Ice protection system
First Claim
1. An ice-protection system comprising:
- first and second zones, wherein each of the zones is a zone of a leading edge of an aerodynamic or streamlined airframe component, each zone including a window;
a first de-icing apparatus operable to de-ice the first zone;
a first ice-detection sensor positioned in the first zone and configured to detect ice accreted on the first zone;
a control system responsive to the first ice-detection sensor and configured to control the operation of the first de-icing apparatus;
a second de-icing apparatus operable to de-ice the second zone; and
a second ice-detection sensor positioned in the second zone and configured to detect ice accreted on the second zone;
wherein the control system is responsive to the second ice-detection sensor and is configured to control the operation of the second de-icing apparatus;
wherein a sensor head of each respective ice-detection sensor is positioned behind the window in each respective zone,each respective ice-detection sensor is in a form of a sensor module including the respective sensor head,each window is elongated, having longitudinal ends in a longitudinal direction,each window is elongated, having longitudinal ends in a longitudinal direction,each respective sensor head having a front face and a first abutment and a second abutment, each abutment positioned at a respective one of the longitudinal ends of the window and terminating prior to a front face of the window,each sensor module positioned behind the respective window of the respective zone such that the respective sensor head front face is covered by the respective window, andthe window front face in each respective zone is convex so as to be aero-conformal with an adjacent part of the leading edge of the airframe component.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ice-protection system has first and second zones of a leading edge of an aerodynamic or streamlined aerodynamic component, each zone having a de-icing apparatus and an ice-detection sensor positioned behind an elongated convex window as to be aero-conformal with the leading edge. The ice-detection sensor is in the form of a module and has a sensor head having a front face and abutments at ends of the window. The ice-detection sensors may have a central light emitter and a plurality of sensor elements peripheral to the light emitter. The ice-protection system also has a control system responsive to the ice-detection sensors to control the respective de-icing apparatus, and may activate automatically a sequence of operation.
31 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An ice-protection system comprising:
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first and second zones, wherein each of the zones is a zone of a leading edge of an aerodynamic or streamlined airframe component, each zone including a window; a first de-icing apparatus operable to de-ice the first zone; a first ice-detection sensor positioned in the first zone and configured to detect ice accreted on the first zone; a control system responsive to the first ice-detection sensor and configured to control the operation of the first de-icing apparatus; a second de-icing apparatus operable to de-ice the second zone; and a second ice-detection sensor positioned in the second zone and configured to detect ice accreted on the second zone; wherein the control system is responsive to the second ice-detection sensor and is configured to control the operation of the second de-icing apparatus; wherein a sensor head of each respective ice-detection sensor is positioned behind the window in each respective zone, each respective ice-detection sensor is in a form of a sensor module including the respective sensor head, each window is elongated, having longitudinal ends in a longitudinal direction, each window is elongated, having longitudinal ends in a longitudinal direction, each respective sensor head having a front face and a first abutment and a second abutment, each abutment positioned at a respective one of the longitudinal ends of the window and terminating prior to a front face of the window, each sensor module positioned behind the respective window of the respective zone such that the respective sensor head front face is covered by the respective window, and the window front face in each respective zone is convex so as to be aero-conformal with an adjacent part of the leading edge of the airframe component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An aircraft comprising an ice-protection system, the ice protection system comprising:
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first and second zones, wherein each of the zones is a zone of a leading edge of an airframe component that is at least one of aerodynamic and streamlined, each zone including a window; a first de-icing apparatus operable to de-ice the first zone; a first ice-detection sensor positioned in the first zone and configured to detect ice accreted on the first zone; a control system responsive to the first ice-detection sensor and configured to control the operation of the first de-icing apparatus; a second de-icing apparatus operable to de-ice the second zone; and a second ice-detection sensor positioned in the second zone and configured to detect ice accreted on the second zone; wherein the control system is responsive to the second ice-detection sensor and is configured to control the operation of the second de-icing apparatus; wherein a sensor head of each respective ice-detection sensor is positioned behind the window in each respective zone, each respective ice-detection sensor is in a form of a sensor module including the respective sensor head, each window is elongated, having longitudinal ends in a longitudinal direction, each window is elongated, having longitudinal ends in a longitudinal direction, each respective sensor head having a front face and a first abutment and a second abutment, each abutment positioned at a respective one of the longitudinal ends of the window and terminating prior to a front face of the window, each sensor module positioned behind the respective window of the respective zone such that the respective sensor head front face is covered by the respective window, and the window front face in each respective zone is convex so as to be aero-conformal with an adjacent part of the leading edge of the airframe component. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification