Instrumentation transfer strut

1. An instrumentation lead separator comprising:

a monolithic primary lead tube defining a primary channel;

a plurality of secondary lead tubes formed monolithically with the primary lead tube and defining a plurality of secondary channels, each of the secondary channels intersecting the primary channel;

an instrumentation lead splitter comprising an aperture situated at the intersection of the primary channel and the secondary channels; and

a cap positioned in the aperture in a fluid-tight manner.

2. The instrumentation lead separator of claim 1 , and further comprising a plurality of leads, each of the leads passing through the primary passage, and a portion of the plurality of leads passing through each of the plurality of secondary passages.

3. The instrumentation lead separator of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of leads include tubes and wires.

4. The instrumentation lead separator of claim 1 , wherein the primary tube channel and the secondary tube channels are substantially smooth to avoid damaging leads passing therethrough.

5. The instrumentation lead separator of claim 4 , wherein the intersection between the primary tube channel and the secondary tube channels is also substantially smooth to avoid damaging leads passing therethrough.

6. The instrumentation lead separator of claim 1 , and further comprising an airfoil portion surrounding and joined to the primary lead tube.

7. The instrumentation lead separator of claim 6 , and further comprising at least one oil tube surrounded by the airfoil portion.

8. The instrumentation lead separator of claim 7 , wherein the airfoil portion is formed monolithically with the primary tube and the plurality of secondary tubes.

9. The instrumentation lead separator of claim 1 , wherein the primary tube and the plurality of secondary tubes comprise a stack of sintered pulverant material layers.

10. The instrumentation lead separator of claim 1 , wherein the primary passage and the plurality of secondary passages form a fluid-tight plenum.

11. A method for routing instrumentation leads, the method comprising:

(a) threading an instrumentation lead through a wiring egress into a primary channel defined by a primary tube;

(b) routing the instrumentation lead to an intersection point of the primary channel and a plurality of secondary channels;

(c) accessing the instrumentation lead through an aperture at the intersection of the primary channel and the plurality of secondary channels to route the instrumentation lead from the intersection point to a secondary channel defined by one of a plurality of secondary tubes monolithically formed with the primary tube; and

(d) repeating steps (a)-(c) until a desired quantity of leads have been routed to each of the plurality of secondary channels.

12. The method of claim 11 , and further comprising routing the instrumentation lead to a secondary passage based on its function.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein each lead is one the group consisting of:

thermocouples;

strain gauges;

pressure tubing; and

proximity gauges.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein routing the instrumentation lead to a secondary channel includes accessing the instrumentation lead through an aperture and directing the instrumentation lead towards the desired secondary channel.

15. The method of claim 11 , and further comprising sealing the primary channel and the plurality of secondary channels with a cap.

16. A method of making an instrumentation lead splitter, the method comprising:

(a) depositing a layer of a pulverant material on a work stage, the layer having a thickness;

(b) selectively sintering at least a portion of the layer based upon data that defines an instrumentation lead splitter having a primary tube portion and a plurality of secondary tube portions connected at an intersection point with an aperture;

(c) lowering the work stage by the thickness;

(d) repeating steps (a)-(c) until the instrumentation lead splitter is complete; and

(g) removing the instrumentation lead splitter from the work stage.

17. The method of claim 16 , and further comprising attaching a cap to an aperture formed at the intersection point.

18. The method of claim 16 , and further comprising removing unsintered material from the instrumentation lead splitter.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein selectively sintering at least a portion of the layer includes sintering a portion of the layer corresponding to an oil strut surrounding the primary tube portion.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein selectively sintering at least a portion of the layer includes sintering a portion of the layer corresponding to an oil tube surrounded by the oil strut, and wherein the oil strut is streamlined and comprises a wiring egress.