Automatic recycling ice detector

• US 20070176049A1
• Filed: 06/21/2006
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safe Flight Instrument Corporation
• Original Assignee: Safe Flight Instrument Corporation
• Inventors: Greene, Leonard
• Granted Patent: US 7,828,247 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: B64D 15/22 Automatic initiation by icing detector
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/02 Alarm responsive to formation or anticipated formation of ice

Abstract

An automatic recycling ice detector includes a sensor for sensing the formation of ice on an aircraft surface and a heater for melting the detected ice. The detector also includes a timing circuit for indicating the time to melt any detected ice and automatically recycling the detector when the ice is melted. A computer including a look up table or the like are provided for measuring and indicating the thickness of the accumulated ice based on a relationship between melting time and thickness.

Claims

1. An automatic recycling ice detector and ice accumulation indicator for an aircraft, said detector and indicator comprising:

sensing means for sensing the formation of ice on a surface of an aircraft;

a heater and circuit means for melting detected ice and a timing circuit for indicating the time required for melting the sensed ice;

means for automatically activating the sensing means when the detected ice has been melted;

computing means for calculating the thickness of ice formed on the surface of the aircraft based on a summation of the times required for melting the detected ice; and

an indicator for indicating the thickness or weight of accumulated ice.

2. An automatic recycling ice detector and ice accumulator indicator according to claim 1 in which said sensing means is a thermo-electric switch and in which said switch is mounted on an outer surface of an aircraft.

3. An automatic recycling ice detector and ice accumulator indicator in accordance with claim 1 in which the formation of ice on said switch closes said circuit means to energize said heater.

4. An automatic recycling ice detector and ice accumulator indicator in accordance with claim 3 in which the melting of ice on said switch opens said circuit means to de-energize said heater.

5. An automatic recycling ice detector and ice accumulation indicator in accordance with claim 1 which includes data storage means and comparison parameters stored in said data storage means, and comparison means for comparing a summation of the times required to melt the ice and said comparison parameters are an indication of the thickness or weight of accumulated ice.

6. A method for warning a pilot of accumulated ice on the surface of an aircraft comprising the steps of:

providing a sensor for detecting the formation of ice on a selected portion of a surface on an aircraft and an electric heater for melting the detected ice;

detecting ice formed on the selected portions of the surface of an aircraft and energizing the heater to thereby melt the ice;

timing the interval from energizing the heater until ice on the selected portion of the aircraft is no longer sensed;

sensing any subsequent formation of ice on the selected portion of the surface of the aircraft and energizing the heater to thereby melt the detected ice;

timing the interval from energizing the heater until ice on the selected portion of the surface of the aircraft is no longer sensed;

sensing the times for melting the detected ice;

providing a look up table of values wherein melt time is a function of ice accumulation;

comparing the summation of the times for melting the detected ice and the values in the look up table; and

indicating the amount of accumulated ice on the selected portions of the surface of the aircraft.

8. An aircraft ice detector according to claim 6 in which said data includes a look up table.

7. An aircraft ice detector for detecting the formation of ice on a selected portion of a surface of an aircraft, said detector comprising:

an electric power supply;

an electric circuit and a switch for powering said detector;

ice sensing means powered by said electric power supply for sensing the formation of ice on the selected surface and an electric heater disposed in said circuit for melting ice formed on said selected surface;

said switch adapted to energize said heater in response to the detection of ice and to de-energize said heater in the absence of ice;

timing means for measuring the time between the energizing of said heater and the melting of the ice on said selected portion of said surface of the aircraft;

a computer including data storage means coupled to said timing means and including data based on a predetermined relationship between the thickness of the ice and the time of heating for melting various thickness of ice;

means for indicating the thickness or weight of accumulated ice on the selected surface.

9. An aircraft ice detector according to claim 7 in which said ice sensing means includes a thermal electric switch.

10. An automatic recycling ice detector and ice accumulation system for an aircraft, said system comprising:

a heater having an outer surface for positioning on a surface of an aircraft;

means for detecting ice on said outer surface of said heater;

a first ice detection indicator adapted to alert a pilot of the formation of ice on the outer surface of said heater;

means for simultaneously activating said heater and said first ice detection indicator upon detection of ice on said outer surface of said heater;

means for measuring the time to melt the ice on said outer surface of said heater; and

a second ice indicator adapted to alert a pilot of the time to melt the ice on the outer surface of said heater as an indication of the thickness of ice on the surface of the aircraft.

11. An automatic recycling ice detection and accumulation system for an aircraft in accordance with claim 10 in which said means for detecting the presence of ice on said outer surface of said heater includes means for automatically reactivating said ice detector after ice on said surface of said heater is melted.

12. An automatic recycling ice detection and accumulation system for an aircraft in accordance with claim 11 in which includes means for summing the times to melt the ice on said outer surface of said heater to thereby provide an indication of the total amount of ice accumulated on the surface of the aircraft.

13. An automatic recycling ice detection and accumulation system for an aircraft in accordance with claim 12 which includes calibration means for converting the time to melt the ice to the thickness or weight of ice on the aircraft.

14. An automatic recycling ice detection and accumulation system for an aircraft in accordance with claim 13 in which said heater comprises a relatively flat disc shaped plate conforming to the surface of an aircraft and insulation means for separating said plate from a surrounding surface of the aircraft.