Rosemount Aerospace Limited

David George Owens

Dennis J Cronin

Darren Glenn Jackson

John Albert Severson

Roger Duane Foster

John Timothy Otto

Kenneth James Schram

Patrick John Moynihan

Joseph Michael Fanska

Paul F Heine

An ice detector for an aircraft comprises a strut and probe assembly, and it is positioned on the aircraft so that the pressure field around the ice detector causes a lower temperature region on the probe assembly compared to the aircraft. Ice will therefore form on the probe assembly before it forms on the aircraft to provide an early warning of icing conditions near freezing temperatures.

Ice detector configuration for improved ice detection at near freezing conditions

An ice detector for providing a signal indicating ice formation includes a probe protruding into an airflow. The probe extends into the airflow from a strut. The strut has one or more features which allow the probe to accrete ice at a higher temperature than would conventionally be possible. Strut features can include a notch formed therein in an upwind direction relative to the probe, and a curved surface adjacent a point of extension of the probe from the strut.

Ice detector for improved ice detection at near freezing condition

A static pressure sensing probe has an aerodynamically shaped cross section, and extends laterally from an aircraft surface sufficiently so that an outer end of the probe is a short distance outside the boundary layer on the aircraft surface on which the probe is mounted. The probe has surface corrugations or ridges along the probe, and the ridges include an upstream ridge adjacent the leading edge, and a downstream ridge spaced rearwardly from the upstream ridge. The ridges cause pressure disturbances along the probe surfaces. Static pressure sensing ports are positioned on the surfaces of the probe relative to the ridges in regions of pressure disturbances caused by the ridges. The probes can be mounted on opposite sides of the aircraft and pneumatically or electrically connected to average the pressures from selected sets of ports.

Aerodynamically shaped static pressure sensing probe

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Bloomington, MN, United States of America

David George Owens