High temperature rake for suspersonic flow
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorsRichard Stanley Luke, Mark Goldman McGee, John William Pierce
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus measuring the temperature and/or pressure of an exhaust gas plume from a supersonic military jet engine. The apparatus includes a rotatable airfoil having one or more sensors that are impinged by the exhaust gas flow path prior to the exhaust gas flowing over the airfoil. At least one base is attached and adapted to be mounted to a supporting surface for locating the airfoil rearward of the exhaust gas plume.
Claims12
An apparatus for measuring a parameter of an exhaust gas plume from a jet engine, comprising:
- an airfoil having a first edge;
- at least one base adapted to be mounted to a supporting surface for locating the airfoil rearward of an exhaust gas plume, the airfoil being rotatable relative to the base about an axis of the airfoil;
- and
- a first sensor mounted to the airfoil for being impinged by the exhaust gas prior to the exhaust gas flowing over the airfoil to measure a parameter of the exhaust gas;
- and wherein
- the airfoil is rotatable between a first position, in which the first sensor is in a leading position relative to the exhaust gas flow, and a second position, in which the first sensor is in a trailing position relative to the exhaust gas flow.
An apparatus for measuring a parameter of an exhaust gas plume from a jet engine, comprising:
- an airfoil having first surfaces diverging from a first edge and second surfaces diverging from a second edge;
- the airfoil is symmetrical about an axis equidistant between the first and second edges;
- a first sensor attached to the first edge;
- and
- a second sensor attached to the second edge;
- at least one base adapted to be mounted to a supporting surface for locating the airfoil rearward of an exhaust gas flow;
- and
- wherein the airfoil is rotatable about its axis relative to the base to selectively rotate the airfoil between a first position, in which the first sensor is in a leading position relative to the exhaust gas flow, and a second position, in which the second sensor is in a leading position relative to exhaust gas flow.
A method for measuring at least one characteristic of exhaust gas flowing from an outlet of a jet engine, the method comprising:
- (a) providing an airfoil having an edge;
- (b) mounting a sensor on the edge of the airfoil;
- (c) locating the airfoil downstream of a jet-engine exhaust gas outlet, the airfoil being rotatable about an axis generally parallel to the edge;
- (d) rotating the airfoil about the axis to position the sensor in a leading position relative to exhaust gas flowing from the outlet;
- (e) measuring a characteristic of the exhaust gas with the sensor as the exhaust gas impinges on the sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.