INSTALLATION FOR VERIFYING THE CONFORMITY OF A PART'S INSPECTION BY PENETRANT TESTING

Abstract

Installation (100) for verifying the conformity of a part (P) inspection by penetrant testing, this installation comprising a penetrant testing booth (10), a network (20) of sensors (22a, 22b) configured to measure at least one predefined parameter, relating to said part inspection, and a control system (30) comprising: - a display device, - a data input interface designed to receive first data from an operator, - a data processing unit designed to retrieve second data relating to the measurements of the sensor network and the first data, to generate information for at least a part of the first and / or second data, as well as to control the display of at least a part of the first and / or second data, and / or at least a part of said information, and - a storage system for at least a part of the first and / or second data and / or at least a part of the information.Figure for the abbreviation: Figure 1.

Description

Title of the invention: INSTALLATION FOR VERIFYING THE CONFORMITY OF A CONTROL OF A PART BY PENDING Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an installation for verifying the conformity of a part inspection by penetrant testing, in particular for an aircraft turbomachine part. The invention also relates to a method for verifying the conformity of a part inspection by penetrant testing. Technological background

[0002] Penetrant testing of a part is a non-destructive testing method that extends visual inspection, without replacing it. It is a global method of surface testing that amplifies and makes visible the trace of emerging and open discontinuities regardless of their orientation relative to the surface of a part.

[0003] This method is based on the physical phenomenon of capillarity. The part to be tested is covered with a very wetting product, called a penetrant, which penetrates into the cracks. The penetrant is then removed from the surface and a developer is applied. In the event of a crack, the penetrant, which is "trapped" in the part, then comes out on the surface and is detectable under ultraviolet (UV) illumination.

[0004] Depending on the surface roughness of the parts to be inspected, spraying water to remove the surface penetrating product is more or less effective. Thus, it is generally observed that for a roughness of the order of 3.2 pm, spraying water allows the surface penetrating product to be correctly removed. Whereas for a lower roughness of the order of 1.6 pm, spraying water does not allow the surface penetrating product to be correctly removed. In such a case, it is necessary to use an emulsifier to assist in the removal of the penetrating product from the surface of the part.

[0005] The reliability of the result of the penetrant testing method depends largely on the elimination of excess penetrant. This elimination is then linked to the pressure of the water sprayed onto the surface of the part to be tested. Too much pressure would empty the cracks of the penetrant while insufficient pressure would leave a surplus of penetrant on the surface. In other words, in either case, the identification of defects would be erroneous. It is therefore necessary to have control over this parameter.

[0006] Other parameters such as temperature, pressure of the air used to dry the surface or illumination of the surface can influence the reliability of the result of the method and must therefore be controlled.

[0007] Also, in order to ensure the conformity of the process, the products used and various parameters, such as those listed above, are checked periodically by operators, ranging from once a month to several times a day.

[0008] These checks are generally manual and, with the human factor being taken into account, can be subject to errors both in the measurements taken and in omissions. In addition, they are repetitive and time-consuming, which can constitute an aggravating factor in the risk of errors.

[0009] Also, an objective of the invention is to propose a solution limiting these drawbacks in order to improve the reliability of the result of the penetrant testing method. Summary of the invention

[0010] An installation is therefore proposed for verifying the conformity of a part inspection by penetrant testing, this installation comprising a penetrant testing booth, a network of sensors each sensor of which is configured to measure at least one predefined parameter, relating to the inspection of the part by penetrant testing, and a control system, the control system comprising: - a display device, - a data entry interface designed to receive first data from an operator, - a data processing unit designed to retrieve second data relating to the parameters measured by the sensor network and the first data received by the interface, the data processing unit being further designed to generate information for at least part of the first and / or second data, the processing unit also being configured to control the display of at least part of the first and / or second data, and / or at least part of this information on the display device, and - a system for storing at least part of the first and / or second data and / or at least part of the information.

[0011] Thus, thanks to the invention, the verification of the conformity of the control of a penetrant part, in particular its result, is improved in terms of time and reliability. Indeed, the verifications, previously carried out manually, are at least partly automated with the sensor network. This automation relieves the operator of some of the repetitive and time-consuming tasks, which allows him to concentrate either on recording parameters which are not automated, thus reducing the risk of errors, or on interpreting the results displayed and deducing the actions to be taken. This automation of the verifications can also be periodic, which further improves reliability.

