Securing a pitot tube

[joe2812]

I've been tasked with coming up on CAD a way to affix a pitot tube to an aircraft skin and i'm after a bit of help.

Basically I have to design and assemble the aircraft skin, stringer(s) and the tube. The tube is done and to give a vague picture of the underside it has 3 'plugs' in a line (front to back) in a 'step' formation, with a larger plug at the front.

What I thought was to cut the holes in the skin and mount the tube on the outside (rather than mount the base underneat and cut a hole in the skin for the tube), then to reinforce with a similar shaped metal plate on the other side?

As the tube needs to be able to withstand the forces of flight i'm wondering if this is a realistic way of doing the task? And also, if the tube is bolted or riveted to the skin?

If anyone has any knowledge, and has some time to reply or PM me i'd be really grateful.

[unstable load]

You mention stringers, so it must be aluminium.
Not being a tinbasher I would hazard a guess and say that you could have a doubler on the outside preferably to the next rib and stringer each side and a filler on the inside of a phenolic material like bakelite that is shaped to the skin contours and flat on the inside to absorb the load path. Another doubler inside would probably not be amiss if it is a fast-ish fixed wing bearing in mind the forces involved.
You could then bolt it from inside into the body of the fitting or through the skin from outside by means of a flange.:confused:

Anyone else care to shoot me down in flames? (and contribute their expertise):ok:

[stevef]

What sort of aircraft do you have in mind for the pitot installation - light or heavy? You'll probably be aware that there are a couple of wing-mounted pitot head designs: the 'L' shape that you'll find on Cessnas, for example, and the straight ones with a 45 degree (ish) impact face as fitted to Pipers. The heads themselves are attached to the lower skin via screws to enable the units to be easily removable (replacement of heating elements is the most common).

I think you'll find it's common practice to have the doubler fitted internally, as with aerials. Keeps the airflow tidy and is better cosmetically.

[joe2812]

I have no idea what the pitot tube we were shown is from, it was very much a case of "Find a way to stick this pointy thing to an aeroplane".

I did find a picture and it looked very similar to a Tornado. A 45 degree support up from the base then the tube at horizontal?

Sorry I wish I could be more specific but we've been given no information about anything i'm afraid.

Thanks for taking the time to reply though. :ok:

[mb2ai]

mr wilko ring any bells?

[joe2812]

Thats the one :E

[mb2ai]

whens it in for

[joe2812]

End of Jan ish