Conformal thin film heaters for angle of attack sensors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11814181-B2
Application number	US-202016782131-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 5, 2020
Priority date	Dec 11, 2019
Publication date	Nov 14, 2023
Grant date	Nov 14, 2023

Abstract

Systems and devices for angle of attack sensors are provided. Aspects include a vane, a faceplate, an annular region in the faceplate, and a thin film heater assembly attached to a surface of the annual region.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An angle of attack sensor for an aircraft, comprising:
a rotary vane;
a stationary faceplate; having: an exterior; and an interior annular cavity with a top surface that is adjacent to the exterior and defines a heat transfer area; and
a thin film heater assembly attached to the top surface of the annual cavity and comprises a thin film heater layer that is a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater or a carbon nanotube (CNT) heater, and
wherein the heat transfer area is thermally insulated by a protective cover bonded to the thin film heater assembly.

2. The angle of attack sensor of claim 1 , wherein the thin film heater assembly is attached to the surface of the annual region by an adhesive.

3. The angle of attack sensor of claim 1 , wherein the thin film heater assembly is attached to the surface of the annual region by a curing process.

4. The angle of attack sensor of claim 1 , wherein the thin film heater assembly comprises: a first film adhesive layer; a first electrical insulator layer; the thin film heater layer; a second film adhesive layer; and a second electrical insulator layer.

5. The angle of attack sensor of claim 1 , wherein the thin film heater assembly is attached to the surface of the annual region by a fastener.

6. The angle of attack sensor of claim 1 , wherein the thin film heater assembly is attached conformally to the surface of the annular region.

7. A system comprising:
the angle of attack sensor of claim 1 ;
a temperature feedback sensor; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the thin film heater assembly, wherein the controller is configured to:
receive temperature data from the temperature feedback sensor; and
operate the thin film heater assembly based at least in part on the temperature data.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the thin film heater assembly is attached to the surface of the annual region by an adhesive.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the thin film heater assembly is attached to the surface of the annual region by a curing process.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the thin film heater assembly comprises: a first film adhesive layer; a first electrical insulator layer; the thin film heater layer; a second film adhesive layer; and a second electrical insulator layer.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the thin film heater assembly is attached to the surface of the annual region by a fastener.

12. The system of claim 7 , wherein the thin film heater assembly is attached conformally to the surface of the annular region.

Assignees

• Rosemount Aerospace Inc

Inventors

• Jacob Robin
• Palle John Sunil
• Mahapatra Guru Prasad

Classifications

• B64D15/12 Primary

  by electric heating (heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas H05B3/84) · 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

• H05B1/0236

  for vehicles · CPC title

• H05B3/34

  flexible, e.g. heating nets or webs · CPC title

• H05B3/26 Primary

  heating conductor mounted on insulating base {(for transparent areas H05B3/84, H05B3/86)} · CPC title