Method and apparatus for acoustic plate mode liquid-solid phase transition detection

Patent · 01 January 1993

OSTI ID:868668

Blair, Dianna S ^[1]; Freye, Gregory C ^[2]; Hughes, Robert C ^[1]; Martin, Stephen J ^[1]; Ricco, Antonio J ^[1]

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1. Albuquerque, NM
2. Cedar Crest, NM

A method and apparatus for sensing a liquid-solid phase transition event is provided which comprises an acoustic plate mode detecting element placed in contact with a liquid or solid material which generates a high-frequency acoustic wave that is attenuated to an extent based on the physical state of the material is contact with the detecting element. The attenuation caused by the material in contact with the acoustic plate mode detecting element is used to determine the physical state of the material being detected. The method and device are particularly suited for detecting conditions such as the icing and deicing of wings of an aircraft. In another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided wherein the adhesion of a solid material to the detecting element can be measured using the apparatus of the invention.

• Research Organization: AT & T CORP
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 5187980
• OSTI ID: 868668
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/73/340/
acoustic
acoustic plate
acoustic wave
adhesion
aircraft
apparatus
aspect
attenuated
attenuation
attenuation caused
based
caused
comprises
conditions
contact
deicing
detected
detecting
detecting element
detection
determine
device
element
element placed
event
extent
frequency acoustic
generates
high-frequency
icing
liquid
liquid-solid
liquid-solid phase
material
measured
method
mode
particularly
particularly suited
phase
phase transition
physical
placed
plate
plate mode
provided
sensing
solid
solid material
solid phase
suited
transition
wave
wings