Patent Publication Number: US-2018039957-A1

Title: System  for assisting with the production or repair of a turbomachine

Description:
TECHNICAL DOMAIN 
     The invention relates to the general technical domain of aircraft turbomachines. More precisely, the invention relates to system for assisting with the production or repair of the turbomachine. 
     STATE OF PRIOR ART 
     A known system for assisting with the production or repair of a turbomachine comprises paper sheets containing a list of points to be verified or performed by the user. These sheets are accompanied by illustrations. 
     The user, in other words a person qualified to assembly or repair the turbomachine, can make a mistake when referring to the sheets or the illustrations. 
     In particular, information available to the user might not be up to date. It is also possible that the user might forget some points to be checked present on one of the sheets or illustrations. 
     Finally, production or repair of the turbomachine sometimes continues by mistake even when the user has detected an anomaly. 
     Therefore there is a need to improve known systems for assisting with the production or repair of a turbomachine so as to limit risks of human error during assembly and/or repair of a turbine machine. 
     PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is aimed at least partially solving problems encountered in solutions according to prior art. 
     To achieve this purpose the invention relates to a method for assisting with the production or repair of a turbomachine, comprising: 
     a step of displaying first production or repair information for the turbomachine on a portable display device, 
     a step of blocking the display of second production or repair information on the portable display device, at least until a predetermined action to validate and/or invalidate the condition of the turbomachine performed by a user in response to the first information has not been detected. 
     The method of assisting with the production or repair of the turbomachine, and the assistance system to implement this method, can limit human errors during turbomachine production or repair operations. 
     Production or repair information displayed by the display device is indeed appropriate information specific to the user, his assembly or repair station, and to the specific type of turbomachine on which he is working. This precise type of turbomachine is identified by its individual serial number and the specific technical definition of the turbomachine. This information is updated automatically and therefore cannot be incorrect. 
     Furthermore, the risk of accidentally shipping a turbomachine with an anomaly when an invalidation action performed by the user has been detected is reduced. 
     Moreover, computerisation of the system for assisting with production and repair enables better monitoring of anomalies detected during the production or repair of turbomachines. 
     The portable device can more easily be transported close to the turbomachine to be assembled or repaired than a file of sheets or illustrations about the turbomachine. In particular, the portable display device is not as heavy and large as folders used in the past Computerisation also guarantees faster and more reliable distribution and updates. 
     Optionally, the invention may comprise one or several of the following features, possibly but not necessary combined with each other. 
     Advantageously, the predetermined action comprises the specification of the condition of the turbomachine in the form of an audio and/or visual comment. 
     According to one particular embodiment, the predetermined action comprises taking a picture of the turbomachine and/or writing a comment on the condition of the turbomachine. 
     According to one advantageous embodiment, the first information and/or the second information comprises at least information about a visual inspection of the turbomachine to be made by the user. 
     Preferably, the first and/or the second information is selected by the user from among a predetermined set of production or repair information for the turbomachine. 
     For example, the display of this predetermined set of information may be in the form of a list, a table or a series of miniaturised illustrations. 
     According to one advantageous embodiment, the method comprises a step of transmission of an alert to a remote computer device when a predetermined invalidation action is detected. 
     The invention also relates to a system for assisting with the production or repair of a turbomachine comprising a computer unit and a portable display device. 
     The computer unit contains turbomachine production or repair information. The computer unit preferably comprises at least one computer. 
     The portable display device is configured to display the first turbomachine production or repair information from the computer unit. The display device is configured to be connected to the remote computer unit. 
     The assistance system also comprises a control unit configured to block display of the second turbomachine production or repair information, at least until the assistance system has detected a predetermined validation and/or invalidation action by a user of the condition of the turbomachine in response to the first information. 
     According to one particular embodiment, the control unit is configured to authorise the display of second information, 
     when a predetermined invalidation action has been detected and the condition of the turbomachine has been specified in the form of an audio and/or visual comment. 
     Advantageously, the control unit is configured to unblock the display of second information when a validation action has been detected. 
     According on one particular embodiment, the control unit is configured to block the display of second information when a predetermined invalidation has been detected, and as long as the control unit has not received an authorisation to unblock the display of the second information. 
     According to one advantageous embodiment, the assistance system comprises means for authenticating the user and/or the turbomachine. 
     Preferably, the assistance system is configured to display a three-dimensional model of the turbomachine on the display device, the first and/or second information comprising the display of at least part of the model. 
