Method and apparatus for detecting a leakage of a vacuum assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12066352-B2
Application number	US-201816644064-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 3, 2018
Priority date	Sep 4, 2017
Publication date	Aug 20, 2024
Grant date	Aug 20, 2024

Abstract

The present invention comprises a method for detecting a leak in a vacuum assembly comprising the steps:
implementation of a first detection process to identify a leak area, involving
the supply of a vacuum assembly which has a plurality of sensors for detecting a parameter, the determination of values of the parameter over time during the evacuation of a cavity of the vacuum assembly, the creation of a value-time curve for each sensor of the vacuum assembly from the values detected for the respective sensors by means of an evaluation unit, the comparison of the value-time curves created with one another and identification of differences depending on the comparison by means of the evaluation unit, and the identification of a leak area in the vacuum assembly depending on the differences determined in the value-time curves and the respective position of the sensor in relation to the vacuum assembly; and
implementation of a second detection process following the first detection process to detect the leak within the leak area identified, involving
the supply of an additional detection device which is designed to identify a leak in a vacuum assembly, and the detection of a leak within the leak area by means of the detection device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for detecting a leak in a vacuum assembly, comprising:
identifying a leak area, comprising
supplying a vacuum assembly which has a plurality of sensors for detecting a parameter,
detecting values of the parameter over time during evacuation of a cavity of the vacuum assembly,
creating, with an evaluation unit, a value-time curve for each sensor of the vacuum assembly from the values detected for the respective sensors,
comparing, with the evaluation unit, the value-time curves created with one another and identifying differences depending on the comparison, and
identifying the leak area in the vacuum assembly depending on the differences determined in the value-time curves and the respective position of the sensor in the vacuum assembly; and then

detecting the leak within the leak area, comprising
supplying a detection device designed to identify the leak in the vacuum assembly, and
detecting the leak within the leak area using the detection device.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the detection device has a detection area within which the detection device is configured, wherein the detection device is oriented such that the detection area lies at least partially within the leak area.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising moving the detection area within the leak area.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the detection device is configured to detect the leak by thermography.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the parameter is a physical parameter selected from the group consisting of sound, force, and flow rate.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the value-time curves created are standardized in terms of their characteristic curve and thereby compared to determine differences.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the value-time curves are compared in terms of amplitude and/or time, wherein depending on differences in terms of amplitude and/or time, the leak area is then determined.

8. A method for producing a fiber composite component from a fiber material and a matrix material, comprising: introducing the fiber material into a cavity of a vacuum assembly, infiltrating the fiber material with the matrix material, curing the matrix material evacuating the cavity of the vacuum assembly, and detecting a leak in the vacuum assembly according to claim 1 .

9. A device for producing a fiber composite component from a fiber material and a matrix material, wherein the fiber material is introduced into the cavity of the vacuum assembly, infiltrated with the matrix material and cured, wherein the device is designed to implement the method as claimed in claim 1 .

Assignees

• Deutsches Zentrum Fuer Luft—Und Raumfahrt E V
• Airbus Operations Gmbh
• Deutsches Zentrum Fuer Luft—Und Raumfahrt

Inventors

• Ucan Hakan
• Haschenburger Anja
• Heim Clemens
• Hesse Jan Timo

Classifications

• G01M3/24

  using infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic vibrations · CPC title

• B29C70/54

  Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations {, e.g. feeding or storage of prepregs or SMC after impregnation or during ageing} · CPC title

• B29C70/443

  and impregnating by vacuum or injection · CPC title

• G01N25/72

  Investigating presence of flaws · CPC title

• G01M3/002 Primary

  by using thermal means · CPC title