Beam balancer electro-impulse deicing systems

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. Torsion of the mass balance element (64) is accomplished through electrical activation and interaction of an upper coil (63) and a lower coil (62). The lower coil (62) is attached to the balance bar (64) via a cantilevered lever (66) while the upper coil (63) is attached to the balance bar (64) at two spanwise locations via a beam structure (68). The coils (62, 63), when electrically activated, cause torsion to be introduced into the mass balance element (64).