Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT FOR PRESSURIZED AIRCRAFT
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is related to and claims convention priority
from
United Sates Provisional Patent Application No. 62/679,595, filed June 1,
2018,
for AIR QUALITY TEST FOR AIRCRAFTS, by Daniel Cadieux, included by reference
herein.
[0002] The present application is related to and claims convention priority
from
Canadian Patent Application No. 3,007,589, filed June 7, 2018, for AIR QUALITY
PRESERVATION SYSTEM FOR PRESSURIZED AIRCRAFTS, by Daniel Cadieux, included by
reference herein.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0003] This application relates to aircraft air quality in general, and to an
air quality improvement for pressurized aircrafts, in particular.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] On most airliners, the air necessary for life support at high altitude
is
bleeded from the engines pressurized and warmed in order to be usable through
the Air System. On a pressurized aircraft, the vaporization of synthetic
engine
oil & additives in the ducting ventilation lines may result in persons being
temporarily exposed (with an estimation of one event for 2000 flights) to the
risk of breathing toxic gas which are considered by some medical experts to
contain seriously harmful contaminants, such as for example TCP (Tri-Cresyl
Phosphates) Organophosphates, which are known to be a neurotoxin and hazardous
gases for human health. This contamination is a concern for passengers and
especially for the flight crew for which the risk of repeated exposure over
work
shifts may result in safety of flight considerations, increased cost of
medical
care, and/or loss of jobs for the victims. This phenomenon, embedded for its
consequences in the term "Fume event" in the aviation community, is called
Aerotoxic Syndrome. Military personnel, flight crew and pilots may also suffer
from further exposure to TCP and Organophosphates contained in jet engines
turbine lubricants, the most popular being "jet Oil 2". The current
contaminated
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oil has already been recognised as a cause for Aerotoxic Syndrome at the World
health Organisation, and addressing it may help prevent epidemics on air
travelling.
[0005] Even if various technologies may be used, such as filters, to stop the
propagation of TCP in air ducts, neither equipments nor specific airworthiness
regulations have been raised to address this particular topic. Three
challenging
issues are to: find the best means to prevent the occurrence of the Aerotoxic
Syndrome on board of pressurized aircrafts; to improve the current quality of
the air regarding also biological contaminants; and collect basic
contamination
data, which are dramatically missing.
[0006] There is evidence that air quality improvement procedures are working
on
commercial, industrial and hospital projects. The fact that the aircraft
industry is lagging in adoption of air quality improvement procedures may be
in
part due to the complexity of aircraft and the fact that the industry is
highly
regulated so that only aircraft qualified maintenance personnel can access
certain parts of the air ventilation system and they do not have any
procedures
specified to, for example, to clean the air ducts in an aircraft. Even though
there are no air duct cleaning services yet available throughout the world,
FAA,
EASA, and more Agencies worldwide are looking for solutions.
[0007] Filters are only a recommendation and ducts have never been cleaned
over
the life span of an aircraft. There is clear logical, scientific and technical
evidence that urgently show the risk that contamination by organophosphate due
to fume events present, such that technology that mitigates this risk is to be
considered as a priority. The presence of biological contaminants is a
secondary
concern but a significant improvement is also required.
SUMMARY
[0008] There is a long felt need for the improvement of air quality on board
of
all airliners as this may result in improved health for all of humanity given
the forecast of significant growth of air traffic in the coming years.
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[0009] It would be advantageous to provide a method that can be used for
sampling the air of aircrafts.
[0010] It would also be advantageous to provide a method that can be used for
providing a data record related to the air samples to make basic data
regarding
the air samples more broadly available.
[0011] It would further be advantageous to provide a method that can be used
to
clean the air ducts of aircraft having regard to the data record related to
air
samples of the aircraft to ensure that the appropriate techniques are used to
improve the quality of air in all aircraft systematically.
[0012] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a
method including the steps of: sampling the air of a pressurized zone of an
aircraft to produce a pressurized air sample; providing a data record that is
related to the pressurized air sample; and cleaning the cabin air ducts of the
aircraft while using the data record. In some embodiments, the sampling step
comprises the acts of: identifying a pre-existing pressurized air flow in a
pressurized zone of an aircraft suitable for sampling pressurized air;
providing
an air sampling housing having an inlet port, an outlet port, and a sampling
region therebetween, the sampling region in fluid communicating with the inlet
port and the outlet port; interfacing the air sampling housing with either a
pre-existing source or a pre-existing sink of the pre-existing pressurized air
flow so a portion of the pre-existing prerssurized air flow enters the inlet
port, flows through the sampling region, and exits the outlet port; and
providing an air sampling device in the sampling region of the air sampling
housing so that a portion of the pre-existing pressurized air flow that flows
through the sampling region can be sampled by the sampling device without
substantially blocking the pre-existing pressurized air flow.
In some
embodiments, the act of cleaning the cabin air ducts further comprises the
acts
of: determining a point of access to the cabin air ducts of the aircraft;
determining a map of the cabin air ducts of the aircraft; determining a
network
.. of connected air duct elements of the map of cabin air ducts; determining a
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collection of cleaning techniques suitable for cleaning the respective air
duct
elements of the determined network of connected air duct elements of the map
of
cabin air ducts; and determining a sequence of cleaning acts, each cleaning
act
including the act of applying a select cleaning technique selected from the
determined collection of cleaning techniques suitable for cleaning a
respective
select element selected from the determined network of connected elements of
the
map of cabin air ducts. In some embodiments, the data record includes
identification information which can be used to report incidents to the
relevant
aviation authority.
[0013] Other aspects and features of the present disclosure will become
apparent
to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following
description
of specific embodiments of a air quality improvement for pressurized aircraft
in
conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of
example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing figures, wherein:
FIG. 1 shows an air sampling housing;
FIG. 2 shows the inside of air sampling housing of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 shows three standard airliner overhead vents, two of which are
interfacing with air sampling housings;
FIG. 4 shows four embodiments of an improved air sampling housing;
FIG. 5 shows an air sampling housing of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of the pressurized zones of an example
aircraft;
FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of an improved air duct cleaning device;
FIG. 8 shows a front view of an air duct cleaning device;
FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an exemplary application specific machine
environment that can be used with embodiments of the present application;
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FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating steps of a method of air quality
improvement for pressurized aircraft;
FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating acts for the sampling step of FIG.
10;
FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating the typical life cycle of a data
record; and
FIG. 13 is a flow chart illustrating acts for the cleaning step of FIG.
