Ice detector probe

• US 5,003,295 A
• Filed: 07/13/1989
• Issued: 03/26/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rosemount Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Rosemount Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Kleven, Lowell A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Orsino, Joseph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Application Number:
  US07/379,697
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 340/580, 340/581, 340/582, 340/962, 340/583, 244/134 R, 244/134 F, 73/170 R, 374/112, 374/113, 374/164
• US Class Current: 340/581
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 15/20 Means for detecting icing or initiating de-icing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/02 Alarm responsive to formation or anticipated formation of ice

Abstract

An ice detector probe senses an ice deposition from an air mass flowing relative to the probe. The probe includes a support for installation of the probe to receive the airflow and an element formed on a substrate having a sensing surface which directly receives the airflow. The element heats the sensing surface to melt an ice deposition formed thereon. The resistance element also senses the sensing surface temperature during heating and provides an output representative of such temperature.

Claims

1. An ice detector probe receiving selective energization for sensing ice deposition from an air mass moving relative to and impinging upon the probe comprising:

mounting means for installation of the probe to receive a flow of the air mass;

thermal means disposed on the mounting means,

the thermal means including a sensing surface oriented to receive impingement of the air mass and having a thermal member receiving the selective energization for heating the sensing surface and for also sensing a temperature of the sensing surface, the thermal member further providing an output representative of the temperature of the sensing surface sensed by the thermal member during the time the selective energization of the thermal member is operative to heat the sensing surface to melt ice, the output representative of the temperature sensed indicating the ice deposition; and

wherein said thermal member comprises a protective member having a thin film platinum resistance thermometer deposited on the protective member in a batch fabrication process.

2. The ice detector probe of claim 1 wherein the mounting means include aerodynamic means for reducing an average recovery temperature of the sensing surface.

3. The ice detector probe of claim 1 wherein the mounting means include retention means for retaining the ice deposition on the sensing surface during heating by the thermal means.

4. The ice detector probe of claim 1 wherein the mounting means include drainage means for removing a water layer which is formed between the sensing surface and the ice deposition during heating of the sensing surface.

5. An ice detector probe receiving selective energization for sensing ice deposition from an air mass moving relative thereto, the ice detector probe comprising:

mounting means for supporting the ice detector probe in a moving air mass;

a thermal member supported by the mounting means in a moving air mass, the thermal member comprising;

a protective member having a sensing surface oriented to face into the moving air mass, and means coupled to the protective member and receiving the selective energization for heating the protective member and for providing an output representative of the temperature sensed while the selective energization heats the protective member, the output indicating the ice deposition;

means on the mounting means for reducing the average recovery temperature of the sensing surface; and

wherein said thermal member comprises said protective member formed of a material compatible with the thin film platinum resistance thermometer, said platinum resistance thermometer being deposited on a surface of the protective member facing oppositely to the sensing surface.

6. An ice detector probe receiving selective energization for sensing ice deposition from an air mass moving relative thereto, the ice detector probe comprising:

a thermally conductive strut for support of the ice detector probe in the moving air mass comprising a base plate, a biconvex portion extending vertically from the base plate, a tapered leading edge to the biconvex portion, means for heating the strut, a notch in the tapered leading edge spaced from the base plate surrounding a forwardly oriented opening recessed within the strut;

a thermal member disposed in the opening where it is protected from airborne debris, the thermal member having outside dimensions smaller than the opening thereby creating an annular gap between the thermal member and the opening, the thermal member comprising a protective member having a sensing surface oriented generally transverse to the air flow to face outwardly from the opening, and means coupled to the protective member and receiving the selective energization for heating the protective member and for providing an output representative of the temperature sensed while the selective energization heats the protective member, the output indicating the occurrence of ice deposition;

drainage ducts formed in the strut extending from the annular gap out to an adjacent side of the strut to remove water from the receiving chamber; and

an insulating layer supporting the thermal member within the strut and electrically and thermally decoupling the thermal member from the strut.