Apparatus and method for pressurising an aircraft cabin structure and measuring the amount of leakage of the aircraft cabin structure

• US 8,502,700 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2007
• Issued: 08/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Uhlendorf, Thomas, Bielenberg, Michael, Geske, Matthias, Beier, Jens, Hintze, Juergen, Diesing-Jester, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNNINGS, TRAVIS R
• Application Number:
  US12/745,513
• Publication Number:
  US 20110234426A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,077 Days
• Field of Search: 340/945, 340/971, 340/963
• US Class Current: 340/945
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/60 Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/3263 using a differential pressure detector G01M3/3245, G01M3/3272 take precedence

Abstract

An apparatus for pressurizing an aircraft cabin structure and measuring the amount of leakage of the aircraft cabin structure comprises an air supply line which at a first end is connectable to a pressurized air source and which at a second end is connectable to the aircraft cabin structure so as to supply pressurized air from the pressurized air source into the aircraft cabin structure, an air supply valve disposed in the air supply fine, a pressure sensor for sensing the pressure inside the aircraft cabin structure and for providing signals indicative of the pressure inside the aircraft cabin structure, an air discharge line which at a first end is connectable to the aircraft cabin structure and which at a second end is connectable to an air discharge opening so as to discharge air from the inside of the cabin structure to the air discharge opening and an air discharge valve disposed in the air discharge line. An electronic control unit is adapted to control the air supply valve and the discharge valve in dependence on signals provided by the pressure sensor.

Claims

1. Apparatus for pressurising an aircraft cabin structure and measuring the amount of leakage of the aircraft cabin structure, which comprises:

an air supply line which at a first end is connectable to a pressurized air source and which at a second end is connectable to the aircraft cabin structure so as to supply pressurized air from the pressurized air source into the aircraft cabin structure,

an air supply valve disposed in the air supply line,

a pressure sensor for sensing the pressure inside the aircraft cabin structure and for providing signals indicative of the pressure inside the aircraft cabin structure,

an air discharge line which at a first end is connectable to the aircraft cabin structure and which at a second end is connectable to an air discharge opening so as to discharge air from the inside of the aircraft cabin structure to the air discharge opening,

an air discharge valve disposed in the air discharge line, and

an electronic control unit which is adapted to control the air supply valve and the air discharge valve in dependence on signals provided by the pressure sensor so as to supply pressurized air into the aircraft cabin structure until a first predetermined pressure level is reached inside the aircraft cabin structure, to maintain the pressure inside the aircraft cabin structure at the first predetermined level for a first predetermined period of time, and thereafter to discharge air from the inside of the aircraft cabin structure.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit further is adapted to control the air supply valve and the air discharge valve in dependence on signals provided by the pressure sensor so as to further supply pressurized air into the aircraft cabin structure after the first predetermined period of time and prior to discharging air from the inside of the aircraft cabin structure until a second predetermined pressure level is reached inside the aircraft cabin structure, to maintain the pressure inside the aircraft cabin structure at the second predetermined level for a second predetermined period of time, to further supply pressurized air into the aircraft cabin structure after the second predetermined period of time until a third predetermined pressure level is reached inside the aircraft cabin structure, and to maintain the pressure inside the aircraft cabin structure at the third predetermined level for a third predetermined period of time.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit further is adapted to control the air supply valve and the air discharge valve in dependence on signals provided by the pressure sensor so as to discharge air from the inside of the aircraft cabin structure until a fourth predetermined pressure level is reached, and to maintain the air supply valve and the air discharge valve in their closed states until a fifth predetermined pressure level is reached.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the electronic control unit further is adapted to calculate a leakage value of the aircraft cabin structure in dependence on the decrease of the pressure inside the aircraft cabin structure from the fourth to the fifth predetermined level.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a warning signal output device which is adapted to output a visible and/or an acoustic warning signal upon receiving a respective warning signal output command from the electronic control unit.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a ball valve disposed in the air supply line downstream of the air supply valve.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the air supply line and/or the air supply valve and/or the pressure sensor and/or the air discharge valve and/or the ball valve are mounted on a mobile carriage.

