US 7,017,828 B2 · Blower assisted heating and defogging system for small aircraft

Abstract

For the purposes of increasing pilot visibility and comfort in small planes during winter conditions, this invention provides an auxiliary heating system. Prior to actual flight, that is to say that during start up, warm up, taxi and takeoff, a small aircraft does not intake sufficient outside air to warm the cabin and defrost the windshield. The normal heating system on a small plane depends upon ram air when the plane is flying at normal speeds. This invention consists of a simple replacement part, mainly an electric blower which sucks in air from outside the aircraft and forces it through the muffler shroud and thereafter into the cabin and defroster ducts. The system is operated by a switch located on the control panel. Once the aircraft is in flight, the system may be shut off as there is sufficient ram air to heat the small aircraft.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A supplementary airplane cabin heat delivery device with an airplane with an air cooled piston engine partially enclosed by a cowling with an air inlet in said cowling;

said engine including an enclosed exhaust system for allowing exhaust gases to exit said air cooled piston engine;
said device comprising:
at least one electrically powered blower connected to said air inlet in said cowling;
said electrically powered blower having an inlet and an outlet;
said blower outlet being connected to an inlet of an elongated heat shroud used for collecting heat from said aircraft engine exhaust system;
wherein said outlet from said heat shroud is ducted into said airplane cabin to deliver heated air to said airplane cabin when said air cooled piston engine is in operation and said airplane is in taxiing and stationary positions;
and said blower replacing ram air which is used to heat said cabin when said aircraft is in flight.

4 more elements

An auxiliary heating and defrosting system adapted to provide warmed air to a cabin of a small aircraft;

said system including at least one blower, connected to a flange, and an engine compartment baffle wall;
said flange being also connected to said engine compartment baffle wall around a pre-existing air intake aperture;
said system also including an air duct hose and a first clamp;
said clamp being adapted to secure a first end of said air duct hose around an air outlet end of said blower;
said air duct hose also including a second end;
said second end being connected by a second clamp to a muffler shroud air intake aperture;
said muffler shroud also including an air outlet aperture connected to a cabin air intake hose;
said muffler shroud including and enclosing an air space about an exhaust muffler;
said exhaust muffler and said muffler shroud forming existing portions of an exhaust system of a small aircraft engine;
said system also including electrical circuit breaker wiring and an on/off circuit breaker switch;
said electrical circuit breaker wiring being connected to an electrical source in said aircraft, said blower, and said circuit breaker switch;
said switch being located in said small aircraft cabin;
wherein, in operation, when said circuit breaker switch is in an “on” position, said blower forces air through said muffler shroud into said cabin.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Blower assisted heating and defogging system for small aircraft

Life of this patent

Blower assisted heating and defogging system for small aircraft

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13