System for de-icing component, in particular aircraft blade, with integrated wear protection

Abstract

The invention relates to a de-icing system (1) for de-icing a component (4), in particular a blade (4), comprising:-a main surface (2) intended to cover a first face (5) of the component (4), the main surface being capable of de-icing the first face (5); and-a protective surface (3), in particular folded relative to the main surface (2), intended to cover a second face of the component (4), in particular opposite the first face (5), the main surface (2) and the protective surface (3) being formed from the same part and being in material continuity with each other.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for deicing components, in particular aircraft components (for example, blades of an aircraft turbine engine), and aims to create a uniform deicing system that protects the components against wear and that optimizes the effective deicing surface of the components due to an effective surface that is greater than the surface of the components to be deiced. Existing technology

[0002] Known de-icing systems for de-icing blades are not suitable for protecting the blades from wear and require the addition of additional protective folds.

[0003] The addition of such an additional protective fold increases the additional operations required to install the de-icing system on the blade and furthermore results in local discontinuities at the junction zone of the de-icing system and the additional protective fold. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to overcome at least some of the above-mentioned drawbacks and to propose a de-icing system with a more uniform profile, capable of combining the functions of wear protection and de-icing performance in a single device without areas of mechanical discontinuity.

[0005] The invention also allows to omit an assembly step and to form only one part to be manufactured, which makes the production more cost-effective.

[0006] In view of the above, the object of the present invention is a deicing system for deicing components, in particular blades, comprising:

[0007] a main surface intended to cover a first face of the blade in order to de-ice the first face, and

[0008] a protective surface, in particular folded relative to the main surface, intended to cover a second face of the component, in particular the second face opposite the first face.

[0009] More specifically, the main surface and the protective surface are formed from the same portion and are materially continuous with each other.

[0010] Preferably, the main surface has sufficient dimensions to at least partially cover the first face, in particular to cover more than half of the first face, typically to completely cover the first face.

[0011] For example, the protective surface comprises a wear-resistant material suitable for protecting the component.

[0012] Advantageously, the protective surface comprises an elastomeric material. According to one embodiment, the elastomer comprises polyurethane.

[0013] The thickness of the main surface may be between 1 mm and 2.5 mm, in particular between 1.4 mm and 2.5 mm.

[0014] Advantageously, the protective surface has a thickness between 0.5 and 1.5 mm, in particular between 0.7 and 1.5 mm, in particular between 0.7 and 1 mm.

[0015] The de-icing system may also provide the protective surface extending over between 10% and 50% of the surface of the second face.

[0016] Preferably, the de-icing system comprises a de-icing device, in particular a thermal de-icing device, which is adapted to heat the main surface for de-icing the first face, in particular by applying the main surface to the first face.

[0017] The present invention also relates to a de-icing system, wherein the de-icing device is a thermoelectric device.

[0018] Of course, different features, variants and / or embodiments of the invention can be associated with one another according to various combinations, as long as they are compatible with or do not exclude one another. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The invention will be better understood and further features and advantages will become apparent on reading the following detailed description, which includes one embodiment obtained by way of non-limiting example and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, which may serve to improve the understanding of the invention and the disclosure of its embodiments and, if applicable, contribute to its definition, in which:

[0020] [ Figure 1 ] is a perspective view of a de-icing system according to the present invention;

[0021] [ Figure 2 ] is a perspective view of a blade to which the deicing system according to the present invention is applied;

[0022] [ Figure 3 ] is a cross-sectional view of a major surface of a de-icing system according to the present invention; and

[0023] [ Figure 4 ] is a cross-sectional view of the protective surface of the deicing system according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a de-icing system 1 according to the invention and shows the de-icing system 1 comprising a main surface 2 and a protective surface 3 which is advantageously folded relative to the main surface 2 .

[0025] A de-icing system 1 according to the invention is shown and illustrates the possible assembly of a component 4 (for example a blade 4 of a turbine engine of an aircraft) on the turbine engine by means of an attachment device 6 .

[0026] Next, throughout this application, the component 4 is a blade 4 as an example, but is not limited to this application.

[0027] Reference will therefore be made to blades 4 to vaguely denote blades, vanes or any other device intended to convert driving energy into acceleration of a fluid moving therein.

[0028] In particular, the blade 4 comprises a first face 5 on which ice may form and a second face opposite the first face 5 .

[0029] The main surface 2 of the de-icing system 1 is intended to cover a first face 5 of a blade 4 in order to de-ice it.

[0030] The protective surface 3 is intended to at least partially cover the second face of the blade 4. In particular, the protective surface 3 extends over a surface of between 10% and 50% of the surface of the second face of the blade 4, for example.

[0031] The main surface 2 and the protective surface 3 are formed from the same part. The main surface and the protective surface can advantageously be continuous with one another in material.

[0032] The de-icing system 1 is thus formed in one piece, which avoids having a junction point at the leading edge 7 of the blade 4 between the first face 5 and the second face of the blade 4 and thus avoids areas of discontinuity, in particular aerodynamic discontinuity.

[0033] This arrangement also makes it possible to simplify the final installation of the de-icing system 1 on the blade 4 by having only one step for assembling the de-icing system 1 on the blade 4, in particular by gluing the de-icing system 1 on the blade 4, unlike the de-icing systems of the prior art which require gluing of the main surfaces and additionally gluing of the attached anti-wear devices.

[0034] Furthermore, the material continuity of the main surface 2 and the protective surface 3 makes it possible to produce only one part when producing the de-icing system 1. Thus, the de-icing system 1 can be produced according to the invention at a relatively low cost.

[0035] Preferably, the main surface 2 has sufficient dimensions to be able to at least partially cover the surface of the first face 5 , in particular to cover more than half of the surface of the first face 5 , typically to cover the first face 5 completely.

