Patent Description:
Currently, during aircraft manufacture and at an early stage of the production, a lot of holes are drilled and closed with fasteners. Later during production, some of the holes have to be reopened since the position is used for additional parts, e.g. brackets. However it is required that holes are not left open at the beginning of the production. Removing the fasteners at a later stage causes high effort with regards to manufacturing and production planning.

<CIT> discloses a method and apparatus for performing manufacturing functions on a workpiece. The apparatus includes a temporary fastener. The temporary fastener is inserted and secured in the workpiece.

<CIT> discloses an indicating marker and method of use for removably attaching the indicating marker to a structure comprising an opening. The indicating marker comprises a cover device configured to removably seal the opening of the structure. A wireless signal emitter can be attached to the cover device and is configured to receive a signal from a wireless signal receiver separate from the structure and transmit a wireless response signal to the wireless signal receiver. There is no indication that a scannable information tag is included in technical drawing data and scanned for at a later stage.

It is the object of the invention to improve manufacturing of aircraft.

Preferred embodiments are subject-matter of the dependent claims.

The invention provides a method for temporarily closing openings in a part, preferably an aircraft part, during a manufacturing process, the method comprising:.

Preferably, step a) comprises providing a second part having at least one second opening and aligning at least one pair of first and second openings.

Preferably, in step b) the temporary closure member is configured as an adhesive strip and removable attached to the first part and/or second part by adhesive bonding such that the first and/or second openings are closed, wherein the RFID tag is integrated into the adhesive strip.

Preferably, in step b) the temporary closure member is configured as a temporary fastener that is getting inserted into the first and/or second openings such that the respective opening is closed and the first and second parts are removable fastened to each other by positive locking and/or friction locking.

Preferably, step d) comprises the permanent member being configured as a bolt or rivet that is permanently installed in the first and/or second opening, preferably to fasten the second part to the first part.

Preferably, the first part is a primary structure part of an aircraft and the second part is a secondary structure part of an aircraft.

Preferably, the first part is a duct and the temporary closure member is a plug inserted such that the duct is closed.

One idea is using an adhesive strip or security seal equipped with an RFID tag as a temporary closure member. The adhesive strip can marker an area to make a reservation for a later installation of a part (e.g. bracket). The RFID tag functions as a digital marker and can have different applications and configurations, such as a pendant, integrated chip or the like, but all are collectively designated as RFID tag independent of their actual embodiment.

Another possibility for a temporary closure member is a temporary fastener, such as spring cleco fasteners (also sometimes called cleko fasteners). The RFID tag may be integrated into the fastener or attached to it as a pendant.

Another possibility for a temporary closure member is a remove before flight tag that also has an RFID tag (integrated or attached).

The temporary closure members, as envisaged herein, can be equipped to any kind of temporary configuration during an aircraft manufacturing process, e.g. plugs for air-conditioning ducts etc..

The holes/openings can be tagged for example with a spring cleco sheet metal fastener. This temporary fastener can have an RFID tag that is configured as a pendant equipped with an RFID chip. The RFID tag can be detected in a later production step, to find the temporarily fastened/closed openings. With the ideas presented here, it is possible to avoid removal of a permanent fastener.

Another idea is to integrate the RFID function direct inside the fastener. The cleko fasteners are an example. Other types of temporary sheet metal fasteners can be used.

With the disclosure herein the removal of existing solid fasteners, as is a typical repetitive action during production of an aircraft, can be avoided. For example, during the primary structure assembly a lot of rivets are usually installed, but in some cases, a removal of some permanent rivets is necessary, e.g. for installing secondary structure parts. However, the removing of rivets causes extra work, effort and a possibility of oversize rivet installations. With the ideas presented herein, a technology is developed for avoiding extra work and effort.

It should be noted that in the secondary structure, open holes are usually not acceptable from the point of view of stress, e.g. related to fatigue issues. With the temporary plug installation as disclosed herein these issues are avoided. At an early stage of the production, usually a lot of holes will be drilled and closed with temporary fasteners. Later during production, some of the holes have to be reopened, since the rivet position is used for additional parts to install e.g. brackets.

With the temporary closure members the holes are closed from the beginning of the production. The association of RFID tags allow for a reliable and efficient removal of the temporary closure members and subsequent installation of the permanent members, e.g. rivets, bolts or plugs, as the case may be.

The process steps can be summarized as follows:.

In general, a part can be attached in any of several ways, e.g. the part can be attached using a sheet metal temporary fastener with an RFID pendant, a sheet metal temporary fastener having an integrated RFID tag. The hole can also be closed with a security seal having an attached or integrated RFID tag.

A QR code on a technical drawing facilitates identification of the type of RFID chip frequency or (unique) identification number. The temporary closure member may have an eye-catching colour to get attention (yellow or fluorescent). The temporary closure member may have an integrated optional flashlight. Preferably, the RFID tag is waterproof (e.g. IP67). The measures described herein are applicable to other temporary aircraft installations during production.

Some holes require high effort to find by a visual inspection. With the hole having an additional digital marker it can be easier detected. The temporary tagging of the hole can be detected with an appropriate electronic device (e.g. RFID scanner) and reduces the effort to find the holes that are to be opened. An RFID or other kind of electronic transmitter (collectively designated RFID tag herein) is used to mark the hole.

The electronic scanner can detect the position of the marked hole, preferably based on its unique identification and/or information from the technical drawing (cf.

With this it is easy to install for example a secondary structure bracket on a primary structure rivet pattern without having to remove the solid rivet on shell level. Rather, the temporary closure member is removed and the secondary structure bracket can be installed with permanent rivets.

Embodiments of the invention are described in more detail with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings that are listed below.

Referring to <FIG>, top, a first part <NUM> is provided. The first part <NUM> is preferably a primary structure part <NUM> of an aircraft (not shown). The first part <NUM> includes at least one first opening <NUM>.

A temporary closure member <NUM> is attached to the first part <NUM>. The temporary closure member <NUM> is an adhesive strip <NUM>. The temporary closure member <NUM> is attached such that the first opening <NUM> is covered by the temporary closure member <NUM>. The temporary closure member <NUM> preferably has an easily noticeable colour, e.g. red.

The temporary closure member <NUM> includes an RFID tag <NUM>. The RFID tag <NUM> is preferably integrated into the temporary closure member <NUM>. The RFID tag <NUM> may be attached to the temporary closure member <NUM> as a separate element.

After the temporary closure member <NUM> is attached to the first part <NUM> and the first opening <NUM> is closed, a unique identification (unique ID) is associated with the location of the closed opening and stored on the RFID tag <NUM>. In addition, the unique ID and/or the location of the temporary closure member <NUM> are also stored in a database and included into technical drawings for subsequent manufacturing. Alternatively or additionally the frequency of the RFID tag <NUM> can be stored. This information may be stored as scannable information, e.g. in a QR code.

At a later stage of the manufacturing process, the first opening <NUM> is to be permanently closed off. A worker uses an RFID scanner and scans for the temporary closure member <NUM> based on the information stored in the database or technical drawings. The worker finds the temporary closure member <NUM> and removes it. Where necessary a solvent may be used.

As depicted in <FIG>, bottom, a permanent member <NUM> is inserted in to the first opening <NUM> and fixed therein. In this embodiment the permanent member <NUM> is a permanent plug <NUM> that closes the first opening <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, top, a first part <NUM> and a second part <NUM> are provided. The first part <NUM> is preferably a primary structure part <NUM> of an aircraft (not shown). The first part <NUM> includes at least one first opening <NUM>.

The second part <NUM> is preferably a secondary structure part <NUM> of the aircraft. The second part <NUM> includes at least one second opening <NUM>. The second part <NUM> may be a mounting bracket, for example.

The first and second parts <NUM>, <NUM> are arranged such that the at least one pair of first and second openings <NUM>, <NUM> are aligned.

A temporary closure member <NUM> is inserted into the aligned pair of openings <NUM>, <NUM>. The temporary closure member <NUM> is attached such that the first and second opening <NUM>, <NUM> are covered by the temporary closure member <NUM>. The temporary closure member <NUM> preferably has an easily noticeable colour, e.g. red.

The temporary closure member <NUM> is configured as a temporary fastener <NUM>. The temporary fastener <NUM> comprises an actuation member <NUM> that actuates at least one locking member <NUM> between a locked and unlocked state. In the locked state the temporary fastener <NUM> is prohibited from moving along the axial direction of the pair of aligned openings <NUM>, <NUM>. In addition the temporary fastener <NUM> presses the first and second parts <NUM>, <NUM> together so they are temporarily and removable fixed to each other.

The temporary closure member <NUM> according to this embodiment also includes an RFID tag <NUM>. The RFID tag <NUM> is preferably integrated into the temporary closure member <NUM>. The RFID tag <NUM> may be attached to the temporary closure member <NUM> as a separate element.

After the temporary closure member <NUM> is attached to the first and second parts <NUM>, <NUM> and the first and second openings <NUM>, <NUM> are closed, a unique identification (unique ID) is associated with the location of the closed openings and stored on the RFID tag <NUM>. In addition, the unique ID and/or the location of the temporary closure member <NUM> are also stored in a database and included into technical drawings for subsequent manufacturing. Alternatively or additionally the frequency of the RFID tag <NUM> can be stored. This information may be stored as scannable information, e.g. in a QR code.

At a later stage of the manufacturing process, the first part <NUM> is to be permanently fixed to the second part <NUM>. A worker uses an RFID scanner and scans for the temporary closure member <NUM> based on the information stored in the database or technical drawings. The worker finds the temporary closure member <NUM> and removes it by unlocking. Where necessary a special tool may be used.

As depicted in <FIG>, bottom, a permanent member <NUM> is inserted in to the first and second openings <NUM>, <NUM> and fixed therein. In this embodiment the permanent member <NUM> is a rivet or a bolt <NUM> that fixes the first and second parts <NUM>, <NUM> together.

Claim 1:
A method for temporarily closing openings in a part (<NUM>, <NUM>) during a manufacturing process, the method comprising:
a) providing a first part (<NUM>) having at least one first opening (<NUM>);
b) positioning a temporary closure member (<NUM>) so as to close the first opening (<NUM>), the temporary closure member (<NUM>) having an RFID tag (<NUM>);
c) associating a unique identification with the first opening (<NUM>) and storing the identification on the RFID tag (<NUM>) and including a scannable information tag that includes information indicative of an RFID frequency and/or the unique identification of the respective RFID tag (<NUM>) into technical drawing data;
d) at a later stage, scanning the information tag from the technical drawings and finding the RFID tag (<NUM>) based on that information, scanning for the RFID tag (<NUM>) with an RFID scanning device based on the identification and removing the temporary closure member (<NUM>) from the first opening (<NUM>) and installing a permanent member (<NUM>) in the first opening (<NUM>).