Profilometric control device

Abstract

The invention relates to a profilometric control device (1) for parts of a turbomachine for an aircraft, comprising an endoscopic sheath (3) having an orientable endoscopic end (31), wherein the profilometric control device comprises a profilometric measurement sheath (5) extending along the endoscopic sheath, the profilometric measurement sheath comprising an orientable measurement end (51).

Description

DESCRIPTION TITLE: PROFILOMETRIC CONTROL DEVICE TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to the field of aircraft turbomachinery component inspection. In particular, the invention relates to a profilometric inspection device for aircraft turbomachinery components. STATE OF PRIOR ART

[0002] Currently, during aircraft turbomachine maintenance, components, particularly the blades, are visually inspected using an endoscopic device with an endoscopic sheath. This sheath illuminates the surface of the component being inspected, allowing visualization of that surface to detect potential defects and assess their depth. The purpose of this operation is to determine if the visualized defect constitutes a non-conformity beyond the specified criteria, thus requiring replacement of the inspected component and consequently the removal and dismantling of the aircraft turbomachine. This, in turn, lengthens maintenance time and aircraft downtime. Existing endoscopic devices of this kind are described, for example, in documents EP2412290, US2018 / 184887, and US2014 / 221748.

[0003] However, measuring the defect from an endoscopic image leads to evaluation errors. In particular, the defect may be assessed on the endoscopic image as non-compliant and outside the criteria, whereas once the part is disassembled, it turns out to be within the criteria and therefore acceptable. The disassembly of the turbomachine was then unnecessary, and the aircraft was grounded unnecessarily. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0004] One aim of the invention is to provide a profilometric control device which minimizes evaluation errors and thus improves the reliability of defect measurement without dismantling the turbomachine.

[0005] To this end, according to the invention, a profilometric control device for parts of an aircraft turbomachine is provided, comprising an endoscopic sheath having a steerable endoscopic end, in which the profilometric control device includes a profilometric measuring sheath extending along the endoscopic sheath, the profilometric measuring sheath having a steerable measuring end.

[0006] Advantageously, but optionally, the device according to the invention has at least one of the following technical characteristics: - the profilometric measurement sheath is attached to the endoscopic sheath; - the measuring end can be oriented independently of the endoscopic end; - the profilometric measuring end includes a freely mounted sliding measuring stylus in the profilometric measuring end; - the profilometric measuring sheath includes a flexible transmission rod received by sliding and attached to the measuring stylus; - the profilometric measurement end includes a means for emitting a planar laser beam and a means for recording the reflected laser beam; - the transmission and recording means respectively comprise an optical fiber running through the profilometric measurement sheath; and, - the device includes a management and control system for the endoscopic tip and a measurement and control system for the measurement tip.

[0007] The invention also provides for an installation comprising a profilometric control device having at least one of the preceding technical characteristics, an aircraft turbomachine comprising a part to be inspected, in which, during an inspection, the endoscopic and measuring ends are arranged so as to be able to be introduced into the turbomachine.

[0008] Advantageously, but optionally, the installation according to the invention has the following technical characteristic: - the turbomachine is mounted on the aircraft.

[0009] The invention also provides for a profilometric control method for parts of an aircraft turbomachine, the method being implemented using a profilometric control device having at least one of the preceding technical characteristics, the method comprising the steps of: a) Introducing the endoscopic and measuring ends into the turbomachine until reaching a part to be inspected; b) Searching for a defect possibly present on a surface of the inspected part using the endoscopic end; and, c) Measuring a profile of the defect thus found using the measuring end.

[0010] Advantageously, but optionally, the process according to the invention has the following technical characteristic: - the process includes an additional step of classifying the defect thus sought from the profile thus measured. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0011] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment of the invention. See the attached drawings: [Fig.1] is a schematic view of a first embodiment of a profilometric control device according to the invention; [Fig.2] is a schematic view of a second embodiment of a profilometric control device according to the invention; [Fig.3] is a flowchart of a profilometric control process implemented using a profilometric control device according to the invention; [Fig.4} is a partial three-dimensional schematic view of part of a turbomachine.

[0012] For clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by identical reference symbols across all figures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A METHOD OF IMPLEMENTATION

[0013] With reference to Figure 1, we will describe a first embodiment of a profilometric control device 1 according to the invention. The profilometric control device 1 according to the invention is intended to allow the detection of a defect 41 on a surface 42 of a component 4 of an aircraft turbomachine 40, and then to establish a profile of said defect 41. As illustrated in Figure 4, the turbomachine 40 includes, among other elements, at least one turbine 43 comprising several components 4, which are blades. The component 4 has, between a leading edge and a trailing edge, a surface 42 which, during operation, is subject to impacts leading to the appearance of defects 41 that must be evaluated in order to classify them according to a degree of non-conformity.

[0014] The profilometric control device 1 according to the invention comprises a housing 2 in which are provided, on the one hand, a management and control system 23 and, on the other hand, a measurement and control system 25.

