# US 12,135,209 B2 · Airfoil tool mount > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,135,209 B2 - Document ID: US12135209B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/702,486 - Filed: 2022-03-23 - Published: 2023-10-05 - Granted: 2024-11-05 - Earliest claimed: 2022-03-23 - Assignees: Rtx Corporation - Applicants: Raytheon Technologies Corporation - Inventors: Tracy A. Propheter-Hinckley; Derek J. Michaels; Garrett Kernozicky - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12135209B2 ## CPC - F01D 5/005: {Repairing methods or devices} - G01B 5/008: using coordinate measuring machines - F02C 7/00: Features, components parts, details or accessories, not provided for in, or of interest apart form groups F02C1/00 - F02C6/00; Air intakes for jet-propulsion plants (controlling F02C9/00) - G01B 5/0004: {Supports (G01B5/025 takes precedence)} - G01B 11/005: {coordinate measuring machines} - G01B 11/24: for measuring contours or curvatures - G01B 11/2522: {the position of the object changing and being recorded} - G01M 15/14: Testing gas-turbine engines or jet-propulsion engines - G06T 17/00: Three-dimensional [3D] modelling for computer graphics - F01D 5/34: Rotor-blade aggregates of unitary construction {, e.g. formed of sheet laminae; (discs formed of sheet laminae F01D5/028; ceramic materials F01D5/284, composite materials F01D5/282)} - F01D 25/285: {Temporary support structures, e.g. for testing, assembling, installing, repairing; Assembly methods using such structures} - F05D 2220/32: in gas turbines - F05D 2230/80: Repairing, retrofitting or upgrading methods - F05D 2260/02: Transport and handling during maintenance and repair - F05D 2260/81: Modelling or simulation - F05D 2260/83: Testing, e.g. methods, components or tools therefor - F05D 2270/11: to prolong engine life - F05D 2270/8041: Cameras - G01B 5/205: {of turbine blades or propellers} - G01B 11/25: by projecting a pattern, e.g. {one or more lines,} moiré fringes on the object (G01B11/255 takes precedence {; image analysis for depth or shape recovery G06T7/50}) - G06T 2210/56: Particle system, point based geometry or rendering - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS - F02C: GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS (construction of turbines F01D; jet-propulsion plants F02K; construction of compressors or fans F04; generating combustion products of high pressure or high velocity F23R; using gas turbines in compression refrigeration plants F25B11/00) - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS ## Abstract An inspection device is disclosed herein. In various embodiments, the inspection system device comprises: a support structure; a motor, a shaft operably coupled to the motor, the shaft extending from a first side of the support structure to a second side of the support structure, the shaft configured to couple to a bladed rotor; and a scanner moveably coupled to the support structure, the scanner configured to generate a three-dimensional model for the bladed rotor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An inspection device, comprising: a support structure; a motor; a shaft operably coupled to the motor, the shaft extending from a first side of the support structure to a second side of the support structure, the shaft configured to couple to a bladed rotor; a scanner moveably coupled to the support structure, the scanner configured to generate a three-dimensional model for the bladed rotor, wherein the support structure comprises a base having an arcuate shape; and a track system, the scanner configured to move along the track system, the track system comprising: a curved track coupled to a radially inner surface of the base and extending circumferentially around the base, and a vertical track, the scanner operably coupled to the vertical track, the vertical track configured to travel along the curved track. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The inspection device of claim 1, wherein the scanner is one of a coordinate measuring machine or a structured light scanner. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The inspection device of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional model is a point cloud. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The inspection device of claim 1, further comprising a controller in electronic communication with the motor and the scanner. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The inspection device of claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to: command the scanner to scan a first portion of the bladed rotor; command the motor to rotate the shaft a fixed amount; and subsequently command the scanner to scan a second portion of the bladed rotor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The inspection device of claim 5, wherein the controller is further configured to: determine the motor has rotated the shaft 360 degrees; and generate the three-dimensional model based on data received from the scanner. ### Claim 7 An article of manufacture including a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising: commanding, via the processor, a scanner to scan a first portion of a bladed rotor; commanding, via the processor, a motor to rotate a shaft coupled to the bladed rotor a fixed amount; commanding, via the processor, the scanner to scan a second portion of the bladed rotor, wherein the scanner traverses along a track system in response to the commanding, the track system comprising: a curved track coupled to a radially inner surface of a base and extending circumferentially around the base, and a vertical track, the scanner operably coupled to the vertical track, the vertical track configured to travel along the curved track; determining, via the processor, whether the scanner has scanned between 95% and 100% of an external surface area of the bladed rotor; and generating, via the processor, a three-dimensional model in response to determining the scanner has scanned between 95% and 100% of the external surface area of the bladed rotor, the bladed rotor comprising a rotor disk and a plurality of blades extending radially outward from the rotor disk. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The article of manufacture of claim 7, wherein the first portion of the bladed rotor is a blade. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The article of manufacture of claim 7, wherein generating the three-dimensional model includes generating a point cloud of the bladed rotor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The article of manufacture of claim 7, wherein the scanner comprises one of a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) or a structured light scanner. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The article of manufacture of claim 7, wherein the operations further comprise receiving, via the processor, location data of the scanner relative to a datum; and generating the three-dimensional model relative to the datum. ### Claim 12 An inspection system for a bladed rotor, the inspection system comprising: a support structure comprising a base having an annular shape and defining a radially inner surface, a first vertical support extending upward from the base, and a second vertical support extending upward from the base, the first vertical support disposed opposite the second vertical support; a first sensor; a second sensor; a track system; a scanner moveably coupled to the support structure via the track system, the track system comprising: a curved track coupled to the radially inner surface of the base and extending circumferentially around the base, and a vertical track, the scanner operably coupled to the vertical track, the vertical track configured to travel along the curved track; a motor operably coupled to a shaft, the shaft rotatably coupled to the support structure, the shaft configured to be coupled to the bladed rotor, the shaft extending from the first vertical support to the second vertical support; and a controller in electronic communication with the first sensor, the second sensor, the scanner, and the motor, the controller configured to: command the scanner to scan the bladed rotor; receive, from the first sensor, a location of the scanner during the scan; command the motor to rotate a fixed amount in between scans; determine, from the second sensor, an angular position of the bladed rotor relative to an initial position; and generate a three-dimensional model of the bladed rotor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The inspection system of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to command an inspection component to move the scanner relative to the bladed rotor during the scan. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The inspection system of claim 12, wherein the scanner is configured to travel along the track system. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The inspection system of claim 12, wherein the scanner comprises one of a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) or a structured light scanner. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The inspection system of claim 12, wherein the three-dimensional model of the bladed rotor is a point cloud. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The inspection system of claim 12, wherein the inspection system is configured to scan between 99% and 100% of an external surface area of the bladed rotor.