Airline maintenance device for aero-engine

Abstract

An aero-engine route maintenance device is used for assisting route maintenance. The aero-engine route maintenance device comprises a mechanical arm and an unmanned aerial vehicle. The mechanical arm comprises an operating mechanism, a rotating mechanism and a telescopic mechanism, the operating mechanism is used for operating the aero-engine, the rotating mechanism is used for driving the operating mechanism to rotate, and the telescopic mechanism is used for driving the operating mechanism to stretch forwards and retract backwards; the unmanned aerial vehicle is connected with the mechanical arm and used for driving the mechanical arm to hover at the maintenance position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of aero-engine maintenance, and particularly to an in-flight maintenance device for aero-engines. Background Art

[0002] The in-flight maintenance of aero-engines is carried out on the flight line. During maintenance, the aero-engine is installed on the aircraft without being removed. In-flight maintenance needs to be completed quickly to ensure that the aircraft takes off on time. The structure of aero-engines is complex, and the maintenance operation space is narrow, which poses high technical requirements for maintenance personnel in terms of accessibility, visibility, and operability. In addition, in-flight maintenance requires completion in a short time, and how to improve the operability of in-flight maintenance has been continuously concerned.

[0003] Traditional in-flight maintenance relies solely on the technical ability and physical fitness of maintenance personnel to ensure the maintenance quality. For example, for the work of both lifting the access cover and tightening internal objects such as screws in the access cover, either multiple people are required to cooperate to complete the work, or the maintenance personnel are required to have high maintenance skills. Another example is that for objects that need to be visually inspected, since the maintenance personnel are not tall enough, a ladder needs to be moved to conduct visual inspection. This not only increases the man-hour cost, reduces the work efficiency, but also increases unsafe factors. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to provide an in-flight maintenance device for aero-engines to assist in-flight maintenance.

[0005] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the in-flight maintenance device for aero-engines includes a robotic arm and a drone; the robotic arm includes an operating mechanism, a rotating mechanism, and a telescopic mechanism. The operating mechanism is used to operate the aero-engine, the rotating mechanism is used to drive the operating mechanism to rotate, and the telescopic mechanism is used to drive the operating mechanism to extend and retract; the drone is connected to the robotic arm and is used to drive the robotic arm to hover at the maintenance position.

[0006] In one or more embodiments, the drone is a rotary-wing drone.

[0007] In one or more embodiments, the operating mechanism includes a replaceable mechanical clamping hand, a loading and unloading tool, and a camera.

[0008] In one or more embodiments, the rotating mechanism includes a first base and a rotating head. The rotating head is used to rotate relative to the first base. The rotating head is provided with a mounting groove, and the mounting groove is provided with a pin. The operating mechanism includes a second base, and the second base is provided with a jack. The second base is inserted into the mounting groove, and the pin is inserted into the jack.

[0009] In one or more embodiments, a first electrical connector is provided in the mounting groove, a second electrical connector is provided on the second base, the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector are connected, and the rotating mechanism supplies power to the operating mechanism.

[0010] In one or more embodiments, the rotating mechanism further includes a disc motor, and the disc motor drives the rotating head to rotate relative to the first base.

[0011] In one or more embodiments, the telescopic mechanism includes a multi-stage pneumatic telescopic rod.

[0012] In one or more embodiments, the robotic arm is sequentially provided with the telescopic mechanism, the rotating mechanism, and the operating mechanism from the proximal end to the distal end, and the proximal end of the robotic arm is fixed to the bottom of the drone.

[0013] In one or more embodiments, the operating mechanism includes a camera, and the camera is configured with a display.

[0014] In one or more embodiments, the robotic arm is provided with a seat plate at the proximal end, and the robotic arm is fixed to the bottom of the drone through the seat plate; the operating mechanism includes a camera, and the camera is configured with a display; the seat plate is provided with a magnetic seat, the magnetic seat is provided with a plurality of mounting holes, the display is provided with a mounting post protruding from the mounting surface, and the mounting post is inserted into one of the plurality of mounting holes, and the magnetic seat magnetically adheres to the mounting surface.

