Boundary Layer Flow Sensor
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorJeffrey D. Crouch
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods described herein provide for boundary layer flow sensor and corresponding determination of the flow characteristics of an ambient airflow over an aerodynamic surface. According to one aspect of the disclosure provided herein, the boundary layer flow sensor includes a body configured for mounting within or below the aerodynamic surface, a pressure port configurable between an open state for taking pressure measurements within the boundary layer of the ambient airflow and a closed state that protects the pressure port from contaminants when not in use.
Claims20
A boundary layer flow sensor, comprising:
- a body configured for mounting below an aerodynamic surface and having a pressure tube extending along a longitudinal axis of the body;
- a pressure port configurable between an open state and a closed state, the pressure tube fluidly coupled to a lower portion of a boundary layer of an ambient airflow over the aerodynamic surface when the pressure port is in the open state, and the pressure tube fluidly decoupled from the boundary layer when the pressure port is in the closed state;
- and
- an activation mechanism operative to fluidly couple and decouple the pressure tube to the boundary layer to provide the pressure port in the open state and closed state, respectively.
A boundary layer flow sensor, comprising:
- a body configured for mounting within a fastener aperture in an aerodynamic surface, the body comprising a movable shaft that is moveable between a raised position to create an open state for a pressure port and a lowered position substantially flush with the aerodynamic surface to create a closed state for the pressure port, the moveable shaft having
- a total pressure tube extending along a longitudinal axis of the movable shaft and substantially aligned with an ambient airflow when the pressure port is in the open state, and
- at least one static pressure tube positioned at an offset angle from the total pressure tube;
- and
- an activation mechanism operative to raise the movable shaft and fluidly couple the total pressure tube and the at least one static pressure tube to a lower portion of a boundary layer of the ambient airflow, and to lower the movable shaft to the lowered position, in which the moveable shaft is substantially flush with the aerodynamic surface, and fluidly decouple the total pressure tube and the at least one static pressure tube from the lower portion of the boundary layer of the ambient airflow.
A method for determining flow characteristics of an ambient airflow over an aerodynamic surface, the method comprising:
- activating a boundary layer flow sensor mounted substantially flush with the aerodynamic surface;
- in response to activating the boundary layer flow sensor, exposing a pressure port to a lower portion of a boundary layer of the ambient airflow;
- measuring at least one pressure associated with the ambient airflow within the lower portion of the boundary layer;
- and
- determining according to the at least one pressure, whether the ambient airflow is substantially laminar or turbulent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.