AIRCRAFT PART AND ITS MANUFACTURING PROCESS

Abstract

The invention relates to an aircraft part comprising: - a cylindrical body (12) extending along a longitudinal axis, - a fluid inlet wall (14) and a fluid outlet wall, fixed respectively to an upstream end (12A) and a downstream end of the cylindrical body (12), the walls being annular and at least one of the walls having a frustoconical shape, - a cylindrical tube (18) extending along the longitudinal axis from the inlet wall (14) to the outlet wall inside the body, the tube comprising a plurality of through orifices (180), and - a cavity (20) delimited radially by the body (12) and the tube (18) and axially by the inlet (14) and outlet walls. According to the invention, the part is a single piece and the tube has a row of through openings (182) attached to the frustoconical wall and arranged regularly in a circumferential direction. tube. Figure for the abbreviation: Figure 3

Description

Title of the invention: AIRCRAFT PART AND ITS MANUFACTURING METHOD technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the aeronautical field. More particularly, the invention relates to an aircraft part comprising a cavity and a method for manufacturing the part. Previous technique

[0002] Among aeronautical equipment, there are many parts with complex geometries such as parts including cavities or long, thin pipes running within said parts.

[0003] This is particularly the case for a water separator used to separate water from air. Such a water separator is commonly used in aircraft air conditioning systems, such as those found in airplanes. In air conditioning systems, water must be collected and discharged from the air conditioning circuit, because water present in the air conditioning circuit can cause damage to a turbocharger located downstream of the water separator in the air conditioning circuit.

[0004] In a known manner, a water separator comprises a hollow cylindrical body surrounding at least one separating grid. This separating grid divides the cylindrical body into at least two cavities.

[0005] Such a separator is traditionally manufactured by assembling machined parts and sheets by welding.

[0006] Today, it is also known to use an additive manufacturing process called powder bed fusion to produce complex three-dimensional parts by fusing layers of material powder, such as the LBM process (Laser Beam Melting). This process is also known as selective laser melting (or SLM).

[0007] However, the excess powder after the part has been manufactured must be removed. However, the excess powder contained in the cavities is difficult to remove using current depowdering techniques, i.e., techniques for removing excess powder.

[0008] The objective of the present invention is therefore to overcome these drawbacks. In particular, by providing a part manufactured by additive manufacturing and comprising cavities whose geometry allows for easy removal of excess powder. Summary of the invention

[0009] To this end, the invention relates to an aircraft part comprising:

[0010] - a cylindrical body extending along a longitudinal axis,

[0011] - a fluid inlet wall and a fluid outlet wall, fixed respectively at one upstream end and one downstream end of the cylindrical body, the walls being annular and at least one of the walls having a frustoconical shape,

[0012] - a cylindrical tube extending along the longitudinal axis from the inlet wall to the outlet wall inside the cylindrical body, the tube comprising a plurality of through orifices, and

[0013] - a cavity delimited radially by the body and the tube and axially by the walls input and output,

[0014] the part being characterized in that it is monobloc and that the tube has a row of through openings attached to the frustoconical wall and arranged regularly in a circumferential direction of the tube.

[0015] The invention thus proposes a part capable of overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0016] To this end, the invention proposes a part whose main function is ensured by The perforated tube includes a cavity partially defined by this perforated tube. The row of through-holes attached to the truncated conical wall serves a dual purpose. Firstly, the openings contribute to the part's primary function, acting as orifices in the tube. Secondly, the openings facilitate the removal of powder contained in the cavity immediately after the part is produced by additive manufacturing. Therefore, the openings act as dust removal channels.

[0017] The part, according to the invention, may comprise one or more of the following features, taken individually or in combination with each other in all technically possible combinations: - Each opening of the tube is delimited by a perimeter comprising a circular portion and a linear portion, the linear portion being in contact with the frustoconical wall,

[0018] - the circular portion of the circumference of each opening of the tube has a diameter internal diameter identical to the internal diameter of the tube's orifices,

[0019] - the orifices are arranged regularly in the tube forming a pattern of perforations and each opening of the tube is aligned with several orifices of the tube,

[0020] - the perforation pattern extends from the inlet wall to the outlet wall and the The through-holes of the tube are arranged regularly, forming the same perforation pattern as the through-holes of the tube.

[0021] - a concentric annular wall of the body of the part, extending from the wall from the inlet to the outlet wall and arranged between the body and the tube, and in which the annular wall has another row of through openings attached to the frustoconical wall and arranged regularly in a circumferential direction of the wall, each through-opening in the annular wall being arranged opposite a through-opening in the tube,

[0022] - the part is a body of a water separator.

