Air data probe with turbulence-producing geometry

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10416188-B2
Application number	US-201715649873-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 14, 2017
Priority date	Jul 15, 2016
Publication date	Sep 17, 2019
Grant date	Sep 17, 2019

Abstract

An air data probe includes a probe body and an air data sensing port disposed in the probe body. The probe body includes a barrel region, a tapered head region extending forward from the barrel region, and a tip at a forward-most end of the tapered head region. The air data sensing port is disposed in the probe body at a port location aft of the tip. The probe body has a turbulence-producing geometry originating at the tip that produces a turbulent boundary layer of airflow that extends from the tip to the port location.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An air data probe comprising:
a probe body comprising a barrel region, a tapered head region extending forward from the barrel region, and a tip at a forward-most end of the tapered head region; and
an air data sensing port disposed in the probe body at a port location aft of the tip,
wherein the probe body has a turbulence-producing geometry originating at the tip that produces a turbulent boundary layer of airflow that extends from the tip to the port location.

2. The air data probe of claim 1 ,
wherein the turbulence-producing geometry comprises a crenulated geometry including a plurality of projections formed at the tip, each of the plurality of projections separated by one of a plurality of notches.

3. The air data probe of claim 2 ,
wherein a depth of each of the plurality of notches is uniform.

4. The air data probe of claim 2 ,
wherein a distance between each of the projections formed at the tip is uniform about a circumference of the tip.

5. The air data probe of claim 1 ,
wherein the turbulence-producing geometry comprises:
a non-converging outer surface region that extends from the tip in an aft direction to a converging outer surface region of the tapered head region.

6. The air data probe of claim 1 ,
wherein the turbulence-producing geometry comprises a blunt tip.

7. The air data probe of claim 6 ,
wherein the blunt tip comprises an end surface that is orthogonal to a central axis of the probe body.

8. The air data probe of claim 6 ,
wherein the blunt tip comprises an end surface that is inclined with respect to a central axis of the probe body.

9. The air data probe of claim 8 ,
wherein the end surface is inclined inwardly toward the central axis of the probe body.

10. The air data probe of claim 8 ,
wherein the end surface is inclined outwardly away from the central axis of the probe body.

11. The air data probe of claim 6 ,
wherein the turbulence-producing geometry further comprises:
a non-converging outer surface region that extends from the blunt tip in an aft direction to a converging outer surface region of the tapered head region.

12. The air data probe of claim 1 ,
wherein the turbulence-producing geometry comprises a concave outer wall region that extends from the tip in an aft direction to a converging outer surface region of the tapered head region.

13. The air data probe of claim 1 ,
wherein the turbulence-producing geometry comprises an interior wall region inclined toward a central axis of the probe body and extending from the tip in an aft direction to a congestion region configured to cause backflow of air over an exterior of the probe body to produce the turbulent boundary layer of airflow that extends from the tip to the port location.

14. The air data probe of claim 1 , further comprising:
a base plate configured to mount the air data probe to an exterior of an aircraft; and
a strut extending between the base plate and the probe body;
wherein the probe body comprises a first side and a second side with respect to the strut, the first side opposite the second side; and
wherein the port location is on the first side of the probe body.

15. The air data probe of claim 14 , wherein the air data sensing port is a first air data sensing port disposed in the probe body at a first port location, the air data probe further comprising:
a second air data sensing port disposed in the probe body at a second port location aft of the tip on the second side of the probe body;
wherein the turbulence-producing geometry further produces the turbulent boundary layer of airflow to extend from the tip to the second port location.

16. The air data probe of claim 14 ,
wherein the probe body extends along a longitudinal axis from the tip to an aft end of the probe body; and
wherein the longitudinal axis is parallel to a plane defined by the base plate.

17. The air data probe of claim 14 :
wherein an aft end of the strut is adjacent to an aft end of the probe body.

18. The air data probe of claim 1 ,
wherein the air data sensing port is configured for use in measuring static air pressure.

19. An air data probe comprising:
a base plate configured to mount the air data probe to an exterior of an aircraft;
a probe body comprising a cylindrical barrel region and a tapered head region extending forward from the cylindrical barrel region and terminating at an annular tip, the probe body extending along a longitudinal axis from the annular tip to an aft end of the probe body, the longitudinal axis parallel to a plane defined by the base plate;
a strut extending between the base plate and the probe body, an aft end of the strut adjacent the aft end of the probe body, wherein the probe body has a first side and a second side with respect to the strut;
a first air data sensing port disposed in the first side of the probe body at a first port location aft of the annular tip; and
a second air data sensing port disposed in the second side of the probe body at a second port location aft of the annular tip, the second port location opposite the first port location,
wherein the probe body has a turbulence-producing geometry originating at the annular tip that produces a turbulent boundary layer of airflow that extends along an exterior of the probe body from the annular tip to each of the first port location and the second port location.

20. The air data probe of claim 19 ,
wherein each of the first and second port locations are configured for use in measuring static air pressure.

Assignees

• Rosemount Aerospace Inc

Inventors

• Doolittle Charles Jae
• Whalen Mackenzie
• Egberg James Barron
• Cusher Aaron A
• Matheis Brian Daniel

Classifications

• G01P13/025

  indicating air data, i.e. flight variables of an aircraft, e.g. angle of attack, side slip, shear, yaw · CPC title

• B64D43/02

  for indicating aircraft speed or stalling conditions · CPC title

• G01L19/0007

  Fluidic connecting means · CPC title

• G01L15/00

  Devices or apparatus for measuring two or more fluid pressure values simultaneously · CPC title

• G01L19/02

  Arrangements for preventing, or for compensating for, effects of inclination or acceleration of the measuring device; Zero-setting means (for aneroid barometers G01L7/14) · CPC title