System and method for probe heater health indication

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9927480-B2
Application number	US-201414534756-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 6, 2014
Priority date	Nov 6, 2014
Publication date	Mar 27, 2018
Grant date	Mar 27, 2018

Abstract

A multi-function probe wire de-icing apparatus is described. The multi-function probe wire de-icing apparatus may include a multi-function probe wire, a main heater wire collocated with the multi-function probe wire, and a sacrificial wire deposed adjacent to the main heater wire. The sacrificial wire is configured to fail prior to the main heater wire failing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for determining a main heater wire lifespan comprising:
a portion of a channel;
a main heater wire disposed within the portion of the channel; and
a sacrificial wire disposed within the portion of the channel, comprising a same material as the main heater wire, and having a smaller diameter than the main heater wire, wherein the sacrificial wire is configured to have a cessation of current flow prior to the main heater wire having a cessation of current flow.

2. The system for determining main heater wire lifespan of claim 1 , wherein the main heater wire is collocated within a multi-function probe wire.

3. The system for determining main heater wire lifespan of claim 1 , wherein the main heater wire and the sacrificial wire are shrouded within a length of dielectric material.

4. The system for determining main heater wire lifespan of claim 1 , wherein the main heater wire is shrouded within a first length of dielectric material; and wherein the sacrificial wire is shrouded within a second length of dielectric material.

5. The system for determining main heater wire lifespan of claim 1 , wherein the sacrificial wire having a cessation of current flow indicates replacement of the main heater wire should occur within a predetermined number of operational cycles.

6. The system for determining main heater wire lifespan of claim 1 , wherein the sacrificial wire is configured to have a cessation of current flow in response to a threshold associated with a desired parameter being exceeded.

7. The system for determining main heater wire lifespan of claim 1 , wherein the main heater wire is determined to have a cessation of current flow in a predetermined number of operating cycles in response to a condition that caused the sacrificial wire to have a cessation of current flow.

8. The system for determining main heater wire lifespan of claim 1 , wherein the sacrificial wire having a cessation of current flow indicates the main heater may have a cessation of current flow within a predetermined threshold of time.

9. The system for determining main heater wire lifespan of claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to monitor an operational condition of the sacrificial wire.

10. The system for determining main heater wire lifespan of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the sacrificial wire or the main heater wire are braised to a multi-function probe wire.

11. A multi-function probe wire de-icing apparatus comprising:
a multi-function probe wire;
a main heater wire collocated with the multi-function probe wire; and
a sacrificial wire deposed adjacent to the main heater wire, comprising a same material as the main heater wire, and having a smaller diameter than the main heater wire, wherein the sacrificial wire is configured to have a cessation of current flow prior to the main heater wire having a cessation of current flow.

12. The multi-function probe wire de-icing apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the main heater wire and the sacrificial wire are shrouded within a length of dielectric material.

13. The multi-function probe wire de-icing apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the main heater wire is shrouded within a first length of dielectric material; and wherein the sacrificial wire is shrouded within a second length of dielectric material.

Assignees

• Rosemount Aerospace Inc

Inventors

• Nesnidal Michael Paul

Classifications

• H05B1/0227 Primary

  Applications · CPC title

• G01R31/58 Primary

  Testing of lines, cables or conductors (testing of electric windings G01R31/72) · CPC title

• H05B2203/014

  Heaters using resistive wires or cables not provided for in H05B3/54 · CPC title

• H05B3/56

  Heating cables · CPC title

• H05B2214/02

  Heaters specially designed for de-icing or protection against icing · CPC title