Protective device for protecting a protruding aerial part of an anemobarometric sensor

Abstract

The invention relates to a protective device (6) for protecting a protruding aerial part (3) of an anemobarometric sensor (1) comprising a sleeve (7) configured to protect said protruding part (3), a grab handle (8) comprising a bar that can be grasped between the thumb and the other digits, and at least one locking element (9) for locking the protective device (6) on the body (2) of the anemobarometric sensor (1), the protective device (6) leaving uncovered fixing holes (4) intended for fixing the body (2) of the sensor (1) onto an aircraft.

Description

DESCRIPTION Title of the invention: Device for protecting a protruding aerial part of an anemobarometric probe

[0001] The invention relates to a device for protecting a protruding aerial part of an anemobarometric probe.

[0002] The technical field of the invention is the protection of protruding anemobarometric aeronautical probes, in particular during storage, assembly and maintenance operations.

[0003] The technical field of the invention is that of protruding anemobarometric probes such as clinometric probes such as angle of attack probes (AOA probes for the acronym of "Angle of Attack" in English), sideslip probes (SSA), multifunction probes of the type comprising a probe body on which a wind vane is mounted so as to be able to rotate, or Pitot probes.

[0004] A problem encountered with protruding anemobarometric probes, particularly on assembly and maintenance lines, is the handling of the probe by its protruding part, while it is not dedicated to this and often not sized for it. Such handling can, in cases of high stress, result in a misalignment of the probe or even a deformation of the protruding part.

[0005] By design, the protruding part, like a weather vane, is necessarily accessible on the probe and naturally presents a point for gripping the probe, in particular when it is placed on the fuselage, i.e. its assembly, but also during its maintenance or storage. In addition, the protruding part is also exposed to involuntary stresses such as knocks, tools, or shocks caused by the installation of a gangway.

[0006] These unplanned manipulations are a source of significant repairs and additional costs.

[0007] The known prior art, although it protects the probes, does not, however, allow them to be handled and requires the use of specific fixings on the fuselage. The specific orientation of protruding anemobarometric aeronautical probes is also not part of the prior art.

[0008] Devices for protecting a protruding aerial part of an anemobarometric probe are known. An example is that disclosed in document FR 2864228, which relates to a device for protecting a probe secured to an aircraft wall.

[0009] Such a protection device has several limitations, such as: - the need for drilling in the aircraft wall; - the impossibility of dismantling the probe equipped with this device because the fixing screws are covered; - the impossibility of transporting the probe fitted with this protective device; and - the impossibility of orienting the protruding part of the probe, like a weather vane, in such a way as to render the measurements invalid by a position of the probe different from its functional taxiing / take-off position so that the aircraft considers the probe to be dysfunctional in the event of non-removal of the protection device prior to take-off.

[0010] One aim of the invention is to overcome the problems mentioned above, and in particular to improve the protection of the probe during installation on an aircraft while limiting the oversizing of the mechanical part of the probe and guaranteeing the safety of the aircraft in the event that the protection is forgotten.

[0011] According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a device for protecting a protruding aerial part of an anemobarometric probe comprising a sheath configured to protect said protruding part, a gripping handle comprising a bar that can be grasped between the thumb and the other fingers, and at least one element for locking the protection device onto the anemobarometric probe body, the protection device leaving uncovered fixing holes intended to fix the probe body onto an aircraft.

[0012] In one embodiment, the locking element is configured to place the protruding aerial part, movable in rotation, of the anemobarometric probe, such as a weather vane, in a position different from its functional taxiing / takeoff position of an aircraft equipped with such a probe, so that the aircraft considers the probe to be dysfunctional when the probe is configured to determine an angular position of the protruding aerial part, in the event of the protection device not being removed before takeoff.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the locking element is an expansion locking device in the probe body.

[0014] Alternatively, the locking element is a ball pin locking device in the probe body.

[0015] Alternatively, the locking element is a suction cup locking device on the aircraft interface plate of the probe or on the external part of the probe body.

[0016] In one embodiment, the locking element being a suction cup locking device, the protection device comprises an indicator configured to indicate the front of an aircraft so as to place the protruding aerial part of the anemobarometric probe, movable in rotation, like a weather vane, in a position different from its functional taxiing / takeoff position of an aircraft equipped with such a probe, so that the aircraft considers the probe to be malfunctioning.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the protection device comprises a removable annular protection configured to protect screws for fixing the probe to the aircraft.

[0018] In one embodiment, the removable annular guard includes a seal to block the passage of sand and liquid.

[0019] For example, the seal is circular.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the protection device is made with a material comprising a composite or metallic material.

[0021] The invention will be better understood by studying a few embodiments described as non-limiting examples and illustrated by the appended drawings in which:

[0022] [Fig.1] schematically illustrates a top view of an anemobarometric probe provided with a protruding aerial part, such as an incidence probe, according to one aspect of the invention;

[0023] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a side view of an anemobarometric probe provided with a protruding aerial part, such as an incidence probe, according to one aspect of the invention;

[0024] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates a top view of a device for protecting a protruding aerial part of an anemobarometric probe, according to another aspect of the invention;

[0025] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates a sectional view of a device for protecting a protruding aerial part of an anemobarometric probe, the anemobarometric probe being in side view, according to one aspect of the invention;

[0026] [Fig.5] schematically illustrates a sectional view of an expansion locking device of a device for protecting a protruding aerial part of an anemobarometric probe, according to one aspect of the invention;

[0027] [Fig.6] schematically illustrates a sectional view of a ball pin locking device of a device for protecting a protruding aerial part of an anemobarometric probe, according to one aspect of the invention; and

[0028] [Fig.7] schematically illustrates a sectional view of a suction cup locking device of a device for protecting a protruding aerial part of an anemobarometric probe, according to one aspect of the invention.

