Rotatable Probe Shield Hub for Gas Turbine Icing Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas turbine engine measurement systems are hindered by icing tests that require manual removal of protective shielding, leading to inefficiencies and potential retesting due to ice melt, necessitating improved fluid measurement systems resistant to icing and ingestion.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable shield hub system with arcuate shields and motor-driven rotation, coupled with a cam and biasing assembly, allows for automated protection and exposure of probes during icing tests, ensuring uninterrupted fluid parameter measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If fixed physical shielding is used to protect sensor instrumentation during icing tests, then protection against ice accumulation is improved, but manual intervention time increases and measurement efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transforming the fixed shielding into a movable shielding system. The shield hub rotates to position shields in front of probes during icing tests and moves them away during measurement phases. This dynamic adjustment eliminates manual intervention while maintaining protection when needed, directly resolving the contradiction between protection and time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service through an automated control system that operates the shield hub rotation and shield positioning without human intervention. The system automatically transitions between protection and measurement modes based on test requirements, eliminating the need for operators to manually remove shields and thereby resolving the time loss issue.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If fixed physical shielding is used to protect sensor instrumentation, then protection against fluid ingestion is improved, but device complexity and operational efficiency worsen due to manual removal requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The movable shield hub system dynamically adjusts shield positions to provide protection during fluid injection phases while clearing the path during measurement phases. This eliminates the need for manual removal and repositioning, maintaining protection capabilities while significantly improving measurement system productivity and efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated control system manages shield positioning and hub rotation without human intervention, allowing the system to self-adjust between protected and measurement states. This self-service capability maintains fluid ingestion protection while eliminating operational inefficiencies and improving overall productivity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If manual shield removal is required to measure engine parameters, then protection during icing tests is maintained, but testing duration and time loss increase
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic shield positioning system automatically moves shields into place during icing test phases and retracts them during measurement phases. This eliminates manual intervention time and allows continuous operation without test interruption, directly reducing overall test duration while maintaining sensor protection when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated system independently manages shield positioning transitions between test phases without human assistance. This self-service operation eliminates time losses associated with manual shield removal and reinstallation, thereby reducing total test duration while maintaining necessary protection against ice and water exposure.
Data Source
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AI summary
A measurement system (52) for an aircraft gas turbine engine (10) includes an instrumentation hub (70) disposed about a rotational axis (76). The instrumentation hub (70) includes at least one probe (54). The measurement system (52) further includes a shield hub (72) disposed about the rotational axis (76) and positioned axially adjacent the instrumentation hub (70). The shield hub (72) includes at least one shield (84) configured to be radially aligned with the at least one probe (54) of the instrumentation hub (70). The shield hub (72) is rotatable about the rotational axis (76) independent of the instrumentation hub (70). The at least one shield (84) is axially translatable between a first axial position and a second axial position. The at least one shield (84) in the first axial position is axially aligned with the at least one probe (54). The at least one shield (84) in the second axial position is axially separated from the at least one probe (54).