Electro-impulse de-icer
First Claim
1. A de-icer especially adapted for attachment to a structural member having a skin, the de-icer having an exposed surface susceptible to icing during flight, comprising:
- an opening in the skin;
a metal plate-like target having a back surface and an opposing front surface and being generally coterminous with the opening the target being disposed over the opening with the back surface facing the opening;
a deflectable surface ply overlying the front surface of the target and a portion of the skin, the surface ply being attached to the skin and defining the exposed surface of the de-icer; and
an inductor coil operably connected to the skin disposed over the opening, the coil having a front surface facing the target in close proximity to the back surface of the target, the target being movable away from and toward the coil.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electro-impulse de-icer for de-icing an aircraft structural member having an opening in the leading edge and including an inductor coil. The inductor coil is disposed either at least partially within the opening or adjacent to the opening. The de-icer further includes a movable metal target disposed in proximity with the coil. The target is supported by a flexible, ice-accumulating support member that permits the target to move relative to the coil and to the structural member. The support member is rapidly, and forcefully, displaced away from the coil and the structural member upon passing a short-duration, high-current pulse through the coil. The current flow creates an electromagnetic field that induces eddy currents in the target and the support member (if made of metal). Upon collapse of the electromagnetic field in the coil, the target and support member are pulled rapidly to their rest position.
43 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A de-icer especially adapted for attachment to a structural member having a skin, the de-icer having an exposed surface susceptible to icing during flight, comprising:
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an opening in the skin; a metal plate-like target having a back surface and an opposing front surface and being generally coterminous with the opening the target being disposed over the opening with the back surface facing the opening; a deflectable surface ply overlying the front surface of the target and a portion of the skin, the surface ply being attached to the skin and defining the exposed surface of the de-icer; and an inductor coil operably connected to the skin disposed over the opening, the coil having a front surface facing the target in close proximity to the back surface of the target, the target being movable away from and toward the coil. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A de-icer especially adapted for attachment to a structural member having a skin, the de-icer having an exposed surface susceptible to icing during flight, comprising:
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an opening in the skin; a force transfer member including a stem and a plate-like element having a back surface, the stem being connected to the back surface in a manner that permits transfer of force from the stem to the plate-like element, the plate-like element being disposed over the opening with the stem protruding through the opening; a deflectable surface ply overlying the plate-like element and a portion of the skin, the surface ply being attached to the skin and defining the exposed surface of the de-icer; a metal target, the metal target being connected to the stem in a manner that permits transfer of force from the target to the stem; an inductor coil in close proximity with the target, the force transfer member and target being movable relative to the coils; and
,a retainer attached to the skin within the opening that holds the inductor coil securely in place. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A method for de-icing a structural member of the type having a skin, the method comprising the steps of:
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forming an opening in the skin; providing a metal target having a back surface and an opposing front surface the target being generally coterminous with the opening; disposing the target over the opening with the back surface of the target facing the opening; providing a deflectable surface ply; disposing the surface ply over the front surface of the target and a portion of the skin and attaching the support means to the skin, the surface ply defining an exposed surface susceptible to icing during flight; providing an inductor coil having a front surface; disposing the coil over the opening with the front surface of the coil facing the back surface of the target; operably connecting the coil to the structural member with the front surface of the coil in close proximity to the back surface of the target; and
,energizing the coil wherein the target and surface ply are moved away from and toward the coil to dislodge ice accumulated on the exposed surface. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method for de-icing a structural member of the type having a skin, the method comprising the steps of:
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forming an opening in the structural member; providing a force transfer member, the force transfer member including a stem and a plate-like element having a back surface, the stem being connected to the back surface in a manner that permits transfer of force from the stem to the plate-like element; disposing the plate-like element over the opening with the back surface facing the opening and the stem protruding through the opening; providing a deflectable surface ply; disposing the surface ply over the plate-like element and a portion of the skin and attaching the surface ply to the skin, the surface ply defining an exposed surface susceptible to icing during flight; attaching the surface ply to the skin; providing a metal target; connecting the target to the stem in a manner that permits transfer of force from the target to the stem; providing an inductor coil having a front surface; disposing the coil within the structural member in close proximity to the target; providing a retainer that holds the coil securely in place attaching the retainer to the skin within the opening; and energizing the coil wherein the target and surface ply are moved away from and toward the coil to dislodge ice accumulated on the exposed surface.
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Specification