The present disclose relates to aircraft sensors, and in particular, to total air temperature (TAT) sensors.
Aircraft sensors are important to proper operation of airplanes. Among these aircraft sensors are TAT sensors which measure the temperature of the ambient air as well as the heat caused by the airspeed of the plane. Accurate information from these sensors is important to proper operation of the plane. These sensors often extend outward from the plane to get proper readings. Because TAT sensors extend outward from the plane, TAT sensors can experience unsteady flow which leads to Karman vortices and acoustic noise generation. The acoustic noise can be significant as unsteady flow oscillates from side to side on the TAT sensor. Therefore, solutions to reduce the noise generated by aircraft sensors that extend outward of the plane are desired.
In one embodiment, a cover for an aircraft sensor includes a leading edge that extends along a longitudinal axis. The cover further includes a first side panel extending from the leading edge in a positive x direction transverse to the longitudinal axis and a second side panel extending from the leading edge in the positive x direction. A first trailing edge on the first side panel is opposite the leading edge. A second trailing edge on the second side panel is opposite the leading edge and a first plurality of ridges on an outer surface of the first side panel.
In another embodiment, a cover is disclosed for at least partially surrounding a strut of a total air temperature sensor. The cover includes a first plate between a leading edge and a first trailing edge. The first plate includes an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the outer surface. A second plate is between the leading edge and a second trailing edge and a surface pattern an outer surface of the first plate. The first plate and the second plate join at the leading edge.
In another embodiment, an aircraft sensor assembly includes a mounting base for attachment to a surface, a probe head, and a strut. The strut includes a first end connected to the mounting base, a second end connected to the probe head, and a strut body extending from the first end of the strut to the second end of the strut. A cover partially encloses the strut body. sensor.
This disclosure relates to a cover for an aircraft sensor, and in particular to a cover for a total air temperature sensor. The cover can be additively manufactured. The cover includes surface ridges that can reduce acoustic noise generated by the aircraft sensor by altering a flow over the surface of the aircraft sensor. Further, the cover can reduce corrosion on the aircraft sensor by protecting the aircraft sensor from corrosive environments. This cover will be discussed below with reference to
Aircraft sensor 10 can include any number of aircraft sensors 10 including a total air temperature sensor, angle of attack sensor, pitot probe, or any other aircraft sensor 10 which extends beyond a body of an aircraft. When aircraft sensors 10 extend beyond the body of the aircraft, aircraft sensors 10 become subject to corrosion by the external environment and become subject to airflow. Airflow over aircraft sensor 10 can lead to acoustic noise generation. Depending on a shape of aircraft sensor 10, the acoustic noise generation can be significant enough to be heard inside of the aircraft leading to a potential discomfort among the aircraft crew and passengers. Cover 12 can be applied to any portion of aircraft sensor 10. Cover 12 can be applied to strut 16 of aircraft sensor 10. Alternatively, cover 12 can be applied to a probe head of aircraft sensor 10. Alternatively, cover 12 can be applied to a vane of aircraft sensor 10, such as to a vane body of an angle of attack sensor. Cover 12 partially encompasses the portion of aircraft sensor 10 to which it is applied.
Inside of probe head 14 of aircraft sensor 10 is instrumentation which can detect external conditions. The instrumentation inside of probe head 14 relays the information collected about the airflow to the aircraft for navigational purposes. Strut 16 connects to mounting base 22 at strut first end 18 and probe head 14 at strut second end 20. Strut 16 has leading edge LE, trailing edge TE, first surface S1 extending from leading edge LE to trailing edge TE and second surface S2 extending from leading edge LE to trailing edge TE. Cover 12 partially encloses a portion of strut 16. As shown in
When air flows over strut 16, the air first encounters leading edge LE. The air will be split so that some of the air flow goes towards first surface S1 and the rest will be sent towards second surface S2. Over time the proportion of the air flow that gets sent to the first side vs the second side will change. Without cover 12 and surface ridges 34 formed on cover 12, the oscillation of air flow between the first side to the second side leads to the formation of Karman vortices, which can lead to audible noise production. Interrupting the air flow via surface ridges 34 can reduce the formation of Karman vortices and therefore reduce the audible noise generation.
