Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
350 words
Apparatus for indicating rate of ice accretion comprising test surface upon which ice forms in use, first and second gas conduits each communicating at one end with the outlet of a gas pressure regulator the inlet of which communicates with a gas supply, and the regulator having a control port whereby the regulator is supplied with a reference pressure, the regulator operating to maintain its outlet pressure at a predetermined amount in excess of the reference pressure, first and second restrictors in said first and second conduits respectively, said first and second conduits terminating at their ends remote from the regulator in first and second orifices respectively, said first orifice being adjacent, and presented to, the test surface, means sensing difference in the pressure in the first and second conduits intermediate their orifice and their restrictor respectively and supplying a signal dependent upon such pressure difference to an indicator to operate the indicator, a control conduit connecting the control port of the regulator to the second conduit at a point intermediate the second orifice and the second restrictor whereby the reference pressure for the regulator is the pressure existing in the second conduit intermediate the second restrictor and the second orifice and, means for moving the test surface relative to the first orifice at a predetermined speed, the arrangement being such that when no ice is present on the test surface then the first orifice is unrestricted, and there is no pressure difference between the first and second conduits but when ice forms on the test surface the ice obstructs the first orifice to an extent dependent upon the thickness of the ice layer on the test surface thus resulting in an increase in pressure in the first conduit downstream of the first restrictor related to the thickness of the ice layer on the test surface, the difference in pressure between the first and second conduits being sensed by the sensor, and since the pressure difference is directly related to the thickness of the ice layer on the moving test surface the indicator thus indicating the rate of ice accretion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
350 words
Apparatus for indicating rate of ice accretion comprising test surface upon which ice forms in use, first and second gas conduits each communicating at one end with the outlet of a gas pressure regulator the inlet of which communicates with a gas supply, and the regulator having a control port whereby the regulator is supplied with a reference pressure, the regulator operating to maintain its outlet pressure at a predetermined amount in excess of the reference pressure, first and second restrictors in said first and second conduits respectively, said first and second conduits terminating at their ends remote from the regulator in first and second orifices respectively, said first orifice being adjacent, and presented to, the test surface, means sensing difference in the pressure in the first and second conduits intermediate their orifice and their restrictor respectively and supplying a signal dependent upon such pressure difference to an indicator to operate the indicator, a control conduit connecting the control port of the regulator to the second conduit at a point intermediate the second orifice and the second restrictor whereby the reference pressure for the regulator is the pressure existing in the second conduit intermediate the second restrictor and the second orifice and, means for moving the test surface relative to the first orifice at a predetermined speed, the arrangement being such that when no ice is present on the test surface then the first orifice is unrestricted, and there is no pressure difference between the first and second conduits but when ice forms on the test surface the ice obstructs the first orifice to an extent dependent upon the thickness of the ice layer on the test surface thus resulting in an increase in pressure in the first conduit downstream of the first restrictor related to the thickness of the ice layer on the test surface, the difference in pressure between the first and second conduits being sensed by the sensor, and since the pressure difference is directly related to the thickness of the ice layer on the moving test surface the indicator thus indicating the rate of ice accretion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the test surface is a cylinder which is rotated at a known speed, said first orifice being adjacent to and presented to the cylindrical surface of the cylinder and the cylinder having associated therewith means for continuously removing ice from the test surface as the test surface has moved past the first orifice.