Aircraft Engine Robot Mounting for Stable Borescope Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
During in situ inspection of aircraft engines, it is challenging to maintain the position and orientation of mobile inspection robots and borescopes due to vibrations and movements of the engine, which can disrupt the predefined inspection path and data reproducibility.
Innovation Solution
A device with a positioning and orientation adjusting unit and a rigid connector is used to secure the mobile inspection robot to the aircraft engine, ensuring that the relative position and orientation of the robot remain fixed in at least one degree of freedom, even when the engine moves, by employing a suspension or holding device with adjustable components like telescopic extension arms and stay cables.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the mobile inspection robot is held in a fixed position relative to the aircraft engine, then the position stability is improved, but the adaptability to engine movements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The holding device incorporates adjustable components including telescopic extension arms that can dynamically change length, and positioning units with multiple degrees of freedom that can adapt the robot's position and orientation. This dynamic structure allows the system to maintain stable positioning while adapting to engine vibrations and movements during inspection operations
2Stability of the object's composition
If the connector provides rigid connection in all degrees of freedom, then the position and orientation fixation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector provides rigid connection with fixed relative position specifically in the critical inspection directions (along the borescope insertion path), while allowing flexibility in other degrees of freedom through the adjustable positioning units. This selective rigidity approach ensures inspection accuracy without requiring complete rigid fixation in all directions
3Adaptability or versatility
If the positioning adjusting unit is highly adjustable, then the adaptability to different inspection paths is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning and orientation adjusting unit is designed with multiple degrees of freedom and telescopic extension arms that can accommodate various inspection paths and angles. This universal positioning mechanism can adapt to different borescope insertion points and trajectories, making the device versatile for multiple inspection scenarios without requiring separate specialized fixtures for each path
Data Source
AI summary
A device secures a mobile inspection robot to an aircraft engine. The mobile inspection robot is designed to insert a borescope into the aircraft engine to be inspected. The device includes: at least one positioning or orientation adjusting unit configured to adjust the position or orientation of the mobile inspection robot in relation to the aircraft engine to be inspected and at least one connector for providing a connection, which is rigid in at least one degree of freedom, between the mobile inspection robot and the aircraft engine to be inspected, in order to fix, in at least one degree of freedom, the relative position or orientation of the mobile inspection robot in relation to the aircraft engine to be inspected.