IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,703,489
Granted Patent B2
US 12,703,489 · App. 18/444,655 · Granted Aug 11, 2026

Integration of an ice protection system and an ice detector into a single line replaceable unit

Inventors: Matthew Hamman (Fairview Park, OH); Galdemir Botura (Copley, OH); Rohan Chabukswar (Cork, IE); El Hassan Ridouane (County Cork, IE); Giancarlo Gelao (Cork, IE)
Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
B64D15/12B64D15/20G01V3/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,703,489
App. No.
18/444,655
Granted
Aug 11, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An integrated ice detector and ice protection system is provided. The integrated ice detector and ice protection system includes an electric resistance heater element layer, a sensing element, and at least one second electrically insulative layer positioned between the electric resistance heater element layer and the at least one first electrically insulative layer with the sensing element. The sensing element is disposed in at least one first electrically insulative layer and wherein the sensing element is positioned outward from the electric resistance heater element layer.

Claims (42)

1 . An integrated ice detector and ice protection system, comprising:

an electric resistance heater element layer;

at least one first electrically insulative layer, wherein the at least one first electrically insulative layer is positioned outward from the electric resistance heater element layer;

a sensing element, wherein the sensing element is embedded within at least one first electrically insulative layer;

at least one second electrically insulative layer positioned between the electric resistance heater element layer and the at least one first electrically insulative layer with the sensing element, thereby providing electrical insulation between the electric resistance heater element layer and the sensing element; and

at least one first protective layer positioned outward from the at least one first electrically insulative layer with the sensing element such that the at least one first electrically insulative layer with the sensing element is between the at least one first protective layer and the at least one second electrically insulative layer.

2 . The integrated ice detector and ice protection system of claim 1 , wherein the electric resistance heater element layer comprises at least one of a metallic or a carbon nanotube electric resistance heater element.

3 . The integrated ice detector and ice protection system of claim 1 , wherein the sensing element comprises:

one or more sensors; and

a metallic or a carbon nanotube electric resistance heater element.

4 . The integrated ice detector and ice protection system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first electrically insulative layer and the at least one second electrically insulative layer are at least one of a composite layer, a dielectric layer, or a combination thereof.

5 . The integrated ice detector and ice protection system of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one third electrically insulative layer positioned between the at least one first electrically insulative layer and the at least one first protective layer, wherein the at least one third electrically insulative layer is at least one of a composite layer, a dielectric layer, or a combination thereof.

6 . The integrated ice detector and ice protection system of claim 5 , wherein the at least one first protective layer is positioned outward from the at least one third electrically insulative layer, wherein the at least one first protective layer is at least one of a composite layer, a dielectric layer, a metallic layer, or a combination thereof.

7 . The integrated ice detector and ice protection system of claim 5 , further comprising:

at least one fourth electrically insulative layer positioned inward from the electric resistance heater element layer, wherein the at least one fourth electrically insulative layer is at least one of a composite layer, a dielectric layer, or a combination thereof.

8 . The integrated ice detector and ice protection system of claim 7 , further comprising:

at least one second protective layer positioned inward from the at least one fourth electrically insulative layer, wherein the at least one second protective layer is at least one of a composite layer, a dielectric layer, a metallic layer, or a combination thereof.

9 . The integrated ice detector and ice protection system of claim 1 , wherein the sensing element is embedded within a recess formed by the at least one first electrically insulative layer.

10 . The integrated ice detector and ice protection system of claim 1 , wherein the integrated ice detector and ice protection system is a line replaceable unit.

11 . An aircraft, comprising:

an aircraft structure; and

an integrated ice detector and ice protection system, wherein the integrated ice detector and ice protection system comprises:

an electric resistance heater element layer;

at least one first electrically insulative layer, wherein the at least one first electrically insulative layer is positioned outward from the electric resistance heater element layer;

a sensing element, wherein the sensing element is embedded within at least one first electrically insulative layer;

at least one second electrically insulative layer positioned between the electric resistance heater element layer and the at least one first electrically insulative layer with the sensing element, thereby providing electrical insulation between the electric resistance heater element layer and the sensing element; and

at least one first protective layer positioned outward from the at least one first electrically insulative layer with the sensing element such that the at least one first electrically insulative layer with the sensing element is between the at least one first protective layer and the at least one second electrically insulative layer.

12 . The aircraft of claim 11 , wherein the electric resistance heater element layer comprises at least one of a metallic or a carbon nanotube electric resistance heater element.

13 . The aircraft of claim 11 , wherein the sensing element comprises:

one or more sensors; and

a metallic or a carbon nanotube electric resistance heater element.

14 . The aircraft of claim 11 , wherein the at least one first electrically insulative layer and the at least one second electrically insulative layer are at least one of a composite layer, a dielectric layer, or a combination thereof.

15 . The aircraft of claim 11 , wherein the integrated ice detector and ice protection system further comprises:

at least one third electrically insulative layer positioned between the at least one first electrically insulative layer and the at least one first protective layer, wherein the at least one third electrically insulative layer is at least one of a composite layer, a dielectric layer, or a combination thereof.

16 . The aircraft of claim 15 , wherein the integrated ice detector and ice protection system wherein the at least one first protective layer is positioned outward from the at least one third electrically insulative layer, wherein the at least one first protective layer is at least one of a composite layer, a dielectric layer, a metallic layer, or a combination thereof.

17 . The aircraft of claim 15 , wherein the integrated ice detector and ice protection system further comprises:

at least one fourth electrically insulative layer positioned inward from the electric resistance heater element layer, wherein the at least one fourth electrically insulative layer is at least one of a composite layer, a dielectric layer, or a combination thereof.

18 . The aircraft of claim 17 , wherein the integrated ice detector and ice protection system further comprises:

at least one second protective layer positioned inward from the at least one fourth electrically insulative layer, wherein the at least one second protective layer is at least one of a composite layer, a dielectric layer, a metallic layer, or a combination thereof.

19 . The aircraft of claim 11 , wherein the sensing element is embedded within a recess formed by the at least one first electrically insulative layer.

20 . The aircraft of claim 11 , wherein the integrated ice detector and ice protection system is a line replaceable unit.