Method for manufacturing a thermoacoustic insulation module for an aircraft comprising a bending step

• US 10,640,195 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2017
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Guering, Bernard, De Kergommeaux, Matthieu
• Primary Examiner(s): Cozart, Jermie E
• Application Number:
  US15/847,078
• Publication Number:
  US 20180194452A1
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 2700/01 Aircraft parts
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/066 Interior liners
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/068 Fuselage sections
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/40 Sound or heat insulation , e.g. using insulation blankets
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/403 Arrangement of fasteners specially adapted therefor, e.g. of clips
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/406 in combination with supports for lines, e.g. for pipes or cables
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2011/0046 Modular or preassembled units for creating cabin interior structures
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/10 Manufacturing or assembling aircraft, e.g. jigs therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction

Abstract

In order to facilitate the thermoacoustic insulation of an aircraft portion, a method for manufacturing a thermoacoustic insulation module for an aircraft comprises a step of providing a mat configured to provide thermoacoustic insulation of an aircraft portion, followed by a step of attaching a bendable structure to the mat, followed by a step of bending the bendable structure, along a bending axis parallel to a longitudinal direction of the mat, such that the bendable structure forms a load-bearing structure supporting the mat in a curved shape.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a thermoacoustic insulation module for an aircraft, comprising:

providing a mat configured to provide thermoacoustic insulation of an aircraft portion;

followed by

attaching a bendable structure to the mat;

followed by

bending the bendable structure, along a bending axis parallel to a longitudinal direction of the mat, such that the bendable structure forms a load-bearing structure supporting the mat in a curved shape, the load-bearing structure and the mat together forming said thermoacoustic insulation module.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of providing the mat comprises:

providing a raw mat;

followed by

producing the mat from the raw mat, comprising the production of at least one of

a plurality of porthole openings or

at least one aircraft cabin door opening in the raw mat.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of providing the raw mat comprises a step of producing the raw mat comprising:

depositing a first layer of thermoacoustic insulation on an outer film;

followed by

depositing a second layer of thermoacoustic insulation on one or more first areas of the first layer of thermoacoustic insulation, leaving one or more second areas of the first layer of thermoacoustic insulation not covered by the second layer of thermoacoustic insulation;

followed by

depositing an inner film on the second layer of thermoacoustic insulation and on the second areas of the first layer of thermoacoustic insulation.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the bendable structure comprises bendable battens, the step of attaching the bendable structure to the mat comprising a step of attaching the bendable battens to the mat such that the bendable battens are arranged in a transverse direction of the mat orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, and spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the step of attaching the bendable structure to the mat comprises a step of attaching reversible attachment devices to the mat, followed by the step of attaching the bendable battens to the mat, using the reversible attachment devices.

6. The method according to claim 4, further comprising a step of attaching feet respectively to two opposing ends of each of the bendable battens, the feet being provided with at least one of wheels or lifting actuators.

7. The method according to claim 4, comprising, between the step of attaching the bendable battens to the mat and the step of bending the bendable structure, a step of compacting the mat that comprises:

raising the segments of the mat, each situated between two corresponding consecutive bendable battens, such as to give the mat an undulated shape in the longitudinal direction; and

bringing the segments closer together, and moving the bendable battens closer together, by compressing the segments, such as to reduce the space requirement of the mat in the longitudinal direction.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising a step of connecting the bendable battens to at least one synchronization device, connecting the bendable battens to each other in such a way as to synchronize the movements of the bendable battens relative to each other in the longitudinal direction.

9. The method according to claim 7, further comprising a step of installing a longitudinal retaining device configured to prevent the bendable battens from moving apart from each other in the longitudinal direction.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of installing a transverse retaining device configured to hold the load-bearing structure in its bent shape.