Movable sheet for laminar flow and deicing

A wing comprising:

• a suction support structure forming a portion of a wing, wherein the suction support structure is permeable to air flowing therethrough;
• means for sucking air through the suction support structure and into the interior of the wing;
• roller means rotatably mounted within the wing and extending spanwise with respect to the wing, wherein a forward part of the roller means is mounted forward of the suction support structure and an aft part of the roller means is mounted aft of the suction support structure;
• a movable sheet overlying the suction support structure and extending scroll-like between and engaging the roller means, wherein the sheet has a solid area and a porous area, wherein the porous area is permeable to air flowing therethrough;
• and
• means coupled to the roller means for moving the sheet to position either the porous area or the solid area of the sheet over the suction support structure.

A deicing apparatus for a wing comprising:

• a movable sheet overlying the wing and comprising a monolithic sheet of an electrically-conductive material;
• means for moving the sheet;
• contact means for electrically contacting regions of the sheet;
• and
• means for supplying electric power to the contact means for resistively heating the sheet for deicing the wing, wherein the monolithic sheet is resistively heated by the electric power.

A method for covering a portion of a wing, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• providing roller means rotatably mounted within the wing and extending spanwise with respect to the wing, wherein the roller means has a forward roller and an aft roller;
• providing a movable sheet overlying the wing and extending scroll-like between and engaging the forward and aft rollers of the roller means, wherein the movable sheet is wrapped fully around the circumference of each roller;
• and
• rotating the rollers through multiple revolutions to move the attached sheet relative to the wing.

In a wing having a suction support structure that is permeable to air flowing therethrough and having a suction means for sucking air through the suction support structure, a method of protecting the suction support structure comprising the steps of:

• providing roller means rotatably mounted within the wing and extending spanwise with respect to the wing, wherein a forward part of the roller means is mounted forward of the suction support structure and an aft part of the roller means is mounted aft of the suction support structure;
• providing a movable sheet overlying the suction support structure and extending scroll-like between and engaging the forward and aft parts of the roller means, wherein the sheet has a solid area and a porous area, wherein the porous area is permeable to air flowing therethrough;
• positioning the porous area of the movable sheet to cover the suction support structure to permit suction to occur;
• and
• positioning the solid area of the movable sheet to cover the suction support structure to protect the suction support structure.

A method for deicing a wing comprising the steps of:

• providing a sheet overlying the wing, wherein the sheet comprises a monolithic sheet of an electrically-conductive material;
• providing a means for moving the sheet;
• supplying electric current to the sheet to resistively heat the monolithic sheet;
• and
• moving the sheet to dislodge ice.

An aerodynamic structure comprising:

• a suction support structure that is permeable to air flowing therethrough;
• means for sucking air through the suction support structure and into an interior of the aerodynamic structure;
• a movable sheet overlying the suction support structure wing and comprising a monolithic sheet of an electrically-conductive material, wherein the sheet has a solid area and a porous area, wherein the porous area is permeable to air flowing therethrough;
• means for moving the sheet to position either the porous area or the solid area of the sheet over the suction support structure;
• contact means for electrically contacting regions of the sheet;
• and
• means for supplying electric power to the contact means for resistively heating the sheet for deicing.

A wing structure comprising:

• a suction support structure forming a portion of a wing, wherein the suction support structure is permeable to air flowing therethrough;
• means for sucking air through the suction support structure and into the interior of the wing;
• roller means rotatably mounted within the wing and extending spanwise with respect to the wing, wherein a forward part of the roller means is mounted forward of the suction support structure and an aft part of the roller means is mounted aft of the suction support structure;
• a movable sheet overlying the suction support structure and extending scroll-like between and engaging the roller means, wherein the sheet has a solid area and a porous area, wherein the porous area is permeable to air flowing therethrough;
• means coupled to the roller means for moving the sheet to position either the porous area or the solid area of the sheet over the suction support structure;
• contact means for electrically contacting regions of the sheet;
• and
• means for supplying electric power to the contact means for resistively heating the sheet.

A method for boundary layer suction for a wing, for protecting the wing, and for deicing the wing, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• providing a suction support structure that is permeable to air flowing therethrough;
• providing a suction means for sucking air through the suction support structure;
• providing roller means rotatably mounted within the wing and extending spanwise with respect to the wing, wherein a forward part of the roller means is mounted forward of the suction support structure and an aft part of the roller means is mounted aft of the suction support structure;
• providing a movable sheet overlying the suction support structure and extending scroll-like between and engaging the forward and aft parts of the roller means, wherein the sheet has a solid area and a porous area, wherein the porous area is permeable to air flowing therethrough, and wherein the sheet is composed of an electrically-conductive material;
• rotating the roller means to position the porous area of the movable sheet to cover the suction support structure to permit suction to occur;
• rotating the roller means to position the solid area of the movable sheet to cover the suction support structure to protect the suction support structure;
• providing a source of electric current and supplying the electric current to the sheet to melt ice on the sheet;
• and
• rotating the roller means to move the sheet to dislodge ice.

A deicing apparatus for a wing comprising:

• a suction support structure forming a portion of a wing, wherein the suction support structure is permeable to air flowing therethrough;
• means for blowing warm air from the interior of the wing through the suction support structure;
• roller means rotatably mounted within the wing and extending spanwise with respect to the wing, wherein a forward part of the roller means is mounted forward of the suction support structure and an aft part of the roller means is mounted aft of the suction support structure;
• a movable sheet overlying the suction support structure and extending scroll-like between and engaging the roller means, wherein the sheet has a porous area that is permeable to air flowing therethrough and is composed of a thermally-conductive material.