Air Data Probe Heater Bore Conduction and Ice Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air data probes face challenges in effectively arranging heaters within the probe head to maintain functionality in icing conditions, often resulting in complex multi-piece assemblies.
Innovation Solution
The air data probe features a probe head with a unitary, additively manufactured body that includes a rod heater positioned within a heater bore, enhanced conduction areas, and a water dam to redirect airflow and prevent ice formation, simplifying assembly and enhancing heat distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional multi-piece assemblies are used to arrange heaters in air data probes, then heater arrangement flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heater bore, water dam, air passageway, and heater positioning features into a single unitary probe head body manufactured by additive manufacturing. This integration eliminates the need for separate heater cartridges and multiple assembly steps, reducing device complexity while maintaining heater arrangement flexibility through design-stage customization
Solution Approach 2:
The unitary probe head body performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, contains the heater bore, creates water dams to prevent ice formation, directs airflow through air passageways, and positions the heater element. This multi-functionality reduces the number of components needed while maintaining operational versatility
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional heater bore designs are used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but heat distribution effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements enhanced conduction areas with different thermal conductivity properties at specific locations within the probe head body. These localized regions with superior thermal conduction are positioned between the heater bore and exterior surface to ensure effective heat transfer to critical areas, while the rest of the body maintains standard manufacturing simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The probe head body incorporates regions with different thermal conductivity characteristics, creating a composite structure where enhanced conduction areas provide superior heat transfer pathways. This allows the design to maintain overall manufacturing simplicity while achieving reliable heat distribution through strategically placed high-conductivity zones
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 design enhances heat distribution and simplifies manufacturing and assembly, while effectively managing ice and water particles, ensuring optimal functionality of the air data probe in icing conditions.
Implementation Method 1
an enhanced conduction area between the heater bore and an exterior surface of the probe head
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A probe head (12) of an air data probe includes a body (22) extending from a first end (18) to a second end (20) of the probe head (12) and a rod heater (224). The body (22) includes an inlet (28A) adjacent the first end (18) of the probe head, an air passageway (30A) extending through the body (22) from the inlet (28A) to a second end of the probe head, a water dam (32A) extending radially through the body such that the air passageway (30A) is redirected around the water dam, a heater bore (34) extending within the body, and an enhanced conduction area (238A) between heater bore (34) and an exterior surface (26) of the probe head. The inlet (28A), the air passageway (30A), the water dam (32A), and the heater bore (34) are all unitary to the body. The rod heater (224) is positioned within the heater bore (34).