     According to one special feature of the embodiment, the assistance system is configured to save the name of the user and associate it with the predetermined action. 
     Furthermore, the assistance system is preferably configured to also save the date and the time, associating them with the predetermined action. 
     In particular, the user sanctions the predetermined action by adding his signature. 
     According to another advantageous embodiment, the display device comprises a recording unit configured to save a specification of the condition of the turbomachine in the form of an audio and/or video comment during the predetermined action. 
     The display device preferably comprises a camera, a module for selection of a predetermined specification and/or a write module to input a comment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       This invention will be better understood after reading the description of example embodiments, given purely for information and in no way limitative, with reference to the appended drawings on which: 
         FIG. 1  is a partial diagrammatic representation of a system for assisting with production or repair of a turbomachine, according to one preferred embodiment when it is used by an operator; 
         FIG. 2  functionally and diagrammatically represents the control unit of the system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  functionally and diagrammatically represents the portable display device of the assistance system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  diagrammatically illustrates implementation of a method for assisting with production or repair of a turbomachine; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a first embodiment of the implementation of a particular variant of the method illustrated generally in  FIG. 4  showing more details, for the visual inspection of a turbomachine; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a second embodiment of the implementation of a particular variant of the method illustrated generally in  FIG. 4  showing more details, for the production of a turbomachine; 
     
    
    
     DETAILED PRESENTATION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS 
     Identical, similar or equivalent parts of the different figures have the same numeric references to facilitate the comparison between different figures. 
       FIG. 1  represents a method  1  for assisting with the production or repair of an aircraft turbomachine  2 . The system  1  will assist the work of a user  3  who is a person working on an assembly or repair line of the turbomachine  2 . 
     The system for assisting with the production or repair comprises principally a computer unit  4  and a portable display device  5 . The computer unit  4  comprises a computer system  42  and a database  44 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , the computer system  42  comprises a control centre  41  and a memory  43 . The control centre  41  comprises at least one processor. In particular, the memory  43  is a reprogrammable temporary memory. 
     The control centre  41  and the memory  43  form a first control unit  61  configured to authorise or prevent transmission of information between the database  44  and the portable display device  5 . 
     The computer system  42  communicates in a classic manner with the database  44  in both directions through the control centre  41 , that is represented by the double arrow  46 . 
     The database  44  contains production or repair information for the turbomachine  2  accessible from a distance through a wireless link  47   a ,  47   b  through the computer system  42  by the portable display device  5 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the portable display device  5  may for example be in the form of a tablet or smartphone. 
     It is portable, in other words it can be carried by the user close to the turbomachine  2  to be manufactured or repaired. 
     The portable display device  5  is preferably intended to allow the user  3  to have at least partially free hands when he is working on the production or repair of the turbomachine  2  and is holding the display device  5 . 
     The portable display device  5  comprises a control device  51 , a memory  58  connected to the control device  51 , and a screen  59 . 
     The portable display device  5  also comprises a write module  52 , a selection module  56 , a still camera  53 , a movie camera  54  and a microphone  57 . 
     The control device  51  comprises at least one processor that is able to communicate with the control centre  41  of the computer system  42 . The control device  51  also acts as a second control unit  62  configured to authorise or block the display of production or repair information on the screen  59 . 
     The screen  59  displays for the attention of the user  3  production or repair information  7  for the turbomachine  2 , temporarily stored in the memory  58 , when ordered by the control device  51 . 
     The memory  58  acts as a recording unit  58  for an audio and/or visual comment to be made by the user  3 . The memory  58  records data from the microphone  57 , the write module  52  or selection module  56 , the still camera  53  or the movie camera  54 . 
     The write module  52  is in the form of a physical or virtual keyboard and a word processor. The write module  52  is used by the user  3  to enter a comment. 
     The user uses the selection module  56  to make a choice among a predetermined list of production or repair information, a list of predetermined actions or predetermined problems encountered in relation with the turbomachine  2 . 
     The write module  52  and the selection module  56  allows the user  3  to make a written comment about the condition of the turbomachine  2  currently being repaired or in maintenance. 
     The still camera  53  and the movie camera  54  take pictures to make a visual comment about the condition of the turbomachine  2  currently being produced or repaired. 
     The user can use the microphone  57  if he wishes to make an audio comment about the condition of the turbomachine  2 . 