[0015] Embodiments of the present invention at least have the following beneficial effects:

[0016] An operator can control the drone to hover at the maintenance position and control the robotic arm to operate on the aero-engine, such as lifting an object, taking an internal image of the aero-engine, etc., reducing the workload of the operator during line maintenance, and being able to perform delicate and complex operations in the narrow space inside the aero-engine, improving the work efficiency of line maintenance and reducing the risk of line maintenance. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The above and other features, properties, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description in conjunction with the drawings and embodiments, wherein:

[0018] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an aero-engine line maintenance device;

[0019] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a mechanical clamping hand;

[0020] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a loading and unloading tool;

[0021] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of a camera;

[0022] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of a rotating mechanism;

[0023] Figure 6 Schematic diagram of a rotating mechanism;

[0024] Figure 7 Schematic diagram of a telescopic mechanism and a seat plate;

[0025] Figure 8 Schematic diagram of a telescopic mechanism, a seat plate and a display;

[0026] Figure 9 For Figure 8 Partial enlarged view at position A in

[0027] Figure 10 Schematic diagram of the operation of an in-flight maintenance device for an aeroengine;

[0028] Reference numerals:

[0029] 1 - robotic arm;

[0030] 2 - unmanned aerial vehicle;

[0031] 3 - operating mechanism;

[0032] 4 - mechanical clamping hand;

[0033] 5 - loading and unloading tool;

[0034] 6 - camera;

[0035] 7 - rotating mechanism;

[0036] 8 - telescopic mechanism;

[0037] 9 - second base;

[0038] 10 - jack;

[0039] 11 - first base;

[0040] 12 - rotating head;

[0041] 13 - mounting groove;

[0042] 14 - pin;

[0043] 15 - first electrical connector;

[0044] 16 - second electrical connector;

[0045] 17 - multi-stage pneumatic telescopic rod;

[0046] 18 - seat plate;

[0047] 19 - Display;

[0048] 20 - Magnetic seat;

[0049] 21 - Mounting hole;

[0050] 22 - Mounting surface;

[0051] 23 - Mounting post;

[0052] 24 - Display bracket. Detailed implementation manners

[0053] Now, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail, and one or more examples thereof are shown in the accompanying drawings. Each example is provided for the purpose of explaining the present invention, rather than limiting the present invention. In fact, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention. For example, features shown or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to produce yet another embodiment. Therefore, the present invention is intended to cover these modifications and variations that fall within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0054] It should be noted that these and subsequent other drawings are only examples, and they are not drawn under the condition of equal proportion, and should not be used to limit the actual protection scope required by the present invention.

[0055] The terms "first", "second", etc. can be used interchangeably to distinguish one feature from another, and are not intended to indicate that each feature must be located in the position shown in each embodiment.

[0056] As Figure 1 shown, the in - flight maintenance device for an aero - engine includes a robotic arm 1 and a drone 2 which are connected to each other. The drone 2 can drive the robotic arm 1 to move to the maintenance position and can also hover to make the robotic arm 1 hover at the maintenance position. The drone 2 can be a rotary - wing drone, such as a rotary - wing drone of the DJI brand, which has good hovering ability.

[0057] As Figure 1 shown, the robotic arm 1 includes an operating mechanism 3. The operating mechanism 3 can operate the aero - engine to achieve the functions required for in - flight maintenance. As Figures 2 to 4As shown, the operating mechanism 3 may include a mechanical gripper 4, a loading and unloading tool 5, and a camera 6. The mechanical gripper 4 is used to grip and release parts and maintenance tools, and may be an electric gripper. The loading and unloading tool 5 is used to load and unload parts of an aeroengine, and may be an electric screwdriver, an electric wrench, etc. The camera 6 is used to capture images of the aeroengine for the operator to observe the condition of the aeroengine. Different operating mechanisms 3 of the robotic arm 1 are replaceable, meeting different requirements in line maintenance, simplifying the maintenance tasks, enabling multiple maintenance tasks, reducing the workload of the operator in line maintenance, shortening the maintenance time, and improving the maintenance quality. As Figure 1 shown, the robotic arm 1 further includes a rotating mechanism 7. The rotating mechanism 7 is used to drive the operating mechanism 3 to rotate, realizing the rotational movement of the operating mechanism 3 and meeting the requirements of line maintenance, such as cooperating with a screwdriver-type loading and unloading tool 5 to install and remove screws. As Figure 1 shown, the robotic arm 1 further includes a telescoping mechanism 8. The telescoping mechanism 8 is used to drive the operating mechanism 3 to extend and retract, realizing the translational movement of the operating mechanism 3 and meeting the requirements of line maintenance. The operator can manipulate the UAV 2 to hover at the maintenance position and manipulate the robotic arm 1 to operate on the aeroengine, such as lifting an object, capturing images inside the aeroengine, etc., reducing the workload of the operator in line maintenance, and being able to perform delicate and complex operations in the narrow space inside the aeroengine, improving the work efficiency of line maintenance and reducing the risk of line maintenance. In addition, the UAV 2 is small in size, flexible in movement, can hover at any position, avoiding the use of a complex robotic arm with multiple degrees of freedom and large stroke movement, reducing costs and enhancing the flexibility of operation.

