Tri-axial capacitance probe with case integrated housing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10330455-B2
Application number	US-201615269393-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 19, 2016
Priority date	Sep 19, 2016
Publication date	Jun 25, 2019
Grant date	Jun 25, 2019

Abstract

A method is provided that involves a wall configured to circumscribe and be radially adjacent a rotor. During this method, a tri-axial capacitance probe is provided that includes a tri-axial conduit with an outer conductor member. The tri-axial capacitance probe is configured to output data indicative of a characteristic of the rotor. The tri-axial capacitance probe is configured within a wall aperture in the wall. The outer conductor member is electrically coupled with the wall. The wall is configured as a housing for the tri-axial capacitance probe.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method involving a wall configured to circumscribe and be radially adjacent a rotor, the method comprising:
providing a tri-axial capacitance probe comprising a tri-axial conduit that includes an outer conductor member, the tri-axial capacitance probe configured to output data indicative of a characteristic of the rotor, the providing of the tri-axial capacitance probe comprising:
assembling the tri-axial capacitance probe in a fixture, wherein the fixture is configured as a temporary housing for the tri-axial capacitance probe; and
removing the tri-axial capacitance probe from the fixture as a module without a housing; and

configuring the tri-axial capacitance probe within a wall aperture in the wall, wherein the outer conductor member is electrically coupled with the wall, and the wall is configured as a housing for the tri-axial capacitance probe.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing the tri-axial capacitance probe further comprises:
mating the tri-axial conduit with a fixture aperture extending through the fixture; and
temporarily bonding the outer conductor member to the fixture.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the providing the tri-axial capacitance probe further comprises:
abutting an annular outer insulator against and bonding the outer insulator to the outer conductor member using non-conductive material; and
temporarily bonding the outer insulator to the fixture within a counterbore of the fixture aperture;
wherein an intermediate conductor member of the tri-axial conduit projects into the outer insulator, and an inner conductor member of the tri-axial conduit projects through the outer insulator.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the providing the tri-axial capacitance probe further comprises:
nesting an annular guard within and bonding the guard to the outer insulator using non-conductive material; and
electrically coupling the guard with the intermediate conductor member.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the providing the tri-axial capacitance probe further comprises:
nesting an annular inner insulator within and bonding the inner insulator to the guard using non-conductive material;
wherein the inner conductor member projects through the inner insulator.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein non-conductive material is axially between the inner insulator and intermediate conductor member.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the providing the tri-axial capacitance probe further comprises:
nesting a sensor within and bonding the sensor to the inner insulator using non-conductive material; and
electrically coupling the sensor with the inner conductor member.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein
the tri-axial conduit further includes an intermediate conductor member and an inner conductor member; and
the intermediate conductor member is coaxial with, between and electrically isolated from the outer conductor member and the inner conductor member.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein
the tri-axial capacitance probe further comprises a sensor assembly nested in a counterbore in the wall, the sensor assembly comprising a sensor and an annular guard;
the sensor is electrically coupled with the inner conductor member;
the guard is electrically coupled with the intermediate conductor member; and
the guard is between and electrically isolated from the wall and the sensor.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein
the sensor assembly further comprises an annular outer insulator and an annular inner insulator;
the outer insulator is between and bonded to the wall and the guard; and
the inner insulator is between and bonded to the guard and the sensor.

11. A method involving a wall configured to circumscribe and be radially adjacent a rotor, the method comprising:
providing a tri-axial capacitance probe comprising a tri-axial conduit that includes an outer conductor member, the tri-axial capacitance probe configured to output data indicative of a characteristic of the rotor; and
configuring the tri-axial capacitance probe within a wall aperture in the wall, wherein the outer conductor member is electrically coupled with the wall, and the wall is configured as a housing for the tri-axial capacitance probe;
wherein the providing the tri-axial capacitance probe further comprises:
mating the tri-axial conduit with a fixture aperture extending through a fixture;
temporarily bonding the outer conductor member to the fixture;
abutting an annular outer insulator against and bonding the outer insulator to the outer conductor member using non-conductive material;
temporarily bonding the outer insulator to the fixture within a counterbore of the fixture aperture, wherein an intermediate conductor member of the tri-axial conduit projects into the outer insulator, and an inner conductor member of the tri-axial conduit projects through the outer insulator;
nesting an annular guard within and bonding the guard to the outer insulator using non-conductive material;
electrically coupling the guard with the intermediate conductor member, wherein the providing the tri-axial capacitance probe further comprises nesting an annular inner insulator within and bonding the inner insulator to the guard using non-conductive material, and wherein the inner conductor member projects through the inner insulator;
nesting a sensor within and bonding the sensor to the inner insulator using non-conductive material; and
electrically coupling the sensor with the inner conductor member;

wherein the sensor comprises an annular sensor plate, and the inner conductor member projects through the sensor plate; and
wherein the providing the tri-axial capacitance probe further comprises removing a portion of the inner conductor member that projects out from the sensor plate.

12. A method involving a wall configured to circumscribe and be radially adjacent a rotor, the method comprising:
providing a tri-axial capacitance probe comprising a tri-axial conduit that includes an outer conductor member, the tri-axial capacitance probe configured to output data indicative of a characteristic of the rotor; and
configuring the tri-axial capacitance probe within a wall aperture in the wall, wherein the outer conductor member is electrically coupled with the wall, and the wall is configured as a housing for the tri-axial capacitance probe;
wherein the providing the tri-axial capacitance probe further comprises:
mating the tri-axial conduit with a fixture aperture extending through a fixture;
temporarily bonding the outer conductor member to the fixture;
abutting an annular outer insulator against and bonding the outer insulator to the outer conductor member using non-conductive material;
temporarily bonding the outer insulator to the fixture within a counterbore of the fixture aperture, wherein an intermediate conductor member of the tri-axial conduit projects into the outer insulator, and an inner conductor member of the tri-axial conduit projects through the outer insulator;
nesting an annular guard within and bonding the guard to the outer insulator using non-conductive material;
electrically coupling the guard with the intermediate conductor member, wherein the providing the tri-axial capacitance probe further comprises nesting an annular inner insulator within and bonding the inner insulator to the guard using non-conductive material, and wherein the inner conductor member projects through the inner insulator;
nesting a sensor within and bonding the sensor to the inner insulator using non-conductive material;
electrically coupling the sensor with the inner conductor member;
breaking the temporary bond between the outer conductor

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Rice Erik D
• Benoit Corey A
• Samit Marc
• Dreger Iii Edward F
• Warren Eli C
• Ford Kevin
• Conigliaro Michael G
• Jarvis Timothy

Classifications

• F04D29/325

  for axial flow fans (blade mountings F04D29/34, blades F04D29/38) · CPC title

• F04D29/321

  for axial flow compressors · CPC title

• F04D29/522

  especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps · CPC title

• F01D25/24

  Casings (modified for heating or cooling F01D25/14); Casing parts, e.g. diaphragms, casing fastenings (casings for rotary machines or engines in general F16M {; special arrangements in stators dealing with breaking-off of part of rotor F01D21/045}) · CPC title

• G01M15/14

  Testing gas-turbine engines or jet-propulsion engines · CPC title