Fan icing detection system
US11702939B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 23, 2021 |
| Grant date | Jul 18, 2023 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 23, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T50/60
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A turbofan engine has a fan drivingly engaged by a shaft for rotation about a rotation axis and having: fan blades circumferentially distributed about the rotation axis and drivingly engaged by the shaft; an ice-accruing feature located on a surface of the fan exposed to an air flow flowing between the fan blades, the ice-accruing feature having a shape providing a non-axisymmetric ice accumulation on the fan to create a rotational imbalance; a balancing feature secured to the fan or to the shaft to counteract the ice-accruing feature such that the fan is rotationally balanced when the fan is free of ice, the balancing feature being located such as to be outside the air flow; an aircraft controller; and a sensor operatively connected to the fan and operable to send a signal to the aircraft controller, the signal indicative of the rotational imbalance caused by the ice-accruing feature.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.