[0012] The installation according to the invention may comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation from one another or in combination with one another: - a first selection of sensors from the sensor network is placed fixedly in the penetrant testing booth and a second selection of sensors from the sensor network is movable so that this second selection can be placed in the penetrant testing booth according to the parameter to be measured; - each sensor is designed to measure a temperature, and / or a pressure of a fluid, and / or a light intensity, and / or a light power; - the installation includes a reference database, each reference being defined by a set of checks, called periodic, to be carried out over a given period; - the data processing unit is designed to define the periodic checks to be carried out from a reference included in the database and the information displayed by the display device.

[0013] The invention also relates to a method for verifying the conformity of a control of a part by penetrant testing, this method being implemented by an installation for verifying the conformity of a control of a part by penetrant testing as described above, the method comprising the following steps: a. measure parameters via the sensor network; b. enter data through the data entry interface; c. process at least part of the first data obtained in step a) and / or at least part of the second data entered in step b) via the data processing unit to generate information; d. displaying on the display device at least part of the first and / or second data, and / or at least part of the information generated by the data processing unit, in one or more fields associated with a first and / or second data, and / or information; e. analyze the first and / or second data, and / or information, displayed in each field by the data processing unit; and f. plan or not plan additional measures.

[0014] The method according to the invention may comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation from one another or in combination with one another: - at the end of step e), an alert is communicated to the operator to confirm that the field(s) display first and / or second data and / or information, or to indicate that a correction is necessary when one or more fields are empty; - the alert is an email, and / or an audio message, and / or a visual indicator; - the method comprises, after step e), a step of storing at least one part of the first and / or second data and / or at least part of the information in a data storage system; - the part to be checked by penetrant testing is an aircraft turbomachine part; - - simultaneously with step e), the processing unit compares at least one part of the first and / or second data, and / or at least part of the information displayed with a reference from the database to check their conformity or non-conformity with the conditions stored in the reference; - - at the end of step e), one or more verification reports are completed with automatically or on demand by the data processing unit. Brief description of the figures

[0015] The invention will be better understood with the aid of the following description, given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0016] [Fig.l] is a very schematic view of an installation for controlling a part by penetrant testing according to the invention,

[0017] [Fig.2] is a very schematic view of the data processing unit of [Fig.l],

[0018] [Fig. 3] is a block diagram of a method for verifying the conformity of a part inspection by penetrant testing implemented by an installation according to the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0019] [Fig.l] represents a schematic view of the installation 100 for the control of a part P by penetrant testing. This installation comprises a penetrant testing cabin 10 inside which the penetrant testing method is carried out. The installation 100 further comprises a network 20 of sensors 22a, 22b and a control system 30.

[0020] Each sensor 22a, 22b is configured to measure at least one predefined parameter, relating to the control of the part P by penetrant testing.

[0021] Advantageously, each sensor 22a, 22b is designed to measure a temperature, and / or a pressure of a fluid - for example a pressure of water, compressed air or another gas - and / or a light intensity, and / or a light power.

[0022] Advantageously, a first selection of sensors 22a of the network 20 of sensors is placed fixedly in the penetrant testing cabin 10. It is understood that a part 22a of the sensors 22a, 22b is placed permanently, in a fixed position, in the cabin 10 penetrant testing to measure parameters with regular measurement frequency in order to have increased repeatability. Advantageously, this first selection of sensors 22a ensures automatic measurements of some of the predefined parameters.

[0023] Advantageously, a second selection of sensors 22b can be movable so that this second selection of sensors 22b can be placed in the penetrant testing booth according to the parameter to be measured. It is understood that a part 22b of the sensors 22a, 22b, different from the first selection, is not permanently placed in the penetrant testing booth and is used as needed by the operators.

[0024] The control system 30, schematically illustrated by [Fig. 2], comprises a display device 32, a data entry interface 34, a data processing unit 36 ​​and a storage system 38.

[0025] The data entry interface 34 is designed to receive first data from an operator. It is understood that it is the operator who provides the first data to the control system 30 via the interface 34.

[0026] The data processing unit 36 ​​is designed to retrieve second data relating to the parameters measured by the sensor network 20 22a, 22b. The data processing unit 36 ​​is also designed to retrieve the first data received by the interface 34. The data processing unit 36 ​​is further configured to control the display of at least a portion of the first and / or second data on the display device 32. The data processing unit 36 ​​is also designed to generate information for at least a portion of the first and / or second data, as well as to control the display of at least a portion of the first and / or second data, and / or at least a portion of this information on the display device 32.

[0027] The data processing unit 36 ​​may for example be or comprise a microprocessor.

[0028] The storage system 38 is configured to store at least a portion of the first and / or second data and / or at least a portion of the information.