[0023] The invention also relates to an air conditioning system, in particular for aircraft, comprising at least one part according to the invention and as described above.

[0024] The invention also relates to an aircraft comprising an air conditioning system according to the invention and as described above or a part according to the invention and as described above.

[0025] The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such a part according to the invention and as described above.

[0026] The manufacturing process comprises at least the following steps:

[0027] - production of the part by additive manufacturing by selective laser melting on a bed of powder;

[0028] - removal of excess powder contained in the cavity of the manufactured part, the excess being evacuated through the through openings attached to the truncated conical wall, each forming a channel for evacuating excess powder. Brief description of the drawings

[0029] The present invention will be better understood and other details, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the description of a non-limiting example that follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Fig. 1 represents a schematic perspective and axial section view of a part according to a first embodiment of the invention; - [Fig.2] is a schematic view of a pattern of through-holes in a tube of the part; - [Fig.3] is an enlarged schematic view near a truncated conical wall of the room in [Fig.1]; - [Fig.4] represents a schematic perspective and axial section view of a part according to a second embodiment of the invention; - [Fig.5] is an enlarged schematic view close to a truncated conical wall of the room in [Fig.4]; - Figure 6 schematically illustrates an air conditioning system comprising a water separator, the body of which is an example of an application of the invention; and - Fig. 7 is a perspective and schematic view of an additive manufacturing installation for producing a part according to the invention.

[0030] Elements having the same functions in the different implementations have the same references in the figures.

[0031] In the figures, the scales and proportions are not strictly respected for the purposes of illustration and clarity.

[0032] Furthermore, in the description and claims, the terminology axial, radial and transverse will be adopted without limitation with reference to the trihedron A, R, T indicated in the figures, the axial axis A being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the part according to the invention.

[0033] Thus, the terms "axial" and "axially" are defined with respect to the axial axis A, which is parallel to the longitudinal axis C of the reducer. The terms "radial" and "radially" are defined with respect to the axis R, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis C of the reducer.

[0034] In the description, and unless otherwise stated, the terms "internal" and "external" are used by way of non-limiting reference to the radial distance from the longitudinal axis around which the lubrication chamber extends, the term "internal" defining an area radially closer to the longitudinal axis of the reducer, as opposed to the term "external". Description of the implementation methods

[0035] The present invention applies to any type of aeronautical part comprising a cavity and obtained by additive manufacturing and intended to equip an aircraft.

[0036] Figures 1 and 3 describe a first embodiment of such a part according to the invention, while Figures 4 and 5 describe a second embodiment of such a part

[0037] With reference to [Fig.1], the part 10 comprises a body 12 of generally cylindrical shape extending along a longitudinal axis denoted C between an upstream end 12A and a downstream end 12B.

[0038] In the illustrated examples, the longitudinal axis C is parallel to the axial direction A in the figures (unless otherwise stated).

[0039] In the present invention, and generally, the terms "upstream" and "downstream" are defined with respect to a main direction Fl of fluid circulation in the part 10 in operation, and here along the axial direction A which coincides with the longitudinal axis C, i.e. from right to left with reference to [Fig.3].

[0040] The cylindrical body 12 is hollow.

[0041] The part further comprises an inlet wall 14 for a fluid and an outlet wall 16 for the fluid.

[0042] The fluid inlet wall 14 is fixed to the upstream end 12A of the part body while the fluid outlet wall 16 is fixed to the downstream end 12B of the part body.

[0043] The inlet wall 14 is annular and includes a fluid inlet orifice 140 which has an inlet diameter.

[0044] The outlet wall 16 is annular and includes a fluid outlet orifice 160 having an outlet diameter. The inlet and outlet diameters may be different or equal. The outlet wall 16 extends radially between a radially internal end 16A delimiting the outlet orifice 160 and a radially external end 16B connected to the body 12 of the part, and in particular to the downstream end 12B of the body.

[0045] In the illustrated example, the inlet wall 14 has a frustoconical shape and the outlet wall is flat. In other words, the inlet wall 14 flares out from a radially internal end called the upstream end 14A, forming the inlet orifice 140, to a radially external end called the downstream end 14B, connected to the upstream end 12A of the body 12 of the part.

[0046] In addition, the part 10 includes a tube 18 of generally cylindrical shape extending along the longitudinal axis C from the inlet wall 14 to the outlet wall 16 inside the cylindrical body 12.

[0047] The tube 18 has a diameter greater than the inlet diameter of the inlet wall 14 and the outlet diameter of the outlet wall 16. Therefore, the tube 18 has an upstream end 18A connected to the frustoconical inlet wall 14 between the upstream end 14A and the downstream end 14B of the inlet wall. Similarly, the tube 18 has a downstream end 18B connected to the flat outlet wall 16 between the radially internal end 16A and the radially external end 16B of the outlet wall.

