Acoustic Probe Inspection Device for Pressure Measurement Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pressure probes, such as Pitot tubes, face challenges in maintaining accurate flow pressure measurements due to contamination of drain holes and internal surfaces, which are difficult to inspect and can lead to flight safety issues, especially in polluted or harsh environments.
Innovation Solution
A device with an acoustic transmitter and receiver is used to check the internal cavities and drain holes of pressure probes, allowing for automatic or semi-automatic detection of obstructions by comparing acoustic signals with a reference, enabling periodic or real-time checks without direct intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the drain hole size is increased to prevent water and particle accumulation, then the reliability of the probe is improved, but the measurement precision of total pressure deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The probe is divided into multiple drain holes instead of a single large hole. This segmentation allows for sufficient drainage capability while maintaining small individual hole sizes that minimize interference with total pressure measurement. The multiple smaller holes collectively provide the necessary flow path for water and particles while preserving measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using one large drain hole that would completely clear water accumulation, multiple smaller holes provide partial drainage action. This partial action is sufficient to prevent significant water buildup while avoiding the measurement distortion that would result from a single large hole. The excessive number of holes compensates for the limited individual hole capacity.
2Reliability
If manual inspection of drain holes is performed frequently to ensure integrity, then the reliability of the probe is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to difficult access and time-consuming procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The manual visual inspection method is replaced with an automated acoustic inspection system. Instead of using a lamp and visual examination, the patent employs acoustic signals that propagate through the probe's internal passages. The system automatically detects blockages by analyzing acoustic wave transmission, eliminating the need for manual inspection and making the process much easier to perform.
Solution Approach 2:
The probe performs self-inspection through the integrated acoustic detection system. The device can autonomously detect its own blockages without requiring external manual examination. The acoustic transmitter and receiver work together to automatically assess the integrity of drain holes and internal passages, enabling the probe to monitor its own condition.
3Device complexity
If visual inspection with a lamp is used to check drain holes, then the device complexity is minimized, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring blockages increases due to poor accessibility
Solution Approach 1:
The inspection approach transitions from a spatial/visual dimension to an acoustic dimension. Instead of shining light into the drain holes and visually examining them, the system uses acoustic waves that can propagate through the internal passages and provide information about blockages. This dimensional change allows detection without direct visual access to the holes.
Solution Approach 2:
Acoustic waves serve as an intermediary medium to detect blockages indirectly. Rather than directly observing the drain holes, the system uses sound wave transmission as a mediator to infer the presence or absence of blockages. The acoustic signals interact with the blocked passages and carry information back to the detection system, enabling indirect measurement of conditions that are difficult to observe directly.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution allows for quick and reliable detection of anomalies in the pneumatic circuit, ensuring accurate pressure measurements and improving flight safety by enabling pre-flight or in-flight checks of pressure probes without the need for frequent manual inspection.
Implementation Method 1
an acoustic transmitter (26) and an acoustic receiver (27) which are intended to be connected to the internal volume so that the transmitter transmits an acoustic signal which propagates in the internal volume and so that the receiver picks up an acoustic signal observed in the internal volume
Data Source
AI summary
A device is provided for checking a flow pressure measurement probe as well as a probe comprising the device. The probe includes an internal volume and at least one orifice for communication with the outside of the volume. The device includes: an acoustic transmitter and an acoustic receiver that are intended to be connected to the internal volume so that the transmitter transmits an acoustic signal that propagates in the internal volume and so that the receiver picks up an observed acoustic signal; and, means for comparing the observed signal with a reference signal. The device may be a stand-alone device or may be integrated into the probe.