10.
[0015] Like reference numerals are used in different figures to denote similar
elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The following terms may be used in this disclosure and have the meaning
assigned to them: AAFS (American Academy of Forensic Sciences), CAA (Civil
Aviation Association); FAA (Federal Aviation Administration); HCN (Hydrogen
Cyanide); HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air); SOFT (Society of Forensic
Toxicologist); TCP (Tricresyl Phosphate); TSB (Transportation Safety Board of
Canada); DOT (Department of Transport); and ICAO (International Civil Aviation
Organization).
[0017] Broadly, disclosed herein are three techniques, each of which is an
improvement, and when combined provide air quality improvement for pressurized
aircrafts. First a technique for sampling the air of aircrafts is disclosed
which can be carried out by maintenance personnel, aircraft crew, as well as
passengers. Second a technique for providing a data record related to the air
samples is disclosed and enables the collection of basic data regarding the
air
samples to be more broadly available. Third a technique for cleaning the air
ducts of aircraft is disclosed, having regard to the data record related to
air
samples of the aircraft, thereby ensuring that the appropriate techniques are
used to improve the quality of air in all aircraft systematically. The
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combination of all three techniques, if practised systematically can result in
air quality improvement for pressurized aircrafts.
[0018] An approach taken in the present disclosure is to provide a systematic
method for applying know and proven technologies that have never yet been used
in high temperature closed system flexible vents of aircraft, and to create a
digital record which can be used to improve overall aircraft air quality for
the
entire industry.
[0019] In so doing, improvements to many of the proven technologies are
disclosed.
For example, a duct crawler having an integrated, camera, lights,
air flow compensator, propane or electrical heating unit, variable ducting
tracks, in line flexible UV lights, cleaning agent and fogging dispenser,
rotating electrical heated deep clean spin brushes, vacuum suction integrated
system, is disclosed herein and is an improvement to existing duct crawling
technology.
[0020] Some improvements disclosed herein are in ways of working with existing
technologies.
For example, a step by step combined cleaning process is
disclosed that can be applied to existing and new technologies alike, and is
an
improvement that is applicable to existing aircraft models and types, as well
was as different aircrafts model and types that have yet to be made.
[0021] Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows an air sampling housing 48.
FIG.
2 shows the opened air sampling housing 48 of FIG. 1 to show the interior and
the media that goes into it. The example air sampling housing 48 is an
improvement on a standard air sampling cassette that is typically used by
attaching it to a 120Volt/60hz pump, or battery operated pump, with a 14"
plastic flexible pipe 32 so that air flows through an inlet port 34 at the
top,
inside the air sampling cassette, and out the outlet port 36 at the bottom of
the air sampling cassette. As illustrated, as with a standard air sampling
cassette, the inlet port 34 and outlet port 36 each have a stopper 42 to avoid
contaminating the media before sampling, and to avoid contaminating the sample
after sampling . As with a standard air sampling cassette, the air sampling
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housing 48 contains an air sampling device 30, such as media, to sample air as
it flows from the inlet port 34, through the air sampling device 30, to the
outlet port 36. As with a standard air sampling cassette, the outside of the
air sampling housing 48 carries an identification label 38 indicating the size
.. of the sampling media 46 as well as a unique identifier for the air
sampling
device 30, for example a PCM 0.8 micron Mixed Cellulose Ester (MCE) filter, as
would typically be done with an air sampling cassette. Although one could try
to
use an air sampling cassette with a pump to sample air in an aircraft,
electricity is at a premium, and security and regulations are very stringent
when it comes to bringing electro-mechanical devices to be operated in flight,
such that using a standard air sampling cassette and pump may not be an
acceptable solution for sampling air quality in an aircraft. The air sampling
housing 48 improves over a standard air sampling cassette to overcome the
constraints of being in a pressurized aircraft. First, there is no need for a
pump, as will be further illustrated in reference to FIG. 3. Second, a
fluid
opening 44 is provided in the air sampling housing 48, in this case near the
inlet port 34.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 3, three standard airliner overhead vents are shown.
The middle vent is shown as a reference, and the two side vents are shown
interfacing with two air sampling housing 48 of FIGs. 1-2. The top most
vent
shows an air sampling housing 48 with a pipe 32 attached to its inlet port 34
and a stopper 42 attached to its outlet port 36. The pipe 32 is inserted into
the control nozzle of the pre-existing source 52 of pre-existing air flow 50,
the vent. As illustrated, the pre-existing air flow 50 does not yet flow
through
.. the air sampling housing 48 because of the action of the stopper 42. When
the
stopper 42 is removed, the pre-existing air flow 50 would flow into the inlet
port 34 passing through the air sampling device 30 and sampling media 46 and
out
the outlet port 36 into the cabin. Advantageously, with or without the stopper
42 in place, the pre-existing air flow 50 is not substantially blocked.
Although
not expressly shown, any number of removable fasteners could be used to attach
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the air sampling housing 48 to the vent, such as for example an elastic band,
or
by adapting the interface diameter 40 of the air sampling housing 48 for
frictional engagement with the vent. Further improvements to the air sampling
housing 48, including with respect to interfacing, are shown in FIGs. 4-5. By
pushing the sampling housing right up against the nozzle, the pipe 32 need not
be used at all. In the case of the second air sampling housing 48 attached to
the bottom most vent, the pipe 32 has been removed and the air sampling device
30 interfaces directly with the source of the pre-existing air flow 50, the
vent. Furthermore, each fluid opening 44 creates a new air flow 54 for
sampling
neighbouring air by using a pre-existing air flow 50 to entrain neighbouring
air
to form the new air flow 54 in an aircraft. Thus, advantageously, the air
sampling housing 48 can be used without the need of an air pump to sample air
in an aircraft by identifying a suitable source or sink of pressurized air
flow
in an aircraft pressurized zone, such as cabin, cockpit, or cargo hold for
example, interfacing with it, and optionally using fluid openings to create a
new air flow 54. Instead of using a pump that normally requires
electricity
which is at a premium in an aircraft, air samples can be taken at the various
pre-existing source 52 (a gasper vent, personal comfort vent, control nozzle
vent) of pre-existing air flow 50 putting air into pressurized zones of
airliners or sinks of pre-existing air flow 50 taking pressurized air flow out
of pressurized zones of airliners, and in their neighbourhood, despite the
many
different sizes of vents, louvers, and ports in an aircraft, by appropriate
interfacing of an air sampling housing 48. Further advantageously, since the
air
sampling housing 48 includes an identification label 38 with a unique
identifier, the sampling operation can be related to a data record of
information including location, time, date, and duration of the sampling, and
other information that can be used to improve air quality for pressurized
aircraft, as will be detailed further below.
[0023] FIG. 4 shows four embodiments of an improved air sampling housing 48
configured to interface with the control nozzle of the airline gasper shown in
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FIG. 3.
All of the air sampling housing 48 shown in FIG. 4 have the same
diameter inlet port 34 that is configured to interface by frictional
engagement
with the control nozzles of the airline gaspers shown.
The two topmost air
sampling housing 48 differ in overall length, as well as the dimension of
their
fluid opening 44.
The entrainment of the neighbouring air in all of the
examples shown is improved by use of a funnel shaped inlet port 34 which
increases entrainment of neighbouring air by increasing the air flow.
This
funnel like shape is repeated, and then reversed in the air sensing housing
that
is lined up with the centre gasper, to further increase air flow and
entrainment, and then reduce it after the pre-existing air flow 50 is mixed
with
the new air flow 54. The outlet ports of all of the air sampling housing 48
are
substantially the same between the top and bottom air sampling housings,
whereas
the one in the middle has a split chamber. This could be used, for example, to
split the pre-existing air flow 50 into two, the first going through without
any
mixing with a new air flow 54 as a control, and the second mixed with the new
air flow 54, with either separate sampling device, or by use of a split media
in
a single sampling device. The bottom air sampling housing 48 is similar to the
top air sampling housing 48 except that its fluid opening 44 near the inlet
port
34 is much larger, and there are provided a plurality of fluid opening 44 in
the
lower portion of the air sensing housing that affect the creation of new air
flow 54, as will be described in greater detail with reference to FIG. 5.
[0024] FIG. 5 shows the bottom most air sampling housing 48 of FIG. 4
interfacing with an airline gasper at its inlet port 34, and with the air
sampling cassette at the outlet port 36.
The air sampling cassette has been
selected with an interface diameter 40 that when inserted into the outlet port
36 of the air sampling housing 48 is engaged frictionally. On the left, even
thought the air sampling housing 48 is not touching the gasper, it still is
said
to interface with it since the pre-existing air flow 50 is sufficient to be
used
for sampling, e.g. if the stopper 42 shown at the outlet port 36 of the air
sampling cassette is removed, air would flow through the air sampling cassette
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and the air sampling media 46 therein. As illustrated, the pre-existing air
flow
50 causes a new air flow 54 to enter via the fluid opening 44 near the inlet
port 34 and exit via the plurality of fluid opening 44 near the outlet port
36.
If the stopper 42 on the outlet port 36 were to be removed, air would flow out
of the outlet port 36.
On the right, the air sampling housing 48 is
frictionally engaged with the gasper at the inlet port 34, and frictionally
engaged with the air sampling cassette at the outlet port 36. Compared to the
left, the sampling cassette is higher up and advantageously can be used to
cover
a portion of the plurality of fluid opening 44 in the air sampling housing 48
thereby providing a way of adjusting the new air flow 54. As was the case with
the one on the left, the air sampling housing 48 does not block the pre
existing
air flow, while advantageously providing a new air flow 54 whose rate can be
adjusted for sampling using standard air sampling cassette without the use of
a
pump or electricity. Thus, the fluid openings may be provided for several
reasons, for example: to increase flow rate; to decrease flow rate; to sample
larger or different region; to ensure that in case airflow to a sampling media
is blocked it does not block the pre-existing air flow, to name a few.
[0025] Although the examples used so for an air sampling device have been air
sampling media and cassettes, it is contemplated that other devices can be
used
such as manual, automatic, or semi-automatic gas pumps with sorbent tubes,
glass
tubes, paper or material colour reactive chemical tests (analogous to a litmus
test), sensors for real time signal, etc. For example, the use of a UV light
at
a variable frequency can cause jet oils to fluoresce, which in turn can be
detected with a photo diode tuned to the frequency range of the fluorescence.
Thus, any form of sampling air can be used with the techniques of the present
application either with a pre-existing air flow, and/or a data record related
to
the air sample.
[0026] FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of the pressurized zones of an example
aircraft.
The aircraft includes pressurized zones such as the pressurized
flight deck 56, pressurized cabin 58, and pressurized cargo compartment 60.
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tail cone as illustrated is not pressurized, as is often the case with
airliners. Also shown are how, for example,
fresh air 70 is processed by a
pressurization system 72 to be mixed with bleed air at a bleed air system 74
that is used by the air conditioning pack 76 to pressurize the pressurized
zones. Although we have illustrated the case where a gasper is used as a
source
of pre-existing air, a person of ordinary skill in the relevant field of art
is
enabled to adapting what is taught in this specification to a given aircraft.
For example, with regards to interfacing an air sampling housing 48, to
different sources of pre-existing air flow 50, such as for example, the
louvers
.. or ceiling vent 62 at the top of the cabin , or other vents in cabins that
do
not have gaspers. Similarly, it is contemplated that instead of interfacing
the
inlet port 34 of the air sensing housing with a source of pre-existing air
flow
50, the outlet port 36 of the air sensing housing can be interfaced with a
sink
of a pre-existing air flow 50.
For example, the outlet port of the air sensing
housing can interface with the air return floor vent 64 usually found near the
floor of the cabin, or the recirculation fan 66 usually found in the
pressurized
cargo compartment 60, at the air filter, or at or near an outflow valve 68
that
are normally found in the pressurized cargo compartment, or any suitable
source
or sink of pre-existing air flow 50 in a pressurized zone of an aircraft.
Similarly, it is contemplated that any change in geometry from circular, to
square, to rectangular or otherwise to accommodate variations of pre-existing
sources or sinks of pressurized air is within the scope of the present
disclosure.
[0027] FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of an improved air duct cleaning device.
FIG. 8 shows a front view indicating some standard features of a stripped down
embodiment of the improved air duct cleaning device of FIG. 7. The device is
specialized for aviation aircraft duct cleaning. As illustrated, numbered
items
in FIG. 5 include vacuum unit 1 : a High Powered high CFM suction Type Vacuum
with Adaptable UV lamps integrated, HEPA and or ULPA (Ultra Low Particulate
Air" filters. Adaptable chamber will be used on this receptacle for different
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type contaminants in all different forms, liquid, solid, vapours and air
collectibles; cleaning dispenser unit 2: Cleaning agent dispenser, used as
perforated in line or as spray nozzles;
fogging dispenser unit 3: fogging
dispenser used for distribution of vaporised distribution of cleaning agent
and
or decontaminant fog; (4) UV lamps unit 4:
in line UV Lamps, flexible or
sequence mini units in line for UV closed space bacterial decontamination. UV
rays to be either in line, or in wrap around shape to have more surfaces to be
visible and to control decontamination type, evenly and time of exposure; (5)
UV frequency unit 5: UV lamps are variable in frequencies to adapt to
different
type ducting material composite and for exposure to elements and radiation
levels and time of exposure; air valve unit 6: air-gas balancing air for
proper
combustion, air valve unit 6 to control the proper percentage of air-gas
mixture
in a closed system to stay within LEL "Lower Explosive Limit"; duct adaptation
7 unit: self propelled track system adaptable to various size 4" to 24" (or
smaller, or larger) ducting and track to various types of ducting materials;
burner unit 8: propane burning unit with pilot assembly for high temperature
deep cleaning warm up, to activate chemical used for cleaning or
decontamination
and for burning residual cleaning agents used in different procedure types;
camera unit 9: camera with day and night capacity for video, picture, sound
and
recording for future reference; lights unit 10: LED lights to improve
visibility; air compensator unit 11: negative air or vacuum air compensator
for
air push back unit 17, low pressure prevention for closed circuit systems;
tracks unit 12: variable sized track systems, fire or non- fire resistant,
interchangeable slide on track systems for vertical and horizontal climbs and
stick on suction material for climb; sensors unit 13: sensor I for duct with,
this unit will send with information to bushing devises for adapting to
various
with automatically and to report to Device operation; sensor II to detect
various changes in ducting wall types and for prevention of bleed air exposure
to passengers due to faulty or old systems ( operator will report to mechanic
and recommend sections to be changed if needed); sensor III, material type or
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contamination detection device to report to system operator; sensor IV, to be
determined by operation controls, but for example can be a photo diode
sensitive
to light at a given frequency to detect the fluorescence of a material that
has
been lit by the UV lamps unit 4 at a frequency determined by the UV frequency
unit 5; push back unit 17: ultra high pressure push back air, liquid or vapour
form for push back system. Push back device can also be used to propel unit on
all Axis with directional control by operator or Al (Artificial Intelligence)
controls; rotating brushes unit 18: rotating brushes system, powered either on
magnetic field around control line or by direct shaft system; retractable
brushes unit 19: retractable brushes, brushes from different sizes, e.g. 4" to
24" (or smaller or larger), fold on themselves and open up in series
controlled
either directly via with sensors unit 13 sensor I or directly by operator;
brush
type unit 20: brushes type, different brush type will be interchangeable for
different uses and cleaning or decontamination type; heated brushes unit 21:
brushes material type is in various sizes and can be electrically charged for
heating different ducting wall type to improve cleaning efficiency; brush
material unit 22: brushes material type can be in various shapes and size and
be
electrically charged to induce magnetic field and static to trap different
types
of contaminants; suction unit 23: suction type system, will be flexible in
line
suction to return to main collective system; separation of contamination unit
24: separation of contamination, might be used with or without use of suction
unit 23 by either electromagnetic, non-thermal plasma, or different collection
type systems; whip unit 25: air duct whipping system I, in line will be a type
wiping system to physically touch interior walls of conduits with holes in the
wiping branches; air duct whipping system II, will be charged by either high
pressure air, liquid (such as liquid nitrogen), vapours (such as activated
oxygen) or solids (such as dry ice or micro sponges);air duct whipping system
III, will also be used for heavy decontamination using solids type abrasive
similar to sand blasting (such as dry ice or micro sponges); and air duct
whipping system IV will be easily changeable for different uses in different
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conditions and for different purposes. Such heads might be either changed
prior
to work being completed or could be in variable sizes and types and controlled
wither by sensor or by unit operator while work is being performed.
[0028] Different types of materials like plastic and metal alloy might be used
for exposure to heat, cancer types, biological elements, absence or presence
of
air, absence or presence of solid, liquid, vapour and or air. It is
anticipated
that once the difficult conditions of aircraft have been met, some embodiments
can be used for land, air and water cleaning procedures, some embodiments to
be
used for the removal of particles, dust, decontamination, biological,
radiation,
flooding, some embodiments to be used in different earth, water, air and
different transportations, some embodiments can be produced in different sizes
to clean 4" (or smaller or larger) air ducting soft or hard and more, some
embodiments to be produced in different sizes to perform cleaning,
decontamination or removal of all types of solid, liquid, vapour or air in
various conditions. For example 4" Air ducts, 20" mining tunnels, (or smaller
or
larger) etc_ Some embodiments to be produced can be powered and controlled by
operator or by different controlling systems including non-human controlled
systems or artificial intelligent unit directly on or off the units control
head. Some embodiments can be for many usages and can be used in a closed
system
and left in that system for all purpose cleaning types. For example a unit can
be built in a closed system "Industrial Plant" type facility and can perform
cleaning when manufacturing in process and debris can be collected by trapped
systems in one of the loop phases or built in aircraft and left in for pilot
to
start system while in flight because of a bleed air malfunction causing TCP or
Organophosphorus in cabin air. Different materials removed will be treated
differently according to source of contaminants and will be disposed of in
accordance to local law or stored in storage facility for further Analysis and
testing of contaminants for future references of cause of the failure for a
fixed predetermined period of, for example a minimum 15 years, or whatever
required by applicable regulation.
The analysis could be in real time, or
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delayed (days or months later), enabling the air sample and data record to act
as an air quality black box. Analysis may involve comparing air quality
information to a threshold for an air quality parameter (e.g. toxicity
threshold). A signal could be raised, or an incident report form could be
initiated, if a threshold is exceeded. Communicating that a threshold has been
exceeded is an advantage that using a data record related to the air sample
enables. The data record can then be sent to the FAA or other relevant
authority. Crew may follow procedures necessary to prevent it does not occur
again. Data record could be used for audit and compliance testing. Data
records
can be used to determine suspected sources of fume event, such as electrical
wiring vs. bleed air, for example. If a fume event is detected, then
service
can be scheduled, for example servicing the seals of the engine are an example
of service, engine service, or other service can be scheduled at the same time
such as cleaning the air ducts of the aircraft.
[0029] Reference is now made to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an
exemplary application specific machine environment that can be used with
embodiments of the present application. Application Specific Machine 900 is
preferably a two-way wireless or wired communication machine having at least
data communication capabilities, as well as other capabilities, such as for
example audio, and video capabilities. Application Specific Machine 900
preferably has the capability to communicate with other computer systems over
a
Communications Medium 980. Depending on the exact functionality provided, the
machine may be referred to as a smart phone, a data communication machine,
client, or server, as examples.
[0030] Where Application Specific Machine 900 is enabled for two-way
communication, it will incorporate communication subsystem 940, including both
a
receiver 946 and a transmitter 944, as well as associated components such as
one
or more, preferably embedded or internal, antenna elements(not shown) if
wireless communications are desired, and a processing module such as a digital
signal processor (DSP) 942. As will be apparent to those skilled in the field
of
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communications, the particular design of the communication subsystem 940 will
be
dependent upon the communications medium 980 in which the machine is intended
to
operate. For example, Application Specific Machine 900 may include
communication
subsystems 940 designed to operate within the 802.11 network, Bluetoothm or
LTE
network, both those networks being examples of communications medium 980
including location services, such as GPS.
Communications subsystems 940 not
only ensures communications over communications medium 980, but also
application
specific communications 947.
An application specific processor 917 may be
provided, for example to process application specific data, instructions, and
signals, such as for example for GPS, near field, or other application
specific
functions. Depending on the application, the application specific processor
917
may be provided by the DSP 942, by the communications subsystems 940, or by
the
processor 910, instead of by a separate unit.
[0031] Network access requirements will also vary depending upon the type of
communications medium 980. For example, in some networks, Application Specific
Machine 900 is registered on the network using a unique identification number
associated with each machine. In other networks, however, network access is
associated with a subscriber or user of Application Specific Machine 900. Some
specific Application Specific Machine 900 therefore require other subsystems
927
in order to support communications subsystem 940, and some application
specific
Application Specific Machine 900 further require application specific
subsystems
927.
Local or non-network communication functions, as well as some functions
(if any) such as configuration, may be available, but Application Specific
Machine 900 will be unable to carry out any other functions involving
communications over the communications medium 9180 unless it is provisioned.
In
the case of LTE, a SIM interface is normally provided and is similar to a card-
slot into which a SIM card can be inserted and ejected like a persistent
memory
card, like an SD card. More generally, persistent Memory 920 can hold many key
application specific persistent memory data or instructions 927, and other
instructions 922 and data structures 925 such as identification, and
subscriber
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related information. Although not expressly shown in the drawing, such
instructions 922 and data structures 925 may be arranged in a class hierarchy
so
as to benefit from re-use whereby some instructions and data are at the class
level of the hierarchy, and some instructions and data are at an object
instance
level of the hierarchy, as would be known to a person of ordinary skill in the
art of object oriented programming and design.
[0032] When required network registration or activation procedures have been
completed, Application Specific Machine 900 may send and receive communication
signals over the communications medium 980. Signals received by receiver 946
through communications medium 980 may be subject to such common receiver
functions as signal amplification, frequency down conversion, filtering,
channel
selection and the like, analog to digital (A/D) conversion. A/D conversion of
a
received signal allows more complex communication functions such as
demodulation
and decoding to be performed in the DSP 942. In a similar manner, signals to
be
transmitted are processed, including modulation and encoding for example, by
DSP
942 and input to transmitter 944 for digital to analog conversion, frequency
up
conversion, filtering, amplification and transmission over the communication
medium 980. DSP 942 not only processes communication signals, but also
provides
for receiver and transmitter control. For example, the gains applied to
communication signals in receiver 946 and transmitter 944 may be adaptively
controlled through automatic gain control algorithms implemented in DSP 944.
In
the example system shown in FIG. 9, application specifc communications 947 are
also provided. These include communication of information located in
either
persistent memory 920 or volatile memory 930, and in particular application
specific PM Data or instructions 927 and application specific PM Data or
instructions 937.
[0033] Communications medium 980 may further serve to communicate with
multiple
systems, including an other machine 990 and an application specific other
machine 997, such as a server (not shown), GPS satellite (not shown) and other
elements (not shown). For example, communications medium 980 may communicate
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with both cloud based systems and a web client based systems in order to
accommodate various communications with various service levels. Other machine
990 and Application Specific Other machine 997 can be provided by another
embodiment of Application Specific Machine 900, wherein the application
specific
portions are either configured to be specific to the application at the other
machine 990 or the application specific other machine 997, as would be
apparent
by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the other machine 990
and
application specific other machine 997 pertains.
[0034] Application Specific Machine 900 preferably includes a processor 910
which controls the overall operation of the machine. Communication functions,
including at least data communications, and where present, application
specific
communications 947, are performed through communication subsystem 940.
Processor
910 also interacts with further machine subsystems such as the machine-human
interface 960 including for example display 962, digitizer/buttons 964 (e.g.
keyboard that can be provided with display 962 as a touch screen), speaker
965,
microphone 966 and Application specific HMI 967.
Processor 910 also interacts
with the machine-machine interface 9150 including for example auxiliary I/0
952,
serial port 955 (such as a USB port, not shown), and application specific MHI
957. Processor 910 also interacts with persistent memory 920 (such as flash
memory), volatile memory (such as random access memory (RAM)) 930. A short-
range communications subsystem (not shown), and any other machine subsystems
generally designated as Other subsystems 970, may be provided, including an
application specific subsystem 927.
In some embodiments, an application
specific processor 917 is provided in order to process application specific
data
or instructions 927, 937, to communicate application specific communications
947, or to make use of application specific subsystems 927.
[0035] Some of the subsystems shown in FIG. 9 perform communication-related
functions, whereas other subsystems may provide application specific or on-
machine functions. Notably, some subsystems, such as digitizer/buttons 964 and
display 962, for example, may be used for both communication-related
functions,
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such as entering a text message for transmission over a communication network,
and machine-resident functions such as application specific functions.
[0036] Operating system software used by the processor 910 is preferably
stored
in a persistent store such as persistent memory 920 (for example flash
memory),
which may instead be a read-only memory (ROM) or similar storage element (not
shown). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the operating system
instructions 932 and data 935, application specific data or instructions 937,
or
parts thereof, may be temporarily loaded into a volatile 930 memory (such as
RAM). Received or transmitted communication signals may also be stored in
volatile memory 930 or persistent memory 920. Further, one or more unique
identifiers (not shown) are also preferably stored in read-only memory, such
as
persistent memory 920.
[0037] As shown, persistent memory 920 can be segregated into different areas
for both computer instructions 922 and application specific PM instructions
927
as well as program data storage 925 and application specific PM data 927.