[0029] In the example described, the installation 100 may also comprise a database 40 of references. This database 40 is furthermore accessible by the data processing unit 36. Each reference in the database 40 is defined by a set of checks, called periodic, to be carried out over a given period. In such a case, the data processing unit 36 ​​is designed to define the periodic checks to be carried out from one of the references included in the database 40 and at least part of the first and / or second data, and / or at least part of the information displayed by the display device 32. In other words, the processing unit 36 ​​is capable of analyzing at least part of the first and / or second data, and / or at least part of the information displayed for the compare with a reference from the database 40 to subsequently define the necessary periodic checks.

[0030] [Fig. 3] illustrates an example of a method 200 for verifying the conformity of a control of a part P by penetrant testing, according to the invention. This part P may for example be an aircraft turbomachine part. This method 200 is implemented by the installation 100 for verifying the conformity of a control of a part P by penetrant testing described previously and comprises the steps described below.

[0031] In a step 202, or step a), the predefined parameters are measured via the network 20 of sensors 22a, 22b. These parameters may be, as listed previously, a temperature, and / or a pressure of a fluid - for example a pressure of water, compressed air or another gas - and / or a light intensity, and / or a light power. The parameters listed previously are not limiting and other parameters may be envisaged.

[0032] In a step 204, or step b), data are entered via the data entry interface 34. This step can be carried out by the operator who enters data that he would have obtained either by measurements carried out independently of the network 20 of sensors 22a, 22b, or by readings not quantifiable by the network 20 of sensors 22a, 22b.

[0033] In a step 206, or step c), at least a portion of the first data obtained in step 202, and / or at least a portion of the second data entered in step 204, are processed by the data processing unit 36 ​​to generate information. This information may be an indication of conformity or non-conformity with expected values, and / or a reference, and / or a date.

[0034] In a step 208, or step d), at least part of the first and / or second data, and / or at least part of the information generated by the data processing unit are displayed on the display device in one or more fields associated with a first and / or second data, and / or information.

[0035] In a step 210, or step e), the first and / or second data, and / or information which has been displayed in each field are analyzed by the processing unit.

[0036] Simultaneously with step 210, optionally, the processing unit 36 ​​compares at least part of the first and / or second data, and / or at least part of the information displayed with a reference of the database 40 to verify their conformity or non-conformity with respect to the conditions stored in the reference.

[0037] At the end of step 210, one or more verification reports may be completed automatically or on demand by the data processing unit 36 ​​after analysis of the first and / or second data and / or information.

[0038] At a step 212, an alert may be communicated to the operator. This alert may either confirm that the field(s) display the first and / or second data, and / or information, or indicate that a correction is necessary when one or more of the fields have remained empty. This alert may for example be an electronic message such as an email sent to the operator on an external terminal, and / or an audible message, and / or an audible signal, and / or a visual indicator.

[0039] In a step 214, which can take place simultaneously, before or after step 212 but after step 210, at least part of the first and / or second data, and / or at least part of the information are stored in a data storage system.

[0040] In a step 216, or step f), the data processing unit plans or not additional measurements. These additional measurements make it possible, if they take place, to correct potential errors.

[0041] In the following, an example of implementation of the method 200 by the installation 100 is described. In this example, different conditions taken into consideration are explained.

[0042] When an operator, or a team of operators, checks a part P by penetrant testing, it is placed in a penetrant testing booth 10 in which it can be checked. The part P is, in this example, an aircraft turbomachine part.

[0043] The reliability of the result of the penetrant testing method may depend on several operating and / or environmental conditions, i.e. the conditions in the booth 10. In this example, the conditions considered concern the penetrating product or products used, the water sprayed to remove the penetrating product, the air sprayed to dry the surface of the part, a water / air mixture to remove excess penetrating product, the ambient air (in the booth), the developer, the emulsifier, the fixed and / or portable lights (ambient or UV), the booth 10 itself and reference standards.

[0044] Fixed lights include ambient light sources of white light, natural or artificial lighting, which illuminate the cabin and ultraviolet sources (UV-A for example) which are used in particular to examine the surface of the part P after application of the developer. Portable lights include light sources, of white or ultraviolet light, such as endoscopes, torches or others. Regarding ultraviolet light, the wavelength of UV lamps must be between 360 and 370 nm (nanometers).

[0045] To ensure that the method has been or will be carried out under optimal conditions, various parameters are measured and / or recorded in relation to the conditions listed above. These conditions are further checked periodically.

[0046] Table 1 shows different parameters that can be measured by the network 20 of sensors 22a, 22b. At least some of these parameters, or even all of them, can be measured automatically by the first selection of sensors 22a of the network 20 of sensors, these sensors 22a of the first selection being, it will be recalled, placed fixedly in the penetrant testing cabin 10. At least some of these parameters can also be measured by the second selection of sensors 22b, in addition to the measurements made by the sensors 22a of the first selection; these sensors 22b being, it will be recalled, mobile.

