SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REPAIRING A STRUCTURAL COMPONENT

• US 20130160923A1
• Filed: 12/20/2012
• Published: 06/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: STEHMEINER, Heiner, BOCKENHEIMER, Clemens
• Granted Patent: US 9,457,553 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 156/64
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 73/10 using patches sealing on the surface of the article B29C73/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 73/24 Apparatus or accessories not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 41/00 Arrangements for controlling or monitoring lamination processes; Safety arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/40 Maintaining or repairing aircraft

Abstract

A system for repairing a structural component, in particular an aircraft structural component, includes a repair patch which is connected to the structural component in such a manner that it covers an opening in the structural component resulting from removing a damaged region of the structural component. A sensor is fastened to the repair patch in a region of the repair patch covering the opening in the structural component and is designed to detect strains and/or stresses occurring in the repair patch. An evaluating device is adapted to evaluate the strain values and/or stress values detected by the sensor and, in dependence on the result of this evaluation, output a signal which is characteristic of the quality state of the connection between the structural component and the repair patch.

Claims

1. System for repairing a structural component, in particular an aircraft structural component, having:

a repair patch which is connected to the structural component in such a manner that it covers an opening in the structural component resulting from removing a damaged region of the structural component,

a sensor which is fastened to the repair patch in a region of the repair patch covering the opening in the structural component and is designed to detect at least one of strains and stresses occurring in the repair patch, and

an evaluating device which is adapted to evaluate at least one of the strain values and the stress values detected by the sensor and, in dependence on the result of this evaluation, output a signal which is characteristic of the quality state of the connection between the structural component and the repair patch.

2. System according to claim 1,

wherein the sensor is fastened to the repair patch in the region of an inner surface of the repair patch.

3. System according to claim 1,

wherein the sensor is integrated into a measuring module, which further comprises at least one of:

a data store for storing the at least one of the strain values and the stress values detected by the sensor and

a transmitter for wireless transmission of signals.

4. System according to claim 3,

wherein the evaluating device is integrated into the measuring module and the transmitter is adapted to transmit the signal, outputted by the evaluating device and characteristic of the quality state of the connection between the structural component and the repair patch, to a receiving device.

5. System according to claim 3,

wherein the evaluating device is integrated into a receiving device and the transmitter is adapted to transmit the at least one of the strain values and the stress values, detected by the sensor, to the receiving device.

6. System according to claim 3,

wherein the evaluating device is integrated into a receiving device and the transmitter is adapted to transmit at least one of the strain values and the stress values stored in the data store, to the receiving device.

7. System according to claim 1,

wherein the system further comprises:

a bridge element which is temporarily connectable to the structural component in such a manner that it spans a section of the structural component comprising the repair patch,

a sealing system which is adapted to seal a space, defined by the bridge element and the section of the structural component spanned by the bridge element, against the outside atmosphere, and

a negative pressure-generating device which is adapted to generate, in the space sealed against the outside atmosphere by the sealing system, a pressure which is reduced relative to the ambient pressure.

8. System according to claim 7,

wherein the sealing system comprises a vacuum film covering the bridge element and connected to the structural component, and a sealing element for sealing the vacuum film against the structural component.

11. Method according to claim 8,

wherein the method further comprises at least one of:

storing the at least one of the strain values and the stress values detected by the sensor in a data store which is integrated into a measuring module also comprising the sensor, and

wirelessly transmitting signals by means of a transmitter which is integrated into a measuring module also comprising the sensor.

12. Method according to claim 11,

wherein the at least one of the strain values and the stress values detected by the sensor are evaluated by means of an evaluating device integrated into the measuring module, and the transmitter transmits the signal, outputted by the evaluating device and characteristic of the quality state of the connection between the structural component and the repair patch, to a receiving device.

13. Method according to claim 11,

wherein the at least one of the strain values and the stress values detected by the sensor are evaluated by means of an evaluating device integrated into a receiving device, and the transmitter transmits the at least one of the strain values and the stress values, detected by the sensor, to the receiving device.

14. Method according to claim 11,

wherein the at least one of the strain values and the stress values detected by the sensor are evaluated by means of an evaluating device integrated in to a receiving device, and the transmitter transmits the at least one of the strain values and the stress values stored in the data store, to the receiving device.

17. Use of at least one of a system according to claim 1 and a method for repairing a structural component, in particular an aircraft structural component, having the steps:

connecting a repair patch to the structural component in such a manner that the repair patch covers an opening in the structural component resulting from removing a damaged region of the structural component, fastening a sensor, which is adapted to detect at least one of strains and stresses occurring in the repair patch, to a region of the repair patch covering the opening in the structural component, and evaluating at least one of the strain values and the stress values detected by the sensor and outputting a signal which is characteristic of the quality state of the connection between the structural component and the repair patch, in dependence on the result of this evaluation by means of an evaluating device.

9. Method for repairing a structural component, in particular an aircraft structural component, having the steps:

connecting a repair patch to the structural component in such a manner that the repair patch covers an opening in the structural component resulting from removing a damaged region of the structural component,

fastening a sensor, which is adapted to detect at least one of strains and stresses occurring in the repair patch, to a region of the repair patch covering the opening in the structural component,

evaluating at least one of the strain values and the stress values detected by the sensor and outputting a signal which is characteristic of the quality state of the connection between the structural component and the repair patch, in dependence on the result of this evaluation by means of an evaluating device.

10. Method according to claim 9,

wherein the sensor is fastened to the repair patch in the region of an inner surface of the repair patch.

15. Method according to claim 9,

characterised by further comprising the steps:

temporarily connecting a bridge element to the structural component in such a manner that the bridge element spans a section of the structural component comprising the repair patch,

sealing a space, defined by the bridge element and the section of the structural component spanned by the bridge element, against the outside atmosphere, and

generating, in the space sealed against the outside atmosphere by the sealing system, a pressure which is reduced relative to the ambient pressure.

16. Method according to claim 15,

wherein the space defined by the bridge element and the section of the structural component spanned by the bridge element is sealed against the outside atmosphere by means of a sealing system which comprises a vacuum film covering the bridge element and connected to the structural component, and a sealing element for sealing the vacuum film against the structural component.