Apparatus and system for inspecting an asset
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorMichael Wuestenbecker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of an apparatus, and an inspection system incorporating the apparatus, prevent exposure to radiation during inspection of tubes (e.g., boiler tubes). The embodiments can comprise a housing and a pair of translating baffles that engage the outside of the housing. In one embodiment, the housing moves relative to the translating baffles during rotation of the housing to change the orientation of the housing relative to the boiler tubes. The housing and the translating baffles maintain engagement to prevent radiation from leaking out of the housing and into the surrounding environment.
Claims20
An apparatus for inspecting an asset, the apparatus comprising:
- a support structure comprising a base assembly that can rotate, the support structure having support members that hold the asset in position for inspection;
- a housing disposed on the base assembly, the housing having a first side wall and a second side wall, the first side wall and the second side wall having an aperture exposing the interior of the housing and through which the asset can penetrate the housing for exposure to radiation;
- and
- a pair of translating baffles engaging the first side wall and the second side wall of the housing,
- wherein the translating baffles and the housing move relative to the one another in response to rotation of the base assembly, and
- wherein the translating baffles and the housing maintain engagement with one another to form an integrated section in combination with the support members on the first wall and the second wall proximate the asset.
A containment apparatus for housing a radiation source and a detector, said containment apparatus comprising:
- a support structure comprising an actuator;
- and
- an enclosure coupled to the actuator, the enclosure comprising a housing with an aperture on opposing side walls and a pair of translating baffles on the outside of the housing forming an integrated section with the housing about the apertures,
- wherein the translating baffles and the housing move relative to one another in response to rotation of the base assembly.
An inspection system for generating images of an asset, said inspection system comprising:
- an inspection device comprising a detector element sensitive to radiation from a radiation source;
- an enclosure surrounding the inspection device, the enclosure comprising a housing and a pair of translating baffles that engage the housing on opposing side walls;
- and
- a support structure supporting the enclosure, the support structure comprising a pivot element forming an integrated section with the translating baffles and the housing through which the asset passes from one of the opposing side walls to other opposing side wall,
- wherein the translating baffles and the housing move relative to one another when the housing changes orientation from a first orientation to a second orientation, and
- wherein the translating baffles, the housing, and the pivot member maintain engagement with one another at the integrated section in each of the first orientation and the second orientation proximate the asset.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.