Patent ID: 8827207
Filing Date: 2014-09-09
Classification: B64D

Abstract:
1. An ice protection system for a constitution of related ice-susceptible components, said ice protection system comprising a plurality of electrothermal devices for each component and a connector device; each electrothermal device of the plurality of electrothermal devices having zones corresponding to respective surface regions on the ice-susceptible components; the connector device including an A-phase connector for electrical connection to the A-phase of a three-phase power system, a B-phase connector for electrical connection to the B-phase of the three-phase power system, and a C-phase connector for electrical connection to the C-phase of the three-phase power system; the each electrothermal device being electrically connected to two but not three of the connectors; the zones including A-phase zones whereat electrical power is supplied through the A-phase connector, B-phase zones whereat electrical power is supplied through the B-phase connector and C-phase zones whereat electrical power is supplied through the C-phase connector; wherein the A-phase connector supplies electrical power sequentially to each of the electrothermal devices, the electrical power heating at least two zones in the electrothermal devices; each zone involving an electric load which converts supplied electrical power into heat in such a manner that ice-removal is synchronized among the components; and the combined load of the A-phase zones, the combined load of the B-phase zones, and the combined load of the C-phase zones being approximately equal so as to insure phase-to-phase load balance.