[0015] The profilometric control device 1 according to the invention comprises an endoscopic sheath 3, known per se. The endoscopic sheath 3 is connected, at a proximal end, to the control and monitoring system 23 of the housing 2 of the profilometric control device 1 according to the invention. Furthermore, the endoscopic sheath 3 comprises a distal endoscopic end 31. The endoscopic end 31 is orientable and includes a lighting and viewing means 32. The lighting and viewing means 32 is, for example, an optical fiber providing a light beam to illuminate the surface 42 of the part 4 and returning a light beam reflected by the surface 42 to a camera included in the control and monitoring system 23. The control and monitoring system 23 allows the endoscopic end 31 to be controlled and monitored and, for this purpose, includes means for controlling, known per se, the orientation of the endoscopic end 31.

[0016] On the other hand, the profilometric control device 1 according to the invention comprises a profilometric measuring sheath 5. The profilometric measuring sheath 5 extends along the endoscopic sheath 3. Here, the profilometric measuring sheath 5 is integral with the endoscopic sheath 3. At one proximal end, the profilometric measuring sheath 5 is connected to the measuring and control system 25 of the housing 2 of the profilometric control device 1 according to the invention. Distally, the profilometric measuring sheath 5 has a measuring end 51. The measuring end 51 is orientable, and an orientation of the measuring end 51 is controlled by the measuring and control system 25. To this end, the measuring and control system 25 includes control means, similar to the control means of the control system 23, for an orientation of the measuring end 51.Here, the measuring end 51 is orientable independently of the endoscopic end 31, that is to say that the measuring end 51 is not fixed to the endoscopic end 31, unlike the rest of the profilometric measuring sheath 5 which is fixed to the endoscopic sheath 3. This allows for greater flexibility in the use of the profilometric control device 1 according to the invention.

[0017] The measuring end 51 comprises a measuring stylus 6 including a probing tip 60. The stylus 6 is mounted to slide freely within the measuring end 51. The measuring stylus 6 is, moreover, attached to a flexible rod 7 which slides freely within the profilometric measuring sheath 5 from the measuring end 51 to the measuring and control system 25. Thus, a translational movement of the probing tip 60, and therefore of the measuring stylus 6, is transmitted to the flexible rod 7, which then takes up this translational movement within the profilometric measuring sheath 5. The probing tip 60 includes at its tip a microscopic sphere with a radius of a few microns. This sphere, often made of diamond or a hard stone such as sapphire, is attached to a frustoconical support. Thus, the probing tip 60 is conispherical in shape.

[0018] By default, the microscopic sphere of the 60 probe tip has a radius of 2 pm, and the frustoconical support has an opening of 60°. But the manufacturers They offer many models with various features, particularly regarding the length and height of the stylus.

[0019] At the proximal end of the flexible rod 7, the translational movement is then measured by a displacement sensor provided for this purpose within the measurement and control system 25. This measurement is then recorded and allows an associated profile to be established as will be discussed later in the description.

[0020] Now, with reference to Figure 2, we will describe a second embodiment of a profilometric control device 10 according to the invention. As before, the profilometric control device 10 according to the invention is intended to allow the detection of a defect 41 on a surface 42 of a part 41 of an aircraft turbomachine, and then to establish a profile of said defect 41.

[0021] The profilometric control device 10 according to the invention differs from the profilometric control device 1 according to the invention previously described in the profilometric measuring sheath 50. In this second embodiment of the profilometric control device 10 according to the invention, the profilometric measuring sheath 50 comprises a steerable measuring end 501, here independently of the endoscopic end 31. At a proximal end, the profilometric measuring sheath 50 is connected to a measuring and control system 250. As before, the measuring and control system 250 comprises the aforementioned control means for the measuring end 501. Within the profilometric measuring sheath 50, two optical fibers 71 and 72 run.

[0022] The first optical fiber 71 carries a laser beam generated by a laser generator provided for this purpose within the measurement and control system 250 of the housing 2 of the profilometric control device 10 according to the invention. The first optical fiber 71 delivers the narrow laser beam to an emitting face 61 of the optical fiber. The emitting face 61 further includes a diffraction module that transforms the narrow laser beam into a planar laser beam which strikes the surface 42, and in particular the defect 41.

[0023] The second optical fiber 72 transmits an image of a reflected laser beam from the previous planar laser beam. For this purpose, the second optical fiber 72 has a collection face 62. The second optical fiber 72 transmits the collected image to a camera within the measurement and control system 250. A profile of the surface 42, and consequently of the defect 41, is established from this collected image, which represents the cross-section of the plane of the planar laser beam and the surface 42. The camera of the measurement and control system 250 is known in itself and comprises a light-sensitive matrix that receives the collected image transmitted by the second optical fiber 72, and a signal processor capable of processing the image recorded by the matrix. At the output of the measurement and control system 250, an associated profile of the surface 42 and the defect 41 is generated for further analysis.

