Proportional mix system and method for applying a thixotropic de-icing fluid to an aircraft

Claim 1

An apparatus for applying a de-icing fluid to a vehicle such as an aircraft; which apparatus includes a water tank and a water discharge system including a water pump, a water heater, and at least one discharge nozzle; a de-icing fluid tank and a de-icing fluid discharge system communicating with said nozzle and including a de-icing fluid pump; and power means for driving the pumps: the improvement which comprises clutch means interposed between said de-icing fluid pump and said power means, and control means included in at least one of said discharge systems for engaging said clutch in response to a flow of fluid through said discharge system at a rate in excess of a predetermined flow rate for subsequent discharge out of said nozzle, said one discharge system being said de-icing fluid discharge system, a de-icing fluid flow switch included in said control means for engaging said clutch and driving said de-icing fluid pump when the de-icing fluid flow through said de-icing fluid flow switch and one of said nozzles is above a predetermined value.

Claim 2

An apparatus for applying a de-icing fluid to a vehicle such as an aircraft; which apparatus includes a water tank and a water discharge system including a water pump, a water heater, and at least one discharge nozzle; a de-icing fluid tank and a de-icing fluid discharge system communicating with said nozzle and including a de-icing fluid pump; and power means for driving the pumps: the improvement which comprises clutch means interposed between said de-icing fluid pump and said power means, and control means included in at least one of said discharge systems for engaging said clutch in response to a flow of fluid through said discharge system at a rate in excess of a predetermined flow rate for subsequent discharge out of said nozzle, said one discharge system being said de-icing fluid discharge system, a de-icing fluid flow switch included in said control means for engaging said clutch and driving said de-icing fluid pump when the de-icing fluid flow through said de-icing fluid flow switch and one of said nozzles is above a predetermined value.

Claim 4

An apparatus according to claims 1 or 2 wherein said heater raises the temperature of the water to between about 120° F.-180° F. and wherein cold de-icing fluid is directed into the hot water prior to being discharged from said nozzle.

Claim 5

An apparatus according to claims 1 or 2 wherein said clutch is an electrically actuated clutch, and wherein said control means is in said de-icing fluid discharge system and includes a flow switch which is responsive to a flow of about three gallons per minute or more through the de-icing fluid discharge system for energizing said clutch and driving said de-icing fluid pump.

Claim 7

An apparatus for applying a de-icing fluid to a vehicle such as an aircraft; which apparatus includes a water tank and a water discharge system including a water pump, a water heater, and at least one discharge nozzle; a de-icing fluid tank and a de-icing fluid discharge system communicating with said nozzle and including a de-icing fluid pump; and power means for driving the pumps; the improvement which comprises clutch means interposed between said de-icing fluid pump and said power means; and control means included in at least one of said discharge systems for engaging said clutch in response to a flow of fluid through said discharge system at a rate in excess of a predetermined flow rate for subsequent discharge out of said nozzle, said clutch being an electrically actuated clutch, said control means being in said de-icing fluid discharge system and includes a flow switch which is responsive to a flow of about three gallons per minute or more through the de-icing fluid discharge system for energizing said clutch and driving said de-icing fluid pump, said control means also including a pressure switch which maintains the clutch engaged for driving the de-icing fluid pump when the pressure acting thereon is less than a predetermined value, and said pressure switch being responsive to disengage said clutch when the pressure is greater than said predetermined value.

Claim 8

An apparatus for applying a de-icing fluid to a vehicle such as an aircraft; which apparatus includes a water tank and a water discharge system including a water pump, a water heater, and at least one discharge nozzle; a de-icing fluid tank and a de-icing fluid discharge system communicating with said nozzle and including a de-icing fluid pump; and power means for driving the pumps; the improvement which comprises clutch means interposed between said de-icing fluid pump and said power means; and control means included in at least one of said discharge systems for engaging said clutch in response to a flow of fluid through said discharge system at a rate in excess of a predetermined flow rate for subsequent discharge out of said nozzle, said clutch being an electrically actuated clutch, said control means being in said de-icing fluid discharge system and includes a flow switch which is responsive to a flow of about three gallons per minute or more through the de-icing fluid discharge system for energizing said clutch and driving said de-icing fluid pump, said control means also including a pressure switch which maintains the clutch engaged for driving the de-icing fluid pump when the pressure acting thereon is less than a predetermined value, and said pressure switch being responsive to disengage said clutch when the pressure is greater than said predetermined value.

Claim 11

An apparatus for applying a de-icing fluid to a vehicle such as an aircraft; which apparatus includes a water tank and a water discharge system including a water pump, a water heater, and at least one discharge nozzle; a de-icing fluid tank and a de-icing fluid discharge system communicating with said nozzle and including a de-icing fluid pump; and power means for driving the pumps: the improvement which comprises clutch means interposed between said de-icing fluid pump and said power means, and control means included in at least one of said discharge means for engaging said clutch in response to a flow of fluid through said discharge system at a rate in excess of a predetermined flow rate for subsequent discharge out of said nozzle, said one discharge system being said water discharge system, a water flow switch included in said control means for engaging said clutch and driving said de-icing fluid pump when the water flow through said water flow switch and one of said nozzles is above a predetermined value.

