Method of optimizing an electrical cabling

• US 20050271350A1
• Filed: 04/04/2005
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus France
• Inventors: Boubekeur, Jean-Luc
• Granted Patent: US 7,676,771 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/147
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0207 Wire harnesses

Abstract

In this optimization procedure for the cabling, the characteristics of the cables used to connect a power source to a receiving charge are defined in function of the predetermined and environmental constraints. In the cases where a line realizing the link between the power source and the receiving charge is comprised of several distinct cables connected through cutouts, the section of cables is dimensioned for each cable in the line, independently of the other cables, and is then optimized while taking the overall constraints of the line into account.

Claims

1. Optimization procedure for cabling in which the characteristics of the cables used for connecting a power source (S) to a receiving charge (Ch) are defined in function of constraints that are predetermined and environmental,

characterized in that in the cases where a line (Li) realizing the link between the power source (S) and the receiving charge (Ch) is comprised of several distinct cables (Ci) connected through cutouts (P), the section of cables is dimensioned for each cable (Ci) in the line, independently of the other cables, and is then optimized while taking the overall constraints of the line (Li) into account.

2. Optimization procedure in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that prior to the determination of the section of cables (Ci) used, the routing of the lines (Li) and cables (Ci) is carried out which allows for the calculation of the path to be taken by the various lines and cables.

3. Optimization procedure in accordance with claim 2, characterized in that the routing of the lines and cables allows for determining at least the approximate positioning of the cutouts (P) that separate two adjacent cables (Ci).

4. Optimization procedure in accordance with one of the claims 1 through 3, characterized in that for at least one cable (Ci) of a line, several sections of usable cables are determined in function of the constraints imposed upon said cable (Ci), in that said cables (Ci) are combined according to different combinations in order to form one line, in that it can be verified for each line whether the overall constraints have been satisfied for the line, and in that the line corresponding to the overall technical constraints and having the lowest mass is selected.

5. Optimization procedure in accordance with one of the claims 1 through 4, characterized in that all of the characteristics of the different varieties of cables capable of being used for implementing the cabling under consideration are memorized in a data base (D).

6. Optimization procedure in accordance with one of the claims 1 through 5, characterized in that the optimization of the overall mass of the cables is implemented for two discrete variables, for the type and for the section of the cables.

7. Optimization procedure in accordance with one of the claims 1 through 6, characterized in that said procedure is applied for the implementation of an electrical cabling.

8. Optimization procedure in accordance with claim 7, characterized in that the predetermined constraints include a maximal intensity value defined by a cutout switch and by a maximal permissible drop in voltage.

9. Optimization procedure in accordance with one of the claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the environmental constraints include the ambient temperature.

10. Computer program stored on a data storage medium, said program comprised of instructions allowing for the implementation of an optimization procedure in accordance with any one of the claims 1 through 9 when this program is downloaded and executed by a data processing system.

11. Data processing system characterized in that it comprises the means adapted to implement a procedure in accordance with any one of the claims 1 through 9.

12. Data storage medium that is readable by a data processing system, possibly entirely or partially interchangeable, more specifically a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or a magnetic medium such as a hard disc or a floppy disc, or a transmittable medium such as an electric signal or an optical signal, characterized in that it is comprised of instructions from a computer program allowing for the implementation of a procedure in accordance with any one of the claims 1 through 9, when said program is downloaded and executed by a data processing system.