Borescope Inspection Research Articles

Specification for engine borescope inspection report

From the angle of defence engine failure on flight and engine engineering management, combining the experience of borescope inspection for many years, through examples and pictures, this paper describes the specification of borescope inspection report, and further discusses the specification and process of borescope inspection work.

Borescope inspection for HPT blade of CFM56-7B engine

CFM56-7B engine has had several ruptures of HPT blades since its service, resulting engine failure during the flight. Through borescope inspection for HPT blade can detect the damage of blade on the front and rear edge effectively, and avoid the use of damaged blades. This paper briefly summarizes the experiences of borescope inspection for HPT blade, mainly using hose to check the defect of leading edge for blade.

Deep Neural Networks Analysis of Borescope Images

This paper presents results on applying deep neural networks to analysis of images from borescope inspections of large turbofan engines, carried out in the field. Such inspections are done as a part of routine monitoring and maintenance as well as an initial, investigative response to alerts from automatic monitoring systems, pilots or engineers. Across GE’s commercial engines fleet, a substantial number of images have been gathered this way. The deep learning techniques that have come out of computer vision and machine learning research in the last decade offer new possibilities for analyzing and mining such data collections. This paper presents initial results on separating borescope images from images created with regular digital cameras, as well as classifying images containing various engine parts, with average accuracy of 95% and 77%, respectively, on unseen validation data.

Inspection of endoscope instrument channels after reprocessing using a prototype borescope

Visual inspection of the instrument channel has been proposed as a quality assurance step during endoscope reprocessing. However, the nature and severity of findings in a broad array of endoscopes (gastroscopes, colonoscopes, duodenoscopes, and echoendoscopes) after systemic implementation of an inspection protocol remain unknown. In addition, a study using borescope inspection in upper endoscopes and colonoscopes raised concerns about persistent simethicone residue despite full reprocessing. A pilot inspection study using a prototype borescope (SteriCam Inspection Scope; SteriView Inc, San Rafael, Calif) was performed on routinely used endoscopes after high-level disinfection, manual forced-air dry of the instrument channel, and overnight vertical storage. Video recordings 1.5 to 2 minutes in duration were reviewed for visible moisture, debris, discoloration, scratches, channel shredding (scratches that result in strips or filaments of the channel lining protruding into the lumen), and visible evidence of biofilm or simethicone residue. A total of 97 inspections of 59 endoscopes were reviewed. The most common finding was scratches, seen in 51 devices (86%). Channel shredding was found in 35 devices (59%). Intrachannel debris was identified in 22 (23%) of the 97 inspections. No moisture was seen (0%) in the 74 inspections performed after forced-air dry and overnight vertical storage compared with moisture in 5 of 18 inspections (28%) performed after storage alone. No visual evidence of biofilm or simethicone residue was discovered despite its frequent use in our unit. Internal defects of the instrument channel appear to occur frequently. Manual forced-air drying of the channel appears to be highly effective in eliminating moisture compared with overnight hang drying alone. Video inspection of the endoscope channel may be useful to audit reprocessing performance and to identify damaged endoscopes.

Borescope Inspection Management for Engine

In this paper, we try to explain the problems need to be improved from the two perspectives of maintenance program management and maintenance human risk control. On the basis of optimization analysis of borescope inspection maintenance scheme, the defect characteristics and expansion rules of engine heat terminal components are summarized, and some optimization measures are introduced. This paper analyses human risk problem of engine hole from the aspects of qualification management, training requirements and perfection of system, and puts forward some suggestions on management.

