A deicing assembly includes a pneumatic deicing apparatus configured for attachment to a leading edge of an aircraft surface, the pneumatic deicing assembly having a plurality of inflatable chambers, and a carbon allotrope heater having at least one sheet of a carbon allotrope material.

A pneumatic deicing device (1) for breaking and removing an ice deposit accumulated on the outer surface (2) of an aircraft, in particular on an airplane wing. The device (1) includes an outer layer (10) intended to withstand the outside environment, an inner interface layer (50) intended to be bonded to the outer surface of the aircraft, and at least two outer (30) and inner (40) intermediate layers connected to one another by a network of stitches (36) spaced apart to define deicing chambers (35) that can be inflated using injected pressurized air so as to create an expansion of the device causing a mechanical action to break the ice. The inner interface layer (50) with the outer surface (2) of the aircraft includes at least one textile layer (54) having an inner surface (55) intended to be in direct contact with an outer surface (2) of the aircraft.

A pneumatic deicing device (1) is provided for breaking and removing an ice deposit accumulated on the outer surface (2) of an aircraft, in particular on an airplane wing. The device (1) includes an outer layer (15) intended to withstand the outside environment, an inner interface layer (50) intended to be connected to the outer surface (2) of the aircraft, and at least two outer (30) and inner (40) intermediate layers connected to one another by an array of stitches (36) so as to define deicing chambers (35) that can be inflated quickly to cause a mechanical action to break the ice. The outer intermediate layer (30) includes a knit textile layer (34). At least one interlayer (20; 32) made from polar elastomer material is arranged above the knit textile layer (34) and immediately in contact with the outer layer (15) and the knit textile layer (34).

A deicer boot includes a plurality of first elastomer fibers and a first carbon allotrope material selected from the group consisting of carbon nanotubes, graphene, graphite and carbon black. The first carbon allotrope material is aligned with one of the first elastomer fibers. The deicer boot also includes a plurality of second elastomer fibers and a second carbon allotrope material selected from the group consisting of carbon nanotubes, graphene, graphite and carbon black. The second carbon allotrope material is aligned with one of the second elastomer fibers. The second elastomer fibers are different from the first elastomer fibers.

A deicer includes an aircraft structure and an outer layer with a sheet having a brittle point lower than 40 C. (40 F.). The sheet includes a polyether urethane elastomer. A deicer includes an aircraft structure and an outer elastomer layer. The outer elastomer layer includes a non-woven fabric having polyether urethane fibers and one of (1) a carbon allotrope material aligned with at least one of the polyether urethane fibers and (2) a polyester urethane composition located on a portion of the non-woven fabric. A method of forming a layer of a deicer boot includes forming a polyether urethane elastomer sheet having a brittle point lower than 40 C. (40 F.) and incorporating the polyether urethane elastomer sheet onto an aircraft structure.

A deicer boot includes an aircraft structure and an outer layer. The outer layer includes a plurality of elastomer fibers and a carbon allotrope material. The carbon allotrope material is aligned with at least one elastomer fiber belonging to the plurality of elastomer fibers. A method of forming a layer of a deicer boot includes aligning a carbon allotrope material with a first elastomer fiber, joining the first elastomer fiber with a plurality of additional elastomer fibers to form a non-woven fiber fabric, and incorporating the non-woven fiber fabric into a sheet.

An electro-pneumatic de-icer for an airfoil includes an electrically-powered compressor for compressing air, an air-storage tank for storing compressed air, a source of negative pressure, an airfoil pneumatic boot, and a control valve located between 1) the air-storage tank, 2) the source of negative pressure, and 3) the pneumatic boot for cycling between compressed air to inflate the pneumatic boot and negative pressure to deflate the pneumatic boot for cracking accumulated ice on the airfoil. An airfoil de-icing method lacking engine bleed air extraction includes compressing air with an electrically-powered compressor, storing high-pressure air from the compressor in an air-storage tank, delivering high-pressure air from the air-storage tank to inflate a pneumatic boot located along an airfoil, providing a negative-pressure source, deflating the pneumatic boot with the negative-pressure source, and alternating between inflating and deflating the pneumatic boot for cracking accumulated ice on the airfoil.

Ice may form along the leading edge of an aircraft wing. A pneumatic deicing system may be configured to crack and dislodge ice along the leading edge of the wing. The pneumatic deicing system may comprise a deicing boot assembly having a deicing boot attached to the leading edge, and a gas generator fluidly coupled to the deicing boot assembly. The gas generator may comprise a propellant and may decompose the propellant, liberating a compressed gas. The compressed gas may be directed to the deicing boot assembly, inflating the deicing boot, which may crack and dislodge the ice.

A method includes receiving a plurality of temperature measurements from temperature sensors of an aircraft. The method includes determining whether a first count of one or more first temperature metrics that are within a temperature range is greater than a first threshold. The one or more temperature metrics are derived from the plurality of temperature measurements. The method includes initiating generating an icing output signal when the first count is greater than or equal to the first threshold.

A structure adapted to traverse a fluid environment exerting an ambient fluid pressure is provided. The structure includes an elongate body extending from a root to a wingtip and encapsulating at least one interior volume containing an interior fluid exerting an interior fluid pressure that is different from the ambient fluid pressure. A method of retrofitting a structure adapted to traverse a fluid environment exerting an ambient fluid pressure, the structure comprising an elongate body extending from a root to a wingtip and having at least one interior volume is also provided. The method includes sealing the elongate body to encapsulate the at least one interior volume containing an interior fluid; associating at least one valve with the at least one interior volume; and modifying interior fluid content via the at least one valve to produce an interior fluid pressure that is different from the ambient fluid pressure.