Device for inspecting a fibre-composite component for contaminations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9719898-B2
Application number	US-201214118477-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 16, 2012
Priority date	May 19, 2011
Publication date	Aug 1, 2017
Grant date	Aug 1, 2017

Abstract

A device and method for testing a fiber-composite component, which is to be processed by means of bonding, for the presence of at least one substance out of a selection of possible contaminants. A surface heating device for regional heating of a part-zone of the fiber-composite component to be bonded is performed for desorption of contaminants. A sensor array with a plurality of sensors detects contaminants in the gas phase, and a control device ascertains and signals contaminations which are found. An extractor device can be employed to extract machining dust from the fiber-composite component to a desorption device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for testing a fibre-composite component, which is to be processed by means of bonding, for the presence of at least one substance out of a plurality of possible contaminants, the device comprising:
a surface heating device structurally configured to regionally heat an area of the fibre-composite component to be bonded in such a manner that contaminants are desorbed;
a sensor array with a plurality of sensors structurally configured to detect all contaminants in a gas phase; and
a control device structurally configured to regulate the surface heating device, activate and readout the sensor array, and ascertain and signal detected contaminants,
wherein the device is a mobile integral unit,
wherein the surface heating device is a contact heating device.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the surface heating device is a central heated punch surrounded by the sensor array, both of which are enclosed by an outer housing.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the surface heating device is a central heated punch surrounded by an annular scattered light chamber with reflecting walls, and the device further comprise at least one IR light emitter configured to radiate into the scattered light chamber and several selective photodetectors are disposed in the wall of the scattered light chamber.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein that the surface heating device and the sensor array are disposed on different sides of the fibre-composite component.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sensor array comprises a number of metal oxide gas detectors (MOX) each of which is structurally configured to be sensitive to individual contaminants.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sensor array comprises at least one humidity sensor.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sensor array comprises at least one non-dispersive infrared sensor (NDIR).

8. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of sensors of the sensor array are selective for one or more of the following contaminants: surfactants, synthetic esters, alcohols, glycols, petrols, kerosenes, butyl phosphates, phenyl phosphates, phosphate esters, mineral oils, potassium acetates, sodium formiates, phosphates, silicates, water, moisture, butanones, methyl ethyl ketone, hydrocarbons, silicones, fluorocarbons, synthetic oils and lubricants.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the fibre-composite component is an aircraft component.

10. A device for testing a fibre-composite component, which is to be processed by means of bonding, for the presence of at least one substance out of a plurality of possible contaminants, the device comprising:
a surface heating device structurally configured to regionally heat an area of the fibre-composite component to be bonded in such a manner that contaminants are desorbed;
an annular sensor array with a plurality of sensors structurally configured to detect all contaminants in a gas phase; and
a control device structurally configured to regulate the surface heating device, activate and readout the annular sensor array, and ascertain and signal detected contaminants,
wherein the device is a mobile integral unit,
wherein the surface heating device is a heat radiating device centrally disposed and the annular sensor array surrounds a radiation range of the heat radiating device.

11. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the device further comprises an optical thermometer, coupled to the control device, which is structurally arranged to measure a temperature of an irradiated region.

12. A device for testing a fibre-composite component, which is to be processed by means of bonding, for the presence of at least one substance out of a plurality of possible contaminants, the device comprising:
an abrasive tool configured to machine dust particles from the fibre-composite component;
an extractor device structurally configured to extract machining dust particles from the fibre-composite component;
a filter device structurally configured to collect the machining dust particles;
a desorption device structurally configured to thermally desorb contaminants from the machining dust particles;
a sensor array with a plurality of sensors structurally configured to detect all contaminants in a gas phase;
a control device structurally configured to regulate the desorption device, activate and readout the sensor array, and ascertain and signal detected contaminants.

13. The device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the desorption device has an analysis chamber structurally configured to be closed in a gas-tight manner and in which a linearly movable heated punch is arranged, which in a standby position is spaced apart from a sample membrane that can be brought into the analysis chamber spaced and in a working position can be brought towards the analysis chamber for desorption of the substances present in the dust particles, and the sensor array is disposed in a wall of the analysis chamber.

14. The device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the sensor array comprises a number of metal oxide gas detectors (MOX) each of which is structurally configured to be sensitive to individual contaminants.

15. The device as claimed in claim 12 , the sensor array comprises at least one humidity sensor.

16. The device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the sensor array comprises at least one non-dispersive infrared sensor (NDIR).

17. The device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of sensors of the sensor array are selective for one or more of the following contaminants: surfactants, synthetic esters, alcohols, glycols, petrols, kerosenes, butyl phosphates, phenyl phosphates, phosphate esters, mineral oils, potassium acetates, sodium formiates, phosphates, silicates, water, moisture, butanones, methyl ethyl ketone, hydrocarbons, silicones, fluorocarbons, synthetic oils and lubricants.

18. The device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the fibre-composite component is an aircraft component.

19. A method for testing a fibre-composite component, which is to be processed by means of bonding, for the presence of at least one substance out of a plurality of possible contaminants, the method comprising:
regionally heating, by a surface heating device, an area of the fibre-composite component to be bonded in such a manner that contaminants are desorbed;
detecting, by a sensor array with a plurality of sensors structurally, all contaminants in a gas phase;
regulating, by a control device, the surface heating device;
activating and reading out, by the control device, the sensor array; and
ascertaining and signalling, by the control device, contaminants detected by the sensor array,
wherein the surface heating device is a contact heating device.

20. A method for testing a fibre-composite component, which is to be processed by means of bonding, for the presence of at least one substance out of a plurality of possible contaminants, the method comprising:
machining the fibre-composite component by an abrasive tool;
extracting, by an extractor device, machining dust particles from the fibre-composite component;
collecting, by a filter device, the machining dust particles;
thermally desorbing, by a desorption device, contaminants from the machining dust particles;
detecting, by a sensor array with a plurality of sensors, all contaminants in a gas phase;
regulating, by a control device, the desorption device;
activating and reading ou

Assignees

• Beer Sebastian
• Helwig Andreas
• Mueller Gerhard
• Luinge Hans
• Wachinger Georg
• Eads Deutschland Gmbh

Inventors

• Beer Sebastian
• Helwig Andreas
• Mueller Gerhard
• Luinge Hans
• Wachinger Georg

Classifications

• G01N25/14

  by using distillation, extraction, sublimation, condensation, freezing, or crystallisation (G01N25/02 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01N1/44 Primary

  Sample treatment involving radiation, e.g. heat · CPC title

• G01N2001/2241

  purpose-built sampling enclosure for emissions · CPC title

• G01N21/35

  using infrared light (G01N21/39 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01N21/94

  Investigating contamination, e.g. dust (G01N21/85 takes precedence) · CPC title