US 7,923,668 B2 · Acoustic nacelle inlet lip having composite construction and an integral electric ice protection heater disposed therein

Abstract

An engine nacelle inlet lip includes both acoustic treatment and electric heating for ice protection. The inlet lip has a composite outer skin and a composite inner skin, with the composite outer skin having at least one integrated heater element embedded in the composite material. An acoustic cellular core positioned between the outer and inner skin acts to attenuate fan noise from the engine. Covering the outer skin and overlying the acoustic core is a perforated erosion shield having a first set of openings that pass entirely thorough its thickness. The composite outer skin includes a second set of openings such that sound waves can pass from an inner barrel portion of the inlet lip through the erosion shield, outer skin, and heater element to the underlying acoustic cellular core.

Claims25

Dependent claims

An acoustically treated aircraft engine nacelle inlet lip, comprising:

(a) an acoustic cellular core arranged along an inner barrel portion of the inlet lip, the acoustic core comprising a laminated composite outer skin and an inner skin;
and
(b) an erosion shield arranged over at least a portion of the laminated composite outer skin, and overlying at least a portion of the acoustic core;
(c) wherein the laminated composite outer skin has at least one electrically conductive heater layer disposed therein;
(d) wherein the laminated composite outer skin includes a first set of openings extending therethrough, the first set of openings communicating with the acoustic cellular core;
and
(e) wherein the erosion shield includes a second set of openings extending therethrough, the second set of openings communicating with said first set of openings.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

11/733,628Filed 10 Apr 2007 · continuation in part

Priority

24 Feb 2006

Published

US 2008/0179448 A131 Jul 2008

Granted

12 Apr 2011

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

B64D 15/12
De-icing or preventing icing on exterior surfaces of aircraft: by electric heating
B64D 33/02
Arrangement in aircraft of power plant parts or auxiliaries not otherwise provided for: of combustion air intakes
H05B 3/28
Non-flexible: heating conductor embedded in insulating material
B64D 2033/0206
Of combustion air intakes: comprising noise reduction means, e.g. acoustic liners

Family

Application11/276,344Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 24 Feb 2006

Application60/791,967Us provisional application · filed 14 Apr 2006

US 2008/0179448 A1Pre-grant publication · published 31 Jul 2008

US 7,291,815 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part

US 2007/0210073 A1Published application

US 7,923,668 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Acoustic nacelle inlet lip having composite construction and an integral electric ice protection heater disposed therein

Life of this patent

Acoustic nacelle inlet lip having composite construction and an integral electric ice protection heater disposed therein

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25