# US 10,371,585 B2 · Temperature sensor assembly for swirling flows > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,371,585 B2 - Document ID: US10371585B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/613,976 - Filed: 2017-06-05 - Published: 2018-12-06 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-06-05 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: General Electric Company - Inventors: Chiong Siew Tan; John Patrick Parsons; Dennis Michael Clapperton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10371585B2 ## CPC - G01K 13/02: for measuring temperature of moving fluids or granular materials capable of flow - G01K 1/14: Supports; Fastening devices; Arrangements for mounting thermometers in particular locations - G01K 13/024: of moving gases - G01K: MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (radiation pyrometry G01J5/00) ## Abstract A temperature sensor assembly includes a bluff body, and a first member spaced apart from the bluff body that defines a first flow channel in relation to the bluff body. The temperature sensor assembly also includes a second member spaced apart from the bluff body that defines a second flow channel in relation to the bluff body. The first member and the second member further define a third flow channel in fluid communication with and downstream of the first flow channel and the second flow channel. The temperature sensor assembly also includes a sensor element spaced apart from the bluff body and disposed at least partially within the third flow channel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A temperature sensor assembly comprising: a bluff body; a first member spaced apart from said bluff body and defining a first flow channel in relation to said bluff body; a second member spaced apart from said bluff body and defining a second flow channel in relation to said bluff body, wherein: said first member and said second member further define a third flow channel in fluid communication with and downstream of said first flow channel and said second flow channel; and a sensor element spaced apart from said bluff body and disposed at least partially within said third flow channel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The temperature sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein said bluff body includes a first concave surface, and wherein said first member includes a convex surface, and wherein the first flow channel is defined between said first concave surface and said convex surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The temperature sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein said bluff body includes a second concave surface, and wherein said second member includes a convex surface, and wherein the second flow channel is defined between said second concave surface and said convex surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The temperature sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein said first member includes a concave surface, and wherein said second member includes a concave surface, and wherein said third flow channel is defined between said concave surface of said first member and said concave surface of said second member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The temperature sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein said bluff body includes: a leading surface; and a trailing edge, wherein said bluff body extends between said leading surface and said trailing edge. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The temperature sensor assembly of claim 5, wherein said leading surface includes a substantially planar region. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The temperature sensor assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a flange; and a base extending from said flange, wherein said bluff body, said first member, said second member, and said sensor element are mounted on and extend from said base. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The temperature sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor assembly is configured to operate within a range of angles of attack between twenty degrees and minus twenty degrees. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The temperature sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor assembly is configured to operate within a range of angles of attack between fifty degrees and minus fifty degrees. ### Claim 10 A temperature sensor assembly comprising: a bluff body including a first concave surface and a second concave surface, said first concave surface and said second concave surface tapering to a trailing edge; a first member spaced apart from said bluff body, said first member including a convex surface and a concave surface extending downstream from said convex surface of said first member; a second member spaced apart from said bluff body, said second member including a convex surface and a concave surface extending downstream from said convex surface of said second member; and a sensor element spaced apart from said bluff body and disposed at least partially between said first member and said second member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The temperature sensor assembly of claim 10, wherein a first flow channel is defined between said first concave surface of said bluff body and said convex surface of said first member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The temperature sensor assembly of claim 10, wherein a second flow channel is defined between said second concave surface of said bluff body and said convex surface of said second member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The temperature sensor assembly of claim 10, wherein a third flow channel is defined between said concave surface of said first member and said concave surface of said second member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The temperature sensor assembly of claim 10, wherein said bluff body includes: a leading surface; and a trailing edge, wherein said bluff body extends between said leading surface and said trailing edge. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The temperature sensor assembly of claim 14, wherein said leading surface includes a substantially planar region. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The temperature sensor assembly of claim 10, further comprising: a flange; and a base extending from said flange, wherein said bluff body, said first member, said second member, and said sensor element are mounted on and extend from said base. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The temperature sensor assembly of claim 10, wherein the temperature sensor assembly is configured to operate within a range of angles of attack between twenty degrees and minus twenty degrees. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The temperature sensor assembly of claim 10, wherein the temperature sensor assembly is configured to operate within a range of angles of attack between fifty degrees and minus fifty degrees. ### Claim 19 A method of operating a temperature sensor assembly, said method comprising: mounting the temperature sensor assembly within an aircraft engine that generates a fluid flow, the temperature sensor assembly comprising: a bluff body; a first member spaced apart from the bluff body; a second member spaced apart from the bluff body; and a sensor element spaced apart from the bluff body and disposed at least partially between the first member and the second member; channeling a portion of the fluid flow between the bluff body, the first member, and the second member, such that the portion of the fluid flow makes contact with the sensor element; and sensing a temperature of the portion of the fluid flow over the sensor element. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein channeling the portion of the fluid flow between the bluff body, the first member, and the second member comprises: channeling a first portion of the fluid flow between the bluff body and the first member; channeling a second portion of the fluid flow between the bluff body and the second member; and channeling the first portion of the fluid flow and the second portion of the fluid flow over the sensor element.