Linkage assembly for sensor assembly and method of detecting angular position of a target through multiple structures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9605953-B2
Application number	US-201414528515-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 30, 2014
Priority date	Oct 30, 2014
Publication date	Mar 28, 2017
Grant date	Mar 28, 2017

Abstract

A sensor assembly includes a first structure and a second structure disposed radially outwardly of the first structure. Also included is a sensor body extending through the first and second structures, the sensor body having first and second ends, the second end disposed in an ambient environment. Further included is a first sealing assembly configured to couple the sensor body to the second structure and to accommodate movement of the sensor body due to relative movement between the first and second structures. Yet further included is an interior cavity defined by an interior wall of the sensor body and a rotary position sensor mounted to the sensor body proximate the second end of the sensor body, the rotary position sensor configured to detect an angular position of a target disposed within the first environment, the rotary position sensor coupled to the target with a sensor linkage assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sensor assembly comprising:
a first structure defining a first interior volume having a first environment with a first temperature and a first pressure;
a second structure disposed radially outwardly of the first structure and defining a second interior volume having a second environment with a second temperature and a second pressure each lower than the first temperature and the first pressure;
a sensor body extending through a first aperture of the first structure and a second aperture of the second structure, the sensor body having a first end and a second end, the first end disposed within the first environment and the second end disposed in an ambient environment located radially outwardly of the second structure, wherein the ambient environment has an ambient temperature and an ambient pressure each lower than the second temperature and the second pressure;
a first sealing assembly configured to operatively couple the sensor body to the second structure and to accommodate movement of the sensor body due to relative movement between the first structure and the second structure;
an interior cavity defined by an interior wall of the sensor body; and
a rotary position sensor mounted to the sensor body proximate the second end of the sensor body, the rotary position sensor configured to detect an angular position of a target disposed within the first environment, the rotary position sensor operatively coupled to the target with a sensor linkage assembly located within the interior cavity of the sensor body.

2. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sensor linkage assembly comprises:
a shaft coupled to the sensor proximate a shaft first end and extending along a longitudinal direction of the interior cavity to a shaft second end; and
a socket operatively coupled to the shaft proximate the shaft second end, the socket coupled and angularly fixed to an engagement portion of the target.

3. The sensor assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a wavy expander ring disposed within a shaft groove proximate the shaft second end.

4. The sensor assembly of claim 2 , wherein the engagement portion of the target comprises a hex key configured to be coupled to a corresponding socket head of the socket.

5. The sensor assembly of claim 2 , wherein the socket is formed of a shape memory material configured to adjust to various operating temperatures within the first interior volume.

6. The sensor assembly of claim 2 , wherein the sensor linkage assembly further comprises a flexible coupling operatively coupling the shaft second end to the socket.

7. The sensor assembly of claim 6 , wherein the flexible coupling comprises a spring.

8. The sensor assembly of claim 6 , wherein the flexible coupling comprises one of a universal joint, a flexible cable, and a mechanical coupling.

9. The sensor assembly of claim 6 , wherein the flexible coupling is welded to the shaft and to the socket.

10. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first sealing assembly comprises:
a mounting body coupled to the second structure;
a radial seal disposed in a groove of the sensor body;
a slider plate having a cylindrical portion and a ring portion, the cylindrical portion and the ring portion disposed substantially orthogonal to each other, the cylindrical portion disposed in abutment with the radial seal; and
a slider plate retainer disposed in a recess of the mounting body and in abutment with the ring portion of the slider plate to fix the slider plate.

11. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third structure disposed radially outwardly of the second structure and defining a third interior volume having a third environment with a third temperature and a third pressure each lower than the second temperature and the second pressure, wherein the ambient environment is disposed radially outwardly of the third structure; and
a second sealing assembly configured to operatively couple the sensor body to the third structure and to accommodate movement of the sensor body due to relative movement between the first structure, the second structure and the third structure, the second sealing assembly comprising:
a mounting body coupled to the third structure;
a radial seal disposed in a groove of the sensor body;
a slider plate having a cylindrical portion and a ring portion, the cylindrical portion and the ring portion disposed substantially orthogonal to each other, the cylindrical portion disposed in abutment with the radial seal; and
a slider plate retainer disposed in a recess of the mounting body and in abutment with the ring portion of the slider plate to fix the slider plate.

12. The sensor assembly of claim 11 , wherein the sensor assembly is disposed in a turbine section of an aircraft engine.

13. The sensor assembly of claim 11 , wherein the target is an adjustable stator vane of the turbine section.

14. The sensor assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first structure comprises a turbine casing, the second structure comprises an inner casing and the third structure comprises an outer casing.

15. A method of detecting angular position of a target through multiple structures separating multiple distinct environments, the method comprising:
penetrating a plurality of structures with a sensor body, a first end of the sensor body being disposed within a first interior volume having a first environment with a first temperature and a first pressure, a second end of the sensor body being disposed in an ambient environment having an ambient temperature and an ambient pressure each lower than the first temperature and the first pressure, the second end having a sensor mounted thereto;
operatively coupling the sensor body to at least one of the plurality of structures with a sealing assembly that is configured to accommodate relative movement between the plurality of structures; and
operatively coupling a sensor located proximate the first end of the sensor body to the target located within the first interior volume with a sensor linkage assembly extending through an interior cavity of the sensor body.

Assignees

• Hamilton Sundstrand Corp

Inventors

• Marocchini Francis P
• Divincenzo Gregory
• Lyon Mike R

Classifications

• F01D17/02 Primary

  Arrangement of sensing elements · CPC title

• G01B21/22 Primary

  for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes · CPC title

• F01D21/003

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

• G01M15/14

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

• F01D17/24

  electrical · CPC title