Onboard aircraft de-icing using lasers
First Claim
1. A method of de-icing an aircraft comprising:
- (a) securing a laser beam generator to an aircraft;
(b) generating a beam of radiant energy;
(c) directing said beam toward said aircraft so that said beam creates a footprint upon a surface of said aircraft; and
(d) manipulating said beam so that said footprint is moved about said aircraft surface for removing ice, snow or water from said aircraft surface.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An aircraft de-icing system is disclosed in which a laser beam generator is positioned on an aircraft, a beam of radiant energy is generated and directed toward the critical surfaces of the aircraft to create a footprint upon the surface of the aircraft, and the beam is manipulated so that the footprint is moved about the aircraft surface for removing ice, snow or water from the critical aircraft surfaces. One or more laser beam generators are preferably disposed remotely from the area to be de-iced, and the beams are preferably reflected from one or more mirrors so that the mirrors may be adjusted to enable the beams to illuminate the critical surfaces of the aircraft. The laser beams preferably have a wavelength that is preferentially reflected by the aircraft surface and absorbed by ice, snow and water, so that the beam heats and removes ice, snow and water from the aircraft surface as the beam'"'"'s footprint is moved thereabouts.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of de-icing an aircraft comprising:
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(a) securing a laser beam generator to an aircraft;
(b) generating a beam of radiant energy;
(c) directing said beam toward said aircraft so that said beam creates a footprint upon a surface of said aircraft; and
(d) manipulating said beam so that said footprint is moved about said aircraft surface for removing ice, snow or water from said aircraft surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
step (a) comprises positioning said generator on a fuselage of said aircraft; and
step (c) comprises directing said beam toward said aircraft so that said beam creates said footprint upon a wing of said aircraft.
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8. The method of claim 1 wherein said beam has a power density substantially within a range of from approximately 10 suns to approximately 50 suns.
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9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
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(a) positioning a mirror on said aircraft;
(b) directing said beam toward said mirror; and
(c) reflecting said beam from said mirror so that said reflected beam creates said footprint upon said surface of said aircraft.
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10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:
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positioning a conduit on said aircraft; and
directing said beam from said generator, through said conduit and to said mirror.
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5. The method of 1 wherein said beam has a wavelength substantially within a range that is preferentially reflected by said aircraft surface and absorbed by ice, snow or water.
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11. A method of de-icing an aircraft comprising:
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(a) positioning a laser beam generator on an aircraft;
(b) generating a beam of radiant energy having a wavelength substantially within a range of from approximately 8 microns to approximately 15 microns; and
(c) directing said beam at said aircraft so that said beam creates a footprint upon a surface of said aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
(a) positioning a mirror on said aircraft;
(b) directing said beam at said mirror; and
(c) reflecting said beam from said mirror so that said reflected beam creates said footprint upon said surface of said aircraft.
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13. The method of claim 11 wherein step (a) comprises positioning said generator on said aircraft remotely from said aircraft surface to be de-iced.
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14. The method of claim 11 wherein:
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step (a) comprises positioning said generator on a fuselage of said aircraft; and
step (c) comprises directing said beam at said aircraft so that said beam creates said footprint upon a wing of said aircraft.
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15. A combination for deicing an aircraft, comprising:
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an aircraft;
a laser beam generator for generating a beam of radiant energy, said generator being secured to said aircraft; and
a mirror secured to said aircraft and positioned for reflecting said beam toward said aircraft to create a footprint upon a surface of said aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification