Aircraft Engine Component Testing Using Statistical Tolerance Ranges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for testing components, such as aircraft engine parts, are inefficient due to narrow tolerance ranges that lead to high manufacturing effort and low reliability, as they only check individual parameter values within specified ranges without considering statistical distributions.
Innovation Solution
A method that determines actual values of component parameters, calculates statistical parameters, and classifies components based on both individual and statistical parameter ranges to assess reliability and functionality, allowing for larger tolerances and reduced manufacturing effort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If narrow value ranges are specified for all component parameters to ensure required properties, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter specification from fixed narrow tolerances to statistical parameter ranges (mean, standard deviation, skewness, kurtosis). This allows broader individual value ranges while maintaining reliability through statistical control, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and manufacturing effort
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic statistical evaluation that adapts to the actual distribution of measured values. Instead of static fixed tolerances, the system dynamically assesses whether the statistical parameters fall within acceptable ranges, allowing flexibility in individual values while ensuring overall reliability
2Reliability
If narrow value ranges are specified for all component parameters, then functionality is ensured, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the acceptance criteria from fixed parameter ranges to statistical parameter ranges. This allows manufacturers to produce components with broader individual tolerances, reducing manufacturing cost while ensuring functionality through statistical validation that the component population meets required performance characteristics
3Reliability
If statistical parameters are considered in addition to individual values, then reliability increases, but measurement precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges individual value measurement with statistical parameter calculation into a unified evaluation process. By combining multiple individual measurements to derive statistical parameters (mean, standard deviation, skewness, kurtosis), the system achieves higher reliability through population-based assessment while the required precision for individual measurements remains practical
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for testing a component (10), in particular an aircraft engine, comprising the steps of: - determining (S20) an actual value of a first parameter of a first feature (11.1) of the component; - determining (S20) an actual value of the first parameter of at least one further feature (11.2, 11.10, 11.12) of the component; - determining (S30) a first statistical characteristic of these actual values of the first parameter; and - classifying (S40, S50) the component on the basis of the first statistical characteristic and the actual values of the first parameter, wherein the component is classified into a predetermined quality class (S45) if the first statistical characteristic lies outside a predetermined first characteristic range or at least one of these actual values of the first parameter lies outside a predetermined first value range.