Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A fluid stream data probe, comprising: (a) a probe housing having an axial bore therethrough, said bore having forward and rearward open ends respectively at forward and rearward ends of the housing for conveying fluid therethrough; (b) the forward end of the housing surrounding said forward bore opening being knife-sharp for resisting ice formation thereon; (c) the outer surface of the housing increasing in diameter rearwardly along said axial bore to a portion of maximum width; (d) the housing forming a radially outwardly and rearwardly extending channel therein having an intake orifice in the bore wall and an outlet orifice in the outer surface of the housing near said portion of maximum width for conveying a portion of the fluid from the bore through said channel; (e) a sensor element carried in said channel; and (f) means for mounting the probe in the fluid stream.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
A fluid stream data probe, comprising: (a) a probe housing having an axial bore therethrough, said bore having forward and rearward open ends respectively at forward and rearward ends of the housing for conveying fluid therethrough; (b) the forward end of the housing surrounding said forward bore opening being knife-sharp for resisting ice formation thereon; (c) the outer surface of the housing increasing in diameter rearwardly along said axial bore to a portion of maximum width; (d) the housing forming a radially outwardly and rearwardly extending channel therein having an intake orifice in the bore wall and an outlet orifice in the outer surface of the housing near said portion of maximum width for conveying a portion of the fluid from the bore through said channel; (e) a sensor element carried in said channel; and (f) means for mounting the probe in the fluid stream.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The probe of claim 1, wherein said axial bore is of uniform diameter throughout the probe between said forward and rearward ends.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
The probe of claim 1, wherein said housing further comprises an outer wall axially between the intake and outlet orifices of said channel, forming said outer surface of the housing; and an inner wall axially between the intake and outlet orifices forming the radially outward wall of said channel, the inner and outer walls having a hollow area therebetween for shielding radiation from said sensor element in the channel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
84 words
The probe of claim 3, further comprising a first boundary layer bleed orifice located on the inner wall of said housing near said intake orifice and communicating with said hollow area to drain boundary layer fluid from the stream of fluid entering the channel prior to contacting the sensing element; and a second bleed orifice located on said radially outward wall of said channel rearwardly of said sensor element and communicating with said hollow area to return the boundary layer fluid to the channel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
The probe of claim 1, wherein said channel is annular about said bore and said housing further comprises post means attached to the housing in said channel for supporting said sensor element in a zig-zag annular pattern relative to the axis of said bore for allowing molecules of fluid passing over the sensor element to strike the sensor element only once.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
109 words
The probe of claim 5, wherein said housing further comprises: (a) at least forward and rearward separable portions, the forward portion comprising said knife sharp forward end, and wall means extending rearwardly therefrom to define said outer surface of the probe to said portion of maximum width and to define a forward length of said bore and the radially outward side of said channel; (b) the rearward portion comprising wall means extending forwardly from the rearward open end of the bore to define an outer surface of the probe to said portion of maximum width, a rearward length of said bore, and the radially inward side of said channel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The probe of claim 6, wherein said post means comprises a forward and a rearward annular ring of posts connected to the radially inward side of the channel with the posts in the two rings being axially staggered.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The probe of claim 1, further comprising heating means connected to the probe housing rearwardly of said channel for preventing icing on the rear of the housing while avoiding heating the fluid forwardly of said sensor element.