Nose-torquer electro-impulse deicing systems

Claim 1

A deicing system for deicing the surface skin of an airfoil, said airfoil including a leading edge portion having upper and lower surfaces terminating at a leading edge, said system comprising a nose-torquer mechanism secured to said leading edge for generating a deflection wave mode deformation in said skin which involves torsion of said leading edge and unsymmetrical bulging of said upper and lower surfaces, said nose-torquer mechanism comprising: a first cantilever arm having a first end attached to said leading edge at a first spanwise location; a first pulse generating element attached to a second end of said first cantilever arm, said first cantilever arm extending from said leading edge to an interior region of said airfoil intermediate said upper and lower surfaces; a second cantilever arm secured at a second spanwise location along said airfoil leading edge; a second pulse generating element arranged in close proximity to said first pulse generating element, said second pulse generating element being secured to said second cantilever arm; and a third cantilever arm secured at one end to said second pulse generating element and secured at its other end to said leading edge at a third spanwise location said first spanwise location being intermediate said second and third spanwise locations.