Aerodynamic Probe Hood Structure for Thermal Isolation and Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerodynamic measurement probes face issues with maintaining mechanical strength, electrical continuity, and thermal protection while ensuring an optimized mass, particularly due to the use of materials like aluminum or polymers that fail to address environmental conditions and measurement accuracy.
Innovation Solution
Aerodynamic measuring probe design using a hood made of polyetheretherketone reinforced with glass or carbon fibers, combined with metallic inserts, ensures mechanical strength, electrical continuity, and thermal protection by minimizing mass through thermoplastic injection molding and strategic placement of inserts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a flat protective plate is used to protect the probe base, then thermal protection is improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to return currents in the gap
Solution Approach 1:
The protective plate is replaced with a frustoconical hood that curves smoothly over the probe base. This curved geometry eliminates the sharp edges and gaps that cause flow separation and return currents, allowing airflow to follow the contour of the hood without creating turbulent recirculation zones that would interfere with measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The design transitions from a two-dimensional flat plate to a three-dimensional frustoconical hood that envelops the probe base. This adds vertical dimensionality to the protective structure, creating a streamlined shape that protects the base while maintaining smooth airflow patterns around the entire probe assembly.
2Reliability
If aluminum or metal materials are used for the protective plate, then electrical continuity is improved, but thermal protection deteriorates due to high thermal conduction
Solution Approach 1:
The protective plate is constructed from composite materials such as fiber-reinforced plastics or ceramics that provide both electrical continuity and thermal insulation. These composite materials allow the structure to maintain electrical connectivity for sensing purposes while simultaneously providing thermal protection to shield the probe base from cold air and ice particles.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the base is totally immersed under the flat plate, then thermal protection is improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to impaired flow stop point
Solution Approach 1:
The frustoconical hood's curved surface allows the base to be positioned within the curved geometry while maintaining a proper flow stop point. The curved contour guides airflow smoothly around the base structure, preventing flow separation and ensuring accurate measurement of the incidence angle without compromising thermal protection.
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 provides a probe with optimized mass, enhanced mechanical strength, reliable electrical continuity, and effective thermal protection, improving measurement accuracy and durability under severe flight conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The hood comprises polyetheretherketone reinforced with glass or carbon fibers, with a thermal conductivity of less than 3 Wm-1
Implementation Method 2
a heated body
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to an aerodynamic measurement probe intended to measure a local incidence of air flow flowing along the fuselage of an aircraft, the support (1) comprising a circular cover (6) having a central opening through which the movable shaft (2) passes, the outer surface of the cover (6) comprising a frusto-conical face (6a) rotationally symmetrical about the longitudinal axis (3), the cover (6) comprising polyetheretherketone reinforced with glass or carbon fibres, with a thermal conductivity of less than 3 W.m-1.K-1, and being provided with metal inserts (7, 8) at its attachments, at least one metal insert (9) for electrical continuity being configured to make an electrical connection between the inner portion of the probe and an interface (13) of the metal insert (9) arranged under the lower periphery of the portion of the metal insert furthest from the shaft (2).