Automatic recycling ice detector
First Claim
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1. A recycling ice detector and ice accumulation indicator for an aircraft, said detector and indicator comprising:
- a sensor configured to sense formation of ice on a surface of an aircraft;
a heater and circuit means for melting detected ice;
a first indicator configured to indicate the formation of ice simultaneously with an activation of the heater;
a timing circuit for indicating a time required for melting the sensed ice;
computing means configured to calculate a thickness of ice formed on the surface of the aircraft based at least in part on a summation of a first time required for melting detected ice and a second time required for melting detected ice; and
a second indicator for indicating at least one of the thickness and a weight of accumulated ice.
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Abstract
An automatic recycling ice detector includes a sensor for sensing the formation of ice on an aircraft surface and a heater for melting the detected ice. The detector also includes a timing circuit for indicating the time to melt any detected ice and automatically recycling the detector when the ice is melted. A computer including a look up table or the like are provided for measuring and indicating the thickness of the accumulated ice based on a relationship between melting time and thickness.
23 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A recycling ice detector and ice accumulation indicator for an aircraft, said detector and indicator comprising:
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a sensor configured to sense formation of ice on a surface of an aircraft; a heater and circuit means for melting detected ice; a first indicator configured to indicate the formation of ice simultaneously with an activation of the heater; a timing circuit for indicating a time required for melting the sensed ice; computing means configured to calculate a thickness of ice formed on the surface of the aircraft based at least in part on a summation of a first time required for melting detected ice and a second time required for melting detected ice; and a second indicator for indicating at least one of the thickness and a weight of accumulated ice. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An aircraft ice detector for detecting formation of ice on a selected portion of a surface of an aircraft, said detector comprising:
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an electric power supply; an electric circuit and a switch for powering said detector; ice sensing means powered by said electric power supply for sensing the formation of ice on the surface and an electric heater disposed in said circuit for melting ice formed on said surface; a first indicator configured to indicate the formation of ice; said switch configured to simultaneously energize said heater and the first indicator in response to the detection of ice and to simultaneously de-energize said heater and the first indicator in the absence of ice; timing means for measuring the time between the energizing of said heater and the melting of the ice on said selected portion of said surface of the aircraft; a computer including data storage means coupled to said timing means and storing data based on a predetermined relationship between the thickness of the ice and the time of heating for melting various thicknesses of ice, the computer configured to calculate a thickness of ice formed on said surface of the aircraft based at least in part on a summation of a first time between the energizing of said heater and the melting of the ice on said selected portion of said surface of the aircraft and a second time between the energizing of said heater and the melting of the ice on said selected portion of said surface of the aircraft; means for indicating one of the thickness and weight of accumulated ice on the surface. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. An automatic recycling ice detector and ice accumulation system for an aircraft, said system comprising:
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a heater having an outer surface for positioning on a surface of an aircraft; means for detecting ice on said outer surface of said heater; a first ice detection indicator configured to alert a pilot of the formation of ice on the outer surface of said heater; means for simultaneously activating said heater and said first ice detection indicator upon detection of ice on said outer surface of said heater; means for measuring a time to melt the ice on said outer surface of said heater each time said heater is activated; means for summing a first time to melt ice on said outer surface of said heater and a second time to melt ice on said outer surface of said heater to thereby provide an indication of the total amount of ice accumulated on the surface of the aircraft; and a second ice indicator configured to alert a pilot of the summed time to melt the ice on the outer surface of said heater as an indication of the thickness of the ice on the surface of the aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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Specification