METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AIRCRAFT INSPECTION

• US 20160325854A1
• Filed: 05/06/2016
• Published: 11/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: ORCHARD, Matthew Noel, DEE, Jonathan
• Granted Patent: US 9,964,959 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 37/005 Accessories not provided for in the groups B64D37/02 - B64D37/28
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/60 Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/048 specially adapted for water vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/102 specially adapted for vertical take-off of aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for inspecting an aircraft fuel tank. The invention also relates to an aircraft fuel tank including an inspection apparatus. The invention provides an aircraft fuel tank, the aircraft fuel tank containing a robotic device. The robotic device is arranged to be movable within the aircraft fuel tank. The robotic device further comprises a sensor for inspecting the aircraft fuel tank.

Claims

1. An aircraft fuel tank, the aircraft fuel tank containing a robotic device, the robotic device arranged to be movable within the aircraft fuel tank, the robotic device further comprising a sensor for inspecting the aircraft fuel tank.

2. An aircraft fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein the robotic device is permanently contained within the aircraft fuel tank.

3. An aircraft fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein the robotic device comprises a propulsion device arranged to move the robotic device around the aircraft fuel tank.

4. An aircraft fuel tank according to claim 1, further comprising a docking station for the robotic device.

5. An aircraft fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein the robotic device is configured for free and unencumbered movement around the aircraft fuel tank.

6. An aircraft fuel tank according to claim 1 further comprising a charging station for the robotic device.

7. An aircraft fuel tank according to claim 6, wherein the charging station is arranged to charge the robotic device by inductive charging.

8. An aircraft fuel tank according to claim 6, further comprising a docking station for the robotic device, and wherein the charging station being associated with or being part of the docking station.

9. An aircraft fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is arranged for non-destructive testing of the aircraft fuel tank.

10. An aircraft fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is an ultrasound sensor.

11. An aircraft fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is an eddy current sensor.

12. An aircraft fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is an optical or infra-red camera.

13. An aircraft fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein the robotic device comprises a location system.

14. An aircraft fuel tank according to claim 1 further comprising a wireless communication device.

15. An aircraft fuel tank according to claim 1, further comprising a wired communication device through which the inspection results may be transmitted.

21. An aircraft, the aircraft comprising an aircraft fuel tank according to claim 1.

24. An aircraft fuel tank according to claim 7, further comprising a docking station for the robotic device, and wherein the charging station being associated with or being part of the docking station.

16. A method of inspecting an aircraft fuel tank for structural defects, the method comprising the steps of:

activating a robotic device within the aircraft fuel tank, the robotic device including a sensor for the non-destructive testing of the aircraft fuel tank,

the robotic device moving around the aircraft fuel tank, and

during the movement of the robotic device around the aircraft fuel tank, collecting inspection data from the sensor of the robotic device.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the robotic device comprises a drive and power unit for moving the robotic device around the aircraft fuel tank.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the drive and power unit is located fully within the aircraft fuel tank, thus requiring no external drive and power unit to facilitate movement of the robotic device.

19. A method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of securing the robotic device to a docking station once the inspection is complete.

20. A method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of charging the robotic device via an inductive charging system.

22. A method of inspecting an aircraft using a robotic device, comprising the steps of:

activating the robotic device, the robotic device comprising a sensor configured to obtain inspection data relating to the aircraft,

the robotic device moving around the aircraft, and

during movement of the robotic device around the aircraft, collecting inspection data from the sensor of the robotic device.

23. An aircraft inspection apparatus comprising:

a robotic device, the robotic device comprising a drive and power unit for facilitating the movement of the robotic device relative to an aircraft under inspection, and a sensor unit, the sensor unit arranged to inspect an aircraft under inspection for structural defects.