Family of aerodynamically compensated multiple static pressure tubes

A multiple static pressure-sensing probe for use at subsonic and supersonic velocities, the probe having mounting means at a rear portion thereof for mounting said probe in spaced relationship to an external surface in a fluid flow stream and having a probe barrel with a longitudinal axis, and a forward external tapered surface tapering at an angle with the axis at a forward end, the probe barrel comprising:

• a first port on the probe barrel rearward of the forward tapered surface, for sensing static pressure at both subsonic and supersonic speeds;
• a second port rearward of the first port, for sensing static pressure at both subsonic and supersonic speeds;
• a first frustoconical surface, on the barrel rearward of the forward tapered surface, at an angle with the axis and having the first port thereon;
• a second frustoconical surface at an angle with the axis, on the barrel rearward of the first frustoconical surface, the first and second frustoconical surfaces providing both a first compensation pressure at subsonic speeds and a second compensation pressure at supersonic speeds to the first port;
• a third frustoconical surface at an angle with the axis, on the barrel rearward of the second frustoconical surface, and having the second port thereon;
• a fourth frustoconical surface at an angle with the axis, on the barrel rearward of the third frustoconical surface, the third and fourth surfaces providing both a third compensation pressure, substantially equal to the first pressure, at subsonic speeds and a fourth compensation pressure, substantially equal to the second pressure, at supersonic speeds to the second port.

A method for manufacturing a multiple static pressure-sensing probe for use at subsonic and supersonic velocities, the probe comprising a metal elongated barrel having an internal bore divided into a plurality of separate chambers in series along the length of the barrel, and mounting means at one end of the barrel comprising the steps of:

• fabricating the metal probe barrel to a substantially standard dimension with an unfinished external surface;
• removing material from the external surface of the probe to form compensation surfaces at locations spaced along the barrel in locations corresponding to the separate internal chambers;
• and
• machining through the barrel static pressure sensing ports to each of the separate chambers at location to provide selected, substantially matched sensing of static pressures at subsonic and supersonic velocities to each of such chambers.

A multiple static pressure-sensing probe for use at subsonic and supersonic velocities, the probe having mounting means at a rear portion thereof for mounting said probe in spaced relationship to an external surface in a fluid flow stream and having a probe barrel with a longitudinal axis, and a forward external frustoconical surface at an angle with the axis at a forward end, the probe barrel comprising:

• a first port on the probe barrel rearward of the forward tapered surface, for sensing static pressure at both subsonic and supersonic speeds;
• a second port rearward of the first port, for sensing static pressure at both subsonic and supersonic speeds;
• a first frustoconical surface, on the barrel rearward of the forward tapered surface, at an angle with the axis and having the first port thereon;
• a second frustoconical surface at an angle with the axis, on the barrel rearward of the first frustoconical surface, the first and second frustoconical surfaces providing both a first compensation pressure at subsonic speeds and a second compensation pressure at supersonic speeds to the first port;
• a third frustoconical surface at an angle with the axis, on the barrel rearward of the second frustoconical surface, and having the second port thereon;
• a fourth frustoconical surface at an angle with the axis, on the barrel rearward of the third frustoconical surface, the third and fourth surfaces providing both a third compensation pressure, offset from the first pressure, at subsonic speeds and a fourth compensation pressure, substantially equally offset from the second pressure, at supersonic speeds to the second port.