Health monitoring pneumatic deicer
A monitored deicing system is disclosed. The monitored deicing system may have a pneumatic deicer and a signal wire running through the pneumatic deicer. The signal wire may break in response to a failure of the pneumatic deicer, such as a torn boot seam. A health monitor may check the continuity of the signal wire in order to provide an alert upon detecting such a failure.
1. A monitored deicing system comprising:
a pneumatic deicer; and
a signal wire array including at least one signal wire disposed through the pneumatic deicer, and positioned to lose electrical continuity in response to a failure of the pneumatic deicer.
2. The monitored deicing system according to claim 1 further comprising:
a health monitor in electrical communication with the signal array, whereby a continuity of the signal wire of the signal wire array is determined.
3. The monitored deicing system according to claim 1 , wherein the monitored deicing system is disposed along an airfoil.
4. The monitored deicing system according to claim 1 , the signal wire comprising a carbon fiber filament.
5. The monitored deicing system according to claim 1 , the signal wire comprising a nickel-chromium alloy.
6. The monitored deicing system according to claim 1 , the pneumatic deicer comprising:
a forming layer comprising an elastic fabric;
a base layer comprising an inelastic fabric disposed parallel to the forming layer and normally inward of the base layer; and
a boot seam connecting the forming layer and the base layer.
7. The monitored deicing system according to claim 6 , further comprising a covering layer disposed normally outward of the forming layer.
8. The monitored deicing system according to claim 6 , wherein the signal wire is co-located with the boot seam.
9. The monitored deicing system according to claim 6 , wherein the boot seam comprises:
a main thread extending through the forming layer; and
a bobbin thread extending through the base layer.
10. The monitored deicing system according to claim 9 , wherein the bobbin thread comprises the signal wire.
11. The monitored deicing system according to claim 9 , wherein the main thread comprises the signal wire.
12. The monitored deicing system according to claim 9 , wherein the signal wire wraps the bobbin thread.
13. The monitored deicing system according to claim 9 , wherein the signal wire wraps the main thread.
14. The monitored deicing system according to claim 6 , wherein the boot seam comprises the signal wire.