These
different storage types indicate that each program can allocate a portion of
persistent memory 920 for their own data storage requirements. Processor 910
and
when present application specific processor 917, in addition to its operating
system functions, preferably enables execution of software applications on the
Application Specific Machine 900.
A predetermined set of applications that
control basic operations, including at least data communication applications
for
example, will normally be installed on Application Specific Machine 900 during
manufacturing. A preferred software application may be a specific application
embodying aspects of the present application. Naturally, one or more memory
stores would be available on the Application Specific Machine 900 to
facilitate
storage of application specific data items. Such specific application would
preferably have the ability to send and receive data items, via the
communications medium 980. In a preferred embodiment, the application specific
data items are seamlessly integrated, synchronized and updated, via the
communications medium 980, with the machine 910 user's corresponding data
items
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stored or associated with an other machine 990 or an application specific
other
machine 997. Further applications may also be loaded onto the Application
Specific Machine 900 through the communications subsystems 940, the machine-
machine interface 950, or any other suitable subsystem 970, and installed by a
user in the volatile memory 930 or preferably in the persistent memory 920 for
execution by the processor 910. Such flexibility in application installation
increases the functionality of the machine and may provide enhanced on-machine
functions, communication-related functions, or both. For example, secure
communication applications may enable electronic commerce functions and other
such financial transactions to be performed using the Application Specific
Machine 900.
[0038] In a data communication mode, a received signal such as a text message
or
web page download will be processed by the communication subsystem 940 and
input
to the processor 910, which preferably further processes the received signal
for
output to the machine-human interface 960, or alternatively to a machine-
machine
interface 950. A user of Application Specific Machine 900 may also compose
data
items such as messages for example, using the machine-human interface 9160,
which preferably includes a digitizer/buttons 964 that may be provided as on a
touch screen, in conjunction with the display 962 and possibly a machine-
machine
interface 950. Such composed data items may then be transmitted over a
communication network through the communication subsystem 910.
Although not
expressly show, a camera can be used as both a machine-machine interface 950
by
capturing coded images such as QR codes and barcodes, or reading and
recognizing
images by machine vision, as well as a human-machine interface 960 for
capturing
a picture of a scene or a user.
[0039] For audio/video communications, overall operation of Application
Specific
Machine 900 is similar, except that received signals would preferably be
output
to a speaker 934 and display 962, and signals for transmission would be
generated by a microphone 936 and camera (not shown). Alternative voice or
audio
I/O subsystems, such as a voice message recording subsystem, may also be
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implemented on Application Specific Machine 900. Although voice or audio
signal
output is preferably accomplished primarily through the speaker 965, display
962
and applications specific MHI 967 may also be used to provide other related
information.
[0040] Serial port 955 in FIG. 9 would normally be implemented in a smart
phone-
type machine as a USB port for which communication or charging functionality
with a user's desktop computer, car, or charger (not shown), may be desirable.
Such a port 955 would enable a user to set preferences through an external
machine or software application and would extend the capabilities of
Application
Specific Machine 900 by providing for information or software downloads to
Application Specific Machine 900 other than through a communications medium
960.
The alternate path may for example be used to load an encryption key onto the
machine through a direct and thus reliable and trusted connection to thereby
enable secure machine communication.
[0041] Communications subsystems 940, may include a short-range communications
subsystem (not shown), as a further optional component which may provide for
communication between Application Specific Machine 900 and different systems
or
machines, which need not necessarily be similar machines. For example, the
other
subsystems 970 may include a low energy, near field, or other short-range
associated circuits and components or a Bluetoothm communication module to
provide for communication with similarly enabled systems and machines.
[0042] The exemplary machine of FIG. 9 is meant to be illustrative and other
machines with more or fewer features than the above could equally be used for
the present application.
For example, one or all of the components of FIG. 9
can be implemented using virtualization whereby a virtual Application Specific
Machine 900, Communications medium 980, Other machine 990 or Application
Specific Other Machine 997 is provided by a virtual machine. Software executed
on these virtual machines is separated from the underlying hardware resources.
The host machine is the actual machine on which the virtualization takes
place,
and the guest machine is the virtual machine.
The terms host and guest
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differentiate between software that runs on the physical machine versus the
virtual machine, respectively.
The virtualization can be full virtualization
wherein the instructions of the guest or virtual machine execute unmodified on
the host or physical machine, partial virtualization wherein the virtual
machine
operates on shared hardware resources in an isolated manner, to hardware-
assisted virtualization whereby hardware resources on the host machine are
provided to optimize the performance of the virtual machine.
Although not
expressly shown in the drawing, a hypervisor program can be used to provide
firmware for the guest or virtual machine on the host or physical machine. It
will be thus apparent to a person having ordinary skill in the art that
components of FIG. 9 can be implemented in either hardware or software,
depending on the specific application.
For example, while testing and
developing the Application Specific Machine 900 may be provided entirely using
an emulator for the machine, for example a smartphone emulator running
AndroidTM
or iOSTM. When deployed, real smartphones would be used.
[0043] Each component in FIG. 9 can be implemented using any one of a number
of
cloud computing providers such as Microsoft's Azure'TM, Amazon's Web Service
TM,
Google's Cloud Computing, or an OpenStack based provider or the like, by way
of
example only. Thus, as will be apparent to a person having ordinary skill in
the relevant field of art, depending on whether the environment in which
operate
the components of FIG. 9, the Communications medium 980 can be the Internet,
an
IP based medium such as a virtual, wired, or wireless network, an interconnect
back plane on a host machine serving as a back bone between virtual machines
and/or other real machines, or a combination thereof. For example, in the case
of the communications subsystems 940, the Transmitter 944, Receiver 946 and
DSP
942 may be unnecessary if the application specific machine is provided as a
virtual machine.
Likewise, when the application is a server provided as a
virtual machine, the machine-human interface 960 and machine-machine interface
950 may be provided by re-use of the resources of the corresponding host
machine, if needed at all.
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[0044] Data can be represented with a bit, a nibble, a byte, a 16bit, a 32bit
and a 64bit values. A bit is a binary data structure that can take on one of
two values, typically represented by a 1 or a 0.
In alternative physical
realizations of a bit, the bit can be stored in read only memory, random
access
.. memory, storage medium, electromagnetic signals. Bits are typically
realized in
large multiples to represent vast amounts of data.