Claim 12

An apparatus for applying a de-icing fluid to a vehicle such as an aircraft; which apparatus includes a water tank and a water discharge system including a water pump, a water heater, and at least one discharge nozzle; a de-icing fluid tank and a de-icing fluid discharge system communicating with said nozzle and including a de-icing fluid pump; and power means for driving the pumps: the improvement which comprises clutch means interposed between said de-icing fluid pump and said power means, and control means included in at least one of said discharge means for engaging said clutch in response to a flow of fluid through said discharge system at a rate in excess of a predetermined flow rate for subsequent discharge out of said nozzle, said one discharge system being said water discharge system, a water flow switch included in said control means for engaging said clutch and driving said de-icing fluid pump when the water flow through said water flow switch and one of said nozzles is above a predetermined value.

Claim 14

An apparatus for applying a de-icing fluid to a vehicle such as an aircraft; which apparatus includes a water tank and a water discharge system including a water pump, a heater, and at least one discharge nozzle; a de-icing fluid tank and a de-icing fluid discharge system communicating with said nozzle and including a deicing fluid centrifugal pump; and power means for driving the pumps: the improvement which comprises clutch means interposed between said de-icing fluid pump and said power means, and control means included in both of said discharge systems for engaging said clutch means in response to a flow of fluid through at least one of said discharge systems at a rate in excess of a predetermined flow rate for subsequent discharge out of said nozzle.

Claim 15

An apparatus for applying a de-icing fluid to a vehicle such as an aircraft; which apparatus includes a water tank and a water discharge system including a water pump, a heater, and at least one discharge nozzle; a de-icing fluid tank and a de-icing fluid discharge system communicating with said nozzle and including a deicing fluid centrifugal pump; and power means for driving the pumps: the improvement which comprises clutch means interposed between said de-icing fluid pump and said power means, and control means included in both of said discharge systems for engaging said clutch means in response to a flow of fluid through at least one of said discharge systems at a rate in excess of a predetermined flow rate for subsequent discharge out of said nozzle.

Claim 17

An apparatus according to claims 11 or 12 wherein said heater raises the temperature of the water to between about 120° F.-180° F. and wherein cold de-icing fluid is directed into the hot water prior to being discharged from said nozzle.

Claim 18

An apparatus according to claims 11 or 12 wherein said water discharge system includes at least one water flow switch which controls engagement of said clutch in response to a flow rate therethrough in excess of said predetermined flow rate, a de-icing fluid flow switch included in said de-icing fluid discharge system which controls engagement of said clutch in response to a flow rate therethrough in excess of said predetermined flow rate, a pressure switch in said de-icing fluid system which engages the clutch in response to a pressure lower than a predetermined pressure and release the clutch when said pressure is above said predetermined pressure, said flow switches and pressure switch being operable independently of each other to engage or disengage said clutch.

Claim 22

A method of de-icing an aircraft with an apparatus that includes a water pump and a centrifugal de-icing fluid pump which directs a mixture of water and a thixotropic de-icing fluid onto the aircraft comprising the steps of driving the water pump for pumping the water through a water discharge system which includes a heater and at least one discharge nozzle when a nozzle is open, heating the water, driving the de-icing fluid pump for pumping the thixotropic fluid through a de-icing fluid discharge system for discharge from at least one of said discharge nozzles when a nozzle is open, detecting the flow rate and pressure of the de-icing fluid in said de-icing fluid discharge system, and discontinuing driving the de-icing fluid pump in response to detecting the pressure of the de-icing fluid which is greater than a predetermined pressure.

Claim 23

A method of de-icing an aircraft with an apparatus that includes a water pump and a centrifugal de-icing fluid pump which directs a mixture of water and a thixotropic de-icing fluid onto the aircraft comprising the steps of driving the water pump for pumping the water through a water discharge system which includes a heater and at least one discharge nozzle when a nozzle is open, heating the water, driving the de-icing fluid pump for pumping the thixotropic fluid through a de-icing fluid discharge system for discharge from at least one of said discharge nozzles when a nozzle is open, detecting the flow rate and pressure of the de-icing fluid in said de-icing fluid discharge system, and discontinuing driving the de-icing fluid pump in response to detecting the pressure of the de-icing fluid which is greater than a predetermined pressure.

Claim 29

A method according to claims 18 or 20 wherein the water is heated to between about 120° F. to 180° F.

Claim 30

A method according to claims 18 or 20 wherein said predetermined pressure is about 90 psi and wherein said predetermined flow rates of de-icing fluid and of water is about three gallons per minute.