Combination air data probe
AssigneeAllied-Signal Inc.
InventorWilliam H. McCormack
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A combination air data probe performs a number of different pressure measurements from a single structure. Measurements of total pressure and total temperature are performed in an improved structural configuration which renders these measurements substantially insensitive to aircraft angle of attack. Static temperature is computed free of recovery factor error because of compensatory effects in the pressure and temperature signals. Another part of the probe provides measurement of static pressure and pressures for determining angle of attack.
Claims17
A combination air data probe apparatus for installation on an aircraft comprising:
- a housing configured to extend outwardly from an exterior surface of the aircraft;
- means in said housing defining a relatively large forward-facing opening, and an interior cavity coupled to said opening;
- a duct for air flow extending from said opening to an exit opening downstream and including said cavity, said duct being configured to direct the air flow along a curved path for developing centrifugal force to separate entrained particles from core air flow while maintaining laminar flow along the duct;
- a stagnation chamber mounted within said cavity away from the sides of the duct in the region of core air flow, said chamber having upstream and downstream openings of different cross section, the upstream opening being substantially larger than the downstream opening, said chamber containing a resistor and attached circuit connections for providing air temperature measurements indicative of total temperature in said chamber;
- and
- a pneumatic conduit leading from said chamber for providing a pressure corresponding to total pressure at said chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.