Icing detector probe and icing detector with the same

• US 9,079,669 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2011
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Limited, Huazhong University of Science & Technology
• Original Assignee: Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Limited, Huazhong University of Science & Technology
• Inventors: Chen, Yingchun, Ye, Lin, Zhang, Miao, Ge, Junfeng, Feng, Lijuan, Liu, Tiejun, Zhou, Feng
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin P
• Application Number:
  US13/809,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20130105631A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,475 Days
• Field of Search: 244/134.F, 244/134.R, 340/580, 340/581, 340/962, 731/702.6
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 15/20 Means for detecting icing or initiating de-icing

Abstract

An icing detector probe includes three sections arranged sequentially along the direction of air flow, namely, a first section, a second section and a third section. The shape of the outer surface of the first section is suitable for collecting droplets in the air flow. The shape of the outer surface of the second section is suitable for full decelerating and releasing latent heat of large droplets during their movements. The outer surface of the third section is suitable for icing of large droplets. The probe detects icing by distinguishing and identify large droplets icing. The probe effectively detects types of traditional icing, thus being helpful for exact detection of icing thickness. An icing detector including said icing detector probe is also provided.

Claims

1. An ice detector probe, comprising:

a first segment, a second segment and a third segment arranged in ordered sequence in an air flow direction, wherein an outer surface of the first segment is shaped for adapting to collect water droplets in the air flow;

an outer surface of the second segment is shaped to enable large water droplets to sufficiently decelerate and release latent heat during movement thereof;

an outer surface of the third segment is configured to enable large water droplets to get iced thereon, wherein the second segment further comprises a transition area for joining smoothly and streamliningly with the third segment.

2. The ice detector probe according to claim 1, wherein the second segment has a length measured in the air flow direction.

3. The ice detector probe according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the second segment is shaped to enable the large water droplets to be essentially continuously subjected to an action of a boundary layer during movement.

4. The ice detector probe according to claim 1, wherein the second segment comprises a normal-state icing area for normal-state water droplets to get iced thereon.

5. The ice detector probe according to claim 4, wherein the normal-state icing area is substantially configured in a wedge shape as viewed from one side.

6. The ice detector probe according to claim 4, wherein, the normal-state icing area comprises a substantially planar portion.

7. The ice detector probe according to claim 4, wherein the normal-state icing area, under the outer surface thereof, comprises a plurality of ice detecting means disposed in the air flow direction.

8. The ice detector probe according to claim 7, wherein the first segment also comprises an ice detecting means.

9. The ice detector probe according to claim 1, wherein the third segment comprises a stagnation area which is substantially in a shape inwardly recessed.

10. The ice detector probe according to claim 1, wherein the third segment further comprises a tail area located in the rear thereof, and wherein the tail area enables the ice detector probe to form a substantially smooth pneumatic outer shape.

11. The ice detector probe according to claim 1, wherein the first segment comprises a head located at a front end, and the head has an equivalent radius of curvature.

12. The ice detector probe according to claim 11, wherein the equivalent radius of curvature is substantially in a range of 3 to 6 mm.

13. The ice detector probe according to claim 1, wherein the ice detector probe comprises a refrigerating device located below the outer surface thereof.

14. The ice detector probe according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the ice detector probe comprises a plurality of independent detection surfaces in its circumferential direction.

15. The ice detector probe according to claim 1, wherein the ice detector probe is conformally provided on the outer surface of the aircraft.

16. The ice detector probe according to claim 1, wherein the ice detector probe is connected to the outer surface of the aircraft via a mounting bracket.

17. An ice detector, comprising the ice detector probe according to claim 1.