Method for Repairing a Dent Present on a Wall, and Repair Device for the Implementation Thereof

The present application relates to a method for repairing a dent present on a wall, and to a repair device making it possible to implement the method.

According to an embodiment visible in, an aircraftcomprises at least one propulsion assemblypositioned beneath each of the wingsof the aircraft. Each propulsion assemblycomprises a motor, a nacellepositioned around the motor, and a pylonconnecting the motorand the wing. Each nacellecomprises, at the front, an air inletconfigured to channel an air flow in the direction of the motor. This air inletcomprises a lipthat has a C-shaped section and inner and outer edges.,., an inner ductpositioned in the extension of the inner edge.of the lip, an outer fairingpositioned in the extension of the outer edge.of the lip, and optionally a front frameconnecting the inner and outer edges.,.and delimiting, with the lip, an annular duct, also called a D-duct.

As illustrated in, the lip, the inner ductand the outer fairingeach comprise at least one wallthat has an outer surface Fin contact with an air flow F when the aircraft is in flight. These outer surfaces Fhave geometries that are optimized in particular in terms of aerodynamics.

When the air inletis impacted, a dentmay form at one of its walls, as illustrated in, and generate disturbances in the air flow F in contact with the outer surface Fof the wall, and this negatively affects the performance of the aircraft.

A first solution for repairing the dentmay consist in pushing the wallback towards the outside by exerting at least one forceon the wallfrom its inner surface F′, as illustrated in.

This first solution cannot be implemented if the inner surface F′ is not accessible, as in the case of the lipof an air inlet.

A second solution consists in putting a repair part (called a “doubler”) in place to cover the dent. According to one operating mode, an exemplary repair method comprises a step of removing the air inlet, a step of shaping the repair part so that it has a geometry substantially identical to that of the wallbefore the impact, and then a step of fastening the repair part to the wall using numerous rivets.

On account of the complex geometry of the wall, the repair part is cut from a sacrificial air inlet that has a geometry identical to that of the air inlet to be repaired.

Even though this second solution makes it possible to repair a dent on a wall of which the inner surface is not accessible, it is relatively expensive and imposes a relatively long intervention time.

The disclosure herein aims to remedy all or some of the drawbacks of the prior art.

To this end, one subject of the disclosure herein is a method for repairing a dent situated on a wall, wherein the repair method comprises a step of putting at least one ferromagnetic striker and at least one electromagnetic emitter in place on either side of the wall, in line with the dent, and a hammering step during which the electromagnetic emitter generates at least one electromagnetic field configured to animate the ferromagnetic striker according to alternating movements such that it hammers the wall.

This method makes it possible to repair a dent at lower cost, even if the inner zone is not accessible. It also makes it possible to reduce the down-time of the aircraft for this repair.

According to another feature, the electromagnetic field generated by the electromagnetic emitter has at least one variable characteristic in order to animate the ferromagnetic striker with alternating movements.

According to another feature, the electromagnetic emitter generates at least one pulsed electromagnetic field.

According to another feature, the repair method comprises a step of activating the electromagnetic emitter at a first energy level making it possible to attract the ferromagnetic striker, and then a step of moving the ferromagnetic striker as far as the dent by moving the electromagnetic emitter.

According to another feature, the wall separates outer and inner zones and comprises at least one through-orifice configured to make the outer and inner zones communicate. In addition, the repair method comprises a step of introducing the ferromagnetic striker into the inner zone by passing it through the through-orifice.

According to another feature, the striker comprises a compressible coating and a core constituted of a set of metal microbeads. In addition, the striker is compressed so as to allow it to pass through the through-orifice.

According to another feature, the ferromagnetic striker is connected to a connector that extends between a first end connected to the ferromagnetic striker and a second end, the connector having a length such that, when the ferromagnetic striker is positioned in line with the dent in the inner zone, the second end is situated in the outer zone. In addition, the repair method comprises a step of extracting the ferromagnetic striker by pulling on the connector from the outer zone.

Another subject of the disclosure herein is a repair device making it possible to implement a method for repairing a dent situated on a wall according to one of the preceding features. According to the disclosure herein, the repair device comprises at least one electromagnetic emitter configured to generate at least one electromagnetic field and at least one ferromagnetic striker configured to be positioned in the electromagnetic field generated by the electromagnetic emitter, the electromagnetic field being configured to animate the ferromagnetic striker according to alternating movements such that it hammers the wall.

According to another feature, the electromagnetic field generated by the electromagnetic emitter has at least one variable characteristic in order to animate the ferromagnetic striker with alternating movements.

According to another feature, the electromagnetic field generated by the electromagnetic emitter is pulsed.

According to another feature, the electromagnetic emitter is configured to generate a substantially constant electromagnetic field that has a first energy level allowing the electromagnetic emitter to move the ferromagnetic striker.

According to another feature, the pulsed electromagnetic field has an average energy level higher than the first energy level.

According to another feature, the repair device comprises a connector that extends between a first end connected to the ferromagnetic striker and a second end, the connector having a length such that, when the ferromagnetic striker is positioned in line with the dent in an inner zone, the second end is situated in an outer zone that is separated from the inner zone by the wall.

According to another feature, the ferromagnetic striker comprises a metal core and a compressible coating at least partially covering the core.

According to another feature, the core comprises a set of metal microbeads.

According to an embodiment visible in, an air inletof an aircraft comprises:

The lipcomprises at least one wallthat has an outer surface Fin contact with an air flowwhen the aircraft is in flight, and an inner surface F′ opposite the outer surface Fand oriented towards the annular duct. According to one configuration, the wallis made of metal.

According to one embodiment, the air inletcomprises a de-icing system of pneumatic type that has a hot air supplyconfigured to inject hot air into the annular ductand at least one through-orifice, emerging at the outer and inner surfaces F, F′ of the wall, configured to provide an exhaust for the air injected into the annular duct.

As illustrated in, the wallcomprises a dent. Thus, the wallhas a concave shape (a dimple) at its outer surface Fand a convex shape (a bump) at its inner surface F′. This dentmay appear following an impact (of an object or a bird) on the wallfrom the outer surface F.

Whatever the embodiment, the air inletcomprises a wallthat separates outer and inner zones ZE, ZI and has outer and inner surfaces F, F′ oriented respectively towards the outer and inner zones ZE, ZI. The air inletcomprises at least one through-orifice, such as an exhaust orifice for example, configured to make the outer and inner zones ZE, ZI communicate. To give an order of magnitude, this through-orificehas a given passage section, such as a width for example, of less than 5 cm.

As illustrated in, a repair devicecomprises at least one electromagnetic emitterconfigured to generate at least one electromagnetic field and at least one ferromagnetic strikerconfigured to be positioned in the electromagnetic field generated by the electromagnetic emitter. The electromagnetic emitteris configured to generate at least one electromagnetic field that has at least one variable characteristic in order to animate the ferromagnetic strikeraccording to alternating movements, away from and towards the electromagnetic emitter, making it possible to hammer the wall.

According to a preferred configuration, the electromagnetic emitteris configured to generate at least one pulsed electromagnetic field.

According to one embodiment, the variable characteristic(s) of the electromagnetic field is (or are) chosen from among the frequency and the intensity of the electromagnetic field.

According to one configuration, the electromagnetic emitteris configured to generate, offset in time, a first, substantially constant electromagnetic field that has a first energy level and a second, pulsed electromagnetic field that has an average energy level higher than the first energy level.

The first energy level is determined so as to allow the electromagnetic emitter, which is situated in the outer zone ZE, to move the ferromagnetic strikerpositioned in the inner zone ZI along the inner surface F′.

According to one embodiment, the repair devicecomprises a control unitconfigured to control the electromagnetic field emitted by the electromagnetic emitter. According to one arrangement, the control unitcomprises an electrical energy supply.configured to supply electrical energy to the electromagnetic emitterand a regulation system.configured to regulate the electrical energy transmitted to the electromagnetic emitter. When the electrical energy supply.does not transmit electrical energy to the electromagnetic emitter, the latter does not emit an electromagnetic field. When the regulation system.regulates the electrical energy emitted by the electrical energy supply.to give pulsed electrical energy, the electromagnetic emittergenerates a pulsed electromagnetic field.

