Method and apparatus to locally test pressure seal
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorDaniel D. Poblete
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tool for conducting localized testing of the integrity of a pressure seal on an aircraft. The tool comprises a body having an exterior surface and an interior cavity. A peripheral edge on the body defines an opening to the interior cavity. The tool is positioned on an aircraft over the pressure seal to be tested with the interior cavity communicating with the pressure seal. A sealing member is positioned between the aircraft and the peripheral edge so that a fluid tight seal is formed between the tool and the aircraft. A vacuum is created in the interior cavity. After a predetermined length of time the amount of vacuum in the interior cavity is observed and the integrity of the pressure seal is determined.
Claims18
A method of running a cable from an interior of an aircraft to an exterior of the aircraft through an opening in a fuselage of the aircraft, the method comprising:
- (a) inserting a guide member through an opening in a fuselage of an aircraft;
- (b) forming a first seal between said guide member and said opening;
- (c) inserting a cable through an opening in said guide member so that said cable extends through said fuselage of said aircraft;
- (d) forming a second seal between said guide member and said cable;
- (e) applying a vacuum to said first and second seals;
- and
- (f) observing a level of said vacuum after a period of time.
A method of running a cable from an interior of an aircraft to an exterior of the aircraft through an opening in a fuselage of the aircraft, the method comprising:
- (a) inserting a cable through an opening in a fuselage of an aircraft with said cable extending from an interior of said aircraft to an exterior of said aircraft;
- (b) forming a seal between said cable and said opening;
- (c) applying a vacuum to said seal;
- and
- (d) observing a level of said vacuum after a period of time.
A method of running a cable from an interior of an aircraft to an exterior of the aircraft through an opening in a fuselage of the aircraft, the method comprising:
- (a) inserting a guide member through an opening in a fuselage of an aircraft;
- (b) forming a first seal between said guide member and said opening;
- (c) applying a vacuum to said first seal;
- and
- (d) observing a level of said vacuum after a period of time.
A method of locally testing a cable seal used to seal a cable assembly that extends through a fuselage of an aircraft, the method comprising:
- (a) providing an aircraft having a cable seal operable to seal a cable assembly that passes through a fuselage in said aircraft;
- (b) providing a tool having a body with an interior cavity and an opening that allows access to said interior cavity;
- (c) positioning said tool on said aircraft with said tool opening surrounding said cable seal and said interior cavity communicating with said cable seal;
- (d) creating a vacuum in said interior cavity of said tool so that said cable seal experiences said vacuum;
- and
- (e) observing a level of said vacuum in said interior cavity after a predetermined length time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.