Thermal anti-icing system for aircraft
First Claim
1. The combination of an aircraft structure having a leading edge and a system for heating said structure to inhibit the formation of ice on said leading edge, said structure having an outer skin with spaced apart, exposed surface defining segments and said heating system including:
- a. an inner skin with a segment of complementary configuration adjacent a segment of said outer skin and cooperating therewith to form a series of flow passages which;
are disposed in side-by-side relationship, extend from the leading edge of said structure toward the rear thereof, and have inlets at the leading edge of the structure and outlets to the rear of said inlets;
b. a bulkhead so extending spanwise of said structure between the inlets and outlets of said flow passages and from one side to the other of said structure as to form a heated fluid inlet plenum that keeps fluid from escaping toward the rear of the structure;
c. a heated fluid supply manifold;
located in said structure on the forward side of said bulkhead, spanning said series of fluid flow passages, and having outlet passages at intervals along the length of the manifold through which the heated fluid can flow into the inlet plenum;
d. means bonding said outer skin to said inner skin and said manifold to said bulkhead; and
e. means for effecting a flow of a heated fluid;
into said supply manifold, from said manifold toward the leading edge of said structure, through said inlets into said flow passages, through said passages, and from said outlets to thereby affect a transfer of thermal energy from said fluid to the outer skin of said structure to heat said skin and thereby inhibit the formation of ice on that skin.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Thermal anti-icing systems for aircraft and methods for fabricating such systems. The anti-icing systems have an integrated one-piece skin with passageways formed therein to supply a heated fluid to that portion of an aircraft structure where anti-icing is desired. The anti-icing system also has an integrated or separately supplied manifold for routing heating fluid to the anti-icing system flow passages. The anti-icing system can be used in the leading edges of such aircraft structures as wings, horizontal and vertical stabilizers, inboard and outboard slats, engine struts, and engine cowls. A method for fabricating of aircraft structures with integral anti-icing systems of the character just described is also disclosed.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. The combination of an aircraft structure having a leading edge and a system for heating said structure to inhibit the formation of ice on said leading edge, said structure having an outer skin with spaced apart, exposed surface defining segments and said heating system including:
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a. an inner skin with a segment of complementary configuration adjacent a segment of said outer skin and cooperating therewith to form a series of flow passages which;
are disposed in side-by-side relationship, extend from the leading edge of said structure toward the rear thereof, and have inlets at the leading edge of the structure and outlets to the rear of said inlets;b. a bulkhead so extending spanwise of said structure between the inlets and outlets of said flow passages and from one side to the other of said structure as to form a heated fluid inlet plenum that keeps fluid from escaping toward the rear of the structure; c. a heated fluid supply manifold;
located in said structure on the forward side of said bulkhead, spanning said series of fluid flow passages, and having outlet passages at intervals along the length of the manifold through which the heated fluid can flow into the inlet plenum;d. means bonding said outer skin to said inner skin and said manifold to said bulkhead; and e. means for effecting a flow of a heated fluid;
into said supply manifold, from said manifold toward the leading edge of said structure, through said inlets into said flow passages, through said passages, and from said outlets to thereby affect a transfer of thermal energy from said fluid to the outer skin of said structure to heat said skin and thereby inhibit the formation of ice on that skin. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification