Laser welded pneumatic deicer boots for aircraft
AssigneeGoodrich Corporation
InventorsShyam Kumar Dattatri, Harish Venkateshaiah, Rhushikesh Patil, Harshavardhana Nanjundegowda
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Ice may form along the leading edge of an aircraft wing or horizontal and vertical stabilizers. A pneumatic deicer system may be configured to inflate and dislodge ice along the leading edge of lift and control surfaces. The pneumatic deicer system may comprise a laser welded deicing boot attached to the leading edge. The compressed air can be directed to the deicing boot, inflating the deicing boot along inflatable tubes formed by laser welds, which can crack and dislodge the ice. A method of manufacturing a laser welded pneumatic deicer boot is also disclosed.
Claims20
A method of manufacture for a pneumatic deicer boot, comprising:
- aligning a non-stretchable fabric layer and a stretchable fabric layer at a welding position;
- generating a concentrated laser;
- focusing the concentrated laser along a first weld line to laser weld together the stretchable fabric layer and the non-stretchable fabric layer, wherein the first weld line includes a plurality of air passage gaps to assist in even inflation and deflation between adjacent inflatable tubes of a plurality of inflatable tubes;
- and
- focusing the concentrated laser along a second weld line to laser weld together the stretchable fabric layer and the non-stretchable fabric layer, wherein the second weld line includes a plurality of air passage gaps to assist in even inflation and deflation between the adjacent inflatable tubes of the plurality of inflatable tubes, wherein a first gap remains between the stretchable fabric layer and the non-stretchable fabric layer, and wherein the first gap, the first weld line and the second weld line form a first inflatable tube of the plurality of inflatable tubes;
- and
- bonding an installation layer to the non-stretchable fabric layer of the inflatable carcass.
A pneumatic deicer boot, comprising:
- an installation layer;
- and
- an inflatable carcass, comprising:
- a non-stretchable fabric layer;
- a stretchable fabric layer, wherein the non-stretchable fabric layer and the stretchable fabric layer are laser welded together at a first weld line and a second weld line, wherein the first weld line includes a plurality of air passage gaps to assist in even inflation and deflation between adjacent inflatable tubes of a plurality of inflatable tubes and wherein the second weld line includes a plurality of air passage gaps to assist in even inflation and deflation between the adjacent inflatable tubes of the plurality of inflatable tubes;
- and
- a first inflatable tube of the plurality of inflatable formed by a gap between the first weld line and the second weld line.
A pneumatic deicer system, comprising:
- a pneumatic deicer boot, wherein the pneumatic deicer boot comprises:
- an installation layer;
- an inflatable carcass bonded to the installation layer, comprising:
- a non-stretchable fabric layer;
- a stretchable fabric layer, wherein the non-stretchable fabric layer and the stretchable fabric layer are laser welded together at a first weld line and a second weld line, wherein the first weld line includes a plurality of air passage gaps to assist in even inflation and deflation between adjacent inflatable tubes of a plurality of inflatable tubes and wherein the second weld line includes a plurality of air passage gaps to assist in even inflation and deflation between the adjacent inflatable tubes of the plurality of inflatable tubes;
- and
- a first inflatable tube of the plurality of inflatable formed by a gap between the first weld line and the second weld line;
- an air inlet coupled to the installation layer and in fluid communication with the first inflatable tube;
- and
- a compressed air source in fluid communication with the air inlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.