Bore inspection probe
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsJarred Smith, Christopher Welsh, Trevor Davis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A probe for inspecting a bore includes a housing dimensioned for insertion into the bore and a plurality of stabilization legs having a first end attached to the housing and a second end extendable from the housing. The stabilization legs are configured to contact the inner surface of the bore. A plurality of sensor arms is extendable from the housing and is rotatable relative to the stabilization legs. A motor provides for rotating the sensor arms relative to the stabilization legs.
Claims31
A probe for inspecting a bore, comprising:
- a housing dimensioned for insertion into the bore;
- a plurality of stabilization legs having a first end attached to the housing and a second end extendable from the housing and configured to contact the inner surface of the bore;
- a plurality of sensor arms extendable from the housing and rotatable relative to the stabilization legs;
- and
- a motor for rotating the sensor arms relative to the stabilization legs.
A probe for inspecting a bore, comprising:
- a housing dimensioned for insertion into the bore, said housing having a first portion and a second portion;
- at least one flexible joint coupling the first portion and the second portion;
- a spindle for rotatably coupling the first portion to the second portion;
- a plurality of stabilization legs having a first end attached to the first portion of the housing and a second end extendable from the housing and configured to contact the inner surface of the bore;
- a stabilization leg actuator configured for extending the second end of the stabilization legs from said housing;
- a plurality of sensor arms, each of said sensor arms having a first end attached to the second portion and a second end extendable from the second portion and having a sensor;
- at least one arm actuator for extending the second end of each sensor arm from said housing to an extended sensing position;
- and
- a motor for rotating the second portion relative to the first portion.
A probe for inspecting an inner surface of a bore, comprising:
- a housing dimensioned for insertion into the bore, said housing having a first portion and a second portion;
- a plurality of stabilization legs having a first end attached to the housing and a second end extendable from the housing and configured to contact the inner surface of the bore;
- means for extending each of the stabilization legs from a position within the housing to a position having the second end contacting the inner surface of the bore;
- a plurality of sensor arms, each of said sensor arms having a first end attached to the second portion and a second end extendable from the second portion and having a sensor;
- means for extending each of the sensor arms from a position within the housing to a position positioning the sensor proximate to the inner surface of the bore;
- and
- means for rotating the sensor arms relative to the stabilization legs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.