Detector for indicating ice formation on the wing of an aircraft
First Claim
1. A device which uses ultrasonic transmissions to detect ice formation on a material comprising an acoustic waveguide electrically insulated from said material having a first end and a second end, ultrasonic transmitter means for sending at least one ultrasonic pulse through said first end of said acoustic waveguide, ultrasonic receiver means for measuring the intensity of said ultrasonic pulse at the second end of said ultrasonic waveguide and means for detecting damage to said waveguide, said intensity of said ultrasonic pulse being reduced by ice formation on said acoustic waveguide.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A detector indicating ice formation on the wing of an aircraft or any planear surface, based on a thread-like or a tape-like transducer, through which an ultrasonic signal is transmitted at one end. The attenuation of the signal having passed through the thread is measured with a receiver at the opposite end while the thread is simultaneously being heated such that ice that may surround it melts again, the attenuation thus resuming its initial level.
23 Citations
38 Claims
- 1. A device which uses ultrasonic transmissions to detect ice formation on a material comprising an acoustic waveguide electrically insulated from said material having a first end and a second end, ultrasonic transmitter means for sending at least one ultrasonic pulse through said first end of said acoustic waveguide, ultrasonic receiver means for measuring the intensity of said ultrasonic pulse at the second end of said ultrasonic waveguide and means for detecting damage to said waveguide, said intensity of said ultrasonic pulse being reduced by ice formation on said acoustic waveguide.
- 21. A device which uses ultrasonic transmissions to detect ice formation on an aircraft by measuring the effect of ice on the strength of said ultrasonic transmissions comprising an acoustic waveguide positioned on the wing of said aircraft and electrically insulated from said wing, ultrasonic transmitter means for sending an ultrasonic signal through said acoustic waveguide and to ultrasonic receiver means, said ultrasonic receiver means detects the intensity of said ultrasonic signal, means for measuring electrically resistance in said waveguide and means for electrically heating said waveguide when ice forms on said waveguide.
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29. A method for detecting ice formation on an aircraft comprising:
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(a) placing an acoustic waveguide on the aircraft, said waveguide having a first end and a second end and electrically insulated from said aircraft; (b) connecting ultrasonic transmitter means to said first end of said waveguide, said transmitter means capable of sending at least one ultrasonic pulse through said waveguide, the intensity of said ultrasonic pulse being reduced by ice formation on said waveguide; (c) connecting ultrasonic receiver means to said second end of said waveguide, said receiver means capable of detecting said intensity of said at least one ultrasonic pulse; (d) connecting waveguide damage detection means to said first end and said second end of said waveguide for detecting electrical resistance through said waveguide; and (e) activating icing alarm when said receiver means detects said at least one ultrasonic pulse having an intensity which is lower than said intensity of said at least one ultrasonic pulse sent by said transmitter means. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification