Apparatus for inspecting difficult to access objects
AssigneeR. Brooks Associates, Inc.
InventorsWilliam Harris, Gregory Yadzinski, David Prelewitz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus for inspecting the surfaces of inaccessible objects such as the components of a nuclear power plant steam generator includes: an articulated inspection wand having a proximal end and a distal end movable into position adjacent the surface to be inspected, a laser light source located remotely from the distal end, first and second position sensing detectors located remotely from the distal end of the wand, first and second extending imaging light guides extending from the laser light source, and the position sensing detectors to the distal end of the wand.
Claims13
Apparatus for inspecting the surfaces of inaccessible objects comprising:
- an articulated inspection wand having a proximal end and a distal end movable into position adjacent a surface to be inspected;
- a laser light source located at the proximal end of the inspection wand;
- first and second position sensing detectors located at the proximal end of the wand;
- a first extended imaging light guide extending from the laser light source to the distal end of the wand;
- a second extended imaging light guide extending from the first position sensing detector to the distal end of the wand;
- a third extended imaging light guide extending from the second position sensing detector to the distal end of the wand.
A method of making surface contour measurements in inaccessible areas comprising:
- providing an inspection wand movable into proximity with the inaccessible areas;
- providing a laser illumination source remote from the inaccessible area;
- providing a 3-Dimensional surface detector remote from the inaccessible area;
- coupling a proximal end of a first extended imaging light guide to the laser illumination source;
- coupling a proximal end of a second extended imaging light guide to the 3-Dimensional surface detector;
- positioning a distal end of each of the first and second extended imaging light guides at the distal end of the inspection wand;
- scanning the laser illumination source across the surface to be measured;
- and
- detecting light scattered from the surface to be measured with the 3-Dimensional surface detector.
Apparatus for inspecting the surfaces of inaccessible objects comprising:
- an articulated inspection wand having a proximal end and a distal end movable into position adjacent a surface to be inspected;
- a laser light source located remotely from the distal end of the inspection wand;
- first and second position sensing detectors located remotely from the distal end of the wand;
- a first extended imaging light guide extending from the laser light source to the distal end of the wand;
- a second extended imaging light guide extending from the first position sensing detector to the distal end of the wand;
- a third extended imaging light guide extending from the second position sensing detector to the distal end of the wand.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.