The Boeing Company

Douglas McLaren

Anna L Bendig

Wan T Chee

Kenneth W Porter

Keith E Therrien

William W Orr

Thermal anti-icing systems for aircraft and methods for fabricating such systems. The anti-icing systems have an integrated one-piece skin with passageways formed therein to supply a heated fluid to that portion of an aircraft structure where anti-icing is desired. The anti-icing system also has an integrated or separately supplied manifold for routing heating fluid to the anti-icing system flow passages. The anti-icing system can be used in the leading edges of such aircraft structures as wings, horizontal and vertical stabilizers, inboard and outboard slats, engine struts, and engine cowls. A method for fabricating of aircraft structures with integral anti-icing systems of the character just described is also disclosed.

Thermal anti-icing system for aircraft

A method for making a thermal insulating structure for providing thermal insulation, structural load accommodation, and noise attenuation for surfaces in aerospace systems that are exposed to high temperatures is disclosed. Structure to be protected is a high-temperature solid back sheet to which is a honeycomb core having a perforated buried septum is bonded to a substrate. A layer of cast fiber-ceramic insulation is secured to the honeycomb core, filling portions of the core outward from the septum and extending beyond the outer face of the core. To absorb structural loads, a densified top coat overlies the insulating layer. To minimize the transmission of shear-inducing loads into the insulating layer, the outer face of the honeycomb core has an irregular surface. Core cell vents extending through the walls of adjacent cells provide a controlled airspace between the back sheet and the buried septum through which a fluid coolant may be circulated.

Method for making thermal insulation

A thermal insulating structure for providing thermal insulation, structural load accommodations, and noise attenuation for surfaces in aerospace systems that are exposed to high temperatures. At the side adjacent the structure to be protected is a high-temperature solid back sheet to which is adhesively bonded a honeycomb core having a perforated buried septum. A layer of cast fiber-ceramic insulation is secured to the honeycomb core, filling portions of the core outward from the septum and extending beyond the outer face of the core. To absorb structural loads, a densified top coat overlies the insulating layer. To minimize the transmission of shear-inducing loads into the insulating layer, the outer face of the honeycomb core has an irregular surface. Core cell vents extending through the walls of adjacent cells provide a controlled airspace between the back sheet and the buried septum through which a fluid coolant may be circulated.

Thermal insulation structure

Composite material structure with integral fire protection

In an aircraft, a jet engine is carried by a frame (4), and the engine core casing (18B) acts as a beam. An engine core cowl (30) is made of a composite material that maintains structural strength within a given temperature range. The outer surface of the cowl (30) is cooled by the ambient airstream. The sidewall (32) of the cowl (30) is stiffened by a plurality of beams on its inner surface, preferably including axial beams (34) and circumferential beams (38). The beams (34,38) are tubular and have interconnecting passageways (37,39). The cowl (30) is connected to and structurally integrated with the engine casing. Cooling air is aspirated through the passageways (37,39) to maintain the inner portions of the beams (34,38) at essentially the same temperature as the outer surface of the sidewall (32). The flow of cooling air is metered. The cowl (30) acts as a beam and shares bending loads with the engine-casing.

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Douglas McLaren