A blade damage evaluation apparatus includes: a registration unit for design information of a turbine and maintenance information; an acquisition processor for detection data of sensors; a first discrimination processor for first facility states of the turbine at a plurality of past time points; a classification processor for classes C.sub.n of a plurality of first facility states; a first determination processor for first operating state values of the turbine; another registration unit for first damage rates at past time points; a setting processor of a characteristic function for each of the classes C.sub.n; a second discrimination processor for a second facility state of the turbine at the current time point; a second determination processor for a second operating state value of the turbine at the current time point; and an analyzer for a second damage rate at the current time point.

A blade damage evaluation apparatus includes: a registration unit for design information of a turbine and maintenance information; an acquisition processor for detection data of sensors; a first discrimination processor for first facility states of the turbine at a plurality of past time points; a classification processor for classes C.sub.n of a plurality of first facility states; a first determination processor for first operating state values of the turbine; another registration unit for first damage rates at past time points; a setting processor of a characteristic function for each of the classes C.sub.n; a second discrimination processor for a second facility state of the turbine at the current time point; a second determination processor for a second operating state value of the turbine at the current time point; and an analyzer for a second damage rate at the current time point.

System for selectively contacting a cleaning composition with a surface of a turbine engine component is presented. The system includes a cleaning apparatus and a manifold assembly. The cleaning apparatus includes an upper portion and a lower portion defining a cleaning chamber configured to allow selective contact between the cleaning composition and a surface of the first portion of the turbine engine component. The upper portion includes a plurality of fill holes in fluid communication with the cleaning chamber, and the lower portion includes a plurality of drain holes in fluid communication with the cleaning chamber. The manifold assembly is configured to selectively circulate the cleaning composition from a reservoir to the cleaning chamber via the plurality of fill holes, and recirculate the cleaning composition from the cleaning chamber to the reservoir via the plurality of drain holes. Methods for selectively cleaning a turbine engine component is also presented.

System for selectively contacting a cleaning composition with a surface of a turbine engine component is presented. The system includes a cleaning apparatus and a manifold assembly. The cleaning apparatus includes an upper portion and a lower portion defining a cleaning chamber configured to allow selective contact between the cleaning composition and a surface of the first portion of the turbine engine component. The upper portion includes a plurality of fill holes in fluid communication with the cleaning chamber, and the lower portion includes a plurality of drain holes in fluid communication with the cleaning chamber. The manifold assembly is configured to selectively circulate the cleaning composition from a reservoir to the cleaning chamber via the plurality of fill holes, and recirculate the cleaning composition from the cleaning chamber to the reservoir via the plurality of drain holes. Methods for selectively cleaning a turbine engine component is also presented.

The invention relates to a wheel of a turbine engine comprising a plurality of radially extending vanes, one radially internal or external end of which is connected to an annular platform carrying annular lips (42, 44) extending from said platform in a direction opposite the vane in order to sealingly cooperate with a radially facing abradable material (28). According to the invention, the wheel comprises at least one lip (42, 44) having a concave curved upstream face and a convex curved downstream face or having a convex curved upstream face and a concave curved downstream face.

The invention relates to a wheel of a turbine engine comprising a plurality of radially extending vanes, one radially internal or external end of which is connected to an annular platform carrying annular lips (42, 44) extending from said platform in a direction opposite the vane in order to sealingly cooperate with a radially facing abradable material (28). According to the invention, the wheel comprises at least one lip (42, 44) having a concave curved upstream face and a convex curved downstream face or having a convex curved upstream face and a concave curved downstream face.

According to an aspect, a bowed rotor sensor system for a gas turbine engine is provided. The bowed rotor sensor system includes a bowed rotor sensor operable to transmit a sensing field in an observation region and receive a signal indicative of a gap between an air seal and a blade tip within the gas turbine engine. The bowed rotor sensor system also includes a controller operable to monitor a plurality of gap data from the bowed rotor sensor indicative of the gap between the air seal and the blade tip of a plurality of blades passing through the observation region and determine a bowed rotor status of the gas turbine engine based on the gap data.

According to an aspect, a bowed rotor sensor system for a gas turbine engine is provided. The bowed rotor sensor system includes a bowed rotor sensor operable to transmit a sensing field in an observation region and receive a signal indicative of a gap between an air seal and a blade tip within the gas turbine engine. The bowed rotor sensor system also includes a controller operable to monitor a plurality of gap data from the bowed rotor sensor indicative of the gap between the air seal and the blade tip of a plurality of blades passing through the observation region and determine a bowed rotor status of the gas turbine engine based on the gap data.

A method for inspecting an object includes receiving or determining inspection image data, the inspection image data including an inspection image pixel array with at least one inspection image pixel in the inspection image pixel array having a pixel property associated therewith. The method includes receiving via a processor a user input associated with a continuous segment of inspection image pixels in the inspection image pixel array. The method includes determining a property of the object based on the pixel properties associated with the continuous segment of inspection image pixels in the inspection image pixel array.

A surgical retractor for illuminating a surgical field includes an ergonomic handle, a retractor blade coupled with the handle, a quick release mechanism, and an illuminator blade. The retractor blade is adapted to engage and retract tissue, and the quick release mechanism is adapted to couple the handle with the retractor blade. The illuminator blade acts as a waveguide to transmit light by total internal reflection. Light is extracted from the illuminator to illuminate the surgical field. The retractor blade is releasable from the handle without requiring uncoupling of the illuminator blade from the handle and also without requiring optical uncoupling of the illuminator blade from a light source. The retractor may also be adapted to evacuate smoke from the surgical field.