Aircraft ice detecting system

• US 5,921,501 A
• Filed: 05/22/1995
• Issued: 07/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc. (Triumph Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Inventors: Pernick, Benjamin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barefoot, Galen L.
• Application Number:
  US08/446,976
• Time in Patent Office: 1,513 Days
• Field of Search: 244/134 R, 244/134 F, 340/962, 340/581, 340/583, 73/170 R, 364/563, 250/339, 250/341, 356/382
• US Class Current: 244/134.00F
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 15/20 Means for detecting icing or initiating de-icing
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/20 Ground installations for de-icing aircraft

Abstract

In a method of detecting ice on surfaces of an aircraft, a surface of an aircraft is scanned with laser light operating at different wavelength regions in a manner whereby the surface scatters the laser light. Laser light scattered from the surface is detected. Radiation outside the wavelength bands of interest is removed prior to detection. The detected, filtered, scattered laser light is processed to reconstruct images of the surface, thereby indicating areas of ice and water on the surface. The processing takes into account the directions of scanned continuous wattage laser beams relative to the surface, laser beam geometry factors due to changing distance between the laser beams and the surface while scanning, relative signal levels, normalizations and returns from other detectors. The material of the windows of the aircraft blocks the laser beam and any stray laser light. Also, the windows of the aircraft could be treated to block the laser beam and the laser light. Areas of ice and water on the surface indicated by the processing are visually displayed.

Claims

1. A method of detecting ice on surfaces of an aircraft, comprising the steps of:

generating a continuous wattage laser beam from a laser positioned remotely from the aircraft, the laser beam having a first wavelength absorbed by deicing fluid and a second wavelength absorbed by water and ice;

scanning a surface of the aircraft with the laser beam in a manner whereby said surface scatters said laser beam;

detecting laser light in the first and second wavelengths scattered by said surface with a detector positioned remotely from the aircraft; and

processing the detected scattered laser light to reconstruct images of said surface, thereby indicating areas of deicing fluid, ice and water on said surface.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of removing radiation outside the wavelength bands of interest prior to detection and after scanning said surface with said laser beam.

3. A method of claimed in claim 1, wherein said processing takes into consideration the directions of scanned laser beams relative to said surface, laser beam geometry factors due to changing distance between the laser beams and said surface while scanning, relative signal levels, normalizations and returns from other detector means.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of visually displaying areas of ice on said surface indicated by said processing.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said aircraft has windows and further comprising the step of providing the windows of said aircraft with material which blocks said laser beam and any stray laser light.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said aircraft has windows and further comprising the step of treating windows of said aircraft to block said laser beam and said laser light.

7. A method of detecting ice on surfaces of an aircraft having windows, said method comprising the steps of

generating a continuous wattage laser beam from a laser positioned remotely from the aircraft, the laser beam having a first wavelength absorbed by deicing fluid and a second wavelength absorbed by water and ice, the deicing fluid being selected from a group consisting of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol and polyethylene glycol;

scanning a surface of the aircraft with the laser light in a manner whereby said surface scatters said laser light;

removing radiation outside the wavelength bands of interest;

detecting laser light in said first and second wavelengths scattered from said surface with a detector positioned remotely from the aircraft;

processing the detected scattered laser light to reconstruct images of said surface, thereby indicating areas of deicing fluid, ice and water on said surface, said processing taking into consideration the directions of scanned laser beams relative to said surface, laser beam geometry factors due to changing distance between the laser beams and said surface while scanning, relative signal levels, normalizations and returns from other detector means; and

visually displaying areas of deicing fluid on said surface based on the detected first wavelength; and

visually displaying areas of ice and water on said surface based on the detected second wavelength.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising the step of treating the windows of said aircraft with material which blocks said laser light and any stray laser light.

9. A method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising the step of treating the windows of said aircraft to block said laser light.

10. An aircraft ice detecting system for detecting ice on surfaces of an aircraft, said aircraft ice detecting system comprising:

a continuous wattage laser positioned remotely from the aircraft for directing laser light to a surface of an aircraft in a manner whereby said surface scatters said laser light, said laser light having a first wavelength absorbed by deicing fluid and a second wavelength absorbed by ice and water;

a detector positioned remotely from the aircraft for detecting laser light in the first and second wavelengths scattered by said surface; and

processing means electrically connected to said detector means for reconstructing images of said surface, thereby indicating areas of deicing fluid, ice and water on said surface.

11. An aircraft ice detecting system as claimed in claim 10, further comprising scanning means interposed between said laser and said aircraft for forming laser beams and scanning said surface.

12. An aircraft ice detecting system as claimed in claim 11, further comprising wavelength filter means interposed between said aircraft and said detector means for removing radiation outside the wavelength bands of interest.

13. An aircraft ice detecting system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said processing means processes output signals of said detector means taking into consideration the directions of the scanned laser beams relative to said surface, laser beam geometry factors due to changing distance between the laser beams and said surface while scanning, relative signal levels, normalizations and returns from other detector means.

14. An aircraft ice detecting system as claimed in claim 10, further comprising visual display means electrically connected to said processing means for visually displaying areas of ice on said surface indicated by said processing means.

15. An aircraft ice detecting system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said aircraft has windows consisting of materials which blocks said laser light.