Smart cover bug deterrent

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11140894-B2
Application number	US-201815934178-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 23, 2018
Priority date	Mar 23, 2018
Publication date	Oct 12, 2021
Grant date	Oct 12, 2021

Abstract

A cover for a probe head of an air data probe includes a sleeve defining a cavity for enclosing a portion of the probe head of the air data probe, the sleeve including a closed end, an open end opposite the closed end, and an interior surface extending from the open end to the closed end, and a reservoir for holding insect repellent, the reservoir located at least partially within the cavity of the sleeve.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A cover for a probe head of an aircraft air data probe that has an opening for taking in air from surrounding airflow to communicate air pressures pneumatically through internal components and passages of the probe head and a strut of the air data probe to generate air data parameters, the cover comprising:
a sleeve defining a cavity for enclosing a portion of the probe head of the air data probe to prevent insects from entering the opening of the probe head when the cover is on the probe head, the sleeve including:
a closed end;
an open end opposite the closed end; and
an interior surface extending from the open end to the closed end;
a cylindrical portion extending from the open end; and
a tapered portion connected to the cylindrical portion and defining the closed end;
wherein the cylindrical portion is configured to sealingly engage the probe head when the cover is on the probe head; and

a reservoir for holding insect repellent, the reservoir located at least partially within the cavity of the sleeve and within the tapered portion and positioned adjacent the opening of the probe head to disperse insect repellent on the probe head adjacent the opening of the probe head when the cover is on the probe head, so that the insect repellant is dispersed within the cavity to produce a residual effect to deter insects from entering the opening of the probe head after the cover is removed from the probe head.

2. The cover of claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical portion is configured to sealingly engage the probe head at the open end of the of the sleeve when the cover is on the probe head.

3. The cover of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is a sponge attached to the interior surface at the closed end of the sleeve.

4. The cover of claim 3 , wherein the sponge has pores sized to hold the insect repellent when the insect repellent is a fluid or a gel.

5. The cover of claim 1 , further including adhesive located between the reservoir and the closed end of the sleeve.

6. A cover for a probe head of an air data probe that has an opening, the cover comprising:
a sleeve defining a cavity for enclosing a portion of the probe head of the air data probe to prevent insects from entering the opening of the probe head when the cover is on the probe head, the sleeve including:
a closed end;
an open end opposite the closed end;
an interior surface extending from the open end to the closed end, wherein a sealing engagement is formed between the interior surface and an exterior surface of the probe head adjacent the open end of the sleeve when the cover is on the probe head;
a cylindrical portion extending from the open end, wherein the cylindrical portion is configured to sealingly engage the probe head when the cover is on the probe head; and
a tapered portion connected to the cylindrical portion and defining the closed end; and

a reservoir for holding insect repellent, the reservoir located at least partially within the cavity of the sleeve and within the tapered portion such that an open space remains within the cavity when the cover is on the probe head, wherein the open space is between the interior surface of the sleeve and the exterior surface of the probe head and between the closed end of the sleeve and the sealing engagement between the interior surface of the sleeve and the exterior surface of the probe head when the cover is on the probe head, wherein the open space is adjacent the reservoir when the cover is on the probe head, and wherein the reservoir is positioned to disperse insect repellent on the probe head adjacent the opening of the probe head, so that the insect repellant is dispersed within the open space to produce a residual effect to deter insects from entering the opening of the probe head after the cover is removed from the probe head.

7. The cover of claim 6 , wherein the reservoir is a sponge attached to the interior surface at the closed end of the sleeve.

8. The cover of claim 7 , further including a fastener extending through the sponge and the interior surface of the sleeve and into the closed end of the sleeve.

9. The cover of claim 7 , wherein the sponge has pores sized to hold the insect repellent when the insect repellent is a fluid or a gel.

10. The cover of claim 6 , further including adhesive located between the reservoir and the closed end of the sleeve.

11. The cover of claim 6 wherein the reservoir is a liner attached to and extending over the interior surface of the sleeve.

12. The cover of claim 11 , wherein the liner extends over about an entirety of the interior surface of the sleeve.

13. The cover of claim 6 , wherein the reservoir is a bottle including:
a body located exterior to the sleeve; and
a neck extending through the closed end of the sleeve, the neck defining a mouth positioned within the cavity of the sleeve.

14. The cover of claim 6 , wherein the reservoir is electrically-actuated or spring-actuated.

15. The cover of claim 6 , wherein the sealing engagement is adjacent the open end of the sleeve when the cover is on the probe head.

16. A cover for a probe head of an air data probe that has an opening, the cover comprising:
a sleeve defining a cavity for enclosing a portion of the probe head of the air data probe to prevent insects from entering the opening of the probe head when the cover is on the probe head, the sleeve including:
a closed end;
an open end opposite the closed end;
an interior surface extending from the open end to the closed end, wherein a sealing engagement is formed between the interior surface and an exterior surface of the probe head adjacent the open end of the sleeve when the cover is on the probe head;
a cylindrical portion extending from the open end, wherein the cylindrical portion is configured to sealingly engage the probe head when the cover is on the probe head; and
a tapered portion connected to the cylindrical portion and defining the closed end; and

a reservoir for holding insect repellent, the reservoir located at least partially within the cavity of the sleeve and within the tapered portion such that an open space remains within the cavity when the cover is on the probe head, wherein the open space is between the interior surface of the sleeve and the exterior surface of the probe head and between the closed end of the sleeve and the sealing engagement between the interior surface of the sleeve and the exterior surface of the probe head when the cover is on the probe head, wherein the reservoir contacts the opening of the probe head when the cover is on the probe head, and wherein the reservoir is positioned to disperse insect repellent on the probe head adjacent the opening of the probe head, so that the insect repellant is dispersed within the open space to produce a residual effect to deter insects from entering the opening of the probe head after the cover is removed from the probe head.

17. The cover of claim 16 , wherein the sealing engagement is adjacent the open end of the sleeve when the cover is on the probe head.

18. The cover of claim 16 , wherein the reservoir is a sponge attached to the interior surface at the closed end of the sleeve.

19. The cover of claim 18 , wherein the sponge has pores sized to hold the insect repellent when the insect repellent is a fluid or a gel.

20. The cover of claim 16 , further including adhesive located between the reservoir and the closed end of the sleeve.

Assignees

• Rosemount Aerospace Inc

Inventors

• Lopac Mark Stephen
• Baker Mark

Classifications

• A01M29/34 Primary

  specially adapted for insects · CPC title

• G01L19/147

  Details about the mounting of the sensor to support or covering means · CPC title

• G01P5/165

  Arrangements or constructions of Pitot tubes · CPC title

• A01M29/12 Primary

  using odoriferous substances, e.g. aromas, pheromones or chemical agents · CPC title

• G01P13/025

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