Inspection device and method
AssigneeEskom
InventorsPhilippe Rubbers, Nicolaas Stephanus Kruger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is provided an inspection device and method for inspecting a pump having a casing defining an internal surface and a plurality of radially spaced diffuser vanes arranged within the casing. The inspection device includes an image providing apparatus for providing a remote picture of surfaces of the vanes and the internal surface of the casing, and a maneuverable carrier apparatus for carrying the image providing apparatus, which is sufficiently manoeuvrable to pass into a space defined between adjacent diffuser vanes and beyond.
Claims23
An inspection device for inspecting a pump having a casing defining an internal surface and a plurality of radially spaced curved diffuser vanes arranged within the casing, the inspection device including
- an image providing means for providing a remote picture of surfaces of the vanes and the internal surface of the casing;
- and
- a maneuverable carrier means for carrying the image providing means, the carrier means comprising an arm which is smoothly curved to correspond with the curvature of the vanes and which is sufficiently maneuverable to pass into a space defined between adjacent diffuser vanes and beyond.
A method of in situ inspection of a pump having a casing defining an internal surface and a plurality of radially spaced smoothly curved diffuser vanes arranged within the casing, the method including the steps of
- manipulating a maneuverable carrier comprising an arm which is smoothly curved to correspond with the curvature of the vanes and having an image providing means mounted thereon into a space defined between adjacent diffuser vanes and beyond;
- scanning at least a portion of the internal surface of the casing with the image providing means;
- and
- generating a picture of the scanned surface.
An inspection device for inspecting a pump having a casing defining an internal surface and a plurality of radially spaced curved diffuser vanes arranged within the casing, the inspection device including
- an image providing means for providing a remote picture of surfaces of the vanes and the internal surface of the casing;
- and
- a maneuverable carrier means for carrying the image providing means, the carrier means comprising a non-articulated curved arm maneuverable to pass into a space defined between adjacent diffuser vanes and beyond.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.