Staggered coil and nose-torquer electromagnetic pulse deicing systems

The invention is a staggered-coil and nose-torquer electromagnetic pulse deicing system and process for deicing airfoil surfaces. A plurality of upper and lower electromagnetic impulse coils (18) and (20) are arranged in a staggered geometrical array spanwise of an airfoil or wing (22). The upper coils (18) are arranged adjacent to and spaced from the upper wing skin surface (24) while the lower coils (20) are arranged adjacent to and spaced from the lower wing skin surface (26) so that when the coils are activated a torsional wave mode deformation of the skin (14) occurs. In another embodiment, a deflection wave mode deformation is generated in the skin (14) by activation of two electro-magnetic coils (42). In yet another embodiment, torsional movement of a blade mass balance element (64) in a helicopter blade brings about a twisting of the upper and lower skin surfaces (24) and (26) of the blade (60) to produce a torsional travelling deformation wave in the skin.