Wear monitor for turbo-machine

1. A measurement device for determining wear in a machine, comprising:

an electromechanical head assembly comprising a housing at least one touch point extending from the housing for contacting a surface of the machine, and a drive device for moving the touch point in contact with the surface;

an insertion probe housing at least a portion of the electromechanical head assembly and adapted to be attached to the machine;

wherein the electromechanical head assembly is releasably coupled to the insertion probe;

a sensor for measuring a distance of travel of the touch point;

an electrical conductor for transmitting and conducting an electrical current to the touch point for determining when the touch point has contacted the surface of the machine.

2. The measurement device of claim 1 , wherein the insertion probe is coupled to the machine.

3. The measurement device of claim 2 , wherein the insertion probe is coupled to a vane carrier of a turbine engine and protrudes into the vane carrier to provide access for the measurement device to a root of an airfoil during operation of the turbine engine.

4. The measurement device of claim 3 , wherein the touch point is movable generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the insertion probe.

5. The measurement device of claim 3 , wherein the touch point is movable generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the insertion probe.

6. The measurement device of claim 5 , wherein the drive device coupled to a threaded shaft for moving the touch point and is selected from the group consisting of a stepper motor and a pulsed DC motor with planetary reduction gears.

7. The measurement device of claim 6 , further comprising a ball socket attachment coupled to a shaft to which the touch point is attached.

8. The measurement device of claim 1 , further comprising an identification key coupled to the insertion probe enabling the electromechanical head to identify the insertion probe.

9. A measurement device for determining wear in a turbo-machine, comprising:

an electromechanical head assembly comprising a housing, at least one-touch point extending from the housing for contacting a surface of the turbo-machine, and a drive device for moving the touch point in contact with the surface;

an insertion probe housing at least a portion of the electromechanical head assembly, the insertion probe attached to and extending at least partially into a vane-carrier of the turbo-machine;

wherein the electromechanical head assembly is releasably coupled to the insertion probe such that the touch point of the electromechanical extends from the insertion probe and is adapted to contact the surface of the turbo-machine;

a sensor for measuring a distance of travel of the touch point; and

an identification key coupled to the insertion probe enabling the electromechanical head to identify the insertion probe.

10. The measurement device of claim 9 , wherein the touch point is movable generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the insertion probe with correction for nonlinear travel.

11. The measurement device of claim 9 , wherein the touch point is movable generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the insertion probe.

12. The measurement device of claim 11 , wherein the drive device is coupled to a threaded shaft for moving the touch point and is selected from the group consisting of a stepper motor and a pulsed DC motor with planetary reduction gears.

13. The measurement device of claim 12 , further comprising a ball socket attachment coupled to a shaft to which the touch point is attached.

14. The measurement device of claim 9 , further comprising an electrical conductor for transmitting an electrical current to the touch point to determine when the touch point has contacted the surface of the machine.

15. A method of determining wear on a component of a machine while the machine is operating, comprising:

attaching a measuring device to the machine, wherein the measuring device comprises an electromechanical head assembly comprising a housing, at least one touch point extending from the housing for contacting a surface of the machine, and a drive device for moving the touch point in contact with the surface;

an insertion probe housing at least a portion of the electromechanical head assembly and attached to the machine;

wherein the electronic head assembly is releasably coupled to the insertion probe;

a sensor for measuring a distance of travel of the touch point; and

an electrical conductor for transmitting an electrical current to the touch point for determining when the touch point has contacted the surface of the machine;

establishing a benchmark from which a measurement may be taken;

extending the touch point from the benchmark to contact a surface of the machine;

measuring a distance the touch point moved from the benchmark to contact the surface of the machine;

determining an amount of wear of the machine using the measured distance; and

taking remedial action to prevent turbine engine damage if the determined amount of wear suggests that turbine engine damage may occur.

16. The method of determining wear in claim 15 , wherein establishing a benchmark from which a measurement may be taken comprises withdrawing the touch point into the insertion probe until a voltage applied to the touch point falls to zero.

17. The method of determining wear of claim 15 , wherein measuring a distance the touch point moved from the benchmark to contact the surface of the machine comprises advancing the touch point from the insertion probe until a voltage in the touch point falls to zero indicating that the touch point has contacted a surface of the machine.

18. The method of determining wear of claim 15 , further comprising calculating a distance between the benchmark and the surface of the machine and storing the distance in the electromechanical head assembly.