System for deicing and/or defogging an aircraft surface, method for controlling same, and aircraft equipped with same

• US 8,612,067 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2006
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS NV)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Leon, Joseph, Vilain, Jean-Yves
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): OH, HARRY Y
• Application Number:
  US12/067,553
• Publication Number:
  US 20080258010A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,645 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701/10, 701/14, 244134 R-134 F, 374/109, 374/142, 73/290.1, 340/602, 340/962, 60/390.92, 219202-203, 343/704, 191/62
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 15/12 by electric heating electric heating elements in general H05B

Abstract

The invention concerns a system for deicing and/or defogging an aircraft surface (4) comprising: a temperature sensor (5) located proximate said surface (4) and adapted to generate a temperature information (TPT); a computer (20) adapted to generate a control information (CMD) based on the temperature information (TPT) and to transmit the control information (CMD) over a computer network (18) of the aircraft; an electric power supply system (8) located in the electrical center of the aircraft (18) and comprising a switch (12) adapted to be switched based on the control information (CMD); a heating element (6) located proximate said surface (4) and electrically powered via said switch (12). The invention also concerns a method for controlling such a system.

Claims

1. A system for deicing and/or defogging an aircraft surface, comprising:

an electric supply system situated in a central electric system of the aircraft;

a calculator situated in an avionics bay of the aircraft;

an information network connecting the electric supply system and the calculator;

a temperature sensor situated close to the surface and configured to generate a temperature information stream;

the calculator being configured to generate a control information stream from the temperature information stream and to send the control information stream over the information network of the aircraft;

the electric supply system being configured to receive the control information stream over the information network and including a switch configured to be switched as a function of the control information stream; and

a heating element situated close to the surface and supplied electrically via the switch,

wherein the information network is an AFDX network,

wherein the calculator stores in advance a plurality of correspondence tables that include a temperature setpoint, the control information stream is obtained as a function of the temperature information stream and the temperature setpoint based on the correspondence tables, and

wherein the electric supply system includes a microprocessor that connects to the information network, the microprocessor is configured to receive the control information stream, determine a cyclic ratio with which the switch must be alternately opened and closed to approach the temperature setpoint by determining the cyclic ratio that releases a desired heating power at the heating element in accordance with the control information stream, and command the switch to switch as a function of the control information stream, by way of a signal that has the determined cyclic ratio.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the calculator is configured to receive the temperature information stream of the sensor via an analog link.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the calculator is included in a heating management module that connects to the information network.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the heating management module includes a unit configured to monitor the sensor and to send an alarm over the information network in the case of dysfunctioning of the sensor.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the electric supply system is equipped with a unit configured to measure a current passing through the switch and to generate an alarm over the information network if a threshold is crossed.

6. The system according to claim 4 or 5, further comprising an alarm management system that connects to the information network, the alarm management system being configured to cause display of a signal on a display device of the cabin in the case of reception of the alarm.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the electric supply system is equipped with a unit configured to measure a current passing through the switch and to command the switch to open if a threshold is crossed.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the information network is of the Ethernet type.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the surface is a window of a pilot'"'"'s cabin of the aircraft.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the central electric system of the aircraft, which includes the switch, is an area of the aircraft other than a cabin of the aircraft.

10. A method for controlling a system for deicing and/or defogging an aircraft surface, the system including an electric supply system situated in a central electric system of the aircraft, a calculator situated in an avionics bay of the aircraft, and an information network connecting the electric supply system and the calculator, the method comprising:

determining, at the calculator, a control information stream on the basis of a temperature information stream received from a temperature sensor situated close to the surface;

sending, from the calculator, the control information stream over the information network of the aircraft;

receiving the control information stream by the electric supply system;

switching, as a function of the control information stream, a switch situated in the electric supply system of the aircraft and through which there is electrically supplied a heating element situated close to the surface,

wherein the information network is an AFDX network,

wherein the method further includes storing in advance, at the calculator, a plurality of correspondence tables that include a temperature setpoint, the control information stream is obtained as a function of the temperature information stream and the temperature setpoint based on the correspondence tables, and

wherein the electric supply system includes a microprocessor that connects to the information network, the microprocessor receiving the control information stream, determining a cyclic ratio with which the switch must be alternately opened and closed to approach the temperature setpoint by determining the cyclic ratio that releases a desired heating power at the heating element in accordance with the control information stream, and commanding the switch to switch as a function of the control information stream, by way of a signal that has the determined cyclic ratio.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising sending, by the sensor, the temperature information stream via an analog link.

13. An aircraft comprising a system configured to implement the method of claim 10.

12. An aircraft comprising:

a surface to be deiced and/or defogged;

a central electric system;

an avionics bay;

an electric supply system situated in the central electric system;

a calculator situated in an avionics bay of the aircraft;

an information network connecting the electric supply system and the calculator;

a temperature sensor situated close to the surface and configured to generate a temperature information stream;

the calculator being configured to generate a control information stream from the temperature information stream and to send the control information stream over the information network of the aircraft;

the electric supply system being configured to receive the control information stream over the information network and including a switch configured to be switched as a function of the control information stream; and

a heating element situated close to the surface and supplied electrically via the switch,

wherein the information network is an AFDX network,

wherein the calculator stores in advance a plurality of correspondence tables that includes a temperature setpoint, the control information stream is obtained as a function of the temperature information stream and the temperature setpoint based on the correspondence table, and

wherein the electric supply system includes a microprocessor that connects to the information network, the microprocessor is configured to receive the control information stream, determine a cyclic ratio with which the switch must be alternately opened and closed to approach the temperature setpoint by determining the cyclic ratio that releases a desired heating power at the heating element in accordance with the control information stream, and command the switch to switch as a function of the control information stream, by way of a signal that has the determined cyclic ratio.