Patent application EP17176475A (EP), filed 2017-06-16
Publication number: EP3257664A1
Title: SYSTEM FOR ANALYSIS OF A REPAIR FOR A STRUCTURE
Abstract: [0001]    An apparatus is provided for analysis of a repair for a structure by identifying component parts of the structure that have common material properties and geometric constraints, and based thereon determining a generic repair component for the component parts that also have the common material properties and the geometric constraints. A set of loads are extracted from a loads model of the undamaged structure and redistributed in a loads redistribution model at a damaged or defective portion of the component part. The set of redistributed loads indicate loading incurred by the generic repair component under an external load. The apparatus then uses the redistributed loads to perform an analysis to determine a margin of safety of the generic repair component and, in instances in which the margin of safety is positive, outputs the material properties and geometric constraints of the generic repair component to a fabrication system for production thereof.
IPC codes: G06F  17/    50            A I
B29C  73/    04            A I
B64F   5/    40            A I
B64F   5/    60            A I
G06F  30/    15            A I
G06F  30/    23            A I
Claims: number: 1
text: An apparatus for analysis of a repair for a structure including component parts, the apparatus comprising a processor (402) and a memory storing executable instructions (404) that, in response to execution by the processor (402), cause the apparatus to at least:
number: 2
text: The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein the apparatus being caused to determine the generic repair component includes being caused to determine a plurality of generic repair components each of which has the common material properties and the common geometric constraints, the generic repair component being a user-selected one of the plurality of generic repair components.
number: 3
text: The apparatus of Claim 1 or 2, wherein the apparatus being caused to determine the generic repair component includes being caused to determine a bolted or bonded repair that is suitable for replacing or coupling the damaged or defective portion of the component part with the generic repair component.
number: 4
text: The apparatus of any preceding Claim wherein the memory stores further executable instructions (404) that, in response to execution by the processor (402) and in at least one instance in which the margin of safety is negative, cause the apparatus to further at least:
number: 5
text: The apparatus of Claim 4, wherein the apparatus being caused to determine the second generic repair component includes being caused to at least:
number: 6
text: The apparatus of any preceding Claim wherein:
number: 7
text: A method for analysis of a repair for a structure including component parts, the method comprising:
number: 8
text: The method of Claim 7, wherein determining the generic repair component includes determining a plurality of generic repair components each of which has the common material properties and the common geometric constraints, the generic repair component being a user-selected one of the plurality of generic repair components.
number: 9
text: The method of Claim 7 or 8, wherein determining the generic repair component for the plurality of the component parts includes determining a bolted or bonded repair that is suitable for replacing or coupling the damaged or defective portion of the component part with the generic repair component.
number: 10
text: The method of any of Claims 7 to 9 further comprising, in at least one instance in which the margin of safety is negative:
number: 11
text: The method of any of Claims 7 to 10, wherein determining the second generic repair component includes:
number: 12
text: The method of any of Claims 7 to 11, wherein:
number: 13
text: A method of producing a generic repair component, comprising:
number: 14
text: A method of repairing a structure, comprising:
number: 15
text: A computer-readable storage medium for analysis of a repair for a structure including component parts, the computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code stored therein that, in response to execution by a processor, cause an apparatus to at least:
Office action: search_report, dated 2017-12-20
Rejection reasons: novelty_epc_54
Prior art cited: ref_id: US2013014367A1
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: US2013192381A1
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: US2014200731A1
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: US2013014367
ref_type: patent
severity: novelty_destroying
ref_id: US2013192381
ref_type: patent
severity: novelty_destroying
ref_id: US2014200731
ref_type: patent
severity: novelty_destroying
Final disposition: pending (2017-12-20)