초록 ▼

An ice protection system (40) comprising electrothermal devices (41-44) having zones (41P-44P, 41L-44L, 41S-44S, 41T-44T) associated with respective surface regions of rotor blades. Each zone involves electric load (R) which converts supplied electrical power from one phase of a three-phase power sy

An ice protection system (40) comprising electrothermal devices (41-44) having zones (41P-44P, 41L-44L, 41S-44S, 41T-44T) associated with respective surface regions of rotor blades. Each zone involves electric load (R) which converts supplied electrical power from one phase of a three-phase power system into heat. The combined load of the A-phase zones, the combined load of the B-phase zones, and the combined load of the C-phase zones are approximately equal.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An ice protection system for a constitution of related ice-susceptible components, said ice protection system comprising a plurality of electrothermal devices for each component and a connector device; each electrothermal device of the plurality of electrothermal devices having zones correspondin

1. An ice protection system for a constitution of related ice-susceptible components, said ice protection system comprising a plurality of electrothermal devices for each component and a connector device; each electrothermal device of the plurality of electrothermal devices having zones corresponding to respective surface regions on the ice-susceptible components;the connector device including an A-phase connector for electrical connection to the A-phase of a three-phase power system, a B-phase connector for electrical connection to the B-phase of the three-phase power system, and a C-phase connector for electrical connection to the C-phase of the three-phase power system;the each electrothermal device being electrically connected to two but not three of the connectors; the zones including A-phase zones whereat electrical power is supplied through the A-phase connector, B-phase zones whereat electrical power is supplied through the B-phase connector and C-phase zones whereat electrical power is supplied through the C-phase connector;wherein the A-phase connector supplies electrical power sequentially to each of the electrothermal devices, the electrical power heating at least two zones in the electrothermal devices;each zone involving an electric load which converts supplied electrical power into heat in such a manner that ice-removal is synchronized among the components; andthe combined load of the A-phase zones, the combined load of the B-phase zones, and the combined load of the C-phase zones being approximately equal so as to insure phase-to-phase load balance. 2. An ice protection system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the number of electrothermal devices is not a multiple of three. 3. An ice protection system as set forth in claim 1, comprising four electrothermal devices. 4. An ice protection system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the electrical loads provided by heating elements wherein resistance is created by a strip of conductive material having a pattern holes arranged so that an electrical path must twist and turn around holes, with no straight line corridor to follow; wherein same-phase zones in each electrothermal device are formed from the same sheet of conductive material; andwherein the sheet of conductive material comprises a junction strip for each zone and a junction strip spanning the two zones. 5. A constitution of related ice-susceptible components and an ice protection system set forth in claim 1, wherein the electrothermal devices are installed on the components so that the zones of the electrothermal devices correspond to respective surface regions on the ice-susceptible components. 6. An ice protection system as set forth in claim 1, and a three-phase AC power system, wherein the A-phase connector of the ice protection system is connected to an A-phase line of the power system, the B-phase connector of the ice protection system is connected to the B-phase line of the power system, and the C-phase connector of the ice protection system is connected the C-phase line of the power system. 7. An aircraft comprising a fuselage, a constitution of related ice-susceptible components, an ice protection system as set forth in claim 1, and a three-phase electrical power system; wherein the electrothermal devices are installed on the components so that the zones of the electrothermal devices correspond to respective surface regions on the ice-susceptible components;wherein the A-phase connector of the ice protection system is connected to an A-phase line of the power system, the B-phase connector of the ice protection system is connected to the B-phase line of the power system, and the C-phase connector of the ice protection system is connected the C-phase line of the power system; andwherein the A-phase connector supplies electrical power sequentially to each of the electrothermal devices, the electrical power heating at least two zones in the electrothermal devices. 8. An ice protection system as set forth in claim 1, wherein zones in each of the electrothermal devices receive electric power through a first one of the connectors. 9. An ice protection system as set forth in claim 8, wherein trailing zones and/or pressure zones in each of the electrothermal devices receive electric power through the first one of the connectors. 10. An ice protection system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the zones receive electric power through the first one of the connectors are connected in series. 11. An ice protection system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the zones of each the electrothermal devices connected to the first one of the connectors are arranged around an axis of rotation of the constitution. 12. An ice protection system as set forth in claim 8, wherein zones of two of the electrothermal devices receive electric power through a second one of the connectors. 13. An ice protection system as set forth in claim 12, wherein the zones of the two electrothermal devices receiving electric power through the second one of the connectors include leading-edge zones and/or suction zones. 14. An ice protection system as set forth in claim 12, wherein the zones of the two electrothermal devices receiving electric power through the second one of the connectors are situated across from each other relative to an axis of rotation of the constitution. 15. An ice protection system as set forth in claim 12, wherein zones of two other electrothermal devices receive electric power from a third one of the connectors. 16. An ice protection system as set forth in claim 15, wherein the zones of the two electrothermal devices receiving power from through the third one of the connectors include leading-edge zones and/or suction zones. 17. An ice protection system as set forth in claim 15, wherein the zones of the two electrothermal devices receiving power from through the third one of the connectors are connected in series. 18. An ice protection system as set forth in claim 15, wherein the zones of the two electrothermal devices receiving power from through the third one of the connectors are situated across from each other relative to an axis of rotation of the constitution. 19. An ice protection system as set forth in claim 15, wherein trailing zones and/or pressure zones in each of the electrothermal devices receive electric power through the first one of the connectors; wherein leading-edge zones and suction zones receive electric power through the second one of the connectors; and wherein leading-edge zones and suction zones receive electric power through the third one of the connectors. 20. An ice protection system as set forth in claim 19, wherein the zones of each the electrothermal devices connected to the first one of the connectors are arranged around an axis of rotation of the constitution; wherein the zones of the two electrothermal devices receiving electric power through the second one of the connectors are situated across from each other relative to the axis of rotation of the constitution; andwherein the zones of the two electrothermal devices receiving power from through the third one of the connectors are situated across from each other relative to the axis of rotation of the constitution.