Aircraft bay blankets that provide enhanced drainage features
Systems and methods are provided for insulation and moisture drainage. One exemplary embodiment is an apparatus comprising a bay blanket configured to insulate an aircraft. The bay blanket includes insulation, and a first waterproof lip that protrudes from the insulation in an outboard direction towards a frame of the aircraft and extends along a length of a leftward side of the bay blanket. The bay blanket also includes a second waterproof lip that protrudes from the insulation in an outboard direction towards the frame of the aircraft along a length of a rightward side of the bay blanket.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a bay blanket configured to insulate an aircraft, the bay blanket comprising:
insulation;
a first waterproof lip that protrudes from the insulation in an outboard direction towards a frame of the aircraft and extends along a length of an aftward leftward side of the bay blanket that is perpendicular to the outboard direction, the first waterproof lip curling over the insulation towards a center of the bay blanket;
a second waterproof lip that protrudes from the insulation in the outboard direction towards the frame of the aircraft along a length of a foreward rightward side of the bay blanket that is perpendicular to the outboard direction, the second waterproof lip curling over the insulation towards a center of the bay blanket;
first fixation elements that are configured to affix the first and second waterproof lips of the bay blanket to the aircraft; and
second fixation elements that are configured to affix a center of the bay blanket to the aircraft,
wherein the bay blanket is configured to hang from the fixation elements forming a leftward gutter that channels water in the aircraft proximate to the first waterproof lip, and a rightward gutter that channels liquid water in the aircraft proximate to the second waterproof lip.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the first fixation elements comprise hook-and-loop fastener material.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
the bay blanket further comprises strips that are each attached between one of the waterproof lips and the insulation.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising:
multiple additional fixation elements that are configured to affix the strips to the aircraft.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
each waterproof lip further comprises an overhang that extends in a direction parallel to an outboard surface of the insulation, and the overhang of the first waterproof lip faces the overhang of the second waterproof lip.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising:
a channeling element that continues along a length of the overhang beneath the overhang,
the channeling element comprises a porous material that channels water underneath the overhang when the overhang sags downward towards the insulation.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
corners at ends of the lengths of the bay blanket are folded towards a center of the bay blanket and affixed to the insulation.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein:
each of the corners is affixed to the insulation by tape.