[0048] The part 10 has a first cavity 20 delimited radially by the body 12 and the tube 18. The cavity 20 is further delimited axially by the inlet walls 14 and outlet walls 16.

[0049] Furthermore, the cylindrical tube 18 is hollow. It radially delimits a second cavity 22, referred to as the open cavity. The second cavity 22 is further axially delimited by the inlet wall 14 and outlet wall 16.

[0050] In addition, the tube 18 includes a plurality of orifices 180. The orifices 180 are through-holes, that is to say they open into both the first cavity 20 and the second cavity 22 in order to put them in fluidic communication.

[0051] The orifices 180 are preferably arranged regularly according to a perforation pattern M.

[0052] Figure 2 illustrates an example of an M pattern of perforations. In this example, the orifices 180 are circular in shape. They all have the same diameter DI.

[0053] To optimize fluid communication between the first cavity 20 and the second cavity 22, the number of orifices 18 is maximized. Thus, the orifices 180 are arranged in parallel rows. Each row, denoted Ri, extends along a circumferential direction of the tube 18. The orifices 180 of two successive rows are offset along the circumferential direction of the tube. Similarly, the orifices 180 are arranged in parallel columns. Each column, denoted Cj, extends along the longitudinal axis C of the tube 18, parallel to the axial direction A. The orifices 180 of two successive columns are offset along the axial direction A.

[0054] Motif M describes the arrangement of the orifices 180 and in particular: - the distance D2 along the circumferential direction of the tube 18 between two successive orifices 180 of the same row Ri; - the minimum distance D3 along the longitudinal axis C of the tube 18 between two successive rows of orifices 180;

[0055] - the distance D4 along the longitudinal axis C of the tube 18 between two orifices 180 successive columns Cj; - the minimum distance D5 along the circumferential direction of the tube 18 between two successive columns of orifices 180; - the diameter DI of the orifices 180.

[0056] Generally, the motif M extends between a first end M1 arranged at a distance from the upstream end 18A of the tube and a second end M2 arranged at a distance from the downstream end 18B of the tube. Indeed, according to conventional welding manufacturing techniques, the unperforated portion of the tube 18 allows, in particular, for the ends of the tube to be welded.

[0057] According to the invention, the part 10 is monobloc, that is to say advantageously manufactured in a continuous piece of material. To this end, the part is advantageously produced by an additive manufacturing process on a powder bed already known per se and as described below.

[0058] Furthermore, the part 10, and more specifically the tube 18, has a row of openings 182. The openings 182 are through openings, that is to say they open into both the first cavity 20 and the second cavity 22 in order to put them in fluidic communication.

[0059] The openings 182 are attached to the frustoconical wall, in the illustrated example to the inlet wall 14, and arranged regularly in the circumferential direction of the tube 18.

[0060] Such openings 182 allow, on the one hand, for effective participation in fluidic communication between the first cavity 20 and the second cavity 22, and on the other hand, for effective dust removal from the first cavity 20. the part by forming a dust removal channel. Such dust removal channels 30 are shown schematically in dotted lines on the figures.

[0061] Indeed, such depowdering channels 30 allow after the part has been made by additive manufacturing to depowder the part, that is to say to remove or evacuate the residual powder within the cavity of the part thus obtained, by turning said part to make the residual powder "flow" in a way by gravity outside the part according to the arrows F2.

[0062] Preferably, the openings 182 are all identical in shape and size.

[0063] Each opening 182 of the tube 18 is delimited by a perimeter comprising a circular portion 182C and a linear portion 182L.

[0064] The linear portion 182L is in contact with the frustoconical wall, here the inlet wall 14. In other words, the linear portion 182L is arranged at the intersection between the frustoconical wall, here the inlet wall 14, and the tube 18.

[0065] Advantageously, the linear portion 182L is equal to the diameter of the circular portion 182C of the opening 182.

[0066] Preferably, the circular portion 182C of the periphery of each opening 182 of the tube 18 has dimensions identical to the orifices 180 passing through the tube 18. In particular, the circular portion 182C has an external diameter identical to the external diameter of the orifices 180.

[0067] According to the first embodiment shown schematically in figures 1 and 3, the row of openings 182 is arranged at a distance from the orifices 180. In other words, the distance along the longitudinal axis C of the tube 18 between the row of orifices 180 closest to the frustoconical inlet wall 14 and the row of openings 182 is greater than the distance along the longitudinal axis C of the tube 18 between two successive rows of orifices 180 arranged according to the pattern M.