     The portable display device  5  is programmed to transmit an alert to a computer device  45  if the user  3  detects an anomaly. This alert about production or repair of the turbomachine  2  is transmitted to the attention of a qualified person  31 , possibly through the control unit  61 . The alert was recorded beforehand by the portable device  5 . It is accompanied by the audio and/or visual comment made by the user  3 . 
     A general illustration of a production or repair assistance method implemented by the production or repair assistance system  1  is shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     Firstly, the screen  59  of the display device  5  displays first indications  71  for the production or repair of the turbomachine  2 , to the attention of the user  3 , during a step  91 . 
     These first indications  71  will aid the user  3  to perform a production or repair operation on the turbomachine  2 . 
     The term “production or repair” operation also comprises steps of checking the condition of the turbomachine during these operations. The term repair operation also covers a maintenance operation of the turbomachine  1 . 
     As long as the user  3  has not performed a predetermined action  8  for validation  81  or invalidation  82  in a step  94 , the display on the screen  59  of the second production or repair information displayed is blocked at step  92 . 
     Display of the second information  72  can be blocked particularly at the control device  51  of the portable display device  5 . This will be the case particularly when the second information  72  has been downloaded in the memory  58  from the computer unit  4 . 
     As a variant or in addition, the display of the second information  72  can be blocked before these data are transmitted from the database  44  to the portable display device  5 . In particular, the control centre  41  of the computer system  42  can prevent transmission of the second production or repair information  72  as long as the predetermined action  8  has not been detected. 
     In all cases, the display of the second production or repair information  72  is blocked by the control unit  6  that encompasses the first control unit  61  and the second control unit  62 . 
     The second information  72  is also intended to assist the user  3  in performing a production or repair operation on the turbomachine  2 , for example when he is occupied with a task following the task to which the first information  71  for production or repair of the turbomachine  2  is applicable. 
     As a variant, the second information  72  is additional to the first information  71 , while remaining at least partially independent from the first information  71 . 
     The first information  71  and the second information  72  is specific to the tasks assigned to the user  3  and to the turbomachine  2 . The display device  5  can be used to select and to provide the user with up to date production or repair information. 
     When the display device  5  detects a predetermined action  8  of validation  81 , the control unit  6  unblocks the display of the second information  72  on the screen  59  in step  97 . 
     When the display device  5  detects, at step  93 , a predetermined action  8  of invalidation  82 , the control unit  6  continues to block the display of the second information  72  on the screen  59 , firstly in step  95 . 
     When an unblock authorisation is emitted in step  96 , the display device displays the second information  72  in step  97 . 
     Once the second information  72  is displayed on the screen, the user  3  can continue production or repair of the turbomachine  2 . 
     The predetermined action  8  can be a validation action  81 , in other words to signal that the situation of the turbomachine  2  during production or repair is satisfactory at this stage. 
     The predetermined action  8  can also be an invalidation action  82 , in other words to signal that there is at least one an anomaly in the condition of the turbomachine at this stage of its production or repair. 
     The predetermined action  8  closes the work of the user  3  in a production or repair operation on the turbomachine  2 . This operation may be a physical assembly or repair task, or an intellectual inspection task without any physical action by the user  3  on the turbomachine  2 . 
     This operation is usually repeated during production or repair of the turbomachine  2 . 
       FIG. 5  represents a method of assisting with the production or repair, to assist the user  3  performing visual inspection operations of the condition of the turbomachine  2  during production or repair. 
     The assistance method begins with a step  101  to authenticate the user  3  using the display device  5 . This authentication guarantees that the worker fulfils the requirements for the requested work. 
     The turbomachine  2  on which the user  3  works is subsequently authenticated during step  102 . 
     More optionally, the user  3  can indicate the assembly or repair station on which he will do the work in step  103 , so that the work done can be traced in an environment different from the specified environment. 
     The portable display device  5  then displays a set of production or repair information  7  that is specific to the turbomachine  2  and operations to be done by the user  3 , in step  104 . 
     The user  3  selects the first production or repair information in step  105  that is displayed in more detail on the screen  59  in step  106 . 
     The user  3  then performs the visual inspection operation for which he is responsible in step  108 , making use of the first information  71 . If he considers it useful, he can use a three-dimensional model of the turbomachine  2  on his display device  5  in step  109 . 
     If the user  3  does not find any anomaly in the form of a defect in the production or repair of the turbomachine at this stage in step  110 , he validates the visual inspection in step  112  by a predetermined validation action  81  on the display device  5 . 
