Ice detection
First Claim
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1. An ice detection apparatus comprising:
- a reference probe comprising a reference probe element;
a collection probe comprising a collection probe element, wherein the collection probe element is of the same configuration as the reference probe element; and
a processing and control apparatus configured to receive data from the reference probe and the collection probe, wherein the processing and control apparatus compares the data from the reference probe and the collection probe to detect the presence of ice on the collection probe element.
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Abstract
Apparatus, methods, and systems for ice detection, e.g., ice detection using a reference probe and a collection probe to detect ice formation on an aircraft.
68 Citations
41 Claims
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1. An ice detection apparatus comprising:
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a reference probe comprising a reference probe element; a collection probe comprising a collection probe element, wherein the collection probe element is of the same configuration as the reference probe element; and a processing and control apparatus configured to receive data from the reference probe and the collection probe, wherein the processing and control apparatus compares the data from the reference probe and the collection probe to detect the presence of ice on the collection probe element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An ice detection apparatus comprising:
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a reference probe comprising a reference probe element; a collection probe comprising a collection probe element, wherein the reference probe and the collection probe are configured to be mounted on an aircraft such that both the reference probe element and the collection probe element have substantially identical exposure to an airstream when the aircraft is in flight; and a processing and control apparatus configured to receive data from the reference probe and the collection probe representative of aerodynamic drag on the reference probe element and the collection probe element, wherein the processing and control apparatus compares the data from the reference probe and the collection probe to detect the presence of ice on the collection probe element. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An ice detection apparatus comprising:
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a reference probe comprising;
a reference probe element;
a force moment detection device for use in detecting a force moment applied to the reference probe element when the reference probe is mounted; and
a heating element to heat the reference probe element; anda collection probe comprising a collection probe element and a force moment detection device for use in detecting a force moment applied to the collection probe element when the collection probe is mounted. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for detecting the presence of ice formation on an aircraft in flight comprising:
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providing a reference probe comprising a reference probe element; providing a collection probe comprising a collection probe element, wherein the reference probe element and the collection probe element are mounted on an aircraft such that they both have substantially identical exposure to an airstream when the aircraft is in flight; collecting data from the reference probe and the collection probe representative of aerodynamic drag on each of the reference probe element and the collection probe element; and determining if ice is present on the collection probe element based on the data collected from the reference probe and the collection probe. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method for detecting the presence of ice formation on an aircraft in flight comprising:
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providing a reference probe comprising a reference probe element; providing a collection probe comprising a collection probe element; heating the reference probe element to prevent ice formation thereon while allowing ice to form on the collection probe element; collecting data from the reference probe and the collection probe; and determining if ice is present on the collection probe based on the data collected from the reference probe and the collection probe. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A system for detecting the presence of ice on an aircraft in flight, comprising:
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a reference probe comprising a reference probe element and a force moment detection device for use in detecting the force moment applied to the reference probe element when the reference probe is mounted; a collection probe comprising a collection probe element and a force moment detection device for use in detecting the force moment applied to the collection probe element when the collection probe is mounted, wherein the collection probe element is of the same configuration as the reference probe element; a mounting structure configured to mount the reference probe and the collection probe on an aircraft such that both the reference probe element and the collection probe element have substantially identical exposure to an airstream when the aircraft is in flight; and a processing and control apparatus configured to receive data from the reference probe and the collection probe representative of the force moment applied to the reference probe element and the collection probe element, wherein the processing and control apparatus compares the data from the reference probe and the collection probe to determine a difference between the force moment on the reference probe element and the force moment on the collection probe element so as to detect the presence of ice on the collection probe element when the aircraft is in flight. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification