Sensor packaging for turbine engine

1. A turbine, comprising:

a rotor, which is rotatable about a centerline thereof;

a sensor mounted on a rotating component to measure a condition at a point of measurement interest defined on the rotor at a radial distance from the centerline;

a communication system by which condition measurements are transmittable from the sensor to a non-rotating recording system; and

a probe holder to secure the sensor as mounted on the rotating component and a portion of the communication system on the rotor proximate to the point of measurement interest,

the probe holder comprising a surface and a wiring assembly to hold a section of the portion of the communication system against the surface with relative movement of the section relative to the surface prevented and slack provided along the surface at the probe holder on either side of the wiring assembly and the section,

wherein the point of measurement interest is located at an extraction cavity of a forward shaft with a sensor longitudinal axis parallel with a radial dimension of the rotor and the probe holder comprises:

a probe holder body having a neck with a radially outward-most face substantially aligned with an inner diameter of the extraction cavity and wings extending circumferentially outwardly from the neck to absorb gravitational loading,

the probe holder body and the neck being formed to define a sensor receptive cavity therein with sensor cavity shoulders; and

a cap to secure the sensor within the sensor receptive cavity such that the sensor abuts the sensor cavity shoulders and a sensing device thereof aligns with the radially outward-most face and the inner diameter of the extraction cavity.

2. The turbine according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor and the condition comprises one or more of a static and/or a dynamic pressure.

3. The turbine according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises:

a body having a substantially cylindrical shape and first and second opposing ends; and

a sensing end coupled to one of the first and second opposing ends, the other of the first and second opposing ends being coupled to the communication system,

the sensing end including a sensing device configured to generate a signal reflective of detected static and/or dynamic pressures applied thereto, and

at least one of the first and the second opposing ends being formed to define a shoulder portion for absorbing gravitational loading associated with rotor rotation about the centerline.

4. The turbine according to claim 1 , wherein the communication system comprises:

a first wiring section coupled to the sensor;

a second wiring section;

a first connection by which the first and second wiring sections are connectable;

a second connection by which the second wiring section transmits a signal to the non-rotating recording system; and

a temperature compensation module disposed on the second wiring section to adjust the signal.

5. The turbine according to claim 4 , wherein the first wiring section comprises high-temperature wiring.

6. The turbine according to claim 4 , wherein the first connection comprises gold-pin connectors.

7. The turbine according to claim 4 , wherein the non-rotating recording system comprises a stationary recording system coupled to a slip ring, telemetry system or transmitting device.

8. The turbine according to claim 1 , further comprising a component having a body, which is rotatable about a rotor centerline and which is formed to define a cavity radially proximate to the point of measurement interest, the probe holder being insertible into the cavity to secure the sensor and a portion of the communication system with strain relief.

9. The turbine according to claim 8 , wherein the cavity, the probe holder and the sensor are each plural in number and arranged around the rotor centerline.

10. The turbine according to claim 8 , wherein the probe holder secures multiple sensors.

11. The turbine according to claim 8 , wherein contact surfaces between the cavity and the probe holder and between the probe holder and the sensor absorb gravitational loading.

12. The turbine according to claim 8 , wherein the cavity and the probe holder comprise complementary locking features.

13. The turbine according to claim 8 , wherein the probe holder comprises an elastic element to urge a sensing end of the sensor toward the point of measurement interest.

14. A turbine, comprising:

a rotor, which is rotatable about a centerline thereof;

a pressure sensor mounted on a rotating component to measure static and/or dynamic pressures at a point of measurement interest defined on the rotor at a radial distance from the centerline;

a communication system by which static and/or dynamic pressure measurements are transmittable from the pressure sensor to a non-rotating recording system; and

a probe holder to secure the pressure sensor as mounted on the rotating component and a portion of the communication system on the rotor proximate to the point of measurement interest,

the probe holder comprising a surface and a wiring assembly to hold a section of the portion of the communication system against the surface with relative movement of the section relative to the surface prevented and slack provided along the surface at the probe holder on either side of the wiring assembly and the section,

wherein the point of measurement interest is located at a cooling air hole exit of a middle shaft with a sensor longitudinal axis parallel with a circumferential dimension of the rotor and the probe holder comprises:

a probe holder body and a cap extendible between adjacent cooling air hole exits defined within a middle shaft such that a face of the probe holder body and a rear end of the cap are respectively substantially aligned with respective curvatures of the adjacent cooling air hole exits,

the probe holder body and the cap being formed to define a sensor receptive cavity therein in which the sensor is receivable in abutment with sensor cavity shoulders and a sensing device thereof aligns with the face of the probe holder body.

15. A turbine, comprising:

a rotor, which is rotatable about a centerline thereof;

a pressure sensor mounted on a rotating component to measure static and/or dynamic pressures at a point of measurement interest defined on the rotor at a radial distance from the centerline;

a communication system by which static and/or dynamic pressure measurements are transmittable from the pressure sensor to a non-rotating recording system; and

a probe holder to secure the pressure sensor as mounted on the rotating component such that a longitudinal axis thereof is substantially parallel with one of a radial, circumferential or axial dimension of the rotor and to secure a portion of the communication system with strain relief on the rotor proximate to the point of measurement interest,

the probe holder comprising a surface and a wiring assembly to hold a section of the portion of the communication system against the surface with relative movement of the section relative to the surface prevented and slack provided along the surface at the probe holder on either side of the wiring assembly and the section,

wherein the point of measurement interest is located at a forward flange of a middle shaft with a sensor longitudinal axis parallel with an axial dimension of the rotor and the probe holder comprises:

a probe holder body having an axially rearward-most face and a probe holder plug installable into a cavity formed in the forward flange in a first direction such that the axially rearward-most face is aligned with a rearward-most face of the forward flange, the probe holder body and the probe holder plug being formed to define a sensor receptive cavity therein;

a bolt and a bridging ring installable into the cavity of the forward flange in a second direction opposite from the first direction; and

an elastic element anchored on the bolt to bias a shoulder portion of the sensor against an abutment portion of the sensor receptive cavity such that a sensing device is aligned with the axially rearward-most faces of the probe holder body and the forward flange.