     If the user  3  finds an anomaly in the form of a defect in the production or repair of the turbomachine at this stage in step  110 , he invalidates the visual inspection in step  111  by a predetermined invalidation action  82 . 
     The predetermined invalidation action  82  leads to the user  3  to writing a comment on the display device  5 , and the user takes a photo to illustrate the detected anomaly, in step  113 . 
     This written and illustrated comment is recorded in step  114 . It is transmitted at the same time as an alert to the computer device  45  of the qualified person  31  in step  115 . 
     The qualified person  31  can process the alert in step  116  and issue an authorisation to unblock the display of production or repair information  7  related to the next operation to be done by the user  3  on the turbomachine  2 . In practice, this qualified person  31  is an engineer or a technician. 
     In step  117 , the qualified person  31  has not processed the alert and the display of second information  72  for this turbomachine  2  is blocked. The user  3  cannot continue his work on this turbomachine  2 , which limits risks of shipping a turbomachine  2  with one or more anomalies to a customer, as shown in step  119 . 
     Obviously, the user  3  can possibly perform production or repair operations on another turbomachine, as long as the display of second information  72  related to the first turbomachine  2  is blocked. 
     The production or repair operation always terminates in step  121  by the signature of the user  3  subsequent to a predetermined action  8  of validation  81  or invalidation  82 . In practice, this signature consists of recording the user&#39;s name by associated it with the predetermined action  8 . The signature also engages the responsibility of the user  3 . 
     At this moment, the display of second production or validation indications is unblocked. 
     The method can continue directly following the arrow  131  in step  107  with the display of second information  72 . 
     As a variant, the method continues firstly by the selection of an assembly or repair station in step  103 , along arrow  132 . The portable display device  5  then displays a set of production or repair information  7  related to this station, in step  104 . The second information  72  is then selected in step  105 , then displayed in step  107 . 
     In the case illustrated by the arrows  131  and  132 , the user  3  selects new production or repair information  7  in a general manner and this second information  72  is displayed in detail, to help the user inspect the turbomachine  2  visually. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a method of assisting with the production or repair, to assist the user  3  performing assembly operations of a turbomachine  2 . 
     In a manner similar to the method described in  FIG. 5 , this method begins with authentication of the user and the turbomachine during steps  201  and  202 . The user  3  then indicates in step  203  the assembly or repair station on which he is working. 
     A predetermined set of turbomachine production or repair information  7  is then displayed on the screen  59  of the portable display device  5  in step  204 . 
     The user then selects the first production or repair information  71  for the assembly operation that he will perform, in step  205 . This first information  71  is displayed on the display device, in step  206 . 
     If he considers it useful, the user  3  can refer to a three-dimensional digital model of the turbomachine  2  during assembly, on his digital display device, in step  209 . 
     Before terminating the assembly operation, the user  3  performs a predetermined validation action  81  on the display device  5 , that unblocks the display of production or repair information  7  related to this turbomachine  2 , in step  212 . 
     The predetermined set of information  7  is then displayed again in step  204 , as shown by the arrow  231 . 
     The user  3  can then select second production or repair information  72  among the predetermined set of information  7  and display it in more detail in a step  207 . 
     In general, the first information and the second information is the same as that found earlier in the files containing sheets and illustrations related to the turbomachine being manufactured or being repaired, according to known solutions. 
     The specification for a written or illustrated comment is only applicable after an invalidation action during progress with the methods illustrated on  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
     Nevertheless it would be possible to organise matters such that a validation action can only lead to unblocking the display of the second assembly and repair information when the user has specified a comment. 
     A validation or invalidation action is detected firstly at the display device by a key or a button being pressed during the methods illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . This button or this key can be physical or virtual. 
     The data analysis following detection of the predetermined action may be made at the display device control element, at the computer system and/or external to the control unit. 
     The specification of a comment may form part of the validation or invalidation action. 
     As a variant, the specification of a comment can follow the predetermined action, taking place between the predetermined action and unblocking of the second production or repair information. 
     Specification of an audio and/or video comment by the user and detection of this comment by the display device can act as a predetermined validation or invalidation action. 
     In the methods illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the unblocking authorisation after an invalidation action has been detected is issued by a qualified person. 
     In some cases, the second information may be information that the assembly or repair of the turbomachine is complete. 
     More generally, the second information can specify that the user&#39;s work on the turbomachine is complete, even if other operations related to production or repair still have to be performed on this turbomachine.