# US 12,180,852 B2 · Pressure and temperature sensors and methods of removing ice from pressure and temperature sensors > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,180,852 B2 - Document ID: US12180852B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/400,123 - Filed: 2023-12-29 - Published: 2024-04-25 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2020-02-28 - Assignees: Rosemount Aerospace Inc. - Applicants: Rosemount Aerospace Inc. - Inventors: Andrew Holl; Scott Wigen; Robert Edward Sable; Scott D. Isebrand; Brian Boyd - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12180852B2 ## CPC - F01D 25/02: De-icing means for engines having icing phenomena - G01L 19/0092: {Pressure sensor associated with other sensors, e.g. for measuring acceleration or temperature (G01L9/025, G01L9/045, G01L9/065, G01L9/085, G01L9/105, G01L9/125, G01L19/02, G01L19/04 take precedence; measuring two or more variable G01D21/02; temperature sensors with pressure compensation G01K1/26)} - F01D 17/08: responsive to condition of working-fluid, e.g. pressure - F01D 21/12: responsive to temperature - G01K 13/02: for measuring temperature of moving fluids or granular materials capable of flow - G01K 13/028: {for use in total air temperature [TAT] probes} - G01M 15/14: Testing gas-turbine engines or jet-propulsion engines - F01D 17/085: {to temperature} - F01D 21/003: {Arrangements for testing or measuring (for measuring vibrations G01H)} - F01D 25/10: Heating, e.g. warming-up before starting - F02C 7/047: Heating to prevent icing - G01K 13/024: of moving gases - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G) - G01K: MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (radiation pyrometry G01J5/00) - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F02C: GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS (construction of turbines F01D; jet-propulsion plants F02K; construction of compressors or fans F04; generating combustion products of high pressure or high velocity F23R; using gas turbines in compression refrigeration plants F25B11/00) ## Abstract A sensor includes a mount arranged along a sensor axis, an airfoil body fixed to the mount and having a first face and second face extending along the sensor axis, a heater element, and a temperature probe. The heater element and the temperature probe are positioned within the airfoil body and extend axially along the airfoil body. The airfoil body defines within its interior a pressure channel having an inlet segment extending between the heater element and the first face of the airfoil body to prevent ice formation and/or melt ice entrained within air traversing the pressure channel. Gas turbine engines, methods of removing ice or preventing ice formation, and methods of making sensors are also described. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of removing ice or preventing ice formation, comprising: at a sensor including a mount arranged along a sensor axis, an airfoil body fixed to the mount and having a first face and second face extending along the sensor axis, and a heater element positioned within the airfoil body and extending axially through the airfoil body, the airfoil body defining therein a pressure channel having an inlet segment extending between the heater element and the first face of the airfoil body, receiving an airflow having entrained ice crystals or super-cooled moisture at the inlet segment of the pressure channel; heating the inlet segment of the pressure channel with the heater element; and melting at least some of the entrained ice crystals or warming at least some of the super-cooled moisture within the inlet segment using heat generated with the heater element; wherein the pressure channel includes an expansion chamber fluidly coupling the inlet segment to the mount, wherein the sensor comprises a temperature probe seated within the airfoil body, wherein the airfoil body defines an insulating cavity chordwise between the expansion chamber and the temperature probe, the method further comprising: slowing velocity of the airflow within the expansion chamber; separating the ice crystals from the airflow; heating the expansion chamber; melting the separated ice crystals using the heat from the heater element; and thermally separating the temperature probe from the expansion chamber and the inlet segment by flowing ambient air through the insulating cavity. ### Claim 2 A method of removing ice or preventing ice formation, comprising: at a sensor including a mount arranged along a sensor axis, an airfoil body fixed to the mount and having a first face and second face extending along the sensor axis, and a heater element positioned within the airfoil body and extending axially through the airfoil body, the airfoil body defining therein a pressure channel having an inlet segment extending between the heater element and the first face of the airfoil body, receiving an airflow having entrained ice crystals or super-cooled moisture at the inlet segment of the pressure channel; heating the inlet segment of the pressure channel with the heater element; and melting at least some of the entrained ice crystals or warming at least some of the super-cooled moisture within the inlet segment using heat generated with the heater element; wherein the expansion chamber fluidly couples the inlet segment to the mount; wherein the inlet segment of the pressure channel traces an arcuate path between the first face and the second face of the airfoil body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the inlet segment of the pressure channel is orthogonal relative to the heater element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the airfoil body has a pressure inlet on a leading edge of the airfoil body and in fluid communication with the inlet segment. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the inlet segment has an inlet segment flow area, wherein the expansion chamber has an expansion chamber flow area, and wherein the expansion chamber flow area is larger than the inlet segment flow area. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the expansion chamber extends axially between the inlet segment of the pressure channel and the mount. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the inlet segment is orthogonal relative to the expansion chamber. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the pressure channel includes an outlet segment fluidly coupling the expansion chamber to the mount. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the outlet segment has an outlet segment flow area, wherein the expansion chamber has an expansion chamber flow area, and wherein the outlet segment flow area is smaller than the expansion chamber flow area. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising a pressure conduit extending through the mount and seated within the outlet segment of the pressure channel. ### Claim 11 A method of making a sensor, comprising: forming, with an additive manufacturing technique, an airfoil body having a first face and a second face extending along a sensor axis; defining, with the additive manufacturing technique, a heater element seat and a pressure channel having an inlet segment extending between the heater element and the first face of the airfoil body to melt ice entrained within air traversing the pressure channel; defining, with the additive manufacturing technique, a temperature probe seat extending axially within the airfoil body; defining, with the additive manufacturing technique, an expansion chamber extending axially between the temperature probe seat and the heater element seat, the expansion chamber fluidly coupled to the inlet segment; positioning a heater element within the airfoil body in the heater element seat such that the heater element extends axially through the airfoil body; positioning a temperature probe within the airfoil body in the temperature probe seat; and fixing the airfoil body to a mount arranged along the sensor axis.