High-temperature inspection device and cooling apparatus therefor
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
F25B-009/02
A61B-001/04
A61B-018/18
출원번호
US-0738837
(2003-12-17)
발명자
/ 주소
Hatcher,Clifford
출원인 / 주소
Siemens Power Generation, Inc.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
10인용 특허 :
2
초록▼
An inspection system includes a cooling apparatus for conducting visual inspections within operating temperature environments, such as, for example, the interior of a combustion turbine shortly after shut down. The cooling apparatus provides cooling for an inspection probe such as a video borescope.
An inspection system includes a cooling apparatus for conducting visual inspections within operating temperature environments, such as, for example, the interior of a combustion turbine shortly after shut down. The cooling apparatus provides cooling for an inspection probe such as a video borescope. The cooling apparatus includes an articulating guide tube having a control portion, an elongate flexible portion and an articulating section. The video borescope is inserted down through the articulating guide tube. A thermal protective sleeve surrounds and thermally insulates a portion of the articulating guide tube. Vortex coolers circulate cooled, compressed air within the cooling apparatus, thereby maintaining a cool video borescope operating temperature.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. A cooling apparatus for an inspection probe, said cooling apparatus comprising: an articulating guide tube having a control portion, an elongated flexible portion and an articulating section, said control portion including a first end, a second end and a first interior portio
What is claimed is: 1. A cooling apparatus for an inspection probe, said cooling apparatus comprising: an articulating guide tube having a control portion, an elongated flexible portion and an articulating section, said control portion including a first end, a second end and a first interior portion, said elongated flexible portion including an exterior and a second interior portion; a thermal protective sleeve surrounding said elongated flexible portion of said articulating guide tube and including a third interior portion; an inlet formed within the first end of said control portion and structured to receive said inspection probe, in order that said inspection probe may be guided down the first interior portion, through the second interior portion and into said articulating section of said articulating guide tube; and at least one vortex cooler adapted to cool and circulate a compressed fluid thereby cooling both said articulating guide tube and said inspection probe therein. 2. The cooling apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one vortex cooler includes a first vortex cooler, proximate the first end of said control portion of said articulating guide tube, and a second vortex cooler proximate the second end of said control portion of said articulating guide tube; wherein said first vortex cooler cools the first and second interior portions of said articulating guide tube and the inspection probe therein; and wherein said second vortex cooler cools the third interior portion of said thermal protective sleeve and the exterior of said elongated flexible portion of said articulating guide tube. 3. The cooling apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said at least one vortex cooler further includes at least one inlet nozzle for receiving said compressed fluid; and wherein said articulating guide tube further includes at least one exhaust vent for regulating said compressed fluid. 4. The cooling apparatus of claim 3 wherein said compressed fluid includes compressed air supplied to each of said at least one vortex cooler through said at least one inlet nozzle. 5. The cooling apparatus of claim 4 wherein said at least one vortex cooler includes first and second vortex coolers proximate said first and second ends, respectively, of said control portion of said articulating guide tube; wherein said first vortex cooler forms a first outer, rotating airstream and a first cooler, inner airstream, said first cooler, inner airstream blowing over said inspection probe and through said first and second interior portions, respectively, of said articulating guide tube; wherein said second vortex cooler forms a second outer, rotating airstream and a second cooler, inner airstream, said second cooler, inner airstream blowing through said third interior portion of said thermal protective sleeve and over the exterior of said elongated flexible portion of said articulating guide tube; wherein said first and second cooler, inner airstreams transfer heat to said first and second outer rotating airstreams, respectively, and wherein at least a portion of said heat transferred to said first and second outer rotating airstreams is exhausted through said at least one exhaust vent in said articulating guide tube. 6. The cooling apparatus of claim 1 wherein said articulating section of said articulating guide tube forms an opening through which said inspection probe can view; and wherein said control portion of said articulating guide tube further includes control means for controlling said articulating section and said inspection probe therein. 7. The cooling apparatus of claim 6 wherein said articulating section and said opening therein provide full-way articulation to permit 360째 viewing through said inspection probe. 8. The cooling apparatus of claim 1 wherein said inspection probe is a video borescope; and wherein said at least one vortex cooler and said thermal protective sleeve provide sufficient cooling for said video borescope, in order to permit continuous inspection operations within an operating temperature environment, of a component being monitored, for an extended period of time. 9. An inspection system comprising: a compressed fluid source supplying a compressed fluid; a video borescope; an image processing system for processing images viewed through said video borescope; and a cooling apparatus for cooling said video borescope, said cooling apparatus comprising: an articulating guide tube having a control portion, an elongated flexible portion and an articulating section, said control portion including a first end, a second end and a first interior portion, said elongated flexible portion including an exterior and a second interior portion; a thermal protective sleeve surrounding said elongated flexible portion of said articulating guide tube and including a third interior portion; an inlet formed within the first end of said control portion, said inlet receiving said video borescope, which passes down through the first interior portion, through the second interior portion and into said articulating section of said articulating guide tube; and at least one vortex cooler cooling and circulating said compressed fluid thereby cooling both said articulating guide tube and said video borescope therein. 10. The inspection system of claim 9 wherein each of said at least one vortex cooler further includes at least one inlet nozzle receiving said compressed fluid; and wherein said articulating guide tube further includes at least one exhaust vent regulating said compressed fluid. 11. The inspection system of claim 10 wherein said compressed fluid source includes at least one air compressor; wherein said compressed fluid is compressed air; and wherein each of said at least one air compressor includes at least one air hose feeding said compressed air through each of said at least one inlet nozzle and into said at least one vortex cooler. 12. The inspection system of claim 11 wherein said at least one vortex cooler includes first and second vortex coolers proximate said first and second ends, respectively, of said control portion of said articulating guide tube; wherein said first vortex cooler forms a first outer, rotating airstream and a first cooler, inner airstream, said first cooler, inner airstream blowing over said video borescope and through said first and second interior portions, respectively, of said articulating guide tube; wherein said second vortex cooler forms a second outer, rotating airstream and a second cooler, inner airstream, said second cooler, inner airstream blowing through said third interior portion of said thermal protective sleeve and over the exterior of said elongated flexible portion of said articulating guide tube; wherein said first and second cooler, inner airstreams transfer heat to said first and second outer rotating airstreams, respectively; and wherein at least a portion of said heat transferred to said first and second outer rotating airstreams is exhausted through said at least one exhaust vent in said articulating guide tube. 13. The inspection system of claim 9 wherein said articulating section of said articulating guide tube forms an opening for video borescope viewing therethrough; wherein said articulating section and said opening therein provide full-way articulation to permit 360째 viewing through said video borescope; and wherein said control portion of said articulating guide tube further includes control means for controlling said articulating section and said video borescope therein. 14. The inspection system of claim 13 wherein said control means includes a control handle and at least one control cable connected to said articulating section of said articulating guide tube, in order to control said articulating section and said video borescope therein. 15. The inspection system of claim 9 further including a collar securing said thermal protective sleeve to the second end of said control portion of said articulating guide tube. 16. The inspection system of claim 9 wherein said at least one vortex cooler and said thermal protective sleeve provide sufficient cooling for said video borescope, in order to permit continuous inspection operations within an operating temperature environment, of a component being monitored, for an extended period of time. 17. The inspection system of claim 9 further including a vortex container connected between said compressed fluid source and said cooling apparatus, said vortex container including regulating means for further regulating said compressed fluid supplied to said cooling apparatus. 18. The inspection system of claim 17 wherein said regulating means includes at least one flow regulator for regulating said compressed fluid supplied to each of said at least one vortex cooler of said cooling apparatus.
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