Optical Tip Timing Sensor for Blade Tip Deicing Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing jet turbine engine systems do not effectively heat blade tips to prevent ice accumulation, which can cause imbalance and vibration issues.

Innovation Solution

An optical tip timing sensor is used to detect icing conditions on blade tips and switch to a deicing mode, increasing power to heat the tips and prevent ice formation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing deicing systems are used to heat fan blades, then ice accumulation is prevented, but blade tips remain unheated and vulnerable to ice accumulation causing imbalance and vibration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblade tip deicing effectivenessVSAvoidice accumulation on blade tips

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The optical sensor is configured to selectively heat the blade tip region rather than the entire blade. The sensor targets and concentrates optical energy specifically at the blade tip where ice accumulation causes the most harm, while leaving other blade regions unaffected. This localized heating approach directly addresses the technical contradiction by protecting the vulnerable blade tip area without requiring system-wide heating.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

An optical sensor serves as an intermediary device that detects ice accumulation conditions on the blade tip and converts optical energy into thermal energy to heat the blade tip. The sensor acts as a mediator between the detection system and the heating function, transforming one form of energy into another to solve the deicing problem directly at the blade tip.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If optical sensor power is increased for deicing mode, then blade tips are heated to prevent ice, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblade tip deicing effectivenessVSAvoidoptical sensor power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The optical sensor alternates between a low-power first operating mode (detection mode) and a high-power second operating mode (deicing mode). The controller monitors blade tip conditions and only activates the high-power heating function when ice accumulation is detected or conditions are favorable for ice formation. This periodic switching resolves the contradiction by minimizing energy consumption during normal operation while providing effective heating only when necessary.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The optical sensor's power output is dynamically adjusted based on operating conditions. The sensor operates at low power during normal detection and switches to high power only when deicing is required. This dynamic power management allows the system to maintain reliability for blade tip protection while optimizing energy consumption by avoiding continuous high-power operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If optical sensor operates continuously in high power mode, then blade tips are continuously heated preventing ice, but unnecessary energy is wasted when icing conditions are not present

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous blade tip protectionVSAvoidexcessive power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The controller uses feedback from the optical sensor's detection of blade tip conditions to determine when to activate high-power heating mode. The system continuously monitors for ice accumulation indicators and only consumes high power when the feedback indicates icing conditions are present or imminent, thereby avoiding unnecessary energy waste during continuous operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Effectively prevents ice accumulation on blade tips by detecting icing conditions and applying controlled heating, thereby reducing imbalance and vibration issues.

Implementation Method 1

control the optical sensor to operate in a deicing mode to increase power of the optical sensor and heat the tip of the blade

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical heating: Light

Data Source

PatentEP4675086A1Optical tip timing sensor used for blade-tip deicing

Publication Date: 2026.01.07 RTX CORP

Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B~2E

AI summary

An apparatus includes an optical sensor (200) and at least one controller (204) operably coupled to the optical sensor (200). The optical sensor (200) is configured to detect a time of arrival (TOA) of a blade (110) while operating in a TOA mode. The at least one controller (204) is configured to determine that conditions on a tip of the blade (110) are subject to icing while the optical sensor (200) is operating in the TOA mode. The at least one controller (204) is also configured to control the optical sensor (200) to operate in a deicing mode to increase power of the optical sensor (200) and heat the tip of the blade (110).