Piezoelectric deicing for probe faceplate

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025389745-A1
Application number	US-202519184640-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 21, 2025
Priority date	Jun 21, 2024
Publication date	Dec 25, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A deicing system may include a piezoelectric actuator coupled to an air data probe and configured to vibrate a surface of the air data probe, wherein a vibration of the surface of the air data probe causes a removal of ice from the surface of the air data probe. A deicing system may include a piezoelectric controller configured to control the vibration of the surface of the air data probe by the piezoelectric actuator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A deicing system comprising:
a piezoelectric actuator coupled to an air data probe and configured to vibrate a surface of the air data probe, wherein a vibration of the surface of the air data probe causes a removal of ice from the surface of the air data probe; and a piezoelectric controller configured to control the vibration of the surface of the air data probe by the piezoelectric actuator.

2 . The deicing system of claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric actuator is positioned within or upon a faceplate of the air data probe.

3 . The deicing system of claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric actuator is positioned upon an inner side of a faceplate of the air data probe.

4 . The deicing system of claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric actuator is positioned inside a groove within a faceplate of the air data probe.

5 . The deicing system of claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric actuator is activated upon a detection of ice on the air data probe.

6 . The deicing system of claim 5 , wherein the detection of ice is caused by a monitoring voltage generated by the piezoelectric actuator.

7 . The deicing system of claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric actuator is configured to vibrate at a frequency equal to or greater than 20 kHz.

8 . The deicing system of claim 1 , further including a heat element controlled by a heat element controller.

9 . The deicing system, of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a faceplate or probe body of the air data probe.

10 . The deicing system of claim 1 , wherein the air data probe comprises at least one of a pitot probe, a total air temperature probe, or an angle of attack probe.

11 . The deicing system of claim 1 , wherein the air data probe comprises a pitot probe.

12 . The deicing system of claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric controller comprises:
an input protection unit configured to receive input power from a power source and output a power output; a boost power supply unit configured to receive the power output and provide a voltage-boosted power output; and a piezoelectric driver control unit electrically coupled configured to the piezoelectric actuator and configured to receive the voltage-boosted power output and provide an actuation power to the piezoelectric actuator.

13 . The deicing system of claim 1 , wherein the air data probe comprises a probe body and a faceplate, wherein the probe body extends outward from the faceplate, wherein the piezoelectric actuator comprises one or more piezoelectric patches positioned on or within the faceplate.

14 . The deicing system of claim 13 , wherein the faceplate comprises one or more piezoelectric patches arranged in a contiguous path around the probe body.

15 . The deicing system of claim 13 , wherein the faceplate comprises one or more piezoelectric patches arranged in a discontinuous path around the probe body.

16 . The deicing system of claim 13 , wherein the faceplate comprises two sets of piezoelectric patches positioned on opposite sides of the probe body.

17 . A system comprising:
an air data probe comprising:
a faceplate:
a probe body extending outward from the faceplate; and
a piezoelectric actuator coupled to the faceplate and configured to vibrate a surface of the air data probe, wherein a vibration of the surface of the air data probe causes a removal of ice from the surface of the air data probe; and
a piezoelectric controller configured to control the vibration of the surface of the air data probe by the piezoelectric actuator.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the air data probe comprises at least one of a pitot probe, an aspirated total air temperature probe, a flush total air temperature probe, a static port, or an angle of attack probe.

19 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the piezoelectric controller comprises:
an input protection unit configured to receive input power from a power source and output a power output; a boost power supply unit configured to receive the power output and provide a voltage-boosted power output; and a piezoelectric driver control unit electrically coupled configured to the piezoelectric actuator and configured to receive the voltage-boosted power output and provide an actuation power to the piezoelectric actuator.

20 . A system for deicing a component of an air data probe comprising:
monitoring an icing status of air data probe via an icing detection system; and upon a detection of ice on the air data probe, providing actuation power to a piezoelectric actuator of a deicing system, wherein providing actuation power to the piezoelectric actuator of the deicing system causes a removal of ice from the air data probe.

Assignees

• Rosemount Aerospace Inc

Inventors

• Thangavel Sathish
• Selvaraj Sugumaran
• Seidel Greg

Classifications

• G01P5/00

  Measuring speed of fluids, e.g. of air stream; Measuring speed of bodies relative to fluids, e.g. of ship, of aircraft (application of speed-measuring devices for measuring volume of fluid G01F) · CPC title

• G01P1/00 Primary

  Details of instruments · CPC title

• B64D15/12

  by electric heating (heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas H05B3/84) · CPC title

• G01P13/025

  indicating air data, i.e. flight variables of an aircraft, e.g. angle of attack, side slip, shear, yaw · CPC title

• G01P5/165 Primary

  Arrangements or constructions of Pitot tubes · CPC title