Membrane type non-intrusive ice detector
US4611492A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 3, 1984 |
| Grant date | Sep 16, 1986 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 3, 2004 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2291/0251
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An ice detector of the vibrating element type comprises a tube that vibrates along its longitudinal axis, and is driven by an excitation coil at the natural frequency of the tube is sealed by a diaphragm which has a surface exposed to an air stream in which icing is to be sensed. The exposed diaphragm surface is deflectable during vibration of the tube at a flexible support portion of the diaphragm. As ice accumulates on the exposed surface of the flexible support the spring rate or flexibility of the flexible support changes, thereby changing the natural frequency of the vibration of the tube section. The changes in the natural frequency are sensed to determine that ice is accumulating. The diaphragm is of low mass, and small so that stiffness of small amounts of ice significantly changes the spring constant of the flexible support and the diaphragm is shaped to conform to adjacent aerodynamic surfaces.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.