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.
Claims13
A tool for locally testing a pressure seal on an aircraft, the tool comprising:
- a body having an exterior surface, an interior cavity and a peripheral edge that defines an opening in the body that communicates with the interior cavity, the body being configured and adapted to withstand a vacuum created and held in the interior cavity without the body collapsing and the body being configured to allow an exterior portion of a feed through passing through an opening in a fuselage of an aircraft to fit within the interior cavity;
- a sealing member, the sealing member providing a fluid tight seal between the peripheral edge and the aircraft so that a vacuum can be created in the interior cavity, the sealing member allowing the interior cavity to communicate with a pressure seal that seals the feed through to the opening in the fuselage on the aircraft;
- and
- a vacuum source connected to an interior portion of the feed through and communicating with the interior cavity so that a vacuum can be created in the interior cavity.
A method of locally testing a pressure seal on an aircraft, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing an aircraft having a pressure seal around a feed through passing through an opening in a fuselage of the aircraft which needs to be tested;
- providing a tool having a body with an interior cavity and an opening that allows access to the interior cavity;
- providing a sealing member;
- positioning the tool on the aircraft with the tool opening surrounding the pressure seal and with the sealing member positioned between the tool and the aircraft so that the interior cavity communicates with the pressure seal and a fluid tight seal is formed between the tool and the aircraft;
- creating a vacuum of a predetermined level in the interior cavity of the tool with a vacuum source connected to an interior portion of the feed through so that the pressure seal experiences the vacuum;
- and
- observing the level of vacuum in the interior cavity after a predetermined length time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.