IP Library Granted Patent US 11,591,096
Granted Patent B1
US 11,591,096 · App. 17/396,076 · Granted Feb 28, 2023

Artificial ice for an aircraft component

Inventors: David E. Gottschalk (West Hartford, CT); Isaac J. Hogate (Farmington, ME); Christina M. Williams (Coventry, CT); Shane C. Hilton (Tolland, CT); Neill E. Brown (Colchester, CT)
Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
B64D27/10B64F5/60F02C7/00F05D2220/323F05D2260/81F05D2260/83
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,591,096
App. No.
17/396,076
Granted
Feb 28, 2023
Kind
B1
Abstract

An assembly is provided for an aircraft propulsion system. This aircraft propulsion system assembly includes an aircraft propulsion system component with a leading edge. The aircraft propulsion system assembly also includes artificial ice attached to the aircraft propulsion system component. The artificial ice at least partially covers and extends longitudinally along the leading edge.

Claims (54)

1. An assembly for an aircraft propulsion system, comprising:

an aircraft propulsion system component comprising a leading edge; and

artificial ice attached to the aircraft propulsion system component, the artificial ice at least partially covering and extending longitudinally along the leading edge.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:

an inlet structure to a turbine engine of the aircraft propulsion system;

the inlet structure comprising a plurality of inlet vanes; and

the aircraft propulsion system component comprising a first of the plurality of inlet vanes.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the artificial ice is attached to the aircraft propulsion system component with tape.

4. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein

the tape includes an intermediate portion between a first end portion and a second end portion;

the intermediate portion extends about and is adhered to an exterior surface of the artificial ice;

the first end portion extends along and is adhered to a first side surface of the aircraft propulsion system component; and

the second end portion extends along and is adhered to a second side surface of the aircraft propulsion system component.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the artificial ice directly contacts the aircraft propulsion system component.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the artificial ice is configured with a hollow body.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein

the artificial ice includes an outer shell and a support;

the outer shell forms an internal cavity within the artificial ice; and

the support projects across the internal cavity between opposing sides of the outer shell.

8. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the artificial ice comprises a fracture feature.

9. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein

the artificial ice includes a base, a first side leg and a second side leg;

the base is laterally between the first side leg and the second side leg, and the base extends longitudinally along and covers the leading edge;

the first side leg projects out from the base along and covers a first side surface of the aircraft propulsion system component; and

the second side leg projects out from the base along and covers a second side surface of the aircraft propulsion system component.

10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein

the artificial ice comprises an interior surface that extends along the base, the first side leg and the second side leg; and

at least a portion of the interior surface engages the leading edge.

11. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein

the artificial ice comprises an interior surface that extends along the base, the first side leg and the second side leg; and

at least a portion of the interior surface is disengaged from the leading edge.

12. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of an exterior surface of the artificial ice has a curved, convex cross-sectional geometry as the portion of the exterior surface wraps about the aircraft propulsion system component from a first trailing edge of the artificial ice to a second trailing edge of the artificial ice.

13. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein

at least a portion of an exterior surface of the artificial ice has a cross-sectional geometry as the portion of the exterior surface wraps about the aircraft propulsion system component from a first trailing edge of the artificial ice to a second trailing edge of the artificial ice; and

the cross-sectional geometry includes a concave section and a convex section.

14. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein

the artificial ice has a cross-sectional geometry; and

the cross-sectional geometry changes as the artificial ice extends longitudinally along the leading edge.

15. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the artificial ice comprises at least one of brittle and rigid material.

16. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein

the artificial ice extends longitudinally along the leading edge between a first end of the artificial ice and a second end of the artificial ice; and

a portion of the artificial ice tapers inward to the aircraft propulsion system component as the portion of the artificial ice extends longitudinally along the leading edge to the first end of the artificial ice.

17. An assembly for an aircraft, comprising:

an aircraft component comprising a leading edge; and

artificial ice attached to the aircraft component with single sided tape, the artificial ice at least partially covering and extending longitudinally along the leading edge, and the artificial ice between a first portion of the single sided tape and the aircraft component.

18. A method involving an aircraft propulsion system, comprising:

attaching artificial ice to a component of the aircraft propulsion system, the artificial ice at least partially covering and extending longitudinally along a leading edge of the component of the aircraft propulsion system; and

monitoring one or more operational parameters of the aircraft propulsion system while the artificial ice is attached to the component of the aircraft propulsion system.

19. The assembly of claim 17 , wherein

the single sided tape further includes a second portion and a third portion;

the first portion is between the second portion and the third portion, and the first portion is adhered to an exterior surface of the artificial ice;

the second portion is adhered to a first side surface of the aircraft component; and

the third portion is adhered to a second side surface of the aircraft component.

20. The assembly of claim 17 , wherein the artificial ice is configured with a hollow body.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 27, 2023
From: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RTX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064714/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2021
From: GOTTSCHALK, DAVID E.; HOGATE, ISAAC; WILLIAMS, CHRISTINA M.; HILTON, SHANE C.; BROWN, NEILL E.
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 058159/0634 →