Systems and methods for thermal imaging systems
AssigneeApogee Scientific, Inc.
InventorsScott Edward McLaren, Neil Vanasse
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A thermal imaging system for use in maintaining a turbine assembly includes a case, a single pixel detector positioned within the case, at least one optical transportation device, and a prism. The optical transportation device is coupled to the case and configured to direct electromagnetic radiation to the single pixel detector. The prism is coupled to the optical transportation device and configured to direct electromagnetic radiation into the optical transportation device and to the single pixel detector. At least the prism and the optical transportation device are inserted into the turbine assembly and the single pixel detector acquires images of the turbine assembly.
Claims20
A thermal imaging system for use in maintaining a turbine assembly, said thermal imaging system comprising:
- a case;
- a single pixel detector positioned within the case;
- at least one optical transportation device coupled to the case and configured to direct electromagnetic radiation to the single pixel detector;
- and
- a prism coupled to the at least one optical transportation device and configured to direct electromagnetic radiation into the at least one optical transportation device and to the single pixel detector, wherein at least the prism and the at least one optical transportation device are inserted into the turbine assembly and the single pixel detector acquires images of the turbine assembly.
A thermal imaging system for use in maintaining a turbine assembly, said thermal imaging system comprising:
- a case;
- a focal plane array detector positioned within the case;
- an optical transportation device coupled to the case and configured to direct electromagnetic radiation to the focal plane array detector, wherein the optical transportation device comprises a plurality of optical elements;
- and
- a prism coupled to the optical transportation device and configured to direct electromagnetic radiation into the optical transportation device and to the focal plane array detector, wherein at least the prism and the optical transportation device are inserted into the turbine assembly and the focal plane array detector acquires images of the turbine assembly.
A method of maintaining a turbine assembly, said method comprising:
- inserting a thermal imaging system into the turbine assembly, wherein the thermal imaging system comprises:
- a case;
- a single pixel detector positioned within the case;
- at least one optical transportation device coupled to the case;
- and
- a prism coupled to the at least one optical transportation device;
- positioning the prism proximate at least one surface within the turbine assembly;
- directing electromagnetic radiation emitted by the at least one surface into the at least one optical transportation device using the prism;
- directing the electromagnetic radiation from the prism to the into the single pixel detector using the at least one optical transportation device;
- and
- acquiring an image of the at least one surface using the single pixel detector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.