Integrated microwave thermal anti-icing system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023002064-A1
Application number	US-202117363409-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 30, 2021
Priority date	Jun 30, 2021
Publication date	Jan 5, 2023
Grant date	—

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.

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 susceptor is arranged between the waveguide and the exterior surface.

4 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein
the composite skin comprises a first layer, a second layer and a third layer between the first layer and the second layer; the first layer comprises the susceptor; and the second layer comprises the waveguide.

5 . The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the third layer comprises microwave transparent material.

6 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein
the composite skin comprises a plurality of layers; a first of the plurality of layers comprises the susceptor and the waveguide; and the waveguide is laterally spaced from the susceptor within the first of the plurality of layers.

7 . The assembly of claim 6 , wherein a second of the plurality of layers comprises microwave transparent material.

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

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

10 . 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.

11 . The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the reflector is integrated into the composite skin between the exterior surface and the interior surface.

12 . The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the reflector is arranged between the interior surface and the waveguide.

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

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

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

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

17 . 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).

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

19 . 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; and a thermal anti-icing system comprising a susceptor and a waveguide, the susceptor formed by at least a portion of a first of the plurality of layers of material, the waveguide formed by at least a portion of a second of the plurality of layers of material, and the waveguide configured to direct microwaves to the susceptor for melting and/or preventing ice accumulation on the exterior surface.

20 . 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 and a 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

• B64D15/00 Primary

  De-icing or preventing icing on exterior surfaces of aircraft · CPC title

• B64D2033/0233

  comprising de-icing means · CPC title

• B64D33/02

  of combustion air intakes · CPC title

• H05B6/707

  using waveguides · CPC title

• B32B2605/18

  Aircraft · CPC title