Air data system using magnetically induced voltage
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorBrian Tillotson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An air data system for measuring an airspeed includes a pair of electrodes, and one or more magnets arranged relative to the pair of electrodes. The pair of electrodes includes a first electrode and a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode along a first dimension by an air gap. The one or more magnets produce a magnetic field within the air gap. The air data system further includes an electronic circuit interfacing with the pair of electrodes. The electronic circuit outputs a voltage difference measured between the pair of electrodes across the air gap. A magnitude of the voltage difference indicates a magnitude of an air stream velocity through the air gap.
Claims20
An air data system for an aeronautical vehicle, the air data system comprising:
- a pair of electrodes projecting outward from an exterior surface of an airframe of the aeronautical vehicle, the pair of electrodes including a first electrode and a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode along a first dimension by an air gap, each electrode of the pair of electrodes forming a fin that is thinner in the first dimension than in second and third dimensions that are orthogonal to each other and to the first dimension;
- one or more magnets arranged relative to the pair of electrodes, wherein the one or more magnets produce a magnetic field within the air gap;
- and
- an electronic circuit interfacing with the pair of electrodes, wherein the electronic circuit outputs a voltage difference measured between the pair of electrodes across the air gap, a magnitude of the voltage difference indicating a magnitude of an air stream velocity through the air gap.
A method of operating an air data system, the method comprising:
- producing, via one or more magnets, a magnetic field within an air gap between a pair of electrodes;
- measuring a voltage difference between the pair of electrodes across the air gap;
- converting a magnitude of the voltage difference to a magnitude of an air stream velocity through the air gap;
- outputting the magnitude of the air stream velocity;
- and
- increasing an electrical conductivity between the pair of electrodes across the air gap by applying a second voltage difference to a second pair of electrodes arranged in an air stream on an upstream side of the pair of electrodes.
An aeronautical vehicle, comprising:
- an airframe;
- an air data system mounted to the airframe, the air data system comprising:
- a pair of electrodes projecting outward from an exterior surface of the airframe, the pair of electrodes including a first electrode and a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode along a first dimension by an air gap, each electrode of the pair of electrodes forming a fin that is thinner in the first dimension than in second and third dimensions that are orthogonal to each other and to the first dimension;
- one or more magnets arranged on the airframe relative to the pair of electrodes, wherein the one or more magnets produce a magnetic field within the air gap;
- and
- an electronic circuit interfacing with the pair of electrodes, wherein the electronic circuit outputs a voltage difference measured between the pair of electrodes across the air gap, a magnitude of the voltage difference indicating a magnitude of an air stream velocity through the air gap.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.