Hybrid deicer with element sequence

• US 6,129,314 A
• Filed: 01/21/1998
• Issued: 10/10/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Goodrich Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Goodrich Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Sweet, David B., Giamati, Michael J., Putt, James C., Wilson, Tommy M. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Poon, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DINH, TIEN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US09/010,379
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• Field of Search: 244/134 R, 244/134 A, 244/134 D
• US Class Current: 244/134.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 15/00 De-icing or preventing icing on exterior surfaces of aircraft motor vehicles specially adapted for carrying de-icing equipment B60P
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 15/12 by electric heating electric heating elements in general H05B
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 15/14 controlled cyclically along length of surface
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 15/163 using electro-impulsive devices
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 15/166 using pneumatic boots

Abstract

A deicer comprises a skin heating device immediately subjacent an outer skin overlying an apex of a leading edge, and a skin deflection device immediately subjacent the outer skin chordwise aft of the apex. The skin heating device prevents the formation of ice over the apex and the skin deflection device deflects the outer skin to expulse ice formed chordwise aft of the apex. A controller controls the heating and deflection cycles to minimize power consumption of the deicer.

Claims

1. A deicer adapted for attachment to a substructure, the deicer having an outer skin to be attached to the substructure, the substructure having an apex underlying the area of the outer skin where the radius of curvature is smallest, the deicer comprising:

a heater disposed beneath the outer skin at a first area near the apex of the substructure for heating the outer skin when energized to thereby melt ice accumulated over the first area;

at least one skin deflector disposed beneath the outer skin at a second area chordwise aft of the first area for deflecting the outer skin away from the substructure when energized; and

controller for periodically energizing the heater and cycling the skin deflector a predetermined dwell time after each time the heater has been energized.

2. A deicer in accordance with claim 1, wherein the skin deflector is comprised of a plurality of skin deflector elements.

3. A deicer adapted for attachment to a substructure, the deicer having an outer skin to be attached to the substructure, the substructure having an apex underlying the area of the outer skin where the radius of curvature is smallest, the substructure running in a chordwise and spanwise direction, the deicer comprising:

a heater disposed beneath the outer skin at a first area near the apex of the substructure for heating the outer skin when energized to thereby melt ice accumulated over the first area;

a first skin deflector disposed beneath the outer skin at a second area chordwise aft of the first area for deflecting the outer skin away from the substructure at said second area when energized;

a second skin deflector disposed beneath the outer skin at a third area chordwise aft of the second area for deflecting the outer skin away from the substructure at said third area when energized; and

controller for periodically energizing the heater and cycling the first and second skin deflectors after each time the heater has been energized.

4. A deicer in accordance with claim 3, wherein the skin deflectors are comprised of a plurality of skin deflector elements.