Removal of aircraft window reveal

A window reveal is secured to an aircraft interior sidewall panel by a plurality of clips. Each clip engages a tab on the reveal. A method for removing the reveal includes using a tool to disengage the clips. The tool includes a tapered portion having tips separated by a notch. Using the tool includes inserting the tapered portion into a slot in the reveal with the tab received in the notch, and pressing the tips through the slot until a back of the notch abuts against the tab and stops the movement of the tips. The notch has a depth that allows the tips to press against the clip, yet stops the tips from damaging the clip.

BACKGROUND

Certain commercial aircraft are provided with electrochromic dimmable windows (EDWs) instead of mechanical pull down window shades. EDWs include electrochromic devices that change light transmission properties in response to voltage and thus allow control over the amount of light and heat passing through.

The EDW may attach to window clips on the aircraft's main windows. A reveal encompasses the EDW and may lock into place on sidewall clips.

The EDW and reveal may be removed many times during the life of an aircraft. They may be removed several times during aircraft manufacture (e.g., for customer inspection), and they may be removed periodically during aircraft maintenance to clean dust, debris and moisture between window panes.

Removal of the EDW and reveal is performed from inside an aircraft's cabin. The sidewall clips, which hold the reveal to a sidewall panel, are disengaged, and the reveal is withdrawn from an opening in the sidewall panel.

A large commercial aircraft might have at least 85 reveals, where each reveal is secured with at least six sidewall clips. Given this large number of clips, quick disengagement of the sidewall clips is desirable.

Safe removal of the sidewall clips is highly desirable. Damaging a sidewall clip during removal of the reveal is costly. The cost of a replacement clip is trivial. However, the cost of down time is not. Down time is needed to expose the sidewall panel and bond a new clip to the sidewall panel. Down time is very costly to an aircraft carrier, as an idle aircraft results in lost revenue.

SUMMARY

According to an embodiment herein, a method for removing a window reveal that is secured to an aircraft interior sidewall panel by a plurality of clips includes using a tool to disengage the clips. The tool includes a tapered portion having tips separated by a notch. Using the tool on a clip includes inserting the tapered portion into a slot in the reveal with the tab received in the notch, and pressing the tips through the slot until a back of the notch abuts against the tab and stops the movement of the tips. The notch has a depth that allows the tips to press against the clip, yet stops the tips from damaging the clip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is made toFIG. 1, which illustrates an aircraft110including a fuselage120having passenger windows130. Each passenger window130includes an outside window system and an inside window system. In some embodiments, each inside window system may include a glass pane, pull-down shade and reveal. In other embodiments, each inside window system may include an electrochromic dimmable window and a reveal.

Reference is made toFIG. 2, which illustrates an aircraft interior sidewall panel210and a reveal220mounted to the sidewall panel210. A flange230of the reveal220rests against the sidewall panel210. An electrochromic dimmable window240is located within a cutout in the sidewall210. In some embodiments, the electrochromic dimmable window240is attached to window clips.

Reference is made toFIG. 3a, which illustrates the reveal220partially removed from the sidewall panel210. The sidewall panel210contains a cutout212. A plurality of clips214is disposed about a periphery of the cutout212. These clips214engage the reveal220when the reveal220is installed in the cutout212.

Additional reference is now made toFIG. 3b, which illustrates a wall222of the reveal220. Extending from the wall222is a plurality of tabs224. Each tab224corresponds to a clip214on the sidewall panel210. Each tab224is positioned to engage its corresponding clip214when the reveal220is installed in the sidewall panel210.

The reveal wall222includes a plurality of pairs of slot226. Each slot pair corresponds to a tab224. The slots226of each pair are on opposite sides of a corresponding tab224.

The slots226allow access to the clips214so the clips214can be disengaged from the tabs224. A clip214can be disengaged by pressing it. However, if the clip224is pressed too far, it could be damaged.

FIG. 4illustrates a reveal removal tool400for safely disengaging clips214that secure the reveal220to the interior sidewall panel210. The tool400includes a handle410and a tapered portion420. The tapered portion420has two tips430separated by a notch440.

Additional reference is made toFIG. 5. The tool400may be used as follows. The tapered portion420of the tool400is positioned behind the reveal flange230and the tips430of the tool400are inserted into a pair of slots226within the reveal wall222(bock510). The tab224is received in the notch440of the tool400. As the tips430advance into the slots226, the tips430press against a clip214(block520). The tips430are advanced into the slots226until the tab224abuts against the back of the notch440and stops the tips430from advancing any farther (block530). At this point, the tips430are inserted far enough to disengage the clip214from the tab224. However, they are not inserted far enough to damage the clip214.

Once disengaged, the clip224remains disengaged. After all sidewall clips224have been disengaged, the reveal220may be completely removed from the sidewall panel210.

FIG. 6illustrates the reveal removal tool400with the tapered portion420positioned behind the reveal flange230and the tips430of the tool400inserted into a pair of slots226(not shown).FIG. 7illustrates the back side of the reveal220, with the tool tips430fully inserted into the slots226(that is, with the tab224abutted against the back of the notch440).

Width, length and thickness of the handle410and the tapered portion420of the tool400, including width of the notch440, are determined by the dimensions of the reveal220. Depth (D) of the notch440is sufficient to enable the tips430to disengage the clip214, but not deep enough to press the clip214too far. Thus, the notch440functions to limit the distance that a clip214is pressed. In this manner, the tool400avoids damaging the clips214.

The reveal removal tool400may be made of a material that does not scratch glass. For example, the tool400may be made of, or coated with, a fluoropolymer such as Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

The method ofFIG. 5allows clips to be disengaged quickly, while protecting the clips against damage. Consequently, the method ofFIG. 5avoids costly aircraft down time due to damaged clips.