[0058] As Figures 2 to 4 shown, each operating mechanism 3 may be configured with a second base 9. The second base 9 is provided with insertion holes 10. The two insertion holes 10 may be symmetrically arranged on the side wall of the second base 9. As Figure 5 and Figure 6 shown, the rotating mechanism 7 may be provided with a first base 11 and a rotating head 12. The rotating head 12 can rotate relative to the first base 11. The rotating head 12 is provided with a mounting groove 13, and the second base 9 is inserted into the mounting groove 13. The second base 9 is inserted into the mounting groove 13, and the mounting groove 13 can accommodate the second base 9. The mounting groove 13 is provided with pins 14. The two pins 14 may be symmetrically arranged on the side wall of the mounting groove 13. In Figure 5 it, the pins 14 protrude into the mounting groove 13, protruding from the side wall of the mounting groove 13, and then Figure 1 as shown, inserting into the insertion holes 10 of the second base 9. The pins 14 are inserted into the insertion holes 10, and the second base 9 is fixed in the mounting groove 13 and cannot be pulled out and removed from the mounting groove 13. In Figure 6In this case, the bolt 14 does not protrude into the installation groove 13, being flush with the side wall of the installation groove 13, and thus does not insert into the jack 10 of the second base 9. The second base 9 can be pulled out and removed from the installation groove 13. The bolt 14 and the jack 10 realize the quick fixing and decomposition of the installation groove 13 and the second base 9, and thus quickly replace different operating mechanisms 3.

[0059] As Figure 5 and Figure 6 shown, the bolt 14 can be a spring bolt, which protrudes out after being pressed to protrude from the side wall of the installation groove 13, and retracts after being pressed again to be flush with the side wall of the installation groove 13. The structure is simple and the operation is convenient.

[0060] As Figure 5 and Figure 6 shown, the installation groove 13 can be provided with a first electrical connector 15. The first electrical connector 15 can be an electrical plug, which is arranged at the bottom of the installation groove 13 and protrudes from the bottom wall of the installation groove 13. As Figures 2 to 4 shown, the second base 9 can be provided with a second electrical connector 16. The second electrical connector 16 can be an electrical socket, which is arranged at the bottom of the second base 9 and is recessed from the bottom wall of the second base 9. The first electrical connector 15 and the second electrical connector 16 are connected, and the rotating mechanism 7 supplies power to the operating mechanism 3. As Figure 1 shown, the first electrical connector 15 and the second electrical connector 16 can be plugged together, and the first electrical connector 15 is inserted into the second electrical connector 16.

[0061] The rotating mechanism 7 is also provided with a disc motor (not shown in the figure), and the disc motor drives the rotating head 12 to rotate relative to the first base 11. The disc motor can be fixed to the first base 11, the output shaft of the disc motor is connected to the rotating head 12, and the output shaft of the disc motor rotates to drive the rotating head 12 to rotate relative to the first base 11.

[0062] As Figure 7 shown, the telescopic mechanism 8 can be provided with a multi-stage pneumatic telescopic rod 17. The multi-stage pneumatic telescopic rod 17 is driven by a cylinder to extend and contract, thereby driving the operating mechanism 3 to extend and retract. The multi-stage pneumatic telescopic rod 17 can include multiple hollow steel pipes, such as three shown in the figure.

[0063] As Figure 1As shown, the robotic arm 1 can be sequentially provided with a telescopic mechanism 8, a rotating mechanism 7, and an operating mechanism 3 from the proximal end to the distal end. The distal end of the multi-stage pneumatic telescopic rod 17 can be threadedly connected to the first base 11. The distal end of the multi-stage pneumatic telescopic rod 17 can also be welded to the first base 11. The proximal end of the robotic arm 1 can be fixed to the bottom of the unmanned aerial vehicle 2. A seat plate 18 can be provided at the proximal end of the robotic arm 1, and the robotic arm 1 is fixed to the bottom of the unmanned aerial vehicle 2 through the seat plate 18. The proximal end of the multi-stage pneumatic telescopic rod 17 can be fixed to the side wall of the seat plate 18, and the top wall of the seat plate 18 can be fixed to the bottom of the unmanned aerial vehicle 2. The top wall of the seat plate 18 can be threadedly connected to the bottom of the unmanned aerial vehicle 2. The top wall of the seat plate 18 can also be welded to the bottom of the unmanned aerial vehicle 2.

