Detection system and method for ice and other debris

• US 20050263646A1
• Filed: 05/26/2004
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Nichols, Davis B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,784,739 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/134.F
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 15/20 Means for detecting icing or initiating de-icing
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/20 Ground installations for de-icing aircraft

Abstract

A system and method for detecting debris on the surface of a member are provided, for example, for detecting ice or other debris on an outer surface of an aircraft. The detection system includes a heating device in thermal communication with the member, an infrared sensing device configured to sense infrared radiation emitted from the member, and a monitoring device in communication with the sensing device. The monitoring device is configured to monitor a change in emission from the member and thereby detect the presence of debris on the surface of the member.

Claims

1. A detection system for detecting debris on a surface of a member, the system comprising:

a heating device in thermal communication with the member;

an infrared sensing device configured to sense infrared radiation emitted from the member; and

a monitoring device in communication with the sensing device and configured to monitor a change in emission from the member and thereby detect the presence of debris on the surface of the member.

2. A detection system according to claim 1 wherein the heating device is an electrical heating device.

3. A detection system according to claim 1 wherein the heating device includes a system for directing hot gases through a passage in thermal communication with the member.

4. A detection system according to claim 1 wherein the heating device is a de-icing system for removing ice from the member.

5. A detection system according to claim 1 wherein the member is an outer portion of an aircraft and the heating device is onboard the aircraft and configured to heat the outer portion of the aircraft.

6. A detection system according to claim 5 wherein the sensing device is mounted on the aircraft and configured to sense the radiation emitted from the outer portion.

7. A detection system according to claim 5 wherein the sensing device is remote from the aircraft and configured to sense the radiation emitted from the member.

8. A detection system according to claim 1 wherein the monitoring device is configured to control the heating device to selectively activate the heating device to a diagnostic mode for the detection of debris and to a debris-removal mode.

9. A detection system according to claim 1 wherein the monitoring device is configured to compare the change in emission of the member, resulting from a diagnostic heating of the member by the heating device, to a predetermined characteristic.

10. A detection system according to claim 1 wherein the sensing device is configured to sense infrared radiation emitted from a plurality of portions on the surface of the member, and the monitoring device is configured to detect changes in the radiation emitted from the plurality of portions and thereby detect the presence of debris on the surface of the member at each portion.

11. A detection system according to claim 1 wherein the monitoring device is configured to actuate the heating device to a debris-removal mode upon detection of debris on the member.

12. A detection system according to claim 1 wherein the monitoring device is configured to transmit an electronic signal to a status indicator device indicating the detection of debris on the member.

13. A detection system for detecting ice on a surface of an aircraft, the system comprising:

a heating device in thermal communication with the surface and configured to heat the surface;

an infrared sensing device configured to independently sense infrared radiation emitted from a plurality of portions of the surface; and

a monitoring device in communication with the heating device and the sensing device, the monitoring device being configured to control the heating device and monitor changes in radiation emitted from the plurality of portions to determine a temporal emission profile for each of the portions and thereby detect the presence of ice on the surface at each portion.

14. A detection system according to claim 13 wherein the heating device is an electrical heating device.

15. A detection system according to claim 13 wherein the heating device includes a system for directing hot gases through a passage in thermal communication with the surface.

16. A detection system according to claim 13 wherein the surface defines at least a portion of a wing of the aircraft.

17. A detection system according to claim 13 wherein the monitoring device is configured to compare each temporal emission profile to a predetermined temporal emission profile characteristic.

18. A detection system according to claim 13 wherein the monitoring device is configured to perform at least one function of the group consisting of actuating the heating device to a diagnostic mode, actuating the heating device to an ice-removal mode, and transmitting an electronic signal to a status indicator device indicating the presence or absence upon detection of ice on the surface.

19. A method of detecting debris on a surface of a member, the method comprising:

heating the member;

sensing an infrared radiation emitted from the member; and

determining a resulting change in the infrared radiation and thereby detecting the presence of debris on the surface of the member.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein said heating step comprises electrically energizing an electrical heating device.

21. A method according to claim 19 wherein said heating step comprises directing a flow of hot gases through a passage in thermal communication with the member.

22. A method according to claim 19 wherein said heating step comprises actuating a de-icing system integral to the member.

23. A method according to claim 19 wherein said heating step comprises actuating a heating device for a predetermined interval.

24. A method according to claim 19 wherein said sensing step comprises sensing the radiation emitted from at least one surface of an aircraft.

25. A method according to claim 24 wherein said heating step comprises heating an outer surface of the aircraft during flight of the aircraft and said sensing step comprises sensing during the flight.

26. A method according to claim 24 wherein said sensing step comprises sensing the radiation emitted from the outer surface while the aircraft is on the ground.

27. A method according to claim 19 wherein said determining step comprises determining a temporal emission profile of the radiation emitted from the member.

28. A method according to claim 27 wherein said determining step comprises comparing the temporal emission profile of the member to a predetermined profile characteristic and thereby detecting the presence of debris.

29. A method according to claim 28 further comprising, before said heating step:

heating the member at a time when debris is known to exist on the member;

sensing the infrared radiation emitted from the member; and

determining a change in the infrared radiation and thereby establishing the predetermined profile characteristic.

30. A method according to claim 27 wherein said determining step comprises determining the profile of the radiation emitted from the member during said heating step.

31. A method according to claim 27 wherein said determining step comprises determining the profile of the radiation emitted from the member following said heating step.

32. A method according to claim 19 further comprising automatically actuating a heating device to a debris-clearing mode, upon detection of debris on the member.

33. A method according to claim 19 further comprising transmitting an electronic signal to a status indicator device upon detection of debris on the member.

34. A method according to claim 19 further comprising repeating said heating, sensing, and determining steps according to a predetermined schedule.

35. A method for detecting ice on a surface of an aircraft, the method comprising:

heating the surface as a diagnostic measure by activating a heating device in thermal communication with the surface;

independently sensing infrared radiation emitted from a plurality of portions of the surface; and

determining changes in the infrared radiation emitted from the plurality of portions to determine an emission profile for each of the portions and thereby detecting the presence of ice on the surface of each portion.

36. A method according to claim 35 wherein said heating step comprises electrically energizing an electrical heating device.

37. A method according to claim 35 wherein said heating step comprises directing a flow of hot gases through a passage in thermal communication with the member.

38. A method according to claim 35 wherein said heating step extends for a predetermined interval of time.

39. A method according to claim 35 wherein said sensing step comprises sensing the radiation emitted from a plurality of portions of at least one surface of the aircraft.

40. A method according to claim 35 wherein said determining step comprises comparing the profiles to predetermined profile characteristics and thereby detecting the presence of ice on the portions.

41. A method according to claim 40 further comprising, before said heating step:

actuating the heating device and thereby heating the surface at a time when ice is known to exist on the surface;

sensing the infrared radiation emitted from the plurality of portions of the surface with ice; and

determining a change in the infrared radiation for each portion and thereby establishing the predetermined profile characteristic for each portion.

42. A method according to claim 35 wherein said determining step comprises determining the profiles of the radiation emitted from the portions during said heating step.

43. A method according to claim 35 wherein said determining step comprises determining the profiles of the radiation emitted from the portions following said heating step.

44. A method according to claim 35 further comprising performing at least one function of the group consisting of actuating the heating device to a de-icing mode and transmitting an electronic signal to a status indicator device upon detection of ice on the surface.

45. A method according to claim 35 further comprising repeating said heating, sensing, and determining steps according to a predetermined schedule.