Moving-Vane Angle of Attack Probe Nesting Pitot-Tube
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional aircraft air data sensors require complex installations, significant de-icing power, and can suffer from common mode failures due to integrated designs that combine angle of attack and pitot-static pressure measurements.
Innovation Solution
A moving-vane angle of attack probe design that positions a pitot-tube inside the vane, reducing surface area and de-icing power requirements by utilizing the heat radiated during de-icing to de-ice the surrounding vane, and incorporates a two-dimensional pitot-tube and bypass channels to ensure accurate air flow measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a conventional pitot-tube is mounted on top of a moving vane to create an integrated sensor, then system complexity is reduced, but the probe surface area increases requiring significant de-icing power
Solution Approach 1:
The pitot-tube is positioned inside the vane body rather than on top of it, nesting one sensor within the structure of another. This reduces the external surface area of the probe while maintaining both sensing functions, thereby reducing de-icing power requirements while preserving system integration benefits
2Device complexity
If additional pressure ports are added to a conventional pitot-static probe to calculate angle of attack, then device complexity is reduced, but de-icing power increases and common mode failure risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into two independent subsystems: a moving-vane angle of attack sensor and a conventional pitot-static pressure sensor. This segmentation allows each sensor to have optimized surface area for its specific function, reducing overall de-icing power requirements while maintaining measurement independence to prevent common mode failures
3Use of energy by stationary object
If the pitot-tube is positioned inside the vane, then de-icing power is reduced through heat sharing, but the pitot-tube may be affected by turbulent air flow
Solution Approach 1:
A baffle structure acts as an intermediary element between the turbulent external flow and the pitot-tube opening. The baffle redirects the airflow to pass over the vane surfaces before reaching the pitot-tube, filtering out turbulent fluctuations and providing more accurate total pressure measurements while allowing the pitot-tube to remain positioned inside the vane for heat sharing benefits
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
The design reduces de-icing power consumption, enhances measurement accuracy by isolating the pitot-tube from turbulent air, and provides independent angle of attack and static pressure measurements, minimizing the risk of common mode failures.
Implementation Method 1
first and second bypass channels are defined between the first shielding wall and the lower interior chamber wall, and the second shielding wall and the upper interior chamber wall respectively, and wherein the bypass channels are configured such that, in use, a portion of the air that enters the interior chamber is directed along the first and second bypass channels without entering the pitot-tube
Implementation Method 2
a first pressure conduit located between the first sensor opening and the rear wall, wherein the first pressure conduit is configured to transmit a pressure between the first and second shielding walls
Implementation Method 3
a vane conduit extending between the first vane opening and the exhaust opening such that the first vane opening and the exhaust opening are in fluid communication, the vane conduit defining at least an interior chamber between the first and second vane surfaces
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A moving-vane angle of attack probe is provided. The moving-vane angle of attack probe comprises: a vane having opposed first and second vane surfaces that define a leading edge and a trailing edge, the first and second vane surfaces, each extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge; a first vane opening located on the leading edge; at least one exhaust opening; a vane conduit extending between the first vane opening and the exhaust opening such that the first vane opening and the exhaust opening are in fluid communication, the vane conduit defining at least an interior chamber between the first and second vane surfaces; and a pitot-tube located within the interior chamber such that in use it receives air that enters the interior chamber via the first vane opening. Furthermore, a moving-vane angle of attack probe is disclosed which comprises a static pressure system with a static pressure port. The pressure port is provided in a region of the surface of the probe comprising a depression, configured such that air flowing over the vane undergoes a change in pressure in the region of the depression.