Staggered coil and nose-torquer electromagnetic pulse deicing systems

A process for removing ice from the surface skin of an airfoil, comprising the steps of:

• providing an electromagnetic pulse system within said airfoil, said system including a plurality of electromagnetic pulse generating elements and means for electrically activating said system;
• positioning said elements adjacent to and spaced from said skin in a predetermined staggered geometrical array spanwise of said airfoil, whereby upon activation of said electromagnetic pulse system, said elements are activated and a torsional wave mode deformation of said skin takes place;
• generating said torsional wave mode deformation of said skin by activating said electromagnetic pulse system;
• and
• repeating said torsional wave generating step by intermittently activating said electromagnetic pulse system until said ice is removed from said skin.

A process for removing ice from the surface skin of an airfoil having a nose portion separating an upper skin portion from a lower skin portion, said process comprising the steps of:

• providing an electromagnetic pulse system within said airfoil, said system including at least two electromagnetic pulse generating elements and means for electrically activating said elements;
• positioning respective upper and lower ones of said elements adjacent to and spaced from said upper skin portion and said lower skin portion respectively with a predetermined spacing from one another spanwise of said airfoil whereby upon the respective activation of said upper and lower elements, respective upper and lower spanwise propagating travelling waves are initiated in the respective said upper and lower skin portions;
• adjusting the timing of the activation of the upper one of said elements relative to that of the lower one such that the spanwise travelling wave in said upper skin portion causes an outwards bulge in said upper skin portion at a given spanwise location at the same time the spanwise travelling wave in said lower skin portion causes an inwards bulge in said lower skin portion at said given spanwise location;
• and maintaining the same said relative timing between elements while intermittently activating said at least two elements as required for the efficient removal of ice buildup from said skin.