309results about "Aircraft cleaning" patented technology

A system for on-wing engine washing and water reclamation is provided. The system has at least one spray device for introducing a cleaning liquid containing at least water into the engine while the engine is being operated, and an effluent trough for collecting the cleaning liquid from an exit end or underneath side of the engine. In a preferred embodiment, a source of the cleaning liquid and the effluent trough are located on a mobile unit. Further, a treatment system for treating the collected cleaning liquid is also located on a mobile unit.

A traction unit capable of traversing and turning on surfaces that include compound curves like the surface of a sphere or are inverted like a ceiling. The traction unit includes a plurality of trucks operable to propel the unit across a surface and a plurality of adherence members operable to releasably secure the unit to the surface. In operation, the adherence members cyclically attach to and release from the surface as the trucks propel the unit across the surface. Within each cycle, after the unit has traveled a predetermined distance relative to an attached member, the member releases the surface and reattaches to the surface at a different point.

A system for dispensing, collecting, and processing wash fluid includes a first movable support frame including a first tank that stores clean wash fluid, a first pump that pressurizes the clean wash fluid and delivers the pressurized wash fluid to a dispenser, a second tank that stores used wash fluid, and at least one of a separator unit and a reverse osmosis unit that process used wash fluid delivered from the second tank. A second movable support frame includes a used washed fluid collection area and a second pump at one end that transfers the collected wash fluid back to the second tank of the first movable support frame through a conduit. The second movable support frame also includes an inclination adjustment mechanism that adjusts the inclination of the second movable support frame so that the collected fluid is supplied to the second pump. A method for dispensing, collecting, and processing wash fluid dispensing wash fluid from a first movable support frame, collecting used wash fluid in a collection area of a second movable support frame, adjusting an inclination of the second movable support frame, transferring the used wash fluid from the second movable support frame to the first movable support frame, and processing the used wash fluid into clean wash fluid.

An automated inspection system and method enables rapid, remote and non-contact inspection of large objects, utilizing non-destructive inspection techniques, that does not require continuous manual repositioning of the inspection equipment. The inspection system includes a remote controlled robotic vehicle including a sensor package capable of non-destructive inspection of a structure and a mechanism for locating the sensor package at a plurality of inspection sights on the structure; a positioning system for determining the location of the robotic vehicle with respect to the structure to be inspected; a control system for controlling the movement of the robotic vehicle around the structure to be inspected; and an analysis systems for analyzing data generated by the sensor platform.

A method and apparatus for disinfecting a lavatory inside a vehicle in response to a set of criteria being met. A determination is made as to whether a set of criteria for activation of a disinfection system that emits far-ultraviolet radiation to perform a disinfection process inside a lavatory has been met. In response to a determination that the set of criteria has been met, the disinfection system is activated to perform the disinfection process inside the lavatory using the far-ultraviolet radiation.

Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for disinfection of aircraft galleys and lavatories and other surfaces. The embodiments may use UV light sources and / or a disinfection unit powered by a fuel cell or other external power source.

A low-profile, automated guided vehicle (AGV) performs surface treatments over large areas of a structure having limited access, such as an aircraft underbelly. The AGV includes a movable gantry provided with automated robot. The robot has interchangeable end effectors for carrying out the surface treatments. Travel of the AGV relative to structure is controlled by a ground guidance system.

A method of sanitizing a passenger cabin includes excluding people from the passenger cabin and substantially sealing the passenger cabin such that air inside the passenger cabin is prevented from exiting the passenger cabin. An ozone enriched atmosphere is created inside the passenger cabin by generating ozone and directing the ozone into the passenger cabin to increase an ozone concentration of the atmosphere inside the passenger cabin to at least a minimum concentration. The ozone enriched atmosphere is circulated through the passenger cabin and air circulation system thereof for a sanitation period calculated to be sufficient for sanitation. The ozone concentration of the atmosphere inside the passenger cabin is then reduced to a level safe for human occupation.

