Santa Barbara Research Center

William D Fuller

Mark T Kern

Robert J Cinzori

A hot air leak sensor for sensing jet engine bleed air leaks in an aircraft. Infrared detectors are combined with thermal re-radiating elements which are installed in air passages adjacent to the bleed air ducts and downstream of the region where a bleed air leak may occur. The elements are approximately 50% transmissive and 50% absorptive to infrared radiation with wavelengths within the range of approximately 4 to 20 micrometers. Incident radiation within the field of view of the detector is both transmitted and absorbed for re-radiation to the detector. If no incident radiation within the sensor field of view is available, the re-radiating element still responds to the increased airstream temperature resulting from the bleed air leak and supplies radiation to the detector to provide detection of the leak.

Growing community of inventors

Goleta, CA, United States of America

William D Fuller