Thermal insulation barrier for an aircraft de-icing heater
AssigneeTextron Innovations Inc.
InventorsRichard Boone, John W. Gallman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A structure for use with an electrothermal heating element is disclosed comprising a heating element contained in a mat and heater supports attached to one surface of the mat. The heating element is disposed between the skin and internal structure of an aircraft with the heater supports disposed toward the internal structure thereof. The heater supports maintain an insulating layer of air between the mat and the internal structure of the aircraft.
Claims14
An electrothermal heater for a skin of an aircraft, the electrothermal heater comprising:
- an electrothermal heating element;
- a mat encasing the electrothermal heating element, the mat comprising a first and a second sheet;
- and
- a thermal barrier attached to the second sheet of the mat;
- wherein the thermal barrier comprises a plurality of rigid support members for maintaining a layer of air between the second sheet and the aircraft.
An electrothermal heater for preventing the accumulation of ice on the skin of an aircraft, the electrothermal heater comprising:
- an electrothermal heating element;
- a heater skin layer disposed on a first side of the electrothermal heating element;
- a thermal insulation barrier layer disposed on a second side of the electrothermal heating element;
- wherein the heater skin layer is a non-structural, maintainable material;
- and
- wherein the thermal insulation barrier layer comprises a plurality of spaced-apart supports extending perpendicularly from the second side of the electrothermal heating element;
- and
- wherein the plurality of spaced-apart supports are disposed against the skin of the aircraft to maintain a layer of air between the electrothermal heating element and the skin of the aircraft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.