Pressure and temperature sensors and methods of removing ice from pressure and temperature sensors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12180852-B2
Application number	US-202318400123-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 29, 2023
Priority date	Feb 28, 2020
Publication date	Dec 31, 2024
Grant date	Dec 31, 2024

Abstract

A sensor includes a mount arranged along a sensor axis, an airfoil body fixed to the mount and having a first face and second face extending along the sensor axis, a heater element, and a temperature probe. The heater element and the temperature probe are positioned within the airfoil body and extend axially along the airfoil body. The airfoil body defines within its interior a pressure channel having an inlet segment extending between the heater element and the first face of the airfoil body to prevent ice formation and/or melt ice entrained within air traversing the pressure channel. Gas turbine engines, methods of removing ice or preventing ice formation, and methods of making sensors are also described.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of removing ice or preventing ice formation, comprising:
at a sensor including a mount arranged along a sensor axis, an airfoil body fixed to the mount and having a first face and second face extending along the sensor axis, and a heater element positioned within the airfoil body and extending axially through the airfoil body, the airfoil body defining therein a pressure channel having an inlet segment extending between the heater element and the first face of the airfoil body,
receiving an airflow having entrained ice crystals or super-cooled moisture at the inlet segment of the pressure channel;
heating the inlet segment of the pressure channel with the heater element; and
melting at least some of the entrained ice crystals or warming at least some of the super-cooled moisture within the inlet segment using heat generated with the heater element;
wherein the pressure channel includes an expansion chamber fluidly coupling the inlet segment to the mount, wherein the sensor comprises a temperature probe seated within the airfoil body, wherein the airfoil body defines an insulating cavity chordwise between the expansion chamber and the temperature probe, the method further comprising:
slowing velocity of the airflow within the expansion chamber;
separating the ice crystals from the airflow;
heating the expansion chamber;
melting the separated ice crystals using the heat from the heater element; and
thermally separating the temperature probe from the expansion chamber and the inlet segment by flowing ambient air through the insulating cavity.

2. A method of removing ice or preventing ice formation, comprising:
at a sensor including a mount arranged along a sensor axis, an airfoil body fixed to the mount and having a first face and second face extending along the sensor axis, and a heater element positioned within the airfoil body and extending axially through the airfoil body, the airfoil body defining therein a pressure channel having an inlet segment extending between the heater element and the first face of the airfoil body,
receiving an airflow having entrained ice crystals or super-cooled moisture at the inlet segment of the pressure channel;
heating the inlet segment of the pressure channel with the heater element; and
melting at least some of the entrained ice crystals or warming at least some of the super-cooled moisture within the inlet segment using heat generated with the heater element;
wherein the expansion chamber fluidly couples the inlet segment to the mount;
wherein the inlet segment of the pressure channel traces an arcuate path between the first face and the second face of the airfoil body.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the inlet segment of the pressure channel is orthogonal relative to the heater element.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the airfoil body has a pressure inlet on a leading edge of the airfoil body and in fluid communication with the inlet segment.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the inlet segment has an inlet segment flow area, wherein the expansion chamber has an expansion chamber flow area, and wherein the expansion chamber flow area is larger than the inlet segment flow area.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the expansion chamber extends axially between the inlet segment of the pressure channel and the mount.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein the inlet segment is orthogonal relative to the expansion chamber.

8. The method of claim 2 , wherein the pressure channel includes an outlet segment fluidly coupling the expansion chamber to the mount.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the outlet segment has an outlet segment flow area, wherein the expansion chamber has an expansion chamber flow area, and wherein the outlet segment flow area is smaller than the expansion chamber flow area.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising a pressure conduit extending through the mount and seated within the outlet segment of the pressure channel.

11. A method of making a sensor, comprising:
forming, with an additive manufacturing technique, an airfoil body having a first face and a second face extending along a sensor axis;
defining, with the additive manufacturing technique, a heater element seat and a pressure channel having an inlet segment extending between the heater element and the first face of the airfoil body to melt ice entrained within air traversing the pressure channel;
defining, with the additive manufacturing technique, a temperature probe seat extending axially within the airfoil body;
defining, with the additive manufacturing technique, an expansion chamber extending axially between the temperature probe seat and the heater element seat, the expansion chamber fluidly coupled to the inlet segment;
positioning a heater element within the airfoil body in the heater element seat such that the heater element extends axially through the airfoil body;
positioning a temperature probe within the airfoil body in the temperature probe seat; and
fixing the airfoil body to a mount arranged along the sensor axis.

Assignees

• Rosemount Aerospace Inc

Inventors

• Holl Andrew
• Wigen Scott
• Sable Robert Edward
• Isebrand Scott D
• Boyd Brian

Classifications

• G01K13/02

  for measuring temperature of moving fluids or granular materials capable of flow · CPC title

• F01D25/10

  Heating, e.g. warming-up before starting · CPC title

• F01D21/12

  responsive to temperature · CPC title

• F01D21/003

  Arrangements for testing or measuring (for measuring vibrations G01H) · CPC title

• F01D17/085

  to temperature · CPC title