[0068] The second embodiment shown schematically in figures 4 and 5 differs from the first embodiment in that each opening 182 of the tube is aligned along the axial direction A parallel to the longitudinal axis C with several orifices 180 of the tube and more precisely with a column of orifices 180 of the tube.

[0069] Advantageously, the perforation pattern M extends from the frustoconical inlet wall 14 to the outlet wall 16. In other words, the row of openings 182 forms one of the extreme rows of the perforation pattern M in which the openings 182 are truncated. Thus, the openings 182 of the tube are arranged regularly, forming the same perforation pattern M as the orifices 180 of the tube.

[0070] In other words, the distance along the longitudinal axis C of the tube 18 between the row of orifices 180 closest to the frustoconical inlet wall 14 and the row of openings 182 is equal to the distance along the longitudinal axis C of the tube 18 between two successive rows of orifices 180 arranged according to the pattern M.

[0071] This arrangement of the openings 182 and therefore of the depowdering channels they form allows on the one hand to maximize the depowdering step during the manufacture of the part 10 and on the other hand to maximize the exchanges between the first cavity 20 and the second cavity 22.

[0072] The invention has been described above by way of example. It is understood that a person skilled in the art is able to carry out different embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0073] In particular, the invention as described is generalizable.

[0074] In particular, the frustoconical wall can be the outlet wall instead of the inlet wall.

[0075] Similarly, the part may further comprise one or more concentric annular walls 40 of the body 12 of the part and extending from the inlet wall 14 to the outlet wall 16. The walls 40 are arranged between the body 12 and the tube 18 so as to separate the first cavity into several sub-cavities. In addition, each annular wall 40 comprises another row of through-holes 402 attached to the frustoconical wall and arranged regularly in a circumferential direction of the wall, each through-hole 402 of the annular wall 40 being arranged opposite a through-hole 182 of the tube 18.

[0076] In the examples illustrated in Figures 1, 3 to 5, the part comprises such a wall 40 separating the first cavity 20 into a first sub-cavity 20-2 and a second sub-cavity 20-4. The annular wall 40 has a row of through-openings 402 attached to the frustoconical wall, here the inlet wall, and arranged regularly in a circumferential direction of the wall 40. Each through-opening 402 of the annular wall 40 is arranged opposite a through-opening 182 of the tube 18 to form the dust removal channels 30 shown schematically in dashed lines.

[0077] Such a part is for example a body of a water separator, which allows the separation of water from the air in an air conditioning system, in particular of an aircraft.

[0078] Figure 6 illustrates such an air conditioning system 300, and more specifically an enlarged view of it at the level of the water separator. Such an air conditioning system 300 comprises an air circulation circuit 305 equipped with such a water separator 310. In Figure 6, the water-laden air flows along arrow F1 within the air circulation circuit 305, that is, from right to left in the figure. Part of the airflow enters the water separator 310 along arrows F3 shown in Figure 6. The water separator 310 includes an air inlet 312, a body 100, an air outlet 314, a water drain 316 for removing water in the direction of arrow F4, and an air drain 318 for removing air circulating in the body by the Venturi effect. according to arrow F5. On [Fig.6], the body and its various elements bear the same references as part 100 according to the invention and as described previously.

[0079] The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such a part according to the invention and as described above.

[0080] The manufacturing process includes a step of producing the part by additive manufacturing on a powder bed.

[0081] As a reminder, the additive manufacturing process consists of creating complex three-dimensional parts by fusing layers of powder. Various additive manufacturing techniques are known: selective laser melting (SLM), electron beam melting (EBM), direct laser additive construction (CLAD), electron beam additive manufacturing (EBAM), and laser metal deposition (LMD).

[0082] In particular, powder bed additive manufacturing is carried out using the selective laser melting (SLM) technique, which involves spreading powder layer by layer using a scraper that determines a set quantity and thickness of powder. A laser then fuses each layer of powder to form the part.

