Dimensional Evaluation of Aircraft Fuel Cells

ABSTRACT: Aircraft fuel cells are flexible rubber-coated fabric enclosures for the containment of fuel within aircraft cavities. The overall envelope dimensions and locations of interface fittings and attachment elements such as lacing ferrules and hanger baskets are critical to the proper function and durability of the fuel cells. The existing method of dimensional inspection is to install the fuel cells in a facsimile structure and evaluate the fit of the cell within the facsimile structure. This approach is sensitive to the installation methodology used and does not directly produce quantitative dimensional data. Methods which lessen fixturing, labor, and training requirements and improve repeatability will be regarded as especially desirable. To address this critical need, X-wave Innovations Inc. (XII) propose a portable, low cost, non-contact, three-dimensional (3D) measurement system SurfSCAN for aircraft fuel cell dimension evaluation. The proposed SurfSCAN provides comprehensive data and results about the surfaces of the fuel cell to the operator via video images for performing rapid high-resolution 3D scans. BENEFIT: We estimate there is addressable market size of our proposed technology. Our addressable market estimate is based upon revenue estimates from licensing, technical support and services for the customization, integration, and testing with 3D scanning measurement systems. With many new and aging aircraft and service life extending, fast and accurate measurement is becoming more of a concern to fleet managers and aircraft operators. There is no existing system or method that can make rapid, accurate, reliable, and non-contact measurement. As a result, programs like the X35 will benefit from this research.