Airfoil surface multistate precipitation removal tool
First Claim
1. A tool operable with a handle for removing crusty frost, snow, slush, freezing rain, and light ice from aircraft airfoil surfaces, and for removing and polishing frost thereon without damaging said surfaces, which comprises in combination:
- a. a substantially rigid rectangular frame having a first outer edge and a second outer edge wherein said first outer edge and said second outer edge are substantially parallel to each other, and wherein said frame is bent at an obtuse angle along an inner line substantially parallel to said first outer edge and second outer edge so as to form a first rectangular region containing said first outer edge and a second rectangular region containing said second outer edge;
b. a first scraping member for removing crusty frost, snow, and light ice from said airfoil surfaces, said first scraping member being relatively stiff and having a scraping edge and a second edge parallel to thereto and opposite said scraping edge, and comprising a rectangular sheet fabricated from at least one material having a room temperature Durometer hardness value included within the range from approximately 63D to 72D, wherein said hardness value changes by less than about 10% over the temperature range from approximately 0°
to -40°
C., said material further having a room temperature Clash-Berg Modulus of Rigidity included within the range from about 13,500 to 19,000 psi, wherein said modulus changes by less than a factor of about seven (7) over the temperature range from approximately +23°
to -40°
C.;
c. means for substantially rigidly and demountably locating said first scraping member onto said first rectangular region such that said first scraping member extends outward with respect to said inner line and beyond said first outer edge;
d. a second scraping member for polishing frost on said airfoil surfaces said second scraping member being more flexible than said first scraping member and having a scraping edge and a second edge parallel thereto and opposite said scraping edge and comprising a rectangular sheet fabricated from at least one material having a room temperature Durometer hardness value included within the range from approximately 40D to 55D, wherein said hardness value changes by less than about 13% over the temperature range from approximately 0°
to -40°
C., said material further having a room temperature Clash-Berg Modulus of Rigidity included within the range from about 2100 to 8800 psi, wherein said modulus changes by less than a factor of four (4) over the temperature range from approximately +23°
to -40°
C.; and
e. means for substantially rigidly and demountably locating said second scraping member onto said second rectangular region such that said sraping member extends outward with respect to baid inner line and beyond said second outer edge.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multistate aqueous precipitation removal tool designed to remove light ice, snow, slush, and liquid water from delicate aircraft airfoil surfaces, and to polish frost thereon without harming such surfaces. Materials of appropriate hardness and flexibility over a broad range of temperatures have been located and incorporated into a scraping/polishing/squeegeeing/shoveling tool for use in the aircraft industry for preparing aircraft for take-off after precipitation has occurred. When used for snow removal, the tool head is designed so that the snow being pushed ahead of the tool weights the head thereby forcing the scraping blade in closer contact with the surface operated on. This feature improves the efficiency of the instant invention for snow and ice removal while reducing operator fatigue since little downward pressure need be applied to the tool handle.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A tool operable with a handle for removing crusty frost, snow, slush, freezing rain, and light ice from aircraft airfoil surfaces, and for removing and polishing frost thereon without damaging said surfaces, which comprises in combination:
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a. a substantially rigid rectangular frame having a first outer edge and a second outer edge wherein said first outer edge and said second outer edge are substantially parallel to each other, and wherein said frame is bent at an obtuse angle along an inner line substantially parallel to said first outer edge and second outer edge so as to form a first rectangular region containing said first outer edge and a second rectangular region containing said second outer edge; b. a first scraping member for removing crusty frost, snow, and light ice from said airfoil surfaces, said first scraping member being relatively stiff and having a scraping edge and a second edge parallel to thereto and opposite said scraping edge, and comprising a rectangular sheet fabricated from at least one material having a room temperature Durometer hardness value included within the range from approximately 63D to 72D, wherein said hardness value changes by less than about 10% over the temperature range from approximately 0°
to -40°
C., said material further having a room temperature Clash-Berg Modulus of Rigidity included within the range from about 13,500 to 19,000 psi, wherein said modulus changes by less than a factor of about seven (7) over the temperature range from approximately +23°
to -40°
C.;c. means for substantially rigidly and demountably locating said first scraping member onto said first rectangular region such that said first scraping member extends outward with respect to said inner line and beyond said first outer edge; d. a second scraping member for polishing frost on said airfoil surfaces said second scraping member being more flexible than said first scraping member and having a scraping edge and a second edge parallel thereto and opposite said scraping edge and comprising a rectangular sheet fabricated from at least one material having a room temperature Durometer hardness value included within the range from approximately 40D to 55D, wherein said hardness value changes by less than about 13% over the temperature range from approximately 0°
to -40°
C., said material further having a room temperature Clash-Berg Modulus of Rigidity included within the range from about 2100 to 8800 psi, wherein said modulus changes by less than a factor of four (4) over the temperature range from approximately +23°
to -40°
C.; ande. means for substantially rigidly and demountably locating said second scraping member onto said second rectangular region such that said sraping member extends outward with respect to baid inner line and beyond said second outer edge. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A tool operable in cooperation with a handle for removing frost, snow, slush, freezing rain, and light ice from aircraft airfoil surfaces, and for removing and polishing frost thereon without damaging these surfaces, which comprises in combination:
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a. a substantially rigid rectangular frame having a first outer edge and a second outer edge wherein said first outer edge and said second outer edge are substantially parallel to each other, and wherein said frame is bent at an obtuse angle along an inner line substantially parallel to said first outer edge and said second outer edge so as to form a first rectangular region containing said first outer edge and a second rectangular region containing said second outer edge, said first rectangular region being a relatively stiff first scraping member for removing frost, snow, and light ice from said airfoil surfaces, said first outer edge being a scraping edge of said first scraping member, said frame and said first scraping member both being fabricated from at least one material having a room temperature Durometer hardness value included in the range from approximately 63D to 72D, wherein said hardness value changes by less than about 10% over the temperature range from approximately 0°
to -40°
C., said material further having a room temperature Clash-Berg Modulus of Rigidity included in the range from about 13,500 to 19,000 psi, wherein said modulus changes by less than a factor of about seven (7) over the temperature range from approximately +23°
to -40°
C.;b. a second scraping member for polishing frost on said airfoil surfaces which is more flexible than said first scraping member, said second scraping member having a scraping edge, and comprising a rectangular sheet fabricated from at least one material having a room temperature Durometer hardness value included in the range from approximately 40D to 55D, wherein said value changes by less than about 13% over the temperature range from approximately 0°
to -40°
C., said material further having a room temperature Clash-Berg Modulus of Rigidity included in the range from about 2100 to 8800 psi, wherein said modulus changes by less than a factor of about four (4) over the temperature range from approximately +23°
to -40°
C.; andc. means for rigidly and demountably locating said second scraping member onto said second rectangular region such that said second scraping member extends outward with respect to said inner line and beyond said second outer edge. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification