Multifunction aircraft probes

US6012331A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Avionics Specialties, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Margaret A. Menzies · Ruckersville, US
• Guntis U. Baltins · Charlottesville, US
• David Martin · London, GB

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 2, 1998
• Grant date: Jan 11, 2000
• Expiry date: Jul 2, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01P13/025
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Improved multifunction probe designs include circumferentially separated pairs of sensing ports which may respectively be dedicated to angle of attack functionality and air data pressure sensing functionality. In one preferred embodiment, a multifunction aircraft probe is provided with a rotatable probe element which is adapted to project outwardly from an aircraft with which it is operatively mated. The probe element is provided with a centrally located (i.e., in substantial alignment with the probe's stagnation line) dynamic pressure sensing port, and outer and inner pairs of pneumatic sensing ports which are symmetrically circumferentially separated from one another and from the dynamic pressure sensing port. Most preferably, each of the outer pneumatic sensing ports is circumferentially spaced from the central dynamic pressure sensing port by a first angle (e.g., substantially 90.degree.) while each of the inner pneumatic sensing ports is circumferentially spaced from the central dynamic pressure sensing port by a second angle (e.g., substantially 45.degree.). In such a manner, the angle of attack functionality may be maintained completely independent of the air data pressure s…