A modular apparatus for supporting and guiding a tool such as an ultra-high pressure water jet along a work surface, including a contour following assembly attached to a motorized lift vehicle. The contour following assembly includes a gimbals assembly with an instrument or tool carriage assembly, a positioning assembly that urges the gimbals assembly and the instrument carriage against the surface, and, optionally, a hydraulic, mechanical, or pneumatic pressure system that applies pressure to the positioning assembly. A scissors lift, hydraulic lift, telescoping arm, or other suitable device raises and lowers the apparatus. In operation, the gimbals assembly and the positioning assembly cooperate to maintain the instrument carriage in a user-selected position with respect to a work surface such as a ship hull, aircraft fuselage, storage tank, or the like. Depending on the type of tool selected, the apparatus may be used for cleaning or stripping surface coatings, buffing, painting, washing, and so forth. The apparatus is mobile, compact, cost-effective, and can be operated by a single operator.

A cabin disinfection system for an aircraft, including: a sensing means (3, 11, 13) to sense the presence of personnel in one or more zones (16-19, 23-26, 28, 29, 30, 32), a predictive sensing means (3, 11, 13, 33) to sense the direction of motion of a person (31) and to predict whether that person will occupy a zone to be disinfected (18) during planned disinfection, one or more UVC radiation sources (4, 9) to disinfect the cabin, and a controller (33) to control operation of the UVC radiation sources (4, 9) dependent on sensing of personnel in that zone and the predictive sensing means (3, 11, 13, 33) predicting that a person (31) will occupy the zone (18) during the planned disinfection period.

A purging system for a laminar flow control system comprises an air scoop and a diffuser fluidly connected thereto. The air scoop is disposable into an external flow of an external atmosphere. The diffuser is configured to fluidly connect the air scoop to a suction cavity of the laminar flow control system wherein the suction cavity may be disposed adjacent a porous skin of an airfoil such as adjacent a leading edge of the airfoil. The laminar flow control system may be configured to suction boundary layer flow passing over the porous skin by drawing a portion of the boundary layer flow through a plurality of pores formed in the porous skin. The diffuser ducts high pressure flow captured by the air scoop to the suction cavity for discharge through the pores to reduce the potential of blockage thereof.

An apparatus for cleaning a jet engine includes a supply device configured to make cleaning medium available, a nozzle device configured to introduce the cleaning medium into the jet engine, and a line connection between the supply device and the nozzle device. The cleaning medium can be solid carbon dioxide. A system including a jet engine and the apparatus. A method for cleaning a jet engine using solid carbon dioxide.

A vehicle includes an internal cabin, and an autonomous cleaning system located within an interior chamber of the internal cabin. The autonomous cleaning system includes a cleaning robot configured to clean a portion of the interior chamber.

The present invention relates to apparatus and methods of removing media. In particular, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods of removing media from a tooling for a fuselage. In one implementation, the media removal apparatus uses an auger to dislodge the media, and a vacuum to remove the media. In another implementation the media removal apparatus uses an air pressure line to dislodge the media and a vacuum to remove the media.

A method and apparatus for spraying a liquid onto a surface. An apparatus comprises a nozzle and a number of disks. The nozzle is configured to generate a spray of a liquid towards a surface. The number of disks is positioned relative to the nozzle and configured to form a gap through which a portion of the spray of the liquid passes towards the surface.

Spray array apparatus which includes a plurality of water and air carrying spoke members extending radially from a central fluid distribution assembly. The spoke members are connected to a plurality of water and air carrying strut members. The spoke members are divided into segments and the segments and strut members are detachably joined together by means of manifold joints which have water and air passageways allowing fluid communication between spoke segments and strut members. The apparatus is towed at the end of a boom of a tanker aircraft and is connected to the boom by means of a gimbal allowing two degrees of freedom to reduce bending moments and connection stresses. Selected fluid parameters are transmitted to the tanker aircraft to adjust fluid flow, if necessary.

A leading edge component (30) for an aircraft. The component includes at least one supporting rib (40); a skin of the leading edge; and an ice-protection system comprising a thermoelectric heater mat (10) located between the rib and the skin, the heater mat comprising an electrically resistive heater element (12, 22) embedded in a thermoplastic layer (16, 26, 28), wherein the rib is bonded to the skin by the thermoplastic of the heater mat. A method making a leading edge component for an aircraft. The method includes: providing at least one rib, a skin of the leading edge, and an ice-protection system comprising a thermoelectric heater mat having an electrically resistive heater element embedded in a thermoplastic layer; locating the heater mat between the rib and the skin; and bonding the rib to the skin using the thermoplastic of the heater mat.

