Ice accumulation and shedding mitigation for sensor probe
AssigneePratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
InventorMilos Ivankovic
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Ice accumulation and shedding mitigation devices associated with sensor probes extending into a stream of air entering an aircraft engine are provided. An exemplary device comprises a wedge-shaped blade configured to be exposed to the stream of air and disposed upstream of the sensor probe. The wedge-shaped blade has two faces meeting at a leading edge oriented to face the stream of air.
Claims12
A sensor probe for installation in a stream of air entering an aircraft engine, the sensor probe comprising:
- a sensor disposed inside a probe housing for installation in the stream of air, the probe housing having a convex front surface for facing toward the stream of air;
- and
- a wedge-shaped blade separate from the probe housing and installed in front of the probe housing, the wedge-shaped blade having two faces meeting at a leading edge oriented to face the stream of air, the wedge-shaped blade including a concave rear surface fitting against the convex front surface of the probe housing.
An ice accumulation and shedding mitigation device in combination with a sensor installed in a stream of air entering an aircraft engine, the device comprising:
- a base directly attachable to a casing conveying the stream of air;
- a first wedge-shaped blade directly attached to the base, the first wedge-shaped blade having two faces meeting at a first leading edge oriented to face the stream of air, the first wedge-shaped blade being positioned entirely in front of a housing of the sensor;
- and
- a second wedge-shaped blade having a second leading edge oriented to face the stream of air, the second leading edge extending transversely to the first leading edge.
A turbofan engine comprising:
- a fan through which a stream of air entering the turbofan engine is propelled;
- a compressor for pressurizing the air;
- a combustor in which the pressurized air is mixed with fuel and ignited for generating a stream of combustion gas;
- a turbine for extracting energy from the combustion gas;
- and
- a sensor probe installed in the stream of air, the sensor probe comprising:
- a sensor disposed inside a probe housing having a convex front surface for facing toward the stream of air;
- and
- a wedge-shaped blade separate from the probe housing and installed in front of the probe housing, the wedge-shaped blade having two faces meeting at a leading edge of the wedge-shaped blade, the wedge-shaped blade including a concave rear surface fitting against the convex front surface of the probe housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.