[0047] These parameters can be quantified and relate to pressure, temperature, light intensity, light power or even volume or mass concentration.

[0048] Table 1 also shows, in the particular case of this example, the conditions that the measured parameters of the different elements considered during the penetrant testing must meet. Table 1 also shows the periodicity of the verification, that is to say the minimum frequency at which the verification must be carried out.

[0049] [Tables 1] Measured parameters Conditions Frequency of verification Penetrating product Pressure (bar) P< 1 1 time per operation Temperature (°C) 10 < T < 40 1 time per operation Water spray Pressure (bar) P<2 1 time per operation Temperature (°C) 10 < T < 35 1 time per operation Air spray Pressure (bar) 0.3 < P < 1.7 1 time per operation Temperature (°C) 10 < T < 40 1 time per operation Water / air mixture Pressure (bar) P < 2.7 1 time per operation Temperature (°C) 10 < T < 40 1 time per operation Water in the mixture Pressure (bar) P< 1.7 1 time per operation Temperature (°C) 10 < T < 35 1 time per operation Air in the mixture Pressure (bar) P< 1 1 time per operation Temperature (°C) 10 < T < 40 1 time per operation Ambient air Temperature (°C) 10 < T < 40 1 time per operation Developer Pressure (bar) P< 1 1 time per operation Temperature (°C) 10 < T < 40 1 time per operation Emulsifier Pressure (bar) P< 1,7 1 time per operation Temperature (°C) 10 < T < 40 1 time per operation Concentration (%) 2 <C<5 2 fois par semaine Lumière blanche ambiante Intensité (lux) I > 1076 1 time per week, Ambient stray white light Intensity (lux) I < 20 1 time per day Stray white light from a UV-A lamp (fixed) Intensity (lux) I < 20 1 time per day UV-A black light (fixed) Power (W / m2) 12 < E < 100 1 time per day

[0050] Table 2 shows different parameters that can be measured and / or recorded. "manually" by an operator in order to be entered via the input interface 34 in the control system 30. "Manually" means the measurement or recording of parameters which, in the context of penetrant testing, may prove more difficult to measure automatically, or even difficult to quantify, such as the cleanliness of an element. The operator's judgment, or even experience, is then important.

[0051] Table 2 also presents, as for table 1, the conditions that must be verified by the parameters measured and / or recorded by the operator of the other elements considered during the penetrant testing, as well as the periodicity of the verification.

[0052] [Tables2] Measured / Read Parameters Conditions Frequency of Checking UV-A Black Light (Portable) Power (W / m2) E > 12 2 times per operation Stray white light from a UV-A lamp (Portable) Intensity (lux) I < 20 1 time per day Ambient Air Cleanliness Yes / No 1 time per month Emulsifier Corrosion Yes / No 1 time per month Efficiency Yes / No 1 time per month Lamps Cleanliness Yes / No 1 time per day Reference Reference 1 time per day Bulbs Change Yes / No 1 time per day Cabin Cleanliness Yes / No 1 time per day

[0053] It should be noted that the parameters in Table 1 can be measured “manually” by the operator and could therefore also appear in Table 2.

[0054] At least part of the first data, relating to the parameters of table 2, is entered by the operator on the entry interface 34 before being recovered by the data processing unit 36.

[0055] It is not necessarily necessary to enter all the first data at the same time because the periodicity of the verification differs from one parameter to another. For example, checking the cleanliness of the cabin is done once a day while the cleanliness of the ambient air - that is to say a dry and de-oiled ambient air - is only done once a month; or even once per operation for the measurement of the temperature of the ambient air in the case where this parameter (present in table 1) is not measured by the network 20 of sensors 22a, 22b but manually by the operator.

[0056] At least a portion of the second data, relating to the parameters of table 1, measured by the network 20 of sensors 22a, 22b is also recovered by the data processing unit 36.

[0057] These first and / or second data are processed by the processing unit 36 ​​to generate information. The first and / or second data, and / or the information are then displayed in dedicated fields of one or more tables.

[0058] The first and second data may be raw values ​​such as, for example, the value of the temperature, pressure or others identified previously.

[0059] The information, for its part, can be indications on the conformity or not of the first and / or second data with the predefined conditions noted in tables 1 and 2. The information can also be indications on the date of the measurement / reading and / or on the sensor(s) which carried out the measurement, for example their product reference, and / or other types of information.

