Pneumatic deicer

Claim 2

An inflatable deicer boot for mounting on an airfoil comprising a series of tubular members which can be selectively inflated and deflated to break up a formation of ice on said airfoil, a manifold ply adjusting at least two of said tubular members in the area around openings in said members for the passage of the inflating medium through said openings, and sealing layers of a material impervious to said inflating medium overlaying said manifold ply and said tubular members, and said manifold ply being characterized by a layer of fabric which has one surface adhered to said sealing layers and on its opposite surface a multitude of stiff short fibers projecting toward said tube openings and providing interstices through which the inflating medium can flow to and from said tubular members.

Claim 3

An inflatable deicer boot according to claim 1 wherein the openings in said tubular members are the axial open ends of said tubular members and said manifold ply adjoins said open ends with said stiff fibers projecting transversely to the length of said tubular members.

Claim 4

An inflatable deicer boot according to claim 2 and further characterized in that said manifold ply includes a second layer of fabric located at a position adjoining said open ends of said tubular members and which has one surface adhered to said sealing members and which has on its opposite surface a multitude of stiff short fibers directed toward and meshed with the corresponding fibers of the first said layer.

Claim 5

A laminated deicer boot for mounting on an airfoil comprising a bottom ply, a series of spaced-apart tubular members positioned over said bottom ply for inflation by an inflating medium, a manifold ply adjoining at least two of said tubular members in the areas around openings in said members for the passage of the inflating medium through said openings, sealing members of a material impervious to said inflating medium located around and in sealing engagement with said manifold ply and said tubular member, and said manifold ply being characterized by a plurality of closely spaced fibers which are stiff in their lengthwise direction and which extend transversely to the lamination at said openings for providing interstices through which the inflating medium can flow to and from said tubular members, and a top ply covering said tubular members and said manifold ply.

Claim 6

A laminated deicer boot for mounting on an airfoil comprising a bottom ply, a series of spaced-apart tubular members positioned over said bottom ply for inflation by an inflating medium, a manifold ply adjoining at least two of said tubular members in the areas around openings in said members for the passage of the inflating medium through said openings, sealing members of a material impervious to said inflating medium located around and in sealing engagement with said manifold ply and said tubular member, and said manifold ply being characterized by a plurality of closely spaced fibers which are stiff in their lengthwise direction and which extend transversely to the lamination at said openings for providing interstices through which the inflating medium can flow to and from said tubular members, and a top ply covering said tubular members and said manifold ply.

Claim 7

A laminated deicer boot according to claim 4 wherein the openings in said tubular members are the axial end openings of the tubular members, and wherein the length dimension of said stiff fibers does not exceed the flattened thickness of said tube ends so that the distance between the top and the bottom plies of the boot will be substantially the same throughout.