Measuring and testing – Navigation – Ship's log
Patent
1992-06-22
1994-06-14
Woodiel, Donald O.
Measuring and testing
Navigation
Ship's log
73180, 7386165, G01P 5165
Patent
active
053199707
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a probe for mounting onto a side surface of an air vehicle having an upstream facing end having ports for sensing air data parameters. The probe outer end is offset outwardly from the surface of the vehicle. The probe has a reference bisecting plane which extends outwardly from the surface of the vehicle at the base end of the probe and which extends in fore and aft direction of the air vehicle. The probe has a continuously smoothly curved configuration on both its inner and outer sides when viewed in the reference plane. The continuous curvature of the inner and outer sides or edges extends from the outer end of the probe to the base where it mounts to the air vehicle.
Strut mounted probes are now widely used on air vehicles. Such probes include a barrel portion and a laterally extending strut portion that supports the barrel at a position spaced from a mounting surface of the air vehicle. Such a construction is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,378,696. The strut in this patent has a generally ogival shape, while the barrel is generally cylindrical, and the two parts are fixed together at an abrupt junction. The structure shown in Patent '696 includes signal compensation surfaces but the general strut mounting is one that is conventional.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,019 illustrates a compact air data sensor that has an outer shell with internal passageways being formed to communicate air data pressure sensing signals to suitable instrumentation. Instrumentation generally includes differential pressure sensors, and an air data computer that is calibrated for providing desired signals such as pitot pressure, and angle of attack signals as well as static pressure in many instances.
Another typical probe is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,318,146. This probe includes a multiple orifice, part spherical outer end in which the air data sensing ports are formed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an air data sensing probe construction that is generally considered to be of the "strut" mounted type wherein a sensing end of the probe faces forwardly into the airstreams and has ports therein for sensing air data parameters, while a base end is mounted to a side of an aircraft so that the sensing end is spaced laterally or outwardly from the surface on which the base is mounted.
In the present invention, the body of the sensor continuously curves and tapers from its outer end to a base when viewed in a bisecting plane extending outwardly from the mounting surface and passing through the probe body. Specifically the inner and outer edges and sides of the body curve continuously from the base to the outer end, and converge toward a smaller size at the outer end. The body curve is made to accommodate different cross-sectional shaped outer ends but generally the cross section of the main portion of the body is "ogival" shaped or it could be termed a tangent ogive shape because of the sharp front and rear edges. The main portion is of a substantially uniform thickness, while in the dimensions measured in the bisecting plane of the body, the body tapers from the smaller outer end to a larger dimension at the base. The smooth, continuous curve of the side edges provides for improved performance characteristics, less turbulence causing irregularities and requires less "blending" of different cross sectional shapes and configurations in the region of the laterally extending portions of the body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an air data sensor made according to the present invention showing schematically its mounting on an air vehicle and typical schematic illustrations of instrumentation used therewith;
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the air data sensor shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from an inner side thereof;
FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the air data sensor of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the air data sensor shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is an end elevational view as viewed from a forward end thereof, that is a
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Leeper William J.
Peterson C. Michael
Peterson Michael T.
Setterholm Jeffrey M.
Young Jonathan D.
Rosemount Inc.
Woodiel Donald O.
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