[0083] Powder bed fusion additive manufacturing of the part 10 is carried out using a setup 200 as shown in [Fig. 7]. This setup is a selective laser melting (SLM) setup. The setup 200 includes a first feed tank 202 containing a powder 204 of material and a build platform 206 on which the part 10 is manufactured. The setup 200 also includes a scanning element 208 for transferring a quantity of the powder 204 from the first feed tank 202 onto the build platform 206. The scanning element 208 also determines the quantity of powder and the powder thickness according to a control signal. Advantageously, but not exclusively, the build platform 206 is movable along a vertical translation Z within a second tank 210 and forms the movable bottom of this second tank 210.The first feed tank 202 also includes a movable bottom 212 moving vertically and upwards along the Z-axis as the powder 204 is transferred onto the manufacturing support 206. The installation 200 also includes a laser beam generation element 214 for melting the powder intended to produce the Part 10. This laser beam generation element 214 is coupled to means 216 for directing the laser beam 220, particularly towards the fabrication support 206. The means 216 for directing the laser beam 220 generated by the generation element 214 include first and second mirrors. The installation 200 further includes a third recycling tank 218 for recycling unused or unfused powder. The process consists of manufacturing part 10 by layering powder from the first feed tank 202, which is transferred to the fabrication support 206. These powder layers are then melted one after another by the laser beam 220 moving across the surface of each layer.

[0084] After the production of part 10 by additive manufacturing, the process continues with a step of removing excess powder contained in the first cavity of the part produced. The excess is evacuated from the first cavity 20 through the through openings 182 attached to the frustoconical wall, here the inlet wall, each forming an evacuation channel 30 for the excess powder.

[0085] Such depowdering channels 30 allow the part to be depowdered after it has been produced by additive manufacturing. This is done by rotating the part to allow the residual powder to flow out of the part by gravity, as indicated by arrows F2. In other words, the part 10 thus produced is rotated so that its longitudinal axis C is vertical and the frustoconical wall, here the inlet wall, is facing downwards. Thus, the powder contained in the first cavity 20 can flow down the slope of the frustoconical wall as indicated by arrows F2, possibly through the openings 402 in the annular wall 40 and then through the openings 182 in the tube 18 to the outlet 140 in the frustoconical wall, here the inlet wall.

[0086] Naturally, the invention is described above by way of example. It is understood that a person skilled in the art is able to carry out different embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0087] It is emphasized that all features, as they appear to a person skilled in the art from this description, the drawings and the attached claims, even if in practice they have only been described in relation to other specific features, both individually and in any combinations, can be combined with other features or groups of features disclosed herein, provided that this has not been expressly excluded or that technical circumstances make such combinations impossible or meaningless.

Claims

Demands

1. Aircraft part (10) comprising: - a cylindrical body (12) extending along a longitudinal axis (C), - a fluid inlet wall (14) and a fluid outlet wall (16), fixed respectively to an upstream end (12A) and a downstream end (12B) of the cylindrical body (12), the walls (14, 16) being annular and at least one of the walls having a frustoconical shape, - a cylindrical tube (18) extending along the longitudinal axis (C) from the inlet wall (14) to the outlet wall (16) inside the cylindrical body (12), the tube (18) comprising a plurality of through orifices (180), and - a cavity (20) delimited radially by the body (12) and the tube (18) and axially by the inlet (14) and outlet (16) walls,the part being characterized in that it is a single piece and that the tube (18) has a row of through openings (182) attached to the frustoconical wall and arranged regularly in a circumferential direction of the tube (18).

2. Part according to claim 1, in which each opening (182) of the tube (18) is delimited by a perimeter comprising a circular portion (182C) and a linear portion (182L), the linear portion (182L) being in contact with the frustoconical wall.

3. Part according to claim 2, wherein the circular portion (182C) of the perimeter of each opening (182) of the tube has an internal diameter identical to the internal diameter of the orifices (180) of the tube (18).

4. A part according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the orifices (180) are arranged regularly in the tube (18) forming a pattern of perforations (M) and wherein each opening (182) of the tube is aligned with several orifices (180) of the tube.

5. Part according to the preceding claim, wherein the perforation pattern (M) extends from the inlet wall (14) to the outlet wall (16) and the through openings (182) of the tube are arranged regularly forming the same perforation pattern as the through orifices (180) of the tube.

6. Part according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising an annular wall (40) concentric with the body (12) of the part, extending from the inlet wall (14) to the outlet wall (16) and arranged between the body (12) and the tube (18) and in which the annular wall (40) has another row of through openings (402) attached to the frustoconical wall and arranged regularly in a circumferential direction of the wall (40), each through opening (402) of the annular wall (40) being arranged opposite a through opening (182) of the tube (18).

7. Part according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the part is a body of a water separator.

8. Air conditioning system, in particular for aircraft, comprising at least one part (10) according to any one of the preceding claims.

9. Aircraft comprising an air conditioning system according to claim 8 or a part (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. A method for manufacturing a part according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 7, comprising at least the following steps: - production of the part by additive manufacturing by selective laser melting on a powder bed; - removal of excess powder contained in the cavity of the part produced, the excess being evacuated through through openings attached to the frustoconical wall, each forming a channel for evacuating excess powder.

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