Pneumatic deicing distribution valve and system

A deicing system comprising:

• fluid source means for providing pressurized fluid;
• vacuum source means for providing fluid below atmospheric pressure;
• a valve having:
• a) a body having generally cylindrical cavity provided therein;
• b) a cap disposed on said body having an input port means and a plurality of output port means;
• c) a rotary member for being rotatably received in said cavity having a duct means provided therein for selectively putting said input port means in fluid communication with a selective one of said plurality of output port means thereby leaving a plurality of nonselected output port means, said rotary member having a diameter less than said cavity;
• d) first sealing means for sealing said input port to said duct means;
• e) second sealing means for sealing the selected one of said plurality of output port means to said duct means;
• f) third sealing means for providing a seal between said rotary member and said cavity;
• and, g) vacuum port means connected to said vacuum source for voiding said cavity to thereby provide a vacuum to the nonselected said plurality of output port means;
• motor means for driving said rotary member;
• controller means for providing control input to said motor means to determine the rotational position of said rotary member;
• fluid separation apparatus comprising an outer surface layer and a plurality of inflatable members positioned beneath the outer surface layer such that fluid inflation of said inflatable members causes reaction movement of said outer surface layer, wherein said inflatable members are inflated by said pressurized fluid.

A valve for transferring a pressurized fluid and pulling a vacuum comprising:

• a body having generally cylindrical cavity provided therein;
• a cap disposed on said body having an input port means and a plurality of output port means;
• a generally cylindrical rotary member for being rotatably received in said cavity having a duct means provided therein for selectively putting said input port means in fluid communication with a selective one of said plurality of output port means thereby leaving a plurality of nonselected output port means, said rotary member having a diameter less than said cavity, a top cylindrical turret and a bottom cylindrical turret, wherein said body has a body aperture for rotatably receiving said bottom cylindrical turret, wherein said cap has a cap aperture for rotatably receiving said top cylindrical turret, and said turrets maintain the alignment of said rotary member;
• first sealing means for sealing said input port to said duct means;
• second sealing means for sealing the selected one of said plurality of output port means to said duct means;
• third sealing means for providing a seal between said rotary member and said cavity comprised of a first bearing means in contact with the wall of said cavity and an o-ring for exerting a compressive force on said bearing means;
• second bearing means disposed between a portion of said cavity and said rotary member;
• vacuum port means for voiding said cavity to thereby provide a vacuum to the nonselected said plurality of output port means;
• and,
• motor means for driving said rotary means.

A method of deicing an aircraft comprising the steps of:

• providing a deicing system in accordance with claim
• pressurizing said inflatable members a select one at a time with said pressurized fluid in a predetermined sequence utilizing said valve and controller means;
• and,
• evacuating said pressurized fluid from all said inflatable members which are nonselected at any given moment with said vacuum source means.