Aircraft Pressure Sensor Board Layout for Downward Inlet Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pressure probes on aircraft are vulnerable to blockage by water, ice, dust, sand, and insects, especially on flying wing aircraft with upward-facing probes, and require multiple sensor models to maintain an angular offset less than 45°, leading to high design and maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
A pressure measurement probe with a pressure sensor board having a regular polygon shape, such as a hexagon, with fixing points at vertices, ensuring the air inlet is always directed downward, regardless of aircraft orientation, using a single model to prevent water obstruction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple sensor models are used to maintain angular offset less than 45°, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure sensor board is designed with a regular polygon shape (e.g., hexagon) and fixing points distributed on a circle at regular angular intervals, enabling a single universal model to be installed in multiple orientations. This allows the same sensor board to serve multiple positions on the aircraft fuselage while maintaining the required angular offset between the air inlet axis and the vertical, eliminating the need for multiple specialized sensor models.
2Adaptability or versatility
If probes are positioned with air inlet axes directed upward on flying wing aircraft, then adaptability to aircraft design is improved, but reliability decreases due to water accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The regular polygon shape with fixing points at regular angular intervals provides dynamic adaptability. The sensor board can be rotated and fixed in different orientations depending on the probe position on the aircraft, allowing the air inlet to be directed in appropriate directions (e.g., downward or at suitable angles) to prevent water accumulation while maintaining flexibility in probe positioning on flying wing aircraft configurations.
3Device complexity
If a single sensor model is used regardless of probe position, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to angular offset exceeding 45°
Solution Approach 1:
The regular polygon shape (e.g., hexagon) introduces asymmetric fixing point distribution relative to the sensor air inlet orientation. This asymmetric design ensures that regardless of which fixing point is used for installation, the air inlet axis maintains the required angular offset (less than or equal to 45°) from the vertical when the aircraft is on the ground, enabling a single sensor model to achieve precise angular control in all positions.
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 solution effectively prevents water accumulation at the sensor inlet by gravity, reducing the need for multiple sensor models and associated costs, while maintaining probe functionality across various aircraft orientations.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure sensor provided with an air inlet
Implementation Method 2
when the aircraft is on the ground, a pressure sensor air inlet that is directed downward
Data Source
AI summary
A pressure measurement probe for an aircraft, includes a pressure sensor board comprising an electronic board equipped with a pressure sensor provided with an air inlet, the electronic board further comprising at least four fixing points distributed on a circle at regular angular intervals and configured to allow the sensor board to be fixed in the pressure measurement probe in such a way as to have, when the aircraft is on the ground, a pressure sensor air inlet that is directed downward and an angular offset less than or equal to 45° between the axis of the air inlet of the pressure sensor and the vertical, irrespective of the position of the probe on the aircraft.