[0024] The profilometric control device 1,10 according to the invention is intended to be housed in an installation comprising said profilometric control device 1,10 according to the invention and an aircraft turbomachine including a part 4 to be inspected, such that the endoscopic ends 31 and measuring ends 51,501 can be introduced into the turbomachine towards the part 4 to be inspected. Alternatively, the turbomachine is mounted on the aircraft, in particular under the wing.

[0025] With reference now to Figure 3, we will describe a profilometric control method according to the invention for parts of an aircraft turbomachine. The profilometric control method is implemented using a profilometric control device 1.10 according to the invention described above.

[0026] In a first step 100, the endoscopic tips 31 and measuring tips 51,501 are inserted into the turbomachine until they reach a part 4 to be inspected. The turbomachine thus inspected is then mounted on the aircraft, for example, under the wing. Alternatively, the turbomachine thus inspected is removed, i.e., taken off the aircraft.

[0027] In a second step 200, a search for a defect 41 possibly present on a surface 42 of the inspected part 4 is carried out using the endoscopic end 31 of the profilometric control device 1,10 according to the invention.

[0028] Once the defect 41 has been located, in a step 300, a measurement of a profile of the defect 41 thus found is carried out using the measuring end 51,501 of the profilometric control device 1,10 according to the invention.

[0029] Once the profile of defect 41 has been measured, it is analyzed and classified in a subsequent step 400.

[0030] The classification of the profile thus measured and therefore of the defect 41 found makes it possible to determine whether the defect 41 is a non-conformity that must be dealt with.

[0031] The use of a profilometric control device 1,10 according to the invention and the profilometric control method according to the invention makes it possible to inspect an aircraft turbomachine without having to remove said turbomachine, thereby reducing aircraft maintenance downtime. Indeed, the turbomachine is only removed and disassembled if part 4 needs to be replaced because it has a non-conforming defect 41. This improves the accuracy and reliability of the defect depth measurements 41 and, consequently, reduces removals due to poor measurement reliability.

[0032] In practice, the use of a 1.10 profilometric control device according to the invention and the profilometric control method according to the invention makes it possible to improve the reliability of measurements under the wing and facilitate the handling of non-conformities observed under the wing. This results in cost savings, as unnecessary removals are limited, and it is thus possible to anticipate the establishment of inspection criteria for a turbomachine; in particular, it allows for a better prediction of the remaining lifespan of the blades, and therefore enables the repair of parts.

[0033] Naturally, the invention described above is by way of example. It is understood that a person skilled in the art is capable of carrying out different embodiments of the invention without departing from its scope.

[0034] It is emphasized that all the characteristics, as they emerge to a person of the art from the present description, the drawings and the attached claims, even if concretely they have only been described in relationship with other specified characteristics, both individually and in any combinations, may be combined with other characteristics or groups of characteristics disclosed herein, provided that this has not been expressly excluded or that technical circumstances render such combinations impossible or meaningless.

Claims

DEMANDS 1. Profilometric control device (1;10) of parts (4) of an aircraft turbomachine comprising an endoscopic sheath (3) having a steerable endoscopic end (31), in which the profilometric control device comprises a profilometric measuring sheath (5;50) extending along the endoscopic sheath (3), the profilometric measuring sheath (5;50) having a steerable measuring end (51;501).

2. Device according to claim 1, in which the profilometric measuring sheath (5;50) is integral with the endoscopic sheath (3).

3. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the measuring end (51; 501) is orientable independently of the endoscopic end (31).

4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the profilometric measuring end (51) comprises a measuring stylus (6) mounted freely to slide in the profilometric measuring end (51).

5. Device according to claim 4, wherein the profilometric measuring sheath (5) comprises a flexible transmission rod (7) received by sliding and integral with the measuring stylus (6).

6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the profilometric measuring end (501) comprises a means for emitting (61, 71) a planar Laser beam and a means for recording (62, 72) the reflected Laser beam.

7. Device according to claim 6, wherein the transmission and recording means respectively comprise an optical fiber (71, 72) running in the profilometric measurement sheath (50).

8. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the device comprises a management and control system (23) of the endoscopic tip (31) and a measurement and control system (25;250) of the measuring tip (51;501).

9. Installation comprising a profilometric control device (1;10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, an aircraft turbomachine (40) comprising a part (4) to be inspected, in which, during an inspection, the endoscopic (31) and measuring (51;501) ends are arranged so as to be able to be introduced into the turbomachine (40).

10. Installation according to claim 9, wherein the turbomachine (40) is mounted on the aircraft.

11. A method for profilometric inspection of parts of an aircraft turbomachine, the method being carried out using a profilometric inspection device (1; 10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the method comprising the steps of: a) Introducing (100) the endoscopic (31) and measuring (51; 501) ends into the turbomachine until a part (4) to be inspected is reached; b) Searching (200) for a defect (41) possibly present on a surface (42) of the inspected part using the endoscopic end; and, c) Measuring (300) a profile of the defect thus found using the measuring end.

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein the method includes an additional step of classifying (400) the defect thus sought from the profile thus measured.

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