Brush design for propeller deicing system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9970300-B2
Application number	US-201314053155-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 14, 2013
Priority date	Oct 14, 2013
Publication date	May 15, 2018
Grant date	May 15, 2018

Abstract

A propeller assembly is provided including a plurality of blades arranged in diametrically opposed pairs. Each of the plurality of blades has an electrical deicer located thereon. The propeller assembly also includes a slip ring, and a stationary brush arranged in contact with the slip ring. The brush is configured to transfer electrical power from a power source to the slip ring. A movable portion of an actuator is configured to sequentially couple the electrical deicers of each pair of blades to the rotating slip ring.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A propeller assembly comprising:
a plurality of blades arranged in diametrically opposed pairs, each of the plurality of blades having an electrical deicer located thereon;
a rotating slip ring;
a stationary brush arranged in contact with the slip ring;
a power source operably connected to the stationary brush such that electrical power is transferred from the power source to the slip ring through the stationary brush, and the electrical power is transferred from the slip ring to the electrical deicer; and
an actuator having a movable portion configured to sequentially couple the electrical deicers of each pair of blades to the rotating slip ring.

2. The propeller assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator is configured to couple the electrical deicers of only a single pair of blades to the rotating slip ring at any given time.

3. The propeller assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the electrical deicers of each pair of blades are coupled to the slip ring by a relay.

4. The propeller assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the relay includes an armature movable between a first position and a second position, the armature being biased into the first position.

5. The propeller assembly according to claim 4 , wherein when the armature is in the first position, power is not supplied form the slip ring to the electrical deicers of a pair of blades, and when the armature is in the second position, power is supplied from the slip ring to the electrical deicers of a pair of blades.

6. The propeller assembly according to claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of relays are arranged generally linearly.

7. The propeller assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the movable portion of the actuator includes a shaft coupled to a piston, the shaft including a cam surface configured to contact the armature of at least one relay.

8. The propeller assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the piston is arranged within the actuator, and the movable portion of the actuator is configured to move in and out of contact with each of the plurality of relays in response to a change in fluid pressure within the actuator.

9. The propeller assembly according to claim 8 , further comprising:
a valve assembly in fluid communication with the actuator; and
a fluid supply assembly in fluid communication with the valve assembly, the fluid supply assembly including a valve control mechanism isolated from the valve assembly.

10. The propeller assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the valve control mechanism is configured to provide a variable hydraulic pressure control signal to the valve assembly, and the valve assembly is configured to transfer the fluid to the actuator as a function of the variable hydraulic pressure control signal.

11. The propeller assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the valve control mechanism is an electro-hydraulic servo valve.

12. The propeller assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the fluid supply assembly further comprises:
an electrical supply; and
a controller for providing an input current, the input current being proportional to the variable hydraulic pressure control signal.

13. A method of sequentially supplying power to electrical deicers for each pair of blades of a propeller assembly comprising:
moving a movable portion of an actuator into contact with a first relay coupled to the electrical deicers of a first pair of blades;
transferring electrical power from a power source to a stationary brush, from the stationary brush to a rotating slip ring in contact with the stationary brush, and from the rotating slip ring to the electrical deicers of the first pair of blades; and
moving the movable portion of the actuator into contact with a second relay coupled to the electrical deicers of a second pair of blades.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the movable portion of the actuator moves in response to a change in fluid pressure within the actuator.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the fluid pressure in the actuator changes in response to a hydraulic pressure control signal generated by a valve control mechanism.

Assignees

• Hamilton Sundstrand Corp

Inventors

• Perkinson Robert H

Classifications

• B64C11/20 Primary

  Constructional features · CPC title

• B64D15/12

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

• F01D5/12 Primary

  Blades ({specially adapted for radial flow machines or engines F01D5/04}; blade roots F01D5/30; rotors with blades adjustable in operation F01D7/00; stator blades F01D9/02) · CPC title