Airfoil deicing system
AssigneeRaytheon Technologies Corporation
InventorGary D. Roberge
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gas turbine engine includes an airfoil and a deicing system. The airfoil radially extends from a hub towards a case disposed about a central longitudinal axis of the gas turbine engine. The deicing system includes an acoustic driver assembly arranged to apply acoustic energy to the airfoil to excite a predetermined vibratory mode of the airfoil.
Claims19
A deicing system for a gas turbine engine, comprising:
- an acoustic driver that is arranged to apply acoustic energy to an airfoil to excite a predetermined vibratory mode of the airfoil, the acoustic driver being spaced apart from the airfoil and secured to an engine structure.
A deicing system for a gas turbine engine having a central longitudinal axis, the deicing system comprising:
- an acoustic driver that is arranged to apply acoustic energy to an airfoil to excite a predetermined vibratory mode of the airfoil, the acoustic driver being spaced apart from the airfoil;
- and
- a vibration sensor arranged to provide a signal indicative of a vibratory signature of the airfoil, the vibration sensor being disposed on a case of the gas turbine engine that is disposed about the airfoil.
A deicing system for a gas turbine engine having a central longitudinal axis, the deicing system comprising:
- an acoustic driver that is arranged to apply acoustic energy to an airfoil to excite a predetermined vibratory mode of the airfoil, the acoustic driver being spaced apart from the airfoil;
- and
- an ice detection sensor disposed on at least one of a case and an engine structure, the ice detection sensor arranged to provide a signal indicative of ice formation on the airfoil.
A deicing system for a gas turbine engine having a central longitudinal axis, the deicing system comprising:
- an acoustic driver that is arranged to apply acoustic energy to an airfoil to excite a predetermined vibratory mode of the airfoil, the acoustic driver being spaced apart from the airfoil;
- and
- a controller in communication with the acoustic driver, wherein the controller is programmed to, responsive to a request to de-ice the airfoil, command the acoustic driver to apply acoustic energy to the airfoil.
A gas turbine engine, comprising:
- an airfoil radially extending from a hub towards a case disposed about a central longitudinal axis of the gas turbine engine;
- and
- a deicing system, comprising:
- an acoustic driver assembly arranged to apply acoustic energy to the airfoil to excite a predetermined vibratory mode of the airfoil.
A method of deicing an airfoil of a gas turbine engine, comprising:
- applying acoustic energy to an airfoil via an acoustic driver that is spaced apart from the airfoil, wherein the acoustic energy excites a predetermined vibratory mode of the airfoil, wherein the acoustic energy is applied to the airfoil in response to a vibratory signature of the airfoil that is greater than a threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.