Under first surface S1 and second surface S2 of strut 16 are heaters 15. Heaters 15 produce heat and transfer the heat to first surface S1 and second surface S2 of strut 16. Heat produced by heaters 15 will hamper the formation of ice on strut 16. Ice formation on strut 16 can reduce the ability of the sensors inside probe head 14 to detect and relay information. Heaters 15 can use hot bleed air, electrical resistance heating, or any other method of producing heat known to those of skill in the art.
Mounting base 22 can connect to a surface. The surface can be an aircraft fuselage or any other suitable surface to which one of skill in the art would contemplate attaching aircraft sensor 10. Mounting base 22 can connect to the surface via bolts, screws, welds, brazing, or any other suitable attachment mechanism known to those of skill in the art for adhering one surface to another in aerospace applications.
Cover 12 is formed by first side panel 24 and second side panel 26 which join at leading edge 28. Leading edge 28 extends along longitudinal axis LA. In the embodiment shown in
In the embodiment shown in
In the embodiment shown in
Surface ridges 34 can be formed on first side panel 24. Surface ridges 34 can also be formed on second side panel 26. Surface ridges 34 can project from an outward surface of cover 12. Alternatively, surface ridges 34 can be formed into a surface of cover 12. In the embodiment shown in
First side panel 24 has first flange 36 formed thereon. First flange 36 is formed on first trailing edge 30 of first side panel 24 and extends towards second trailing edge 32 of second side panel 26. Second side panel 26 has second flange 38 formed thereon. Second flange 38 is formed on second trailing edge 32 of second side panel 26 and extends towards first trailing edge 30 of first side panel 24. First flange 36 and second flange 38 together function to hold cover 12 on aircraft sensor 10. First flange 36 and second flange 38 hold cover 12 on aircraft sensor 10 by partially enclosing trailing edge TE of strut 16 of aircraft sensor 10. First flange 36 and second flange 38 contact trailing edge TE of strut 16. As such, cover 12 would need to be pried open at trailing edges (30, 32) to remove cover 12 from strut 16 of aircraft sensor 10. First flange 36 and second flange 38 can further secure cover 12 to aircraft sensor 10 at attachment points as discussed below with respect to
Cover 12 can be formed by multiple methods. Cover 12 along with surface ridges 34 can be formed via an additive manufacturing process, such as laser powder bed fusion. Surface ridges 34 formed via an additive manufacturing process will be integral with the outer shell. In the additive manufacturing process, cover 12 can be formed by forming an outer shell layer-by-layer along with a supportive core enclosed by the outer shell. The supportive core comprises a lattice structure. Surface ridges 34 can be formed on the outer shell when forming the outer shell. The supportive core is subsequently removed once the additive manufacturing process is complete. Alternatively, cover 12 can be formed by a combination of rolling and stamping. Cover 12 can be formed by rolling a sheet of material, trimming the edges of the sheet, stamping surface ridges 34 into cover 12, and bending the sheet into the shape of cover 12. By stamping surface ridges 34 into cover 12, surface ridges 34 are integral with cover 12. Alternatively, cover 12 can be formed via rolling and bending with surface ridges 34 added to cover 12 via an additive manufacturing process. Cover 12 can be formed by milling cover 12 from a larger block of material. When milling cover 12, surface ridges 34 are milled from the larger block of material so that surface ridges are integral and continuous with cover 12.
A corrosion resistant topcoat of another material can be applied to cover 12. The corrosion resistant topcoat can be applied via electroplating, chemical vapor deposition, or any other method known to those of skill in the art to apply a corrosion resistant topcoat to another surface. Cover 12 can be formed of pure copper, a copper alloy, nickel, and combinations thereof. Cover 12 can be formed of any highly thermally conductive material. A highly thermally conductive material has a heat transfer coefficient of greater than
of greater than
or of greater than
Forming cover 12 from any highly thermally conductive material enables heat produced in strut 16 to transfer through cover 12. Heat from strut 16 reduces ice accumulation. Ice accumulation can reduce the accuracy of the instrumentation in probe head 14.
