# US 12,111,148 B2 · Component imaging systems, apparatus, and methods

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- Number: US 12,111,148 B2
- Document ID: US12111148B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/326,778
- Filed: 2021-05-21
- Published: 2022-11-24
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2021-05-21
- Assignees: General Electric Company
- Applicants: General Electric Company
- Inventors: Andrew Frank Ferro; Peter Coomes
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12111148B2

## CPC

- G01B 15/04: for measuring contours or curvatures
- G01N 23/04: and forming images of the material
- G01M 13/00: Testing of machine parts
- G01M 15/14: Testing gas-turbine engines or jet-propulsion engines
- G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A system for imaging a component defining a negative space is provided comprising a component imaging assembly, a bolus insert, and an imaging device. The bolus insert is positionable in the component's negative space when the component is positioned within an imaging device imaging field to produce a component image. A method is provided comprising positioning a bolus insert within a component's negative space and scanning the component having the bolus insert to create an image of the component. A component imaging assembly is provided comprising a component including a first portion having a first thickness that is greater than a second thickness of a second portion; and a bolus insert positioned adjacent the second portion that has a bolus thickness substantially similar to a difference between the first and second thicknesses. The bolus insert has a bolus material density within fifteen percent (15%) of a component material density.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for imaging a component defining a negative space, the system comprising:
a component imaging assembly;
a bolus insert; and
an imaging device,
wherein the bolus insert is positionable in the negative space of the component when the component is positioned within an imaging field of the imaging device to produce an image of the component, wherein the negative space has a space geometry, and wherein the bolus insert has a bolus geometry that is at least partly complementary to the space geometry; and
wherein the component is formed from a component material having a component material density, wherein the bolus insert is formed from a bolus material having a bolus material density, and wherein the bolus material density is within fifteen percent (15%) of the component material density.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the bolus material density is within ten percent (10%) of the component material density.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the imaging device is a radiographic image device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein the radiographic image device comprises a radiography source and a radiography receiver.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the component is angled with respect to the radiography source.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the component is positioned at an angle α with respect to a horizontal direction orthogonal to a vertical direction.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein the component is rotatable about an axis extending along the vertical direction to reposition the component within the imaging field.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the component has a first thickness in a first portion and a second thickness in a second portion adjacent the negative space, the second thickness less than the first thickness, and wherein the bolus insert has a bolus thickness to fill a difference between the second thickness and the first thickness in the negative space.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the component is a ring shroud of a gas turbine engine, the ring shroud having a flange extending about a radially outer edge and defining the negative space, and wherein the negative space is annular.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the bolus insert is arc-shaped.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the component comprises a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) material.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the bolus insert is formed from aluminum.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the bolus insert is positionable within a portion of the negative space, the portion being less than an entirety of the negative space.

### Claim 14

A method, comprising:
positioning a bolus insert within a negative space defined by a component wherein the negative space has a space geometry, and wherein the bolus insert has a bolus geometry that is at least partly complementary to the space geometry, wherein the component is formed from a component material having a component material density, wherein the bolus insert is formed from a bolus material having a bolus material density, and wherein the bolus material density is within fifteen percent (15%) of the component material density; and
scanning the component having the bolus insert to create an image of the component.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, further comprising:
disposing the component having the bolus insert between a radiography source and a radiography receiver.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein scanning the component comprises directing an x-ray beam at the component from the radiography source.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, further comprising:
shaping the bolus insert to at least partially conform to the negative space of the component.

### Claim 18

A system for imaging a component the component having a changing thickness defining a negative space, the system comprising:
a component imaging assembly;
a bolus insert; and
an imaging device,
wherein the bolus insert is positionable in the negative space of the component and wherein the bolus insert is sized to provide an appearance of an even thickness of the component to the imaging device when the component and bolus insert are positioned within an imaging field of the imaging device to produce an image of the component; and
wherein the component is formed from a component material having a component material density, wherein the bolus insert is formed from a bolus material having a bolus material density, and wherein the bolus material density is within fifteen percent (15%) of the component material density.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, wherein the component comprises a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) material or the bolus insert is formed from aluminum.