System and method for providing power and control through a rotating interface

• US 7,355,302 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2006
• Issued: 04/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ultra Electronics ICE, Inc. (Ultra Electronics Holdings PLC)
• Original Assignee: Ultra Electronics ICE, Inc. (Ultra Electronics Holdings PLC)
• Inventors: Stonestreet, Arlie D. II, Kraus, Harold G., Genereux, Darin E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Deberadinis; Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US11/560,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20070114223A1
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: 307/29
• US Class Current: 307/29
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/04 Helicopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 15/12 by electric heating electric heating elements in general H05B
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/092 the control signals being transmitted optically

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a system (10) operable to provide power and control through a rotating interface. The system (10) generally includes a control unit (12) and a distributor unit (14). The control unit (12) is operable to generate a power signal having a plurality of power transitions. The distributor unit (14) is operable to rotatably couple with the control unit (12), receive the power signal from the control unit (12), identify power transitions within the power signal, and generate a plurality of output signals corresponding to the identified power transitions. The distributor unit (14) is also at least substantially powered by the power signal to enable generation of the output signals.

Claims

1. A system for powering and controlling de-icing elements on aircraft propellers, the system comprising:

a control unit operable to receive power from a three-phase power source and to switch the power on and completely off with a series coupled switching element to generate a power signal having a plurality of power transitions, wherein at least one of the power transitions has a time duration different than other power transitions; and

a distributor unit operable to-

rotatably couple with the control unit,

receive the power signal from the control unit,

power at least a first de-icing element with the power signal,

identify a power transition of a first time duration,

during the first power transition, apply no power to the de-icing elements,

identify subsequent power transitions of a second time duration equal to or shorter than the first time duration, and,

in response to the subsequent power transitions, switch the power signal to at least a second de-icing element.

2. A system for powering and controlling de-icing elements on aircraft propellers, the system comprising:

a control unit operable to generate a power signal having a plurality of power transitions; and

a distributor unit operable to-

rotatably couple with the control unit,

receive the power signal from the control unit,

power at least one of the de-icing elements with the power signal,

identify power transitions within the power signal, and

generate a plurality of output signals corresponding to the identified power transitions to select which of the de-icing elements to power with the power signal and to switch the power signal to different de-icing elements when the output signals change due to the identified power transitions in the power signal.

3. An aircraft propeller de-icing system comprising:

a control unit including-

an input for receiving a power signal from an aircraft power supply,

a control device and power conditioning elements coupled with the input for receiving the power signal and for converting it to a power signal having a plurality of power transitions corresponding to a control scheme; and

a distributor element coupled with the control unit with at least one slip ring and including-

an input for receiving the power signal from the control unit,

a control device operable to identify the power transitions within the power signal and to generate a plurality of output signals corresponding to the identified power transitions, and

a plurality of power control elements operable to apply the power signal to at least one of the de-icing elements and to switch the power signal to a different de-icing element when the output signals change due to the identified power transitions in the power signal.

4. An aircraft propeller de-icing system comprising:

a control unit including-

an input for receiving a power signal from an aircraft power supply,

a control device and power conditioning elements coupled with the input for receiving the power signal and for interrupting it when current supplied by the power signal is near zero to create a power signal having a plurality of power transitions; and

a distributor element coupled with the control unit with at least one slip ring and including-

an input for receiving the power signal from the control unit,

a control device operable to identify the power transitions within the power signal and to generate a plurality of output signals corresponding to the identified power transitions, and

a plurality of power control elements operable to apply the power signal to at least one of the de-icing elements and to switch the power signal to a different de-icing element when the output signals change due to the identified power transitions in the power signal.

5. A system for powering and controlling de-icing elements on aircraft propellers, the system comprising:

a control unit including a switching element interposed in series between an aircraft power source and a load to generate a power signal having a plurality of power transitions; and

a distributor unit operable to-

rotatably couple with the control unit,

receive the power signal from the control unit,

power at least one of the de-icing elements with the power signal,

identify power transitions within the power signal, and

generate a plurality of output signals corresponding to the identified power transitions to select which of the de-icing elements to activate and to activate a different de-icing element when the output signals change due to the identified power transitions.