Diagnostic tool for repairing aircraft and method of using such a tool

• US 20070010923A1
• Filed: 07/05/2006
• Published: 01/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus France
• Inventors: Rouyre, Francois
• Granted Patent: US 8,401,729 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/60 Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0267 Fault communication, e.g. human machine interface [HMI]

Abstract

A device according to the present invention comprises:

a central unit (8) having access to a database (18) in which there are stored not only information on the aircraft fleet to be managed but also an aircraft repair manual, this central unit (8) having means of communicating with the outside, and in particular with a technical center (16) of at least one aircraft manufacturer,

• • at least one portable device equipped with visual display means as well as with means of wireless communication between the said portable device and the central unit (8). Application to the analysis of damage observed in an aircraft during inspection thereof.

Claims

1. A diagnostic device for aircraft (2), characterized in that it comprises:

a central unit (8) having access to a database (18) in which there are stored not only information on the aircraft fleet to be managed but also an aircraft repair manual, this central unit (8) having means of communicating with the outside, and in particular with a technical center (16) of at least one aircraft manufacturer,

at least one portable device (42) equipped with visual display means (22) as well as with means of wireless communication between the said portable device (42) and the central unit (8).

2. A diagnostic device for aircraft according to claim 1, characterized in that the portable device (42) is provided with means of access to an aircraft model in digital form, and in that the visual display means (22) of the portable device are interactive.

3. A diagnostic device for aircraft according to claim 1, characterized in that the central unit (8) is in communication with the outside via a connection to the Internet network (14).

4. A diagnostic device for aircraft according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one portable device (42) is a graphic tablet.

5. A diagnostic device for aircraft according to claim 1, characterized in that the means of wireless communication between the portable device (42) and the central unit (8) use WiFi technology.

6. A diagnostic device for aircraft according to claim 1, characterized in that each portable device (42) is also provided with means of access to a repair manual.

7. A diagnostic method for aircraft, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

discovery of damage by an operator (4) inspecting the aircraft (2),

locating the damage on a digital model representing the aircraft, by means of a portable device (42) equipped both with means for accessing the digital model and with visual display means (22),

acquiring the characteristics of the discovered damage,

communicating the characteristics and the location of the damage to a central unit (8),

remote analysis, by means of a repair manual accessible from the central unit (8), of damage discovered by the operator (4) inspecting the aircraft (2).

8. A diagnostic method for aircraft according to claim 7, characterized in that the portable device (42) of the operator (4) also contains a repair manual in memory, and in that an analysis of the discovered damage is also made by the operator (4) inspecting the aircraft (2).

9. A diagnostic method for aircraft according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the characteristics and location of the damage are also communicated to a technical center (16) of the aircraft manufacturer.

10. A diagnostic method for aircraft according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that, after the discovered damage has been repaired, information concerning the repairs effected is communicated to the aircraft manufacturer.

11. A diagnostic method for aircraft according to claim 10, characterized in that the digital model used during the inspection of an aircraft (2) is specific to each aircraft, and in that the aircraft manufacturer, after having received the information concerning the repairs effected on an aircraft, modifies the digital model of the corresponding aircraft in such a way that the new digital model integrates the repairs effected.

12. A diagnostic method for aircraft according to claim 11, characterized in that an update of the digital model is delivered to the operator of the aircraft in question.

13. A diagnostic method for aircraft according to claim 10, characterized in that the repair manual is supplemented when the repaired damage or similar damage did not yet appear in the repair manual.

14. A diagnostic method for aircraft according to claim 10, characterized in that the manufacturer manages an evolving database (18) in which digital models are recorded for a set of given aircraft and updated regularly as a function of the repairs made.

15. A diagnostic method for aircraft according to claim 14, characterized in that the evolving database (18) also integrates the repair manual.

16. A diagnostic method for aircraft according to claim 7, characterized in that the portable device (42) integrates in its memory not only a digital model but also a repair manual as well as report sheets of observed damage, and in that software means make it possible to create associations among the digital model, the repair manual and the report sheets stored in memory.

17. A method for repairing an aircraft, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

discovery of damage by an operator (4) inspecting the aircraft (2),

locating the damage on a digital model representing the aircraft, by means of a portable device (42) equipped both with means for accessing the digital model and with visual display means (22),

acquiring the characteristics of the discovered damage,

communicating the characteristics and the location of the damage to a central unit (8),

remote analysis, by means of a repair manual accessible from the central unit (8), of damage discovered by the operator (4) inspecting the aircraft (2),

repairing the discovered damage in the aircraft (2).

18. A method for repairing an aircraft according to claim 17, characterized in that the portable device (42) of the operator (4) also contains a repair manual in memory, and in that an analysis of the discovered damage is also made by the operator (4) inspecting the aircraft (2).

19. A method for repairing an aircraft according to claim 17, characterized in that the characteristics and location of the damage are also communicated to a technical center (16) of the aircraft manufacturer.

20. A method for repairing an aircraft according to claim 17, characterized in that, after the discovered damage has been repaired, information concerning the repairs effected is communicated to the aircraft manufacturer.

21. A method for repairing an aircraft according to claim 20, characterized in that the digital model used during the inspection of an aircraft (2) is specific to each aircraft, and in that the aircraft manufacturer, after having received the information concerning the repairs effected on an aircraft, modifies the digital model of the corresponding aircraft in such a way that the new digital model integrates the repairs effected.

22. A method for repairing an aircraft according to claim 21, characterized in that an update of the digital model is delivered to the operator of the aircraft in question.

23. A method for repairing an aircraft according to claim 20, characterized in that the repair manual is supplemented when the repaired damage or similar damage did not yet appear in the repair manual.

24. A method for repairing an aircraft according to claim 20, characterized in that the manufacturer manages an evolving database (18) in which digital models are recorded for a set of given aircraft and updated regularly as a function of the repairs made.

25. A method for repairing an aircraft according to claim 24, characterized in that the evolving database (18) also integrates the repair manual.

26. A method for repairing an aircraft according to claim 17, characterized in that the portable device (42) integrates in its memory not only a digital model but also a repair manual as well as report sheets of observed damage, and in that software means make it possible to create associations among the digital model, the repair manual and the report sheets stored in memory.