Lewistown, PA — April 21, 2015 – GE Measurement and Control, Inspection Technologies division, announced the issuance of two patents for the use of dual multi-axis robotic devices for parts inspection (U.S. Pat. No. 8,833,169 and UK Pat. No. 2497418B). The patents cover a robotic inspection system that uses a pair of cooperating, multi-axis robots mounted on linear slides to perform ultrasonic inspection of parts. Features described in these patents can be found in GE’s Hydrastar ultrasonic inspection product.
Hydrastar systems are deployed globally at several aerospace manufacturers, specifically those that build composite airframe and jet engine components for major airframe and engine original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). These systems have proven to be very flexible, are high through-put machines, and are available with a variety of ultrasonic end effectors for both conventional and phased array ultrasonic methods.
“We’re extremely pleased to be recognized for the development of automated ultrasonic inspection technologies for critical airframe and aircraft engine structures which is consistent with industry needs for flexible, high productivity solutions,” said Jeffrey Stetson, Testing Machine Leader for GE Measurement & Control, Inspection Technologies division. “By utilizing commercially available six axis robots, GE’s Hydrastar platform provides an outstanding, standardized solution, replacing conventional Cartesian-based gantry systems.”
Additional proprietary application technologies available on the Hydrastar platform include GE’s Wide Phased Array TTU squirter tool (U.S. Pat. No. 8,650,959), which can provide up to six times the through-put of conventional ultrasonic squirter tools and GE’s Phased Array Surface Adapting ultrasonic method (U.S. Pat. No. 7,581,444), which uses the time of flight information from an ultrasonic signal to provide real-time adjustment of phased array focal laws to accommodate changing geometries.
About GE Measurement & Control
GE Measurement & Control is a leading innovator in advanced software and services; sensor-based measurement; non-destructive testing and inspection; flow and process control; turbine, generator and plant controls; and condition monitoring. Providing for the industrial health of our customers’ most critical assets, we deliver accuracy, productivity, predictive maintenance and safety to a wide range of industries, including oil & gas, power generation, aerospace, metals and transportation. Through our advanced approach to connecting intelligent machines, big data and analytics, we help our customers navigate complex operations, tighter regulations and a growing skills gap; while improving asset and operational performance – ultimately driving better business outcomes. Headquartered in Boston, USA, Measurement & Control has more than 40 facilities in 25 countries and is part of GE Oil & Gas. For further information, visit www.gemeasurement.com.
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) imagines things others don’t, builds things others can’t and delivers outcomes that make the world work better. GE brings together the physical and digital worlds in ways to no other company can. In its labs and factories and on the ground with customers, GE is inventing the next industrial era to move, power, build and cure the world. www.ge.com.
