Redundant ice management system for aircraft

• US 6,227,492 B1
• Filed: 08/06/1999
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bell Helicopter Michigan Inc (Textron Inc), Textron IPMP L.P
• Original Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Inventors: Eisenhauer, Mark P., Schellhase, Ernst Calvin, Miller, Richard Dean, Aubert, Roger Jacques Michel, Pappas, John Peter, Froman, Gary Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Barefoot, Galen L.
• Application Number:
  US09/369,726
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 244/134 R, 244/134 A, 244/134 D, 416/974, 416/224, 219/548, 219/550, 219/528, 219/529
• US Class Current: 244/134.00D
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 15/12 by electric heating electric heating elements in general H05B
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 15/14 controlled cyclically along length of surface

Abstract

A redundant ice management system and method to de-ice and anti-ice an aircraft member (150) is provided. The system comprising a primary ice management sub-system (154) for providing thermal ice management to the aircraft member and a secondary ice management sub-system (172) for providing back-up thermal ice management to the aircraft member (150) in the event of a failure by the primary ice management sub-system (154). The system provides primary and secondary de-ice and anti-ice capabilities to the aircraft member (150) before and during airborne operation.

Claims

1. A redundant ice management system for an aircraft member, comprising:

a primary ice management sub-system for providing thermal ice management to an area of the aircraft member; and

a secondary ice management sub-system for providing back-up thermal ice management to the aircraft member in the event of a failure by the primary ice management sub-system, wherein the secondary ice management sub-system manages a majority of the area managed by the primary ice management sub-system.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the primary and the secondary sub-systems are each further comprised of separate primary and secondary zones, respectively divided spanwise along the aircraft member to provide substantially overlapping coverage of the aircraft structural member.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein each of the primary and secondary zones further comprise electrical connection by separate electrical buses and contacts for independent control of each zone.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising a controller for independently controlling each of the zones.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising a monitoring system for monitoring each of the zones for operational readiness.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the primary system is further comprised of an anti-ice element.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the secondary sub-system is further comprised of a secondary anti-ice element.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein a controller controls the activation of the primary and the secondary anti-ice elements.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the primary sub-system further comprises a plurality of primary de-ice sections, the primary de-ice sections providing thermal zones for providing thermal ice management across the aircraft member.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the secondary system further comprises a plurality of secondary de-ice sections, the secondary de-ice sections for providing back-up thermal zones for providing overlapping thermal ice management to the aircraft member in the event of a failure by the primary de-ice sections.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the primary system is further comprised of an anti-ice element.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the secondary sub-system is further comprised of a secondary anti-ice element.

13. The system of claim 9, further comprising a controller and monitor for controlling and monitoring the operation and functionality of the primary and secondary sub-systems.

14. A redundant ice management system for an aircraft member, comprising:

a primary ice management sub-system for providing thermal ice management to an area of the aircraft member;

a secondary ice management sub-system for providing back-up thermal ice management to the aircraft member in the event of a failure by the primary ice management sub-system, wherein the secondary ice management sub-system manages a majority of the area managed by the primary ice management sub-system; and

a controller for independently controlling the primary and secondary ice management sub-systems.

15. The invention of claim 14, further comprising a monitor for monitoring atmospheric conditions and the aircraft member for indications of ice forming on the aircraft members.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the primary and the secondary sub-systems are each further comprised of separate primary and secondary zones, respectively divided spanwise along the aircraft member to provide substantially overlapping coverage of the aircraft member.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein each of the primary and secondary zones further comprise electrical connection by separate electrical buses and contacts for independent control of each zone by the controller.

18. A method for managing the formation of ice on an area of an aircraft member with an ice management system comprising primary and secondary ice management sub-systems, the method comprising:

monitoring the aircraft member and atmospheric conditions for ice formation conditions on the aircraft member;

activating the primary ice management system in response to an indication of ice formation on the aircraft member;

monitoring the primary ice management system to determine its operational readiness and efficiency; and

activating the secondary ice management system in response to the monitoring of the primary ice management system if the primary ice management system fails operational readiness and efficiency requirements, wherein the secondary ice management sub-system manages a majority of the area managed by the primary ice management sub-system.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising monitoring the secondary system to determine its operational readiness and efficiency and reactivating the primary ice management system if the secondary ice management system fails operational readiness and efficiency requirements.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the primary and secondary systems are monitored and managed by a controller.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the primary and the secondary ice management systems are further comprised of multiple zones situated along the aircraft member, the secondary system providing substantially overlapping coverage with the primary system, and the controller independently manages each of the zones.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the controller cyclically activates each of the zones in response to the monitoring of aircrafts structural members and the primary and secondary systems.