Pneumatic deicer
AssigneeThe B.F. Goodrich Company
InventorsBernard F. Trares, Robinson F. Nichols
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pneumatic deicer and a method for making such deicer having a plurality of inflatable tubes which are capable of being distended by inflation to break up the accumulation of ice. The tubes are constructed with a nonflowing elastomeric compound leaving a passageway therein after vulcanization of the deicer by external heat.
Claims6
An inflating deicer boot for mounting on an airfoil comprising a plurality of laterally spaced tubular members selectively inflated and deflated for breaking up the formation of ice on said airfoil;
- a manifold ply of rubberized materials extending transversely across said tubular members;
- said manifold ply having a passageway therethrough for the flow of air to pressurize or exhaust air from said tubular members;
- each of said tubular members having a port communicating with said passageway in said manifold ply;
- each of said tubular members being fabricated from tricot knit fabric;
- said tubular members being covered with a nonflowing rubberized compound containing greater than one percent by weight of cross-linked natural rubber prior to vulcanization that does not flow during vulcanization;
- a sealing layer of a vulcanizable material impervious to air overlaying said manifold ply and said tubular member, and at least another sealing layer of a vulcanizable material impervious to air underlaying said tubular members.
An inflatable deicer boot for mounting on an airfoil comprising an inner ply for attachment to said airfoil;
- an extensible elastic air impervious outer ply overlying said inner ply;
- a plurality of laterally spaced tubular members interposed between said inner ply and said outer ply;
- a manifold ply extending transversely across said tubular member;
- said manifold ply having a plurality of fibers on one side whose interstices form a passageway that extends laterally across said tubular members;
- each of said tubular members having a port that communicates with said passageway for selective inflating and deflating of said tubular members to shatter ice films accumulating on the outside surface of said boot;
- each of said tubular members having an inner peripheral surface of fabric;
- each of said tubular members having an outer surface of nonflowing rubberized compound containing greater than one percent by weight of cross-linked natural rubber prior to vulcanization that is nonflowing during vulcanization;
- and all of said plies, and nonflowing rubberized compound being vulcanized to form a unitary integral deicer boot.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.