schenectady NY, US
Kevin G. Harding - Niskayuna NY, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Niskayuna NY

International Classification:

G01N025/72

US Classification:

374 5, 374121, 2503416

Abstract:

A method facilitates inspection of a component surface. The method comprises positioning a surface of the component to be inspected in an optical path of at least one infrared radiation detector, heating the component surface using electromagnetic radiation to cause an increase in radiance from a defect present at the component surface, and detecting temperature variations within the component surface using the at least one infrared radiation detector, such that the surface irradiance is measured at predetermined locations across the component surface. The method further comprises detecting cracks in the component by analyzing radiation transient response data received by the infrared radiation detector, and correlating the temperature variations to the radiation transient response data to determine a depth of the detected cracks.

US Patent:

59332310, Aug 3, 1999

Filed:

Jul 10, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/676634

Inventors:

Leonard H. Bieman - Farmington Hills MI
Kevin G. Harding - Ann Arbor MI

Assignee:

Industrial Technology Institute - Ann Arbor MI

International Classification:

G01N 2100

US Classification:

3562411

Abstract:

An optical method and system for measuring bore hole diameter, out-of-roundness and lobing and a probe for use therein are provided. A ring of structured light is initially formed or projected on the inner surface of a bore hole by optical components supported within a housing of the probe. A lens system also supported within the housing images the ring of light. Image merging lenses of the lens system reform the image at a video camera located at a window of the housing such that two or more arcs of the ring form a magnified image with the image of the arcs being shifted in space such that all the arcs can be viewed by the camera. The video camera image is captured by a frame grabber/computer. A computer calculates the location of the arcs and from this information determine bore diameter and other bore properties such as out-of-roundness and lobing. The method, system and probe have the ability to capture information around the entire bore without movement of the camera or any of the optical components supported within the housing.