[0029] Throughout the figures, elements with identical references are similar.

[0030] [Fig.1] and [Fig.2] represent respectively a top view and a side view of an anemobarometric probe equipped with a protruding aerial part, in this case an incidence probe, of the state of the art.

[0031] A probe 1, in this case an incidence probe, for an aircraft, comprises a probe body 2, on which is mounted a protruding aerial part, in this case a wind vane 3, movable in rotation.

[0032] The probe 1 comprises fixing holes 4 intended to fix the probe 1 on an aircraft. The probe 1 may also comprise fixing holes 5 intended to fix a protection of the probe 1, such as that disclosed in the document FR 2864228.

[0033] [Fig.3] and [Fig.4] respectively represent a top view and a sectional view of a device for protecting a protruding aerial part of an anemobarometric probe, according to another aspect of the invention.

[0034] A protection device 6 for a protruding aerial part 3 of an anemobarometric probe 1 comprises a sheath 7 configured to protect said protruding part 3, a gripping handle 8 comprising a bar that can be grasped between the thumb and the other fingers, and at least one locking element 9 for locking the protection device 6 on the body 2 of the anemobarometric probe 1. The protection device 6 leaves uncovered fixing holes 4 intended to fix the body 2 of the probe 1 on an aircraft.

[0035] Thus the fixing screws placed in the fixing holes 4 to fix the body 2 of the anemobarometric probe 1 remain accessible even when the protection device 6 is locked onto the body 2 of the probe 1.

[0036] A locking element 9 may be an expansion locking device in the probe body, a ball pin locking device in the probe body, or a suction cup locking device on the aircraft interface plate of the probe or on the external portion of the probe body 2.

[0037] When the locking element(s) 9 are suction cup locking devices, the protection device 6 may comprise an indicator 10, such as an arrow 10, indicating the front of the aircraft and intended to orient the wind vane at a preferred angle, in a position different from its functional taxiing / takeoff position of an aircraft equipped with such a probe, so that the aircraft considers the probe to be malfunctioning in the event of failure to remove the protection device 6 before takeoff. To this end, the probe 1 is configured to determine an angular position of the protruding aerial part 3, movable in rotation.

[0038] The protection device 6 may comprise a removable annular protection 11 configured to protect the screws for fixing the probe to the aircraft. Being removable, the removable annular protection 11 leaves accessible the fixing screws placed in the fixing holes 4 for fixing the body 2 of the anemobarometric probe 1 even when the protection device 6 is locked onto the body 2 of the probe 1.

[0039] The removable annular protection 11 may comprise a seal, for example circular 12 to block the passage of sand and liquid.

[0040] A label 13, sometimes referred to as a flame, may indicate to operators that the protective device 6 must be removed before the aircraft is flown.

[0041] [Fig. 5] schematically represents a locking element 9 of the protection device 6, which is an expansion locking device 9 in the body 2 of the probe 1. The expansion locking device 9 comprises a locking / unlocking control element 14, in this case a lever. The expansion locking device 9 comprises a blocking element 15 on the body 2 of the anemobarometric probe 1.

[0042] [Fig. 6] schematically represents a locking element 9 of the protection device 6, which is a locking device 9 by ball pin in the body 2 of probe 1. The locking device 9 by ball pin comprises a locking / unlocking control element 14, in this case a push button. 14. The locking device 9 by ball pin comprises a blocking element 15 on the body of anemobarometric probe 2.

[0043] [Fig. 7] schematically represents a locking element 9 of the protection device 6, which is a suction cup locking device 9 on the body 2 of the probe 1. The suction cup locking device 9 comprises a locking / unlocking control element 14, in this case a lever. The suction cup locking device 9 comprises a blocking element 15 on the anemobarometric probe body 2, in this case a suction cup.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Protective device (6) for a protruding aerial part (3) of an anemobarometric probe (1) comprising a sheath (7) configured to protect said protruding part (3), a gripping handle (8) comprising a bar that can be grasped between the thumb and the other fingers, and at least one locking element (9) for the protective device (6) on the body (2) of the anemobarometric probe (1), the protective device (6) leaving uncovered fixing holes (4) intended to fix the body (2) of the probe (1) on an aircraft.

2. Protective device (6) according to claim 2, in which the locking element (9) is configured to place the protruding aerial part (3), movable in rotation, of the anemobarometric probe (1) in a position different from its functional taxiing / takeoff position of an aircraft equipped with such a probe (1), so that the aircraft considers the probe (1) as malfunctioning when the probe (1) is configured to determine an angular position of the protruding aerial part (3), in the event of the protection device (6) not being removed before takeoff.

3. Protective device (6) according to claim 2, wherein the locking element (9) is an expansion locking device in the body (2) of the probe (1).

4. Protective device (6) according to claim 2, wherein the locking element (9) is a ball pin locking device in the body (2) of the probe (1).

5. Protective device (6) according to claim 2, in which the locking element (9) is a suction cup locking device on the aircraft interface plate of the probe (1) or on the external part of the body (2) of the probe (1).

6. Protective device (6) according to claim 5, comprising an indicator (10) configured to indicate the front of an aircraft.

7. Protective device (6) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a removable annular protection (11) configured to protect screws for fixing the probe (1) to the aircraft. Protective device (6) according to claim 7, wherein the removable annular protection (11) comprises a seal (12) for blocking the passage of sand and liquid. Protective device (6) according to claim 8, wherein the seal (12) is circular. Protective device (6) according to one of the preceding claims, made with a material comprising a composite or metallic material.

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