Electromagnetic Test Chamber With Removable Platform
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electromagnetic testing methods for aircraft components are time-consuming and expensive due to the need for large chambers, extensive gas usage, and lengthy setup and teardown processes, which hinder efficient evaluation of components' resistance to lightning strikes and electrical arcing.
Innovation Solution
A compact test chamber with a movable platform, gas supply system, and electrical connectors allows for rapid testing of specimens by simulating electromagnetic effects with a flammable gas mixture and electrical current, using multiple trays to increase testing efficiency and reduce gas consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If large chambers are used to test components for electromagnetic effects, then the testing can accommodate many different components, but the testing becomes time-consuming and expensive due to extensive gas requirements and lengthy setup/teardown processes
Solution Approach 1:
The test chamber is divided into a fixed chamber structure and a removable test platform. The platform can be quickly swapped between tests, allowing different components to be tested without dismantling the entire setup. This segmentation maintains versatility while dramatically reducing setup/teardown time between tests.
Solution Approach 2:
The test platform is designed to be movable and removable from the chamber. This dynamic configuration allows the system to adapt to different testing requirements by simply replacing the platform, rather than requiring permanent installation changes or extensive reconfiguration for each test type.
2Adaptability or versatility
If large chambers are used for testing, then components can be tested, but additional gas mixture is required which increases cost and time to fill the chamber multiple times
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the chamber from the test platform, the system allows the chamber to remain filled with gas mixture between tests while only the small platform needs to be quickly replaced. This eliminates the need to refill the entire large chamber volume for each test, significantly reducing gas consumption and refilling time.
3Reliability
If existing testing systems are used, then electromagnetic effects can be simulated, but the test setup must be dismantled and reassembled between tests which is time-consuming and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The testing system is segmented into a permanent chamber infrastructure and a removable test platform. The platform contains the specific test setup for each component and can be quickly removed and replaced without affecting the chamber's electromagnetic simulation capabilities. This maintains test reliability while enabling rapid throughput by eliminating complete setup teardown cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The test platform is prepared with the specific electromagnetic test setup in advance outside the chamber. This preliminary configuration allows the platform to be pre-assembled and then quickly inserted into the chamber for testing, eliminating the need to reassemble the entire test setup inside the chamber for each component test.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution significantly reduces testing time and gas requirements, enabling faster and more reliable evaluation of components' resistance to electromagnetic effects, with the ability to perform multiple tests in a shorter period without extensive setup changes.
Implementation Method 1
an electrical current travels through the specimen when the electrical current is supplied by an electrical current source
Implementation Method 2
Flash ignition of the specimen occurs when the flammable gas evolved from the specimen is ignited by the heat of the arc discharge
Implementation Method 3
the flammable gas evolved from the specimen is ignited by the heat of the arc discharge
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus and method for testing electromagnetic effects. In one advantageous embodiment, the apparatus has a chamber, a door connected to the chamber, a gas supply system attached to the chamber, a plurality of electrical connectors attached to the chamber, a removable platform, and a specimen holding. The chamber has an opening into an interior space located in the chamber. The door closes to seal the opening and prevents a flammable gaseous mixture in the interior space from leaking out of the interior space of the chamber. The gas supply system is configured for connection to the gas supply system to allow introduction of the flammable gaseous mixture into the interior space. The removable platform is moveable into and out of the interior space of the chamber through the opening. The specimen holding system located on the removable platform and is configured to hold a specimen and is electrically connected to the plurality of electrical connectors when the removable platform is placed into the chamber, wherein an electrical current travels through the specimen when the electrical current is supplied by an electrical current source that is connected to the plurality of electrical connectors.