US 12,227,297 B2
Aircraft fluid ice protection system
Charles William Rust, Seattle, WA (US)
Assigned to THE BOEING COMPANY, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by THE BOEING COMPANY, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed on May 24, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/323,389.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/368,580, filed on Jul. 15, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0017839 A1, Jan. 18, 2024
Int. Cl. B64D 15/08 (2006.01); B64D 27/30 (2024.01); B64D 29/00 (2006.01); B64D 33/02 (2006.01)
CPC B64D 15/08 (2013.01) [B64D 29/00 (2013.01); B64D 27/30 (2024.01); B64D 2033/0233 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fluid ice protection system for an aircraft, the fluid ice protection system comprising:
a plenum back wall affixed to an interior surface of an inlet cowl of a nacelle of the aircraft to define a plenum between the interior surface and a front surface of the plenum back wall, the nacelle surrounding a rotor assembly of an aircraft propulsion system, the inlet cowl defining a plurality of perforations through a thickness of the inlet cowl, the perforations fluidly connected to the plenum, wherein the inlet cowl includes first and second protrusions that project from the interior surface and have respective ramp surfaces, wherein the plenum back wall includes a first flange that is bonded, via a first lap joint, to the ramp surface of the first protrusion and a second flange that is bonded, via a second lap joint, to the ramp surface of the second protrusion to affix the plenum back wall to the inlet cowl, wherein the plenum is defined between the first and second protrusions;
a fluid delivery network coupled to the plenum back wall and configured to supply an anti-ice liquid into the plenum for the anti-ice liquid to penetrate through the perforations onto an exterior surface of the inlet cowl along a leading edge section of the inlet cowl;
a heater device;
one or more temperature sensors configured to generate sensor data indicative of a temperature of the anti-ice liquid within the fluid ice protection system; and
a controller that includes one or more processors, the controller operably connected to the heater device and configured to activate the heater device from an inactive state to warm the anti-ice liquid in response to the sensor data indicating that the temperature of the anti-ice liquid is below a designated threshold temperature value.