Apparatus and method for pressurising an aircraft cabin structure and measuring the amount of leakage of the aircraft cabin structure

Apparatus for pressurising an aircraft cabin structure and measuring the amount of leakage of the aircraft cabin structure, which comprises:

• an air supply line which at a first end is connectable to a pressurized air source and which at a second end is connectable to the aircraft cabin structure so as to supply pressurized air from the pressurized air source into the aircraft cabin structure,
• an air supply valve disposed in the air supply line,
• a pressure sensor for sensing the pressure inside the aircraft cabin structure and for providing signals indicative of the pressure inside the aircraft cabin structure,
• an air discharge line which at a first end is connectable to the aircraft cabin structure and which at a second end is connectable to an air discharge opening so as to discharge air from the inside of the aircraft cabin structure to the air discharge opening,
• an air discharge valve disposed in the air discharge line,
• at least one pressure schedule, and
• an electronic control unit which is adapted to control the air supply valve and the air discharge valve in dependence on signals provided by the pressure sensor and in dependence on a set-value from the pressure schedule so as to supply pressurized air into the aircraft cabin structure or to discharge air from the aircraft cabin structure so as to control the pressure inside the aircraft cabin structure according to the pressure schedule.

Method for pressurising an aircraft cabin structure and measuring the amount of leakage of the aircraft cabin structure, which comprises the steps of;

• supplying pressurized air from a pressurized air source into the aircraft cabin structure via an air supply line,
• sensing the pressure inside the aircraft cabin structure and providing signals indicative of the pressure inside the aircraft cabin structure by means of a pressure sensor,
• discharging air from the inside of the aircraft cabin structure to an air discharge opening via an air discharge line,
• controlling an air supply valve disposed in the air supply line and an air discharge valve disposed in the air discharge line by means of an electronic control unit in dependence on signals provided by the pressure sensor so as to supply pressurized air into the aircraft cabin structure until a first predetermined pressure level is reached inside the aircraft cabin structure, to maintain the pressure inside the aircraft cabin structure at the first predetermined level for a first predetermined period of time, and thereafter to discharge air from the inside of the aircraft cabin structure.

Method for pressurising an aircraft cabin structure and measuring the amount of leakage of the aircraft cabin structure, which comprises the steps of:

• supplying pressurized air from a pressurized air source into the aircraft cabin structure via an air supply line,
• sensing the pressure inside the aircraft cabin structure and providing signals indicative of the pressure inside the aircraft cabin structure by means of a pressure sensor,
• discharging air from the inside of the aircraft cabin structure to an air discharge opening via an air discharge line,
• providing a pressure schedule, and
• controlling an air supply valve disposed in the air supply line and an air discharge valve disposed in the air discharge line by means of an electronic control unit in dependence on signals provided by the pressure sensor and in dependence on a set-value from the pressure schedule so as to supply pressurized air into the aircraft cabin structure or to discharge air from the aircraft cabin structure so as to control the pressure inside the aircraft cabin structure according to the pressure schedule.