Self-contained apparatus for de-icing aircraft surfaces using magnetic pulse energy

Claim 1

An electromagnetic de-icing system particularly useful for aircraft, comprising: a plurality of individual, self-contained electromagnetic de-icing modules, connected in parallel, each de-icing module in turn comprising: an actuator coil positioned in close proximity to an interior side of an aircraft surface to be de-iced, such as a leading edge of a wing of an aircraft, the actuator coil having a surface configuration which is substantially the same as the shape of the aircraft surface to be de-iced; a power supply associated with said actuator coil, located in the immediate vicinity of and in a modular relationship with said actuator coil, each power supply in turn comprising: a source of stored charge defining a selected voltage, said stored charge being sufficient to produce a current pulse through said actuator coil when said source of stored charge is connected thereto, means responsive to the aircraft supply voltage for charging the source of stored charge, and control means for selectively connecting the source of stored charge to the actuator coil, thereby producing a current pulse in the actuator coil which produces a magnetic force which is large enough, when induced in the aircraft surface, to de-bond ice therefrom.