초록 ▼

The present invention pertains to an ice detector particularly adapted to detect the presence of water droplets capable of forming supercooled large droplet ("SLD") icing on aircraft surfaces. The invention takes advantage of boundary layer flow patterns adjacent to the detector, and their effect on

The present invention pertains to an ice detector particularly adapted to detect the presence of water droplets capable of forming supercooled large droplet ("SLD") icing on aircraft surfaces. The invention takes advantage of boundary layer flow patterns adjacent to the detector, and their effect on water droplets, to provide a signal indicative of SLD icing conditions when they exist. The detector is also capable of distinguishing between the presence of water droplets that cause traditional cloud icing and SLD icing.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. An ice detector for use in an environment containing supercooled water droplets having a flow direction, and for distinguishing between the presence of a first population of water droplets indicative of a first icing condition and a second population of water droplets i

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. An ice detector for use in an environment containing supercooled water droplets having a flow direction, and for distinguishing between the presence of a first population of water droplets indicative of a first icing condition and a second population of water droplets indicative of a second icing condition different from the first condition, comprising:(a) a sensor for providing a signal indicating the formation of ice thereon, and(b) a housing for supporting the sensor and including means for modifying the flow direction of water droplets flowing past the housing such that the first population of droplets are more likely to strike and form ice on the sensor and the second population of droplets are less likely to strike and form ice on the sensor.