Standoff mounting for air data sensing probes on a helicopter

• Main Authors: CONLEY DOUGLAS G, SYRING, JR. ROBERT G, GOLLY TIMOTHY T, BACHINSKI THOMAS J, PETRI RONALD J
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 16.07.2002
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: AIRCRAFT; ARRANGEMENTS OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSIONTRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS; EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLYING SUITS; INDICATING PRESENCE, ABSENCE, OR DIRECTION, OF MOVEMENT; MEASURING; MEASURING LINEAR OR ANGULAR SPEED, ACCELERATION, DECELERATION,OR SHOCK; PARACHUTES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; TESTING; TRANSPORTING

A standoff arm and probe assembly for a helicopter has a standoff mounting arm that extends outwardly from the helicopter body in a selected direction, preferably forwardly. The standoff arm has an outer end that mounts a low lateral speed sensing probe that is positioned with an axis substantially parallel to the axis of a helicopter rotor, and within the downwash region of air movement causes by the rotor. The low lateral speed sensing probe has ports that are arranged annularly around the probe, and the pressures sensed at selected annular or peripheral locations on the probe are measured to determine low air speeds. Additionally, the standoff arm can mount a plurality of other sensors such as a pitot pressure probe extending forwardly from the arm, a lateral pressure sensing probe along a lateral side of the arm, and the arm can mount outside air temperature sensors, ice detectors, and total air temperature sensors, if desired.