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Aerospace Products & Systems > Low Power Ice
Protection Systems
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The Cox low power de-icing system is an Electro-Mechanical
Expulsion Deicing System (EMEDS) based on the latest technology
in aircraft ice protection.
Cox Low Power Ice Protection
Systems offer an elegant and practical solution for ice protection
on a wide range of aircraft lifting surfaces, fairings, inlets
and aircraft structures where sufficient engine bleed air
or aircraft electrical power is not available.
These Cox systems also offer reliable ice protection design
alternatives to pneumatic or electrical deicing boots on leading
edges which result in reduced airfoil drag and surface erosion
characteristics while improving deicing performance and aircraft
aesthetics.
Videos:
EMEDS
In-Flight Video 1 (.mpg)
EMEDS
In-Flight Video 2 (.mpg)
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Cox EMEDS employs three line replaceable
units: an electronic Deicing Control Unit (DCU) for timing and system
control, an Energy storage Bank (ESB) to deliver high current electrical
pulses, and a Leading Edge Assembly (LEA), consisting of actuators mounted
in an airfoil-shaped structure with a metal erosion shield.
As an alternative to Cox supply of a complete Leading Edge Assembly structure,
the EMEDS can also be incorporated into existing aircraft structure with
metal or composite leading edge materials as an installation kit. Cox
engineering is available to provide consultation services for each unique
customer application to ensure the optimum installation and cost effective
approach for EMEDS to meet your ice protection system requirements.
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A microsecond duration high current electrical pulse delivered
to the actuators in carefully controlled timed sequences generates
opposing electro-magnetic fields that cause the actuators to change
shape rapidly. This change of the actuator shape is transmitted
to the erosion shield of the LEA causing it to flex and vibrate
at very high frequencies. This rapid motion results in acceleration-based
debonding of accumulated ice on the erosion shield.
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| Actuator
Before "Firing" |
Actuator After
"Firing" |
EMEDS Advantages — EMEDS offers many
advantages over pneumatic boot ice protection systems. The following table
gives comparisons of the base parameters that characterize low power ice
protection systems.
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Parameter
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EMEDS
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Pneumatic Boot
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BITE & Fault Reporting
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Included
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N/A
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Erosion Surface
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Metal
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Elastometric
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Surface Life
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Life of Aircraft
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Months to years depending on service
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Drag Increment
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No Increase
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Measurable increase
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Deice Performance
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As low as 0.050" — no upper limit
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Typically greater than 0.25"
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Weight
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Equivalent
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Baseline
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Cost
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Equivalent
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Baseline
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Power (42' span)
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25 amps @ 28VDC
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Nil
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The Cox Electro-Mechanical Explusive Deicing System (EMEDS) is the first
new ice protection technology certified for flight into known icing conditions
by the FAA in over 40 years. Currently aircraft applications include:
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Raytheon Premier I Horizontal Stabilizer
(FAA Part 23 Aircraft) — Cox Hybrid Low Power Deicing
System included an Electro-Thermal Parting Strip required to meet
FAA/JAA icing certification requirements.
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Raytheon Hawker Horizon Horizontal Stabilizer
(FAA Part 25 Aircraft) — Cox Low Power Deicing System
only required to meet FAA/JAA icing certification requirements
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