Intertechnique

Francois Larue

Bruno Thillays

Jerome Bisson

Nicolas Picco

Philippe Portier

According to the invention, the method comprises exposing a surface () sensitive to relative wind and monitoring the thermal flow variations between the surface () and the aerodynamic flow, said variations resulting from that of the forced-convection thermal exchange coefficient between the surface () and the aerodynamic flow depending on the rime or ice build-up, using the temperature sensor () under the surface (), considering that stripping occurs by the flow of an ice layer formed on the surface () if it is detected, preferably after heating by at least one heater (), that there is a brisk rise of the flow at a temperature close to 0&#xb0; C., and supplying after the detection of ice stripping, a signal indicating the presence of rime or rime conditions. A cooler () may cool the surface () for anticipating the formation of ice with a heating process. The invention can be used for detecting rime and/or rime conditions on a flying aircraft.

Method and device for detecting rime and/or rime conditions on a flying aircraft

A method and an apparatus for detecting and identifying a contaminant, such as ice, on the surface of a structure, such as a wing, are disclosed. The apparatus has a probe having a delay block with an interface apt to be placed flush with the surface of the structure and two faces at the same angle of inclination relative to the interface and having transmission and reception transducers each oriented perpendicularly to one of the faces. The block has an acoustic impedance lying in the range of 0.7 to 3.times.10.sup.6 kg/m.sup.2.s. It further has an energization and analysis unit for applying an electrical energization pulse to the transmission transducer and comparing the amplitude and the phase of the echo from the interface with a reference echo corresponding to no contamination.

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Neauphle le Chateau, France

Francois Larue