Systems and methods for passive deicing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9199741-B2
Application number	US-201414201344-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 7, 2014
Priority date	Mar 7, 2014
Publication date	Dec 1, 2015
Grant date	Dec 1, 2015

Abstract

Global icephobic performance of a passive deicing structure may be achieved by including one or more ice nucleating zones that are configured, preselected, and/or arranged to promote selective formation of ice. Ice nucleation zones may be configured, preselected, and/or arranged to form ice that is weakly adherent and, hence, may be removed by sufficient shear force. Ice nucleation zones typically include nucleating particles to promote selective ice formation. Passive deicing structures typically include both ice nucleation zones and ice resisting zones, arranged to facilitate ice removal by shear force. Passive deicing structures may be used on apparatuses such as vehicles (e.g., aircraft) to mitigate the effects of ice formation on exposed surfaces.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An aircraft comprising:
a body that includes an aerodynamic component with a leading edge and an exposed surface, wherein the exposed surface is exposed to the atmosphere;
wherein the exposed surface includes a passive deicing structure including:
an ice nucleating zone that is elongated with an elongated direction oriented substantially parallel to the leading edge and having nucleating particles configured to cause ice to form on the ice nucleatin…

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Sapper Erik David
• Zweig Andrew M

Classifications

• B64D15/00 Primary

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• C09K3/18

  Chemistry & Metallurgy · mapped topic