Climatic test conditioning apparatus, system and method
AssigneesROLLS-ROYCE plc, Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
InventorsGiovanni A. MARENGO, Ariane REMMERT, Maria KIMMERLE, Ricardo Miguel DOS SANTOS RAMOS LOPES E PAIVA, Jeffrey T. PETERS
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Abstract
A climatic test conditioning apparatus for conditioning a machine for climatic testing comprises a base and an inflatable wall connected to the base. The inflatable wall has at least one port for at least partial inflation and deflation of the inflatable wall. The at least partially inflated inflatable wall and base define a volume that envelopes the machine. Also disclosed is a system and method for climatic test conditioning a machine.
Claims14
A climatic test conditioning apparatus for conditioning a gas turbine engine for climatic testing, the climatic test conditioning apparatus comprising:
- a base;
- and
- an inflatable wall connected to the base, the inflatable wall comprising at least one port for at least partial inflation and deflation of the inflatable wall;
- wherein the at least partially inflated inflatable wall and the base define a volume enveloping the machine.
A system for climatic test conditioning a gas turbine engine, the system comprising:
- a test stand for mounting the gas turbine engine;
- a climatic test conditioning apparatus comprising a base and an inflatable wall connected to the base, the inflatable wall and base defining a volume enveloping the gas turbine engine;
- an air pressure source for at least partially inflating the inflatable wall;
- a cooling fluid supply for supplying a cooling fluid to volume;
- and
- at least one temperature measurement means for determining when a climatic test condition threshold is reached.
A method of climatic test conditioning a machine, the method comprising the steps of:
- locating a climatic test conditioning apparatus such that a footprint of the climatic test conditioning apparatus surrounds the machine;
- inflating the climatic test conditioning apparatus to form a volume that envelops the machine;
- supplying cooling fluid to the volume;
- suspending the supply of cooling fluid to the volume in determination of at least one temperature of the machine crossing a threshold temperature;
- at least partially deflating the climatic test conditioning apparatus such that the volume no longer envelops the machine;
- and
- securing the at least partially deflated climatic test conditioning apparatus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.