This invention relates generally to aircraft engine harnesses and, more particularly, to modeling systems used to model aircraft engine harnesses.
Aircraft engines typically include a plurality of wiring harnesses used to electrically couple a plurality of engine components. Each harness includes a plurality of connectors electrically coupled with a plurality of wire cables. The harnesses typically include a plurality of wire cable branches extending in various angles and directions from a central wire cable.
During an initial assembly of an aircraft engine, an engine mock-up is utilized to determine how each wiring harness should be routed across the engine. More specifically, rope is often routed across the engine to simulate the wiring harness and to produce a template of each wiring harness.
Once the desired assembled condition for each wiring harness is determined, each wiring harness is physically untwisted and measured to determine an unfolded state. After the unfolded state of each wiring harness is determined, drawings are generated for manufacturing and inspection. Because of the complexity of the aircraft engines, the harnesses are often complex, and the process of determining an unfolded state for each of the wiring harnesses may be a time-consuming, challenging, and laborious task, and may not yield accurate results.
In an exemplary embodiment, a modeling system converts a three-dimensionally defined aircraft engine harness into a two-dimensional electronic model. Specifically, the modeling system electronically unfolds the three-dimensionally defined harness to create a plurality of two-dimensional stick format drawings that are viewable along a plurality of orientations. Furthermore, a processor executing the modeling system determines a plurality of design parameters for the harness and displays the drawings and design parameters in a format that may be used for inspection purposes and manufacturing purposes. More specifically, the processor determines a plurality of angles, diameters, and lengths employed within the three-dimensionally defined harness. As a result, the modeling system facilitates accurately unfolding three-dimensionally defined harnesses to create two-dimensional electronic representations in a cost-effective and reliable manner.
Base connector 44 includes a receptacle portion 46, a base portion 48, and a wire connection portion 50. Receptacle portion 46 extends outwardly from base portion 48 and has a substantially circular cross-sectional profile. A key 52 extends from a connect point 54 of receptacle portion 46 inward towards base portion 48. Receptacle portion key 52 ensures base connector 44 is connected to the aircraft engine component in a proper orientation with respect to the aircraft engine component.
Base connector base portion 48 extends concentrically from base connector receptacle portion 46 to wire connection portion 50. Wire connection portion 50 extends substantially perpendicularly from base portion 48 to an outer end 56, such that an elbow 58 is defined between base connector base portion 48 and wire connection portion 50. Wire connection portion 50 connects to a wire cable 60.
Wire cable 60 extends from base connector 44 to end connector fitting 45. A plurality of flexible cable branches 62 extend between wire cable 60 and each connector fitting 42 to electrically couple each connector fitting 42 to wire cable 60. Cable branches 62 extend in a plurality of angular orientations and planar and non-planar directions from wire cable 60.
Each connector fitting 42 includes a body portion 70 and a receptacle portion 72. Receptacle portion 72 extends substantially perpendicularly from body portion 70 and includes a key (not shown) and a center axis of symmetry 74. The receptacle portion key ensures that each connector fitting 42 is attached to a respective aircraft engine component in a proper orientation with respect to the aircraft engine component. Each body portion 70 extends between a connect point 76 and receptacle portion 72, and includes a center axis of symmetry 78.
Initially, to generate two-dimensional electronically modeled aircraft engine harness 82, connector fittings 84 are defined 86 using a plurality of connector fitting ports 88 as shown in
More specifically, each connector port 90 identifies a connector fitting connect point 76 (shown in
After each connector fitting 84 is defined 86, a base connector 100 and an end connector 102 are identified 104 and then defined 86 using connector fitting ports 88. More specifically, connector fitting ports 90, 92, 94, and 96 are used to identify portions of base connector 100 and end connector 102 that are respectively identical to those connector fitting portions identified above with the same connector fitting port. Accordingly, base connector 100, end connector 102, and each connector fitting 84 are defined 86 using four connector fitting ports 88.
After base connector 100 and end connector 102 are defined 86, a cable center line 108 and branch lines 110 are generated 112 as shown in
One branch line 110 is then chosen 120 to be a reference branch line. After branch line 110 is chosen 120, an X and Y plane are established and a reference coordinate axes Csys is labeled 124 at base connector 100. Additionally, coordinate points A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, and P are labeled 128 representing each connector fitting port 88 previously defined and branch points G and L representing an intersection between each branch line 110 and cable center line 108.
Design parameters, described in more detail below, for aircraft engine harness 82 are then generated 130. Additionally, a two-dimensional electronically modeled aircraft harness drawing (not shown in
The design parameters and drawings are then displayed 140. In one embodiment, the design parameters are displayed 140 in a tabular format (not shown in
A length chart portion 164 provides various lengths 166 of segments 168 of harness 82 (shown in
A segment length chart portion 170 provides lengths 172 of harness 82 between harness branches 110. Segment length chart portion 170 also provides segment diameters 174 of portions 176 of harness 82 along harness cable center line 108 and each branch line. Harness portions 176 are defined using coordinate points A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, and P, and branch points G and L. Diameters 174 are determined using a diameter calculation program (not shown).
A branch angle chart portion 180 provides branch breakout angles 182 (illustrated in
A turn table angle chart portion 190 defines a turn table angle 192 (illustrated in
A base and true angle chart portion 200 defines a base angle 202 (measured relative to X-Y plane and to branches 204, and measured in a counter-clockwise direction from the X-axis). A true angle 206 is measured from X-Y plane.
A fitting and master keyway turn table angle portion 210 defines a turn table angle 212 using a straight line (not shown) that is coincident with an intersection between a first three point plane (not shown) and a second three point plane. Turn table angle 212 is defined between the straight line and a previous angle 214, and measured in a counter-clockwise direction from the plane of previous angle 214. The above-described modeling system is cost-effective and accurate.
The modeling system generates a two-dimensional electronic model from a three-dimensionally defined harness. Furthermore, the modeling system facilitates unfolding a three-dimensionally defined harness in a shorter time duration than is possible with known harness unfolding methods. Accordingly, the modeling system provides a definition of a harness that is the same in a manufactured condition as in a designed condition. As a result, the modeling system produces two-dimensional electronic models for manufacturing in a cost-effective and reliable manner.
While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.
This application claims priority to the provisional patent application filed Oct. 19, 2000, Ser. No. 60/241,560.
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Number | Date | Country |
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0891021 | Jan 1999 | EP |
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60241560 | Oct 2000 | US |