ICE PROTECTION SYSTEM
First Claim
1. An ice protection system for removing ice and/or other accretions from a structure, the system comprising:
- an actuator coupled to the structure, the actuator being configured to generate vibrations in the structure;
a controller connected to the actuator for driving the actuator to cause vibrations in the structure, the controller being configured to generate a drive signal for driving the actuator, the controller drive signal comprising a frequency chirp over a first period of time,wherein the controller controls the frequency chirp and the first period such that vibrations generated in the structure by the actuator propagate through the structure to coincide at a desired area of the structure remote from the actuator to remove ice from the desired area of the structure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
We describe an ice protection system used for removing ice and/or other accretions from a structure. An actuator, coupled to a structure, is driven to generate vibrations in the structure. A controller drives the actuator using a signal that comprises a frequency chirp over a first period of time, and the controller controls the frequency chirp and the first period such that vibrations generated in the structure by the actuator propagate through the structure to coincide at a desired area of the structure remote from the actuator to remove ice and/or other accretions from the desired area of the structure.
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37 Claims
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1. An ice protection system for removing ice and/or other accretions from a structure, the system comprising:
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an actuator coupled to the structure, the actuator being configured to generate vibrations in the structure; a controller connected to the actuator for driving the actuator to cause vibrations in the structure, the controller being configured to generate a drive signal for driving the actuator, the controller drive signal comprising a frequency chirp over a first period of time, wherein the controller controls the frequency chirp and the first period such that vibrations generated in the structure by the actuator propagate through the structure to coincide at a desired area of the structure remote from the actuator to remove ice from the desired area of the structure. - 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. A method of removing ice and/or other accretions from a structure, comprising:
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attaching an actuator to a structure, the actuator being configured to cause vibrations in the structure; generating a drive signal to drive the actuator, the drive signal comprising a frequency chirp over a first period of time; and driving the actuator with the drive signal to cause the structure to vibrate, wherein the frequency chirp and the first period are controlled such that the vibrations generated by the actuator propagate through the structure and coincide at a desired area of the structure remote from the actuator to remove ice from the desired area of the structure. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. (canceled)
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37. (canceled)
Specification