Surface ridges 34 can be formed anywhere on the surface of cover 12. As discussed above with respect to
Cover 12 can be secured to strut 16 via a multitude of alternative methods. Cover 12 has first flange 36 and second flange 38 which hold cover 12 in place when cover 12 partially encloses strut 16. As shown in the embodiment of
Surface ridges 34 can have multiple different patterns. Each of the different surface ridges 34 produce different flow dynamics as air flows over them. As shown in the embodiment of
As shown in the embodiment of
As shown in the embodiment of
As shown in the embodiment of
As shown in the embodiment of
As shown in the embodiment of
While cover 12 has been described above, with respect to
As best shown in
Probe head 84 has tip 90 at a forward, or upstream, portion of probe head 84. Tip 90 is at the end of probe head 84 opposite the end of probe head 84 connected to strut 86. Strut 86 has leading edge 92 at a forward, or upstream, side of strut 86 and trailing edge 94 at an aft, or downstream, side of strut 86. Leading edge 92 is opposite trailing edge 94.
Pitot probe 80 can be installed on an aircraft. Pitot probe 80 can be mounted to a fuselage of the aircraft via mounting flange 88 and fasteners, such as screws or bolts. Strut 86 holds probe head 84 away from the fuselage of the aircraft to expose probe head 84 to external airflow. Probe head 84 takes in air from surrounding external airflow and communicates air pressures pneumatically through internal components and passages of probe head 84 and strut 86. Pressure measurements are communicated to a flight computer and can be used to generate air data parameters related to the aircraft flight condition. Cover 12 can be applied to strut 86. Cover 12 can extend from probe head 84 to mounting flange 88. Cover 12 can extend from leading edge 92 to trailing edge 94. Cover 12 and surface pattern 34 provide the same benefits to pitot probe 80 as described above with reference to
Head 100 has inlet scoop 106, which is a forward portion of total air temperature probe 96. Inlet scoop 106 is an opening in a forward, or upstream, end of head 100. Strut 102 has leading edge 108 at a forward, or upstream, side of strut 102 and trailing edge 110 at an aft, or downstream, side of strut 102. Leading edge 108 is opposite trailing edge 110.
Total air temperature probe 96 can be installed on an aircraft. Total air temperature probe 96 can be mounted to a fuselage of the aircraft via mounting flange 104 and fasteners, such as screws or bolts. Strut 102 holds head 100 away from the fuselage of the aircraft to expose head 100 to external airflow. Air flows into total air temperature probe 96 through inlet scoop 106 of head 100. Air flows into an interior passage within strut 102 of total air temperature probe 96, where sensing elements measure the total air temperature of the air. Total air temperature measurements of the air are communicated to a flight computer. Such measurements can be used to generate air data parameters related to the aircraft flight condition. Cover 12 can be applied to strut 102. Cover 12 can extend from head 100 to mounting flange 104. Cover 12 can extend from leading edge 108 to trailing edge 110. Cover 12 and surface pattern 34 provide the same benefits to total air temperature probe 96 as described above with reference to
Angle of attack sensor 112 is installed on an aircraft. Angle of attack sensor 112 can be mounted to a fuselage of the aircraft via faceplate 118 and fasteners, such as screws or bolts. Vane 116 extends outside an exterior of the aircraft and is exposed to external airflow, and housing 120 extends within an interior of the aircraft. External airflow causes vane 116 to rotate with respect to faceplate 118 via a series of bearings within angle of attack sensor 112. Vane 116 rotates based on the angle at which the aircraft is flying relative to the external oncoming airflow. Vane 116 causes rotation of a vane base and vane shaft within housing 120. The vane shaft is coupled to a rotational sensor that measures the local angle of attack or angle of the airflow relative to the fixed aircraft structure. The measured angle of attack is communicated to a flight computer and can be used to generate air data parameters related to the aircraft flight condition. Cover 12 can be applied to vane 116. Cover 12 can extend from a tip of vane 116 to a base of vane 116. The tip is opposite the base, while the base is the portion of vane 116 which is nearest to faceplate 118. Cover 12 can extend from leading edge 122 to trailing edge 124. Cover 12 and surface pattern 34 provide the same benefits to angle of attack sensor 112 as described above with reference to
The following are non-exclusive descriptions of possible embodiments of the present invention.
A cover according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, among other possible things includes a leading edge, the leading edge extending along a longitudinal axis, a first side panel extending from the leading edge in a positive x direction transverse to the longitudinal axis, and a second side panel extending from the leading edge in the positive x direction. The cover also includes a first trailing edge on the first side panel, the first trailing edge opposite the leading edge and a second trailing edge on the second side panel, the second trailing edge opposite the leading edge. The cover also includes a first plurality of ridges on an outer surface of the first side panel.
The cover of the preceding paragraph can optionally include, additionally and/or alternatively, any one or more of the following features, configurations and/or additional components:
A further embodiment of the foregoing cover, wherein the second side panel further comprises a second plurality of ridges on an outer surface of the second side panel.
A further embodiment of any of the foregoing covers, wherein the first side panel further comprises a first flange on the first trailing edge and extending toward the second trailing edge and the second side panel further comprises a second flange on the second trailing edge extending toward the first trailing edge.
A further embodiment of any of the foregoing covers, wherein the first plurality of ridges extends along the longitudinal axis.
A further embodiment of any of the foregoing covers, wherein ridgelines of the first plurality of ridges are V-shaped.
A further embodiment of any of the foregoing covers, wherein the first plurality of ridges comprises a first column of ridges and a second column of ridges, wherein the first column of ridges is in phase with the second column of ridges in the x direction.
A further embodiment of any of the foregoing covers, wherein the first plurality of ridges comprises a first column of ridges and a second column of ridges, wherein the first column of ridges is out of phase with the second column of ridges in the x direction.
A further embodiment of any of the foregoing covers, wherein the cover is manufactured via an additive manufacturing process and the first side panel and the second side panel are both convex.
A cover for at least partially surrounding a strut of a total air temperature sensor, according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, among other possible things includes a first plate between a leading edge and a first trailing edge, wherein the first plate includes an outer surface, and an inner surface opposite the outer surface. The cover also includes a second plate between the leading edge and a second trailing edge and a surface pattern on the outer surface of the first plate, wherein the first plate and the second plate join at the leading edge.
The cover of the preceding paragraph can optionally include, additionally and/or alternatively, any one or more of the following features, configurations and/or additional components:
A further embodiment of the foregoing cover, wherein the surface pattern is proximate the leading edge.
A further embodiment of any of the foregoing covers, wherein the surface pattern is proximate the trailing edge.
A further embodiment of any of the foregoing covers, wherein the surface pattern is equidistant between the leading edge and the trailing edge on the outer surface of the first plate.
A further embodiment of any of the foregoing covers, wherein the cover further includes a first welding tab extending from the first trailing edge and a second welding tab extending from the second trailing edge.
A further embodiment of any of the foregoing covers, wherein the cover further includes a first tab extending from the first trailing edge toward the second trailing edge and a second tab extending from the second trailing edge toward the first trailing edge. The cover also includes a first hole in the first tab, a second hole in the second tab, a first fastener for insertion into the first hole, and a second fastener for insertion into the second hole.
A further embodiment of any of the foregoing covers, wherein the cover further includes a pattern of troughs and peaks, wherein a width of each trough is equal to a width of each peak in the pattern.
A further embodiment of any of the foregoing covers, wherein the cover further includes a pattern of troughs and peaks, wherein a width of a trough in the pattern is wider than a width of a peak in the pattern.
A further embodiment of any of the foregoing covers, wherein a cross-sectional profile of the surface pattern is triangular.
An aircraft sensor assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, among other possible things includes a mounting base for attachment to a surface, a probe head, and a strut. The strut includes a first end connected to the mounting base, a second end connected to the probe head, and a strut body extending from the first end of the strut to the second end of the strut. The aircraft sensor assembly further includes a cover which partially encloses the strut body.
The aircraft sensor assembly of the preceding paragraph can optionally include, additionally and/or alternatively, any one or more of the following features, configurations and/or additional components:
A further embodiment of the foregoing aircraft sensor assembly, wherein an inside surface of the cover contacts an outside surface of the strut body.
A further embodiment of any of the foregoing aircraft sensors assembly, wherein the strut further includes a heater element within the strut body beneath the outside surface of the strut body.
While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment(s), it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.