[0060] If the periodic checks are carried out correctly, that is to say that all the fields which must be completed are completed, what has been completed, in other words at least part of the first and / or second data and / or information, is recorded in the storage system. In parallel, an electronic message is sent, such as an email, to the operator to confirm the correct progress of the operation.

[0061] Otherwise, i.e. the periodic checks are incorrect or fields have remained empty, an electronic message is sent to the operator to warn him so that he can manually correct the error. This correction may consist of carrying out a measurement and / or an additional reading.

[0062] All periodic checks to be carried out on a given date can also be defined in a reference. The operator can query the control system 30 to obtain, depending on the date, the checks to be carried out based on the reference.

[0063] Storing at least part of the first and / or second data and / or information allows the operator to consult them later on demand. It is thus possible to compare first and / or second data and / or information previous with first and / or second data and / or more recent information.

[0064] In addition to the periodic checks listed above, one or more check reports may be completed automatically or on demand by the data processing unit 36 ​​after analysis of the first and / or second data and / or information.

[0065] Furthermore, to verify that all the conditions listed above are optimal and that the penetrant testing process is functioning correctly, the operator can use standards whose location of defects and characteristics are known. Periodic checks can also be carried out on these standards. These checks can relate, for example, to the conformity of the standards, with monitoring at each operation, or the state of degradation of the standards, with monitoring once a month.

[0066] The installation described in the above has the advantage of improving the control of a penetrant testing part, in particular its result, in terms of time and reliability. Indeed, the checks, previously carried out manually, are at least partly automated with the sensor network. This automation relieves the operator of some of the repetitive and time-consuming tasks, allowing him to concentrate either on recording parameters that are not automated, thus reducing the risk of errors, or on interpreting the results displayed and deducing the actions to be taken. In this way, reproducibility is also improved.

[0067] Another advantage is to facilitate the organization and ordering of results by centralizing them via a computer tool, such as the control system, with a view to freeing oneself from a physical medium such as paper.

Claims

Claims

1. Installation (100) for verifying the conformity of a control of a part (P) by penetrant testing, said installation comprising a penetrant testing booth (10), a network (20) of sensors (22a, 22b) each sensor of which is configured to measure at least one predefined parameter, relating to the control of the part by penetrant testing, and a control system (30), said control system comprising: - a display device (32), - a data input interface (34) designed to receive first data from an operator, - a data processing unit (36) designed to retrieve second data relating to the parameters measured by the network (20) of sensors (22a, 22b) and the first data received by the interface (34), the data processing unit being further designed to generate information for at least part of the first and / or second data,the processing unit (36) also being configured to control the display of at least part of the first and / or second data, and / or at least part of said information on the display device, and - a storage system (38) of at least part of said first and / or second data and / or at least part of said information.,

2. Installation (100) according to claim 1, in which a first selection of sensors (22a) of the sensor network is placed fixed in the penetrant testing booth and a second selection of sensors (22b) of the sensor network is movable so that said second selection can be placed in the penetrant testing booth according to the parameter to be measured.

3. Installation (100) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, in which each sensor (22a, 22b) is designed to measure a temperature, and / or a pressure of a fluid, and / or a light intensity, and / or a light power.

4. Installation (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a database (40) of references, each reference being defined by a set of checks, called periodic, to be carried out over a given period.

5. Installation (100) according to claim 4, in which the data processing unit (36) is adapted to define the pe- periodic operations to be carried out from a reference included in the database (40) and the first and / or second data, and / or information displayed by the display device (32).

6. Method (200) for verifying the conformity of a part inspection by penetrant testing, this method being implemented by an installation (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, said method comprising the following steps: a. measure parameters via the sensor network; b. enter data through the data entry interface (34); c. processing at least part of the first data obtained in step a) and / or at least part of the second data entered in step b) via the data processing unit (36) to generate information; d. displaying on the display device at least part of said first and / or second data, and / or at least part of said information generated by the data processing unit, in one or more fields associated with a first and / or second data, and / or information; e. analyze said first and / or second data, and / or information, displayed in each field by means of the data processing unit; and f. plan or not plan additional measures.

7. Method (200) according to claim 6, in which, at the end of step e), an alert is communicated to the operator to: - confirm that the field(s) display the first and / or second data, and / or information; or - indicate that a correction is necessary when one or more fields are empty.

8.

9. The method (200) of claim 7, wherein the alert is an email, and / or an audio message, and / or an audible signal, and / or a visual indicator. Method (200) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, comprising, after step e), a step of storing at least part of the first and / or second data and / or at least part of the information in a data storage system.

10. Method (200) according to any one of claims 6 to 9, in which the part (P) to be checked by penetrant testing is an aircraft turbomachine part.

Images