Thermal relief doors for overheat prevention of anti-ice systems on aircraft

A method of installing a thermal relief door on an aircraft, the method comprising:

• hingeably coupling an edge of a door to a panel of a slat at or near an opening in the panel such that the door is movable from a closed position to an open position and returnable from the open position to the closed position, the slat movably coupled to a wing of the aircraft, the panel at least partially defining a compartment in the slat, the compartment to receive heated air;
• coupling a pin to the door;
• coupling a latch to the panel, the latch including a torsion spring with a latch hook;
• and
• at least partially wrapping the latch hook around the pin to engage the latch with the door to hold the door in the closed position, the latch constructed of a thermally sensitive material such that when a temperature inside of the compartment reaches a threshold temperature, the latch releases the door to enable the door to move to the open position to vent the heated air from the compartment, the latch hook re-engages with the pin when the temperature falls below the threshold temperature and the door returns from the open position to the closed position.

A system for controlling temperature in a closed compartment, the system comprising:

• a panel on a slat coupled to an aircraft wing, the panel having an opening, the panel at least partially defining the closed compartment in the slat, the closed compartment to receive heated air;
• a door in the opening of the panel, a pin coupled to the door, an edge of the door rotatably coupled to the panel at a hinge, the door to rotate from a closed position in which the door covers the opening to an open position in which the door uncovers the opening and to return from the open position to the closed position;
• a torsion spring coupled between the edge of the door and the panel, the torsion spring to bias the door to the closed position, the torsion spring constructed from a thermally sensitive material, the torsion spring to reduce stiffness when a temperature inside of the closed compartment reaches a threshold temperature to enable the door to rotate to the open position to vent the heated air from the closed compartment;
• and
• a latch coupled to the panel, the latch including a second torsion spring and a latch hook, the latch to hold the door in the closed position, the latch hook at least partially wrapped around the pin when the door is in the closed position, the latch constructed of a thermally sensitive material such that when the temperature inside of the closed compartment reaches the threshold temperature, the latch releases the door, the latch hook to re-engage the pin when the temperature falls below the threshold temperature and the door returns from the open position to the closed position.