Device and method for removing sealing material

Abstract

Disclosed is a device for removing sealing material on components of an aircraft having a drive unit and a tool connected to the drive unit. The drive unit can, for example, be realized with the aid of an electric motor and an eccentric. Accordingly, the tool, which can be actuated by hand, is set in a quickly oscillating to and fro movement parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tool by means of the drive unit, as a result of which the force to be applied by a user in order to lift off or tear away the sealing material from a joint is substantially reduced. An underside 22 of the tool forms with a wedge face a sharp cutting edge for detaching the slug of the sealing material from the base of the joint. The wedge face can be flat, concave or arbitrarily generally curved in one or two spatial dimensions. Damage to the surface of the component, which can for example in the case of plated aluminum alloy sheets, lead to substantial consequential damage such as for example, to fatigue cracks, is avoided as a consequence of the material of the tool being softer by comparison with the material of the component to be processed.

1 . A device for removing sealing material on components of an aircraft, the device comprising a drive unit and a tool connected to the drive unit, wherein the tool can be caused by the drive unit to execute oscillating movements parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tool in order to facilitate the removal of the sealing material.  
   
   
       2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the tool has a width which corresponds substantially to a width of a joint between the components.  
   
   
       3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the tool has a cross-sectional geometry which corresponds substantially to a cross-sectional geometry of a joint.  
   
   
       4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the tool is made of a material which is softer than the components.  
   
   
       5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the tool is made of at least one of polycarbonate and hardwood.  
   
   
       6 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the tool has a processing section.  
   
   
       7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the processing section is substantially a wedge-shaped design, a wedge face enclosing an angle α of between 20° and 60° with an underside of the tool while forming a cutting edge.  
   
   
       8 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the tool can be replaced in a tool holder.  
   
   
       9 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the drive unit is an eccentric driven by an electric motor, a ram which can move in an axial direction being pivoted to the eccentric by an eccentric rod, and the ram being connected to the tool holder.  
   
   
       10 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein a speed of the electric motor and/or a stroke travel of the ram can be set in an axial direction by a control and/or regulation device in order to vary an impulsive force of the tool.  
   
   
       11 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device is a hand-held device.  
   
   
       12 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the weight of the hand-held device is less than 1 kg.  
   
   
       13 . A method for removing sealing material on components of an aircraft, using a device according to  claim 1 , wherein the underside of the tool is guided inside a joint underneath the sealing material at a working angle β, with respect to a surface of the component.  
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the working angle β is between 0° and 20°.