Sealed Engine Cavity Access Tube for In-Situ Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines face wear and damage during operation, requiring time-consuming inspection and repair processes that often involve disassembly, which can be cumbersome, especially for aviation applications where engines need to be removed and disassembled for access.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus for insertion into a gas turbine engine's cavity, comprising a tube with an aperture and a plug, actuated to seal or expose the aperture, allowing for inspection, repair, or fluid control, equipped with optical fibers and sensors for non-destructive examination, enabling operations without disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If disassembly is performed to access internal components for inspection and repair, then access to internal components is achieved, but maintenance time and operational downtime increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into multiple functional components: a seal member that interfaces with the cavity opening, a tube member that provides structural support and fluid pathway, and an aperture that enables selective access. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, enabling the aperture to provide access without requiring disassembly of the entire engine structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus acts as an intermediary device between the external inspection/repair tools and the internal cavity of the engine. By positioning the aperture within the cavity environment and providing a sealed interface, it mediates the connection between external tools and internal components, allowing maintenance operations to proceed without full disassembly.
2Ease of operation
If the cavity is opened for inspection and repair operations, then access to internal components is enabled, but the sealed environment is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The aperture provides dynamic access to the cavity - it can be opened to allow insertion of inspection and repair tools, then closed to restore the sealed environment. This dynamic capability enables the system to transition between sealed and accessible states, maintaining reliability when sealed while enabling access when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal member is positioned to prevent premature or unauthorized access to the cavity while allowing controlled access through the aperture. By providing this preliminary protective action, the system prevents unwanted contamination or damage while still enabling legitimate inspection and repair operations through the designated aperture opening.
3Productivity
If tools and sensors are inserted into the cavity for repair and inspection, then maintenance operations can be performed, but the risk of contamination or damage to the sealed environment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The aperture serves as a controlled intermediary interface that allows tools and sensors to enter the cavity while maintaining environmental control. By providing this defined access point rather than full opening, it mediates between the need for maintenance operations and the need to prevent contamination, allowing selective passage of maintenance equipment while blocking contaminants.
Data Source
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AI summary
Apparatus for insertion into a cavity of an object, the apparatus comprising: a first tube comprising a first end, a second end, a first cavity extending between the first end and the second end, and an aperture at the second end; a member positioned within the first cavity of the first tube and adjacent the aperture of the first tube, the member being configured to enable an action to be performed; a plug coupled to the second end of the first tube; and an actuator configured to move the first tube relative to the object between a first position in which the plug seals the member from the cavity of the object, and a second position in which the member is exposed to the cavity of the object.