초록 ▼

A propeller de-icing system ( 20 ) includes heaters ( 30, 32 ) associated with propeller blades ( 22, 24 ). A controller ( 34 ) uses ambient temperature information from a sensor ( 36 ), for example. The heaters ( 30, 32 ) preferably comprise a material having a known coefficient of resistivity. The

A propeller de-icing system ( 20 ) includes heaters ( 30, 32 ) associated with propeller blades ( 22, 24 ). A controller ( 34 ) uses ambient temperature information from a sensor ( 36 ), for example. The heaters ( 30, 32 ) preferably comprise a material having a known coefficient of resistivity. The controller ( 34 ) utilizes the coefficient of resistivity information and determines the temperature of the heaters based upon determining the resistance of the heaters. With the inventive system, the heater control is based upon the ambient temperature and a determination of the desired heater resistance corresponding to a desired heater temperature.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of de-icing a propeller blade, comprising the steps of:(A) determining an ambient temperature;(B) determining a desired heater temperature based upon the ambient temperature; and(C) powering the heater to obtain a resistance of the heater that corresponds to the desired heater temperatur

1. A method of de-icing a propeller blade, comprising the steps of:(A) determining an ambient temperature;(B) determining a desired heater temperature based upon the ambient temperature; and(C) powering the heater to obtain a resistance of the heater that corresponds to the desired heater temperature. 2. The method of claim 1, including determining the resistance of the heater by monitoring a current flowing to the heater and a voltage drop across the heater. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the heater comprises a material having a known coefficient of resistivity and using a predetermined relationship between heater resistance and temperature based upon the coefficient of resistivity. 4. The method of claim 1, including determining a desired change in heater temperature based upon the ambient temperature, determining a desired change in heater resistance corresponding to the desired change in heater temperature and monitoring the heater resistance to turn off power to the heater once the desired change has occurred. 5. The method of claim 1, including turning off power to the heater once the heater resistance corresponds to the desired heater temperature. 6. The method of claim 1, including heating a material of the propeller blade. 7. A propeller dc-icing system, comprising:a heater comprising a material having a coefficient of resistivity that provides a predetermined relationship between heater resistance and heater temperature; anda controller that determines an ambient temperature and a desired heater temperature based upon the ambient temperature, the controller using the predetermined relationship and providing power to the heater until the resistance of the heater corresponds to the desired heater temperature. 8. The system of claim 7, including a temperature sensor that gathers ambient temperature information and communicates the information to the controller. 9. The system of claim 7, wherein the heater material comprises nickel. 10. The system of claim 7, wherein the controller determines a change in heater temperature needed to reach the desired heater temperature, determines a corresponding needed change in heater resistance and monitors the heater resistance until the needed change occurs. 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the controller turns off power to the heater once the desired resistance change has occurred. 12. The system of claim 7, wherein the controller turns off power to the heater once the heater resistance corresponds to the desired heater temperature. 13. The system of claim 7, wherein the heater heats a material of a propeller. 14. A propeller assembly, comprising:a plurality of propeller blades;at least one heater associated with each of the blades, each heater comprising a material having a coefficient of resistivity that provides a predetermined relationship between heater resistance and heater temperature; anda controller that determines an ambient temperature and a desired heater temperature based upon the ambient temperature, the controller using the predetermined relationship and providing power to at least selected ones of the heaters until the resistance of the selected hearers corresponds to the desired heater temperature. 15. The system of claim 14, including a temperature sensor that gathers ambient temperature information and communicates the information to the controller. 16. The system of claim 14, wherein the heater material comprises nickel. 17. The system of claim 14, wherein the controller determines a change in heater temperature needed to reach the desired heater temperature, determines a corresponding needed change in heater resistance and monitors the heater resistance until the needed change occurs. 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the controller turns off power to the heater once the desired resistance change has occurred. 19. The system of claim 14, wherein the controller turns off power to the heater once the heater resistance corresponds to the desired hearer te mperature. 20. The system of claim 14, wherein oppositely positioned sets of the blades are grouped into zones and wherein the controller simultaneously controls power to the heaters in a selected zone. 21. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the heaters heat a material of the associated propeller blades.