8. Apparatus for pressurising an aircraft cabin structure and measuring the amount of leakage of the aircraft cabin structure which comprises:

an air supply line which at a first end is connectable to a pressurized air source and which at a second end is connectable to the aircraft cabin structure so as to supply pressurized air from the pressurized air source into the aircraft cabin structure,

an air supply valve disposed in the air supply line,

a pressure sensor for sensing the pressure inside the aircraft cabin structure and for providing signals indicative of the pressure inside the aircraft cabin structure,

an air discharge line which at a first end is connectable to the aircraft cabin structure and which at a second end is connectable to an air discharge opening so as to discharge air from the inside of the aircraft cabin structure to the air discharge opening,

an air discharge valve disposed in the air discharge line,

at least one pressure schedule, and

an electronic control unit which is adapted to control the air supply valve and the air discharge valve in dependence on signals provided by the pressure sensor and in dependence on a set-value from the pressure schedule so as to supply pressurized air into the aircraft cabin structure or to discharge air from the aircraft cabin structure so as to control the pressure inside the aircraft cabin structure according to the pressure schedule.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of pressure schedules is provided for different aircraft types and different test scopes.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the electronic control unit further is adapted to select, control and/or adapt a pressure schedule.

11. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the electronic control unit further is adapted to provide a protocol of a measuring procedure which contains a value representing the cabin leakage.

12. Method for pressurising an aircraft cabin structure and measuring the amount of leakage of the aircraft cabin structure, which comprises the steps of:

supplying pressurized air from a pressurized air source into the aircraft cabin structure via an air supply line,

sensing the pressure inside the aircraft cabin structure and providing signals indicative of the pressure inside the aircraft cabin structure by means of a pressure sensor,

discharging air from the inside of the aircraft cabin structure to an air discharge opening via an air discharge line,

controlling an air supply valve disposed in the air supply line and an air discharge valve disposed in the air discharge line by means of an electronic control unit in dependence on signals provided by the pressure sensor so as to supply pressurized air into the aircraft cabin structure until a first predetermined pressure level is reached inside the aircraft cabin structure, to maintain the pressure inside the aircraft cabin structure at the first predetermined level for a first predetermined period of time, and thereafter to discharge air from the inside of the aircraft cabin structure.

13. Method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of controlling the air supply valve and the air discharge valve by means of the electronic control unit in dependence on signals provided by the pressure sensor so as to further supply pressurized air into the aircraft cabin structure after the first predetermined period of time and prior to discharging air from the inside of the aircraft cabin structure until a second predetermined pressure level is reached inside the aircraft cabin structure, to maintain the pressure inside the aircraft cabin structure at the second predetermined level for a second predetermined period of time, to further supply pressurized air into the aircraft cabin structure after the second predetermined period of time until a third predetermined pressure level is reached inside the aircraft cabin structure, and to maintain the pressure inside the aircraft cabin structure at the third predetermined level for a third predetermined period of time.

14. Method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of controlling the air supply valve and the air discharge valve by means of the electronic control unit in dependence on signals provided by the pressure sensor so as to discharge air from the inside of the aircraft cabin structure until a fourth predetermined pressure level is reached, and to maintain the air supply valve and the air discharge valve in their closed states until a fifth predetermined pressure level is reached.

15. Method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of calculating a leakage value of the aircraft cabin structure in dependence on the decrease of the pressure inside the aircraft cabin structure from the fourth to the fifth predetermined level by means of the electronic control unit.

16. Method for pressurising an aircraft cabin structure and measuring the amount of leakage of the aircraft cabin structure, which comprises the steps of:

supplying pressurized air from a pressurized air source into the aircraft cabin structure via an air supply line,

sensing the pressure inside the aircraft cabin structure and providing signals indicative of the pressure inside the aircraft cabin structure by means of a pressure sensor,

discharging air from the inside of the aircraft cabin structure to an air discharge opening via an air discharge line,

providing a pressure schedule, and

controlling an air supply valve disposed in the air supply line and an air discharge valve disposed in the air discharge line by means of an electronic control unit in dependence on signals provided by the pressure sensor and in dependence on a set-value from the pressure schedule so as to supply pressurized air into the aircraft cabin structure or to discharge air from the aircraft cabin structure so as to control the pressure inside the aircraft cabin structure according to the pressure schedule.

17. Method according to claim 16, wherein a plurality of pressure schedules is provided for different aircraft types and different test scopes.

18. Method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of selecting, controlling and/or adapting a pressure schedule by means of the electronic control unit.

19. Method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of providing a protocol of a measuring procedure which contains a value representing the cabin leakage by means of the electronic control unit.