[0064] As Figure 10 shown, the operating mechanism 3 of the camera 6 type is configured with a display 19. The camera 6 and the display 19 can cooperate to display the structure of the aero-engine that is difficult for the operator to observe, such as the structure of the aero-engine that cannot be observed due to the operator's insufficient height, facilitating the rapid completion of visual inspection. The front and back of the display 19 can both have display screens, enabling the operator to observe the display screen of the aero-engine on both sides of the display 19, avoiding restricting the operator's standing position during maintenance, and being flexible and maneuverable. The shooting area of the camera 6 and the viewing area of the operator looking at the display 19 are Figure 10 represented by two straight lines forming an angle. The signal between the camera 6 and the display 19 can be wirelessly transmitted.

[0065] As Figure 8 and Figure 9 shown, the seat plate 18 can be provided with a magnetic seat 20. The magnetic seat 20 has a magnetic attraction function and can attract ferromagnetic materials. The magnetic seat 20 is provided with a plurality of mounting holes 21, and the plurality of mounting holes 21 provide a plurality of different mounting positions for the display 19. The display 19 can be provided with a mounting post 23 protruding from the mounting surface 22. The mounting post 23 is inserted into one of the plurality of mounting holes 21, and the mounting surface 22 is magnetically attracted by the magnetic seat 20 and adheres to the surface of the magnetic seat 20, and the display 19 is thereby fixed to the magnetic seat 20. The mounting surface 22 can be the end face of the display bracket 24, and the display bracket 24 is made of ferromagnetic material, so that the mounting surface 22 is magnetically attracted by the magnetic seat 20 and adheres to the surface of the magnetic seat 20. When it is necessary to adjust the position of the display 19 (such as adjusting the height of the display 19), the mounting post 23 is pulled out of one mounting hole 21 and inserted into another mounting hole 21, and the operation is convenient and fast.

[0066] Although the present invention is disclosed as above with embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art can make possible changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An aircraft engine line maintenance device, characterized in that include: The mechanical arm comprises an operating mechanism, a rotating mechanism and a telescopic mechanism, wherein the operating mechanism is used to operate an aircraft engine, the rotating mechanism is used to drive the operating mechanism to rotate, and the telescopic mechanism is used to drive the operating mechanism to extend forward and retract backward; as well as The unmanned aerial vehicle is connected to the mechanical arm and is used to drive the mechanical arm to hover at a maintenance position.

2. The aircraft engine line maintenance device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The UAV is a rotary wing UAV.

3. The aircraft engine line maintenance device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The operating mechanism includes a replaceable mechanical clamping hand, a loading and unloading tool and a camera.

4. The aircraft engine line maintenance device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rotating mechanism includes a first base and a rotating head, the rotating head is used to rotate relative to the first base, the rotating head is provided with a mounting groove, the mounting groove is provided with a latch, the operating mechanism includes a second base, the second base is provided with a socket, the second base is plugged into the mounting groove, and the latch is plugged into the socket.

5. The aircraft engine line maintenance device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The mounting groove is provided with a first electrical connector, the second base is provided with a second electrical connector, the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector are connected, and the rotating mechanism supplies power to the operating mechanism.

6. The aircraft engine line maintenance device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The rotating mechanism further includes a disk motor, and the disk motor drives the rotating head to rotate relative to the first base.

7. The aircraft engine line maintenance device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The telescopic mechanism comprises a multi-stage pneumatic telescopic rod.

8. The aircraft engine line maintenance device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mechanical arm is provided with the telescopic mechanism, the rotating mechanism, and the operating mechanism in sequence from the proximal end to the distal end, and the proximal end of the mechanical arm is fixed to the bottom of the drone.

9. The aircraft engine line maintenance device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The operating mechanism includes a camera, and the camera is equipped with a display.

10. The aircraft engine line maintenance device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mechanical arm is provided with a seat plate at the proximal end, and the mechanical arm is fixed to the bottom of the drone through the seat plate; The operating mechanism includes a camera, and the camera is equipped with a display; The seat plate is provided with a magnetic seat, and the magnetic seat is provided with a plurality of mounting holes. The display is provided with a mounting column protruding from the mounting surface, and the mounting column is plugged into one of the plurality of mounting holes. The magnetic seat is magnetically attached to the mounting surface.

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