A grouping four bits is
called a nibble. Two nibbles form a byte. The byte is of particular importance
as most data structures that are larger groupings of bits than one byte are
typically made up of multiples of bytes. Two bytes form a 16BIT structure. Two
16BIT structures form a 32BIT structure. Two 32BIT structures form a 64BIT
structure. An exemplary collection of data types that uses the data
representations follows. Data types are abstractions that represent
application
specific data using either primitive or non-primitive constructs. The most
fundamental primitive data type is a Boolean data type, which can be
represented
using a single bit with the boolean data structure, or more frequently using a
boolean data structure that uses a single byte. More complex data types of the
primitive data type is a Numeric data type. Three broad examples of the
Numeric
data type are the Integer data type, the Floating Point data type, and the
Character data types.
A byte, a short, an int, and a long are examples of
Integer Numeric Primitive Data Types using a BYTE, 16BIT, 16BIT, 32BIT and
64BIT
representation respectively. A float and a double are examples of Floating
Point
Numeric Primitive Data Types and are represented using 32BIT and 64BIT
representations respectively. Depending on the application, Integer and
Floating
Point Data Types can be interpreted as signed or unsigned values. In contrast,
Character data types represent alphanumeric information. A char8 is
represented
using a single byte, while a char is represented using a 16BIT value, such as
for example in ASCII or Unicode respectively.
Having defined some example
Primitive Data Types, it is possible to build up Non-Primitive Data Types by
combining Primitive ones, such as for example a String which is a collection
of
consecutive Character, an Array which is a collection of Primitive, and more
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generally, a Data Structure which can be a collection of one or more Data
Types.
Of particular interest are instances of Data Structure that can represent
Instructions, Class, and Object.
Instructions are data structures that are
processed by a given processor to implement a specific method or process. Some
Instructions work effectively with corresponding data and are packaged into
templates that can be reused, such as code libraries, or as is shown in the
drawing in a Class which is a collection of attributes including Data Types
and
methods including Instructions.
A Class can be arranged relative to other
Classes in order to provide a Class hierarchy, a linked Data Structure whereby
one specific Class is related to one or more other Classes by either "is a" or
"has a" relationships.
Furthermore, instances of a Class can be instantiated
into instances of an Object of that given Class at run time to provide a
runtime
context for attributes. Thus, it is possible to show the relationship between
various Object of specific Class using entity relationship diagrams where each
Object or Class is related to others using "is a" and "has a" relationships,
and
where attributes represent Data Types, and methods represent Instructions.
Typically, attributes are shown using a variable name and methods are shown
using a function name preceded by a set of parentheses "()".
Thus, when
illustrated in the present drawings, it will be understood that a person of
ordinary skill in the art will know how to convert from these conventions into
the Data Types and Instructions with are ultimately processed by computing
systems.
[0045] Having described the environment in which the specific techniques of
the
present application can operate, application specific aspects will be further
described by way of example only. The identification label of the air sampling
housing has been described as containing a unique identifier, or an ID.
This
was illustrated with a bar code that can be read using a camera of the machine
of FIG. 9. The identifier could also be typed into the machine, scanned as a
QR
code, or identified using bluetooth low energy, or many manner of other such
techniques.
Once the identifier is within the environment of the machine,
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software configured on the machine can create, read, update, and delete a data
record containing the identifier, and communicate with other machines to
provide
a system for collecting information that is presently missing regarding
aircraft
air quality. The data record can include or be a part of a log of events. The
.. data record can include or be related to a protocol for standardized
sampling
air, e.g. showing that a Canadian or US standard was complied with, dependant
on
jurisdiction and regulations, etc. Any other information, such as weather,
altitude, that can be helpful can be included in the data record, such as the
registration number, e.g. N number (in USA) and C number (in CA). Two data
records can be correlated for example to compare the timing and location of
air
samples at two or more source or sinks to identify what zone that is the
source
of contaminants. Although sampling has been illustrated at a gasper, it can be
accomplished at the cockpit or lavatory or over seat, in the cargo
compartment,
etc. In a preferred embodiment, the machine can be used to control any number
of
sampling devices that range from a simple cassette with media to a real time
sensor that detects the presence of oil from bleed air using a 120-140 nm UV
lamp (variable frequency) and a sensor to detect fluorescence in the 300-400
nm
range which may be typical of oil fume events. Thus, the machine could detect
a
fume event, capture an air sample, and take other preventative actions, such
as
.. for example closing off the bleed air system from where the source of the
contaminant has been determined to come from.
For example, by placing a
sampling device at a ceiling vent of a cabin, and another at the outflow valve
of the cargo compartment, a machine can help isolate the source of the
contaminant.
Likewise, in a semi automatic configuration, flight attendants
could trigger the sampling of cabin air during different phases of a flight,
or
when a fume event is suspected, or a passenger or crew member presents
symptoms,
for example using a bluetooth or other short range trigger on a smart watch,
or
cell phone, to cause an air sample to be taken. In so doing, since the
machines
are capable of communicating, an Internet Of Things (IoT) sensor network is
.. created and the resulting data records can be used by the relevant
authorities,
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airline carriers, cabin crews, flight attendants, technicians, air duct
cleaning
personnel, and the general public to monitor and improve aircraft cabin air by
collecting information into a compiled database that can be mined to pre-
populate forms for reporting incidents, extrapolate information from data
.. records, suggest maintenance and cleaning of air ducts, air filters, and
engines
or systems that are related to bleed air and other contaminants. In
particular,
the use of data records linking sampling devices to events, aircraft,
maintenance records, and cleaning techniques ensures that overall air quality
will improve in aircrafts regardless of the actual sampling device and
cleaning
techniques being first used: the doctrine of sound prediction can be used to
prove that the method results in an evidence based and driven continuous
improvement of air quality in cabins.
The following figures illustrate one
embodiment of the proposed method.
[0046] FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating steps of a method of air quality
improvement for pressurized aircraft. The flowchart shows a step of
sampling
air pressurized in an aircraft 78 whereby a pressurized zone of an aircraft is
sampled to produce an air sample, followed by a step of providing a data
record
related to the air sample 80 wherein information regarding the air sample are
included in the provided data record, and a step of cleaning the air ducts of
an
aircraft 82 using stored data and/or the data record provided that is related
to
the sampling step. Once the air ducts of an aircraft have been cleaned, other
predefined process 84 can take place such as for example storing any
information
including maps of air ducts that were created during the cleaning step, before
and after information, etc.
[0047] FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating acts for the sampling step of FIG.
10. The flowchart shows an act of identifying pre-existing air flow 86 whereby
the pressurized zones of an aircraft are considered to identify one or more
pre-
existing air flow 50 such that no electricity or pump is required to sample
air
, an act of providing air sampling housing 68 which would be selected
considering the kind of sampling that would be required given the aircraft and
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the pre-existing air flow 50 identified, an act of interfacing housing with
source or sink 90 whereat the provided air sampling housing 48 is put into
fluid
communication with the source or sink, an act of providing air sampling device
92 which cooperates with the air sampling housing 48 to be in fluid
communication with the source or sink of the pre-existing air flow 50, and an
act of sampling air 94 using the air sampling device 30 provided with the air
sampling housing 48 interfaced with the source or sink of the pre-existing air
flow 50.
[0048] FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating the typical life cycle of a data
record. The flow chart shows a create data record act 96 whereby a new data
record is created, such as for example, when an air sample is taken, or when a
request that an air sample be taken is made, afterwhich the data record is
stored; a read data record act 98 whereby stored data is read to obtain a read
data record such as for example to check the request that an air sample be
taken
to determine the location of a pre-existing data source to use and in what
pressurized zone it is located, an update data record act 100 whereat a given
data record is updated to include information that may be required in
subsequent
work on the aircraft such as work orders for maintaining or cleaning the air
ducts, and a delete data record act 102 whereby a data record is removed from
stored data and access to information in the data record is no longer
available.
[0049] FIG. 13 is a flow chart illustrating acts for the cleaning step of FIG.
10. The flowchart illustrates the act of determining point of access to air
ducts 104 whereby if the aircraft is known, reading of a data record in stored
data about the aircraft, or a data record for an aircraft of similar make and
model, can help determine the point of access, or a site survey of the
aircraft
with qualified personnel can be made in the case of an aircraft whose make or
model has never had its air ducts cleaned before. At the act of determining
map
of air ducts 106, if the aircraft, make, or model were not known to have had
their air ducts cleaned before, no stored data exists therefore a mapping of
the
air ducts is performed using, for example the device of FIGs. 7-8, the result
of
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which would be updated in the data record related to the sample for the
aircraft
If however the aircraft, make, or model were the subject of a data record,
then the mapping of the air ducts is read from the data record instead. At the
act of determining network of connected elements 108, the map is broken up
into
connected elements of the air ducts that need to be cleaned. At the act of
determining cleaning techniques 110, the appropriate techniques for the
determined network of connected elements is either looked up in a data record
or
updated into a data record.
The techniques mentioned in relation to the
cleaning device above, as well as the types of materials to use such as Dry
ice,
liquid nitrogen, activated oxygen. This could be accomplished by for example
looking up the map of cabin air ducts for known aircraft identified by N
number
in the compiled database of data records, by make or model of aircraft,
operator, etc. Finally the act of determining sequence of cleaning acts 112
combines the other information determined to provide instructions or a program
that either a person or a robot can follow in order to clean the air ducts of
the aircraft.
[0050] Advantageously,
the techniques for air quality improvement for
pressurized aircraft disclosed herein can enable the relevant aviation
administration to develop a standardized form for flight attendants, pilots,
and
aircraft maintenance technicians to report incidents of smoke or fumes on
board
an aircraft operated by a commercial carrier.
The content of the form can
either be stored in a data record related to the incident if it an air sample
was taken during the incident, or a link to the form can be updated in the
data
record once the form is filled in. The techniques can establish a system for
reporting incidents of smoke or fumes on board aircraft that allows pilots,
flight attendants, and aircraft technicians to submit the above mentioned form
to the relevant aviation administration,
as well as to receive a copy of the
form and/or data record for their own records.
The established system allows
pilots, flight attendants, aircraft maintenance technicians, the collective
bargaining representative of employees of the carrier, and commercial air
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carriers to search the reported incidents database compiled by the relevant
aviation authority for the purpose of reviewing and monitoring incidents
contained in the database and assisting with investigations.
The techniques
taught herein can enable any form content to be stored in the data record
related to an air sample, such as for example, one or more pieces of
information
for reporting an incident of smoke or fumes on board an aircraft, including
sections for the following information, if available at the time of the
report,
or to be updated in the data record at a subsequent time: identification of
the
flight, the type of aircraft, the registration number of the aircraft, and the
individual reporting the incident; information about the smoke or fire, if
relevant, including a description of the nature and apparent source of the
smoke
or fire;
information about the fumes, including a description of the type,
apparent source, smell, and visual consistency (if any) of the smoke or fumes;
information about the location of the smoke or fumes; information about the
engine manufacturer, engine type, the engine serial number, and the age of the
engine; information about the phase of flight during which smoke or fumes
where
present, and if the incident happened while the aircraft was on the ground,
the
location of the aircraft on the ground, the location of the aircraft at the
airport at the time of the incident; other observations about the smoke or
fumes; a description of symptoms reported by crew members and passengers;
information with respect to whether crew members or passengers used, needed,
or
were administered supplemental or emergency oxygen; information regarding any
effects on the operation of the flight; and information about maintenance work
conducted on the aircraft following the incident. What is more, the relevant
administrator of the relevant aviation administration is enabled to compile,
make available to the public statistics regarding the information obtained
from
the forms related to the data records. The information may be published on a
website that includes aggregate data and a searchable database for events
reported to the relevant administration, including one or more of the
following
for each event: date; tail number; air carrier; phase of flight; location of
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fumes; description of fumes; aircraft type; engine type; oil type;
deidentified
narrative; cause or maintenance information of cause is not known; other
criteria considered appropriate. The information can be redacted of personally
identifiable information before it is made available to the public. Should the
relevant aviation administration fail to develop the standardized form and
system, advantageously a commercial party is enabled by the present disclosure
to do so.
[0051] Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular
operating
requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art,
the
disclosure is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of
disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute
departures from the true spirit and scope of this disclosure.
[0052] The embodiments described herein are examples of structures, systems or
methods having elements corresponding to elements of the techniques of this
application. This written description may enable those skilled in the art to
make and use embodiments having alternative elements that likewise correspond
to
the elements of the techniques of this application. The intended scope of the
techniques of this application thus includes other structures, systems or
methods that do not differ from the techniques of this application as
described
herein, and further includes other structures, systems or methods with
insubstantial differences from the techniques of this application as described
herein.
[0053] The above-described embodiments of the present disclosure are intended
to
be examples only. Those of skill in the art may effect alterations,
modifications and variations to the particular embodiments without departing
from the scope of the disclosure, which is set forth in the claims.