A self-cleaning floor assembly is configured to form or be positioned on a floor of an enclosed space. The self-cleaning floor assembly includes a moveable floor including a moveable floor panel, an actuation system that is operatively coupled to the floor panel, and a cleaning system proximate to at least a portion of the moveable floor. The actuation system is configured to move at least a portion of the floor panel into and through the cleaning system during a cleaning cycle. The cleaning system is configured to clean the portion(s) of the floor panel during the cleaning cycle.

The invention relates to an aircraft coating application system and method. The coating application system may include a pair of towers movable along a respective pair of floor tracks. A crossbeam may extend between the pair of towers. The cross beam may have opposing beam ends. A universal joint may couple each beam end to a tower to allow the crossbeam to rotate about a vertical axis and about a horizontal axis. A robotic device may be mounted to the crossbeam. The robotic device may include an end effector for performing one or more operations on an aircraft exterior surface.

An automated finishing system comprises a lift system and a number of robots. The lift system is capable of positioning a wing in a substantially horizontal position. The number of robots is capable of applying a number of finishing compounds to at least one of an interior of the wing and an exterior of the wing, while the wing remains in the substantially horizontal position.

A method and apparatus for spraying a liquid onto a surface. An apparatus comprises a nozzle and a number of disks. The nozzle is configured to generate a spray of a liquid towards a surface. The number of disks is positioned relative to the nozzle and configured to form a gap through which a portion of the spray of the liquid passes towards the surface.

An automated finishing system comprises a lift system and a number of robots. The lift system is capable of positioning a wing in a substantially horizontal position. The number of robots is capable of applying a number of finishing compounds to at least one of an interior of the wing and an exterior of the wing, while the wing remains in the substantially horizontal position.

One example aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a method for enhancing a maintenance operation routine. The method includes receiving, at one or more processors, engine history data. The method includes comparing, at the one or more processors, the received engine history data to expected engine history data. The method includes determining, at the one or more processors, an expected effectiveness of a plurality of maintenance operation types based on the comparison. The method includes selecting, at the one or more processors, one of the plurality of maintenance operation types based on the determinations. The method includes transmitting, at the one or more processors, a signal indicative of a notification of the selected maintenance operation type.

Methods and systems for in situ cleaning of internal cooling circuits of a turbine engine with detergent that provide cleaning a turbine engine that includes circumferentially arranged internal impingement cooling circuits that each include a baffle plate configured to air cool a respective surface or component of the turbine engine. Detergent is introduced through the outer wall and proximate to a back side of a baffle plate such that the detergent passes through at least aperture in the baffle plate and acts at least upon the surface or component that the baffle plate is configured to cool. The detergent may also act on the front side of the baffle plate that is proximate to the surface or component.

The invention relates to an unmanned aerial vehicle camera shooting aerial photography suspension holder. The device comprises a installation block, a direction adjusting mechanism is mounted at the lower end of the installation block, a protective support is mounted at the lower end of the direction adjusting mechanism, a telescopic electric push rod is mounted on the inner wall of the protectivesupport, a spherical camera is mounted at the lower end of the telescopic electric push rod, and a cleaning protective mechanism is arranged on the outer wall of the protective support. According tothe invention, the following problems of an existing unmanned aerial vehicle in a shooting use process can be solved; when the unmanned aerial vehicle carries out photographing operation outdoors, thesurface of a camera is easily covered with dust; especially in rainy and snowy weather with severe environment, the environment is protected; b, water mist or covered snowflakes on the surface of thecamera cannot be treated in time, the unmanned aerial vehicle is prone to falling off due to accidents when shooting and framing are conducted outside under the condition of severe weather, the camera installed on the unmanned aerial vehicle is prone to being damaged, and the camera cannot be used.

A method of detecting a non-fixed object in a system (12) includes applying a light emitting or generating substance to multiple objects. The objects are illuminated with an object illuminator (13). At least one of the objects (10) is determined to be a nonmember within a known pattern of objects and is identified to be a non-fixed object in response to illumination of the objects.