Integrated microwave thermal anti-icing system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12017779-B2
Application number	US-202117363409-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2021
Priority date	Jun 30, 2021
Publication date	Jun 25, 2024
Grant date	Jun 25, 2024

Abstract

An assembly is provided for a structure. This assembly includes a composite skin and a thermal anti-icing system. The composite skin extends between an exterior surface and an interior surface. The thermal anti-icing system includes a susceptor and a waveguide. The susceptor and the waveguide are integrated into the composite skin between the exterior surface and the interior surface. The waveguide is configured to direct microwaves to the susceptor for melting and/or preventing ice accumulation on the exterior surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly for a structure, comprising:
a composite skin extending between an exterior surface and an interior surface; and
a thermal anti-icing system comprising a susceptor and a waveguide, the susceptor and the waveguide integrated into the composite skin between the exterior surface and the interior surface, and the waveguide configured to direct microwaves to the susceptor for melting and/or preventing ice accumulation on the exterior surface;
the composite skin comprising a plurality of layers, a first of the plurality of layers comprising the susceptor and the waveguide, and the waveguide laterally spaced from the susceptor within the first of the plurality of layers.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the composite skin extends between the exterior surface and the interior surface without interruption.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of layers include an exterior layer and an interior layer;
the exterior layer forms the exterior surface;
the interior layer forms the interior surface; and
the first of the plurality of layers is arranged within the composite skin between the interior layer the exterior layer.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein
a second of the plurality of layers comprises microwave transparent material; and
the second of the plurality of layers laterally overlaps and is bonded to the susceptor and the waveguide.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the susceptor or the waveguide comprises metal.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the susceptor comprises fiber reinforcement within a polymer matrix.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the thermal anti-icing system further comprises a reflector configured to reflect microwaves travelling away from the susceptor and the exterior surface back towards the susceptor.

8. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the reflector is integrated into the composite skin between the exterior surface and the interior surface.

9. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the reflector is arranged between the interior surface and the waveguide.

10. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the reflector comprises metal.

11. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the microwaves are transmitted at a frequency between one gigahertz (1 GHz) and ten gigahertz (10 GHz).

12. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the microwaves are transmitted at a frequency between forty gigahertz (40 GHz) and eighty gigahertz (80 GHz).

13. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the microwaves are transmitted at a frequency between twenty gigahertz (20 GHz) and twenty-five gigahertz (25 GHz).

14. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the microwaves are transmitted at a frequency between one-hundred and fifty gigahertz (150 GHz) and two-hundred gigahertz (200 GHz).

15. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a nacelle inlet structure for an aircraft propulsion system;
the nacelle inlet structure comprising the composite skin.

16. An assembly for an aircraft propulsion system, comprising:
a nacelle structure including a skin that forms an exterior surface of the nacelle structure, the skin formed by a plurality of layers of material bonded together, the plurality of layers of material comprising a first layer of material, a second layer of material and a third layer of material, the first layer of material forming the exterior surface of the nacelle structure, and the second layer of material disposed between the first layer of material and the third layer of material; and
a thermal anti-icing system comprising a susceptor and a waveguide, the susceptor formed by at least a portion of the second layer of material, the waveguide formed by at least a portion of the third layer of material, and the waveguide configured to direct microwaves to the susceptor for melting and/or preventing ice accumulation on the exterior surface.

17. An assembly for an aircraft propulsion system, comprising:
a nacelle structure including a skin that forms an exterior surface of the nacelle structure, the skin including a susceptor, a waveguide, a reflector, an exterior layer of material and an interior layer of material, the waveguide disposed between the susceptor and the reflector within the skin, the exterior layer of material forming the exterior surface of the nacelle structure and disposed between the exterior surface of the nacelle structure and the susceptor, and the interior layer of material forming an interior surface of the skin and disposed between the interior surface of the skin and the reflector; and
a thermal anti-icing system configured to direct microwaves through the waveguide to the susceptor for melting and/or preventing ice accumulation on the exterior surface, wherein the reflector is configured to direct stray microwaves back towards the susceptor.

Assignees

• Rohr Inc

Inventors

• Kestler Steven M
• Mantese Joseph V
• Gok Gurkan

Classifications

• H05B2214/02

  Heaters specially designed for de-icing or protection against icing · CPC title

• H05B6/707

  using waveguides · CPC title

• H05B6/6491

  combined with the use of susceptors (H05B6/80 and subgroups takes precedence) · CPC title

• B64D2033/0233

  comprising de-icing means · CPC title

• B64D33/02

  of combustion air intakes · CPC title