According to one configuration, the repair devicecomprises a connectorthat extends between a first end.connected to the ferromagnetic strikerand a second end.. The connectorhas a length (distance separating the first and second ends.,.) such that, when the ferromagnetic strikeris positioned in line with the dentin the inner zone ZI, the second end.is still situated in the outer zone ZE.

According to one arrangement, the ferromagnetic strikerhas a section that allows it to pass through the through-orifice. Thus, the ferromagnetic strikercan be introduced from the outer zone ZE into the inner zone ZI by passing through the through-orifice.

According to one configuration, the ferromagnetic strikeris spherical. By way of example, the ferromagnetic striker has a diameter of between 1 and 5 cm. Of course, the disclosure herein is not limited to this geometry.

According to one embodiment, the ferromagnetic strikercomprises a compressible coatingmade of a flexible material. By way of example, the coatingis made of elastomer.

The ferromagnetic strikercomprises a metal coreat least partially covered by the coating. According to a first embodiment, visible in, the coreis a metal ball. According to another embodiment, visible in, the corecomprises a set of metal microbeads held together inside the coating. In this case, the coatingdelimits a cavity filled with metal microbeads that forms the core.

The fact that the ferromagnetic strikercomprises a compressible coatingand a coreconstituted of a set of metal microbeads makes it possible to compress it so as to allow it to pass through the through-orificeeven if the ferromagnetic strikerhas a section greater than that of the through-orificewhen it is not compressed.

A method for repairing a dent comprises a step of putting at least one electromagnetic emitterand at least one ferromagnetic strikerin place respectively on either side of the wallin line with the dent, the electromagnetic emitterand the ferromagnetic strikerbeing positioned respectively in the outer and inner zones ZE, ZI, and a hammering step during which the electromagnetic emitteris activated, causing alternating or oscillating movements of the ferromagnetic striker, which then hammers the wallin line with the dentin order to push the wallback in the direction of the outer zone ZE.

As illustrated in, the electromagnetic emitteris configured to generate a pulsed electromagnetic field. This hammering step is stopped when the wallno longer has a dent, as illustrated in.

When the ferromagnetic strikercomprises a coating, the latter is compressed, as can be seen in, upon each impact against the wall. This phenomenon is accentuated when the corecomprises a set of metal microbeads. This crushing of the ferromagnetic strikerduring each impact against the wallmakes it possible to distribute the forces exerted by the ferromagnetic strikeron the wallover a greater surface area.

The fact of repeatedly hammering the wallmakes it possible to obtain a peening phenomenon at the inner surface F′ of the wall, and this makes it possible to improve the mechanical properties of the wall, in particular its fatigue resistance, and limits the risk of cracks appearing.

According to one operating mode, the repair method comprises a step of introducing the ferromagnetic strikerinto the inner zone ZI via the through-orifice, a step of activating the electromagnetic emitterat a first energy level making it possible to attract the ferromagnetic strikerand to press it against the inner surface F′ of the wall, and then a step of moving the ferromagnetic strikerin the inner zone ZI as far as the dentby moving the electromagnetic emitterin the outer zone ZE. Attracted by the electromagnetic emitter, the ferromagnetic strikerfollows it.

At the end of the hammering step, the electromagnetic emitterbeing deactivated, the repair method comprises a step of extracting the ferromagnetic strikerby pulling on the connectorfrom the outer zone ZE until the ferromagnetic strikerpasses through the through-orificeand is situated in the outer zone ZE. In a variant, the electromagnetic emitteris used to move the ferromagnetic strikeras far as the through-orifice.

Of course, the disclosure herein is not limited to this application. Thus, the repair method can be used to repair at least one dent situated on any aerodynamic wall of an aircraft or any other vehicle. Thus, the wall that has the dent does not necessarily separate inner and outer zones. However, this repair method is more particularly suitable if the inner surface of the wall is difficult to access.