IP Library Granted Patent US 9,042,634
Granted Patent B2
US 9,042,634 · App. 13/741,957 · Granted May 26, 2015

Method system and computer product for non-destructive object analysis

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,042,634
App. No.
13/741,957
Granted
May 26, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Aspects of the invention provide a solution for analyzing an object, such as a part of a turbo machine. A planar surface is generated using a curved reformat function based on a surface of a three-dimensional (3D) image of an object. A peel of the 3D image that is adjacent to the surface is determined. Based on the peel, a second planar surface is generated. These two, and/or other similarly generated planar surfaces can be analyzed to determine characteristics of the original object.

Claims (56)

1. A method for analyzing an object, the method comprising:

generating, using a computer device, a planar surface from a curved reformat function based on a surface of a 3D image of an object;

determining, using the computer device, a peel of the 3D image, the peel being an adjacent surface of the 3D image that is parallel to the surface of the 3D image; and

generating using the computer device, a second planar surface from a curved reformat function based on the peel; and

analyzing using the computer device, the planar surface and the second planar surface to determine a characteristic of the object.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: gathering a set of image data from the object using an imaging device.

3. The method of claim 1 , the generating further comprising:

selecting at least one first point located on a first plane within the 3D image;

defining a first spline based on the at least one first point;

selecting at least one second point located on a second plane within the 3D image;

defining a second spline based on the at least one second point; and

generating the surface based on the first and second splines.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the set of points are selected by a user via a graphical user interface (GUI).

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the spline is generated based on the at least one first point and at least one of:

an additional point, selected by a user, on the first plane on the 3D image;

an edge calculated to be nearest the at least one first point; or an edge contour containing the at least one first point.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: translating the surface of the 3D image within the 3D image.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: scaling the surface of the 3D image with respect to a normal to the surface of the 3D image.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the 3D object is a part of a turbine blade.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the characteristic includes the depth of a hole.

10. A system for analyzing an object comprising at least one computer device that performs a method, comprising:

generating a planar surface from a curved reformat function based on a surface of a 3D image of an object;

determining a peel of the 3D image, the peel being an adjacent surface of the 3D image that is parallel to the surface of the 3D image;

generating a second planar surface from a curved reformat function based on the peel; and

analyzing the planar surface and the second planar surface to determine a characteristic of the object.

11. The system of claim 10 , the method further comprising:

gathering a set of image data from the object using an imaging device.

12. The system of claim 10 , the generating further comprising:

selecting at least one first point located on a first plane within the 3D image;

defining a first spline based on the at least one first point;

selecting at least one second point located on a second plane within the 3D image;

defining a second spline based on the at least one second point; and

generating the surface based on the first and second splines.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the point is selected by a user via a graphical user interface (GUI).

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the spline is generated based on the point and at least one of:

an additional point, selected by a user, on the first plane on the 3D image;

an edge calculated to be nearest the at least one first point;

or an edge contour containing the at least one first point.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the 3D object is a turbine blade.

16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the characteristic includes the depth of a hole.

17. A program product stored on a non-transitory, computer readable storage device with instructions encoded thereon for analyzing an object, which, when executed, performs a method, comprising:

generating a planar surface from a curved reformat function based on a surface of a 3D image of an object;

determining a peel of the 3D image, the peel being an adjacent surface of the 3D image that is parallel to the surface; and

generating a second planar surface from a curved reformat function based on a remainder surface of the remainder 3D image; and

analyzing the planar surface and the second planar surface to determine a characteristic of the object.

18. The program product of claim 17 , the generating further comprising:

selecting at least one first point located on a first plane within the 3D image;

defining a first spline based on the at least one first point;

selecting at least one second point located on a second plane within the 3D image;

defining a second spline based on the at least one second point; and

generating the surface based on the first and second splines.

19. The program product of claim 18 , wherein the spline is generated based on the point and at least one of:

an additional point, selected by a user, on the first plane on the 3D image;

an edge calculated to be nearest the at least one first point;

or an edge contour containing the at least one first point.

20. The program product of claim 17 , wherein the 3D object is a part of a turbine and wherein the characteristic includes whether an over drill has occurred.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 16, 2023
From: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
To: BAKER HUGHES HOLDINGS LLC
Reel/Frame 063102/0784 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 26, 2020
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
To: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 051698/0552 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 16, 2013
From: GEORGE, SHERI; GOVINDASAMY, HARIBASKAR; KULKARNI, UTKARSH MADHAV; POKUTNEV, PAVEL; ROSENMUELLER, MARKO; SUPPES, ALEXANDER
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 029636/0249 →