Bat Roosting in Bridges: Pros and Cons of Assessment Methods from a New England Regional Study

A research project was undertaken to assess bats’ use of bridges for roosting in New England. The project included rapid visual assessments of 191 bridges and more extensive evaluation of 18 of these bridges. Full evaluations included acoustic monitoring, detailed inspections, and emergence studies during early, mid-, and late summer roosting seasons in summer 2015, summer 2016, or both. During this project, 13 bridges were documented and positively identified as bat roosting sites in New England, and an additional two were highly likely (six of them were monitored in the project; 11 were identified by state departments of transportation), with possible roosting at several other sites. The project evaluated monitoring technologies including acoustic methods, infrared imaging, borescope inspection, and visual inspection. To identify bat species, both full-spectrum and zero-crossing acoustic monitoring software programs were used. These programs’ results differed significantly in species identification of identical call sequences; the range agreed with wide discrepancies between automated acoustic bat identification software program results previously reported in the literature. A new bridge inspection survey has been developed for the project to supplement FHWA-FRA survey forms. Recommendations for bridge surveys, training of inspection personnel, interpretation of data, and information to request from consultants have been developed through the project. Final project findings can be used as guidance for transportation agencies developing protocol for construction at potential roosting sites, which will be especially useful if federal listing of bat species and associated 4(d) rulings are modified in the future.

Study on Continuing Airworthiness of Reciprocating Aeroengine about Valve Sticking and Valve Breakage

Recently, a certain type of aviation reciprocating engine encountered some valve sticking and valve breakage problems in succession because of lead built-up and bad compression performance of cylinders in China, which has serious impact on the safety and continuing airworthiness of this reciprocating engine and equipped aircraft. This article has undertaken an in-depth study on this valve sticking and breakage issue, analysis has been done on Chinese aviation gasoline chemical ingredient as well as differences of avgas between China and America. Binding the characteristics of this aero-engine, compression test and borescope inspection have been done on the affected cylinders, also an in-depth microscopic analysis on the deposit which has been accumulated on the cylinder, valve, spark plug and valve guide. Finally, solutions and recommendations are proposed to ensure the continuing safe operation of the engine and aircraft based on the analysis on obtained engine operation data. The reasons of valve sticking and valve breakage because of the lead built-up issue of reciprocation engine are not only the Tetraethyl lead content in Chinese avgas, but also engine operation conditions and levels of maintenances on engine.

The reliability of detecting digital dermatitis in the milking parlour

Digital dermatitis (DD) is currently the most problematic infectious skin disease in dairy cattle associated with lameness. Reducing the disease prevalence through early detection and treatment is an essential management tool. The traditional detection method involves lifting and inspecting the feet in a cattle crush, but this is a time intensive and costly practice and impractical for regular detection of individual cases or monitoring herd prevalence. This study aimed to establish the accuracy of detecting and classifying DD lesions in traditional (pit) milking parlours compared with a borescope, and a gold standard lifted foot inspection. With the exception of one lesion, parlour screening was as accurate as the lifted foot inspection in determining the presence of 86 DD lesions on 160 hind feet (99% agreement; κ 0.99; sensitivity 1.00; specificity 0.99). Describing lesions by colour, depth or stage of lesion in the parlour or using the borescope reached substantial agreement with the gold standard. The stage of lesion was closely linked to colour and depth descriptors. There was greater agreement when categorising more advanced stages of disease progression. Borescope and parlour inspections led to both over and under recording of actual size, particularly in smaller lesions. Screening cows in traditional milking parlours for the presence of DD was found to be an accurate and practical means of detecting lesions. This method should be considered for on farm use to evaluate DD prevention and treatment strategies.

Doubt and Proof: The Need to Verify The Cleaning Process

<i>Doubt and Proof:</i> The Need to Verify The Cleaning Process

Corrosion of flexible waveguides

Waveguides are commonly used in spacecraft subsystems to convey signals. After noticing a transponder output power drop, borescope inspection of a flexible waveguide revealed a green contaminating residue on silver plated brass and copper sections. Analysis revealed that the residue, primarily copper hydroxy nitrate, Cu(OH) 2NO 3 was created by exposure of the plating to nitric acid. Possible sources of nitric acid include inadequate cleanliness after parts were exposed to a nitric acid containing silver bright dip, or high temperature electrical arcing in the presence of air and moisture. Whatever its source, it is suggested that the waveguide be plated with a more corrosion resistant metal such as rhodium.