[0036] Such an arrangement makes it possible to cover all or part of the first face 5 with the de-icing system 1 and thus increase the speed and efficiency of de-icing.

[0037] The protective surface 3 may also comprise a wear-resistant material suitable for protecting the blade 4 in particular from adverse weather, temperature conditions and wear that the blade 4 may encounter in the external environment once it is mounted on an aircraft's turbine engine and in operation.

[0038] The de-icing system 1 thus combines in one and the same tool the function of de-icing the blades 4 and the function of protecting the blades 4 against wear.

[0039] Advantageously, the protective surface 3 comprises an elastomeric material that is particularly effective in protecting the blade, in particular from the adverse weather conditions, temperature conditions and wear that the blade 4 may be exposed to in the external environment once it is mounted on an aircraft turbine engine and in operation.

[0040] According to one embodiment, the elastomer comprises polyurethane, which material is particularly suitable in case the blade 4 comprises a metal shield.

[0041] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a major surface 2 of a de-icing system according to the present invention. More particularly, Figure 3 The different successive layers constituting the main surface 2 are shown.

[0042] The main surface 2 is intended to be positioned against a section 8 of the blade 4 which is the thickness to be de-iced at the main surface 2 .

[0043] In particular, the main surface 2 comprises at least one outer layer 9, in particular a first outer layer 9. Advantageously, the main surface 2 comprises two outer layers 9, 14, in particular a first outer layer 9 and a second outer layer 14.

[0044] More specifically, the first outer layer 9 is intended to be in contact with the first face 5 of the blade 4 .

[0045] Furthermore, the first outer layer 9 may have an electrical and / or thermal barrier function between the blade 4 and a thermal de-icing device of the de-icing system 1 , adapted to be able to heat the main surface 2 in order to de-ice the first face 5 .

[0046] Thus, the first outer layer 9 makes it possible to avoid excessive temperatures in contact with the first face 5 of the blade 4 .

[0047] In addition, the second outer layer 14 is intended to be in contact with the external environment. For this reason, the second outer layer 14 is also resistant to the external environment. This second outer layer is thermally conductive, but does not necessarily have electrical insulating properties.

[0048] The second outer layer 14 may be made of an elastomer or polymer resistant to the external environment, in particular to the adverse weather, temperature conditions and abrasion that the blade 4 may encounter in the external environment once it is mounted on an aircraft turbine engine and in operation.

[0049] In particular, the second outer layer 14 is resistant to erosion under the conditions defined by the sand and dust standard RTCA-DO-160 and contributes to impact protection.

[0050] The thickness of the second outer layer 14 may be less than 1.5 mm, preferably between 0.2 mm and 0.5 mm, typically about 0.2 mm.

[0051] The thermal de-icing device of the de-icing system 1 is for example integrated into the main surface 2 , between the first outer layer 9 and the second outer layer 14 .

[0052] In particular, the de-icing device of the de-icing system 1 is a thermoelectric device which is adapted to be able to heat in a controlled manner as a function of an electric current.

[0053] More specifically, the deicing device of the deicing system 1 is composed of multiple layers of stacked bodies, such as Figure 3 shown.

[0054] In particular, the de-icing device of the de-icing system 1 may include

[0055] - Optionally, a first insulating layer 10,

[0056] - heating layer 11, and / or

[0057] - a second insulating layer 12, and / or

[0058] - Optionally, a reinforcement layer 13 .

[0059] A first insulating layer 10 is provided between the first outer layer 9 , which is intended to be in contact with the first face 5 of the blade 4 , and the heating layer 11 .

[0060] The first insulating layer 10 provides an electrical and / or thermal barrier function between the blade 4 and the thermal de-icing device of the de-icing system 1, which is adapted to be able to heat the main surface 2 in order to de-ice the first face 5. Thus, the first insulating layer 10 makes it possible to avoid excessively high contact temperatures with the first face 5 of the blade 4.

[0061] On the assumption that the first outer layer 9 already provides an electrical barrier function and / or a thermal barrier function between the blade 4 and the thermal de-icing device of the de-icing system 1 , the first insulating layer 10 can be omitted.

[0062] The heating layer 11 is arranged between a first outer layer 9 , which is intended to be in contact with the first face 5 of the blade 4 or the first insulating layer 10 , and a second insulating layer 12 .

[0063] According to a particular embodiment, the heating layer 11 is made of a resistive element to heat by the Joule effect. In particular, the heating layer 11 integrates a network of metal tracks intended to be passed with an electric current to generate heat by the Joule effect.

[0064] The second insulating layer 12 is provided between the heating layer 11 and the reinforcement layer 13 or the second outer layer 14 .

[0065] The second insulating layer 12 has both electrical insulating properties and thermal conductive properties and helps to guide heat flow and heat diffusion outward.

[0066] The reinforcement layer 13 is intended to protect the de-icing device of the de-icing system 1 from the external environment. In particular, the reinforcement layer provides protection for the heating layer 11 .

[0067] Furthermore, the reinforcement layer 13 is made of a material capable of circulating the heat generated by the heating layer 11 toward the external environment and the second outer layer 14 .

[0068] On the assumption that the second outer layer 14 already provides the reinforcing function, the reinforcing layer 13 may be omitted.

[0069] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the protection surface 3 of the de-icing system 1 according to the present invention. More particularly, Figure 4 The different successive layers constituting the protective surface 3 are shown.

[0070] like Figure 4 As shown, the protective surface 3 is composed of a first outer layer 9 and a second outer layer 14 of the main surface 2 .

[0071] The thickness of the main surface 2 may be between 1 and 2.5 mm, in particular between 1.4 and 2.5 mm.

[0072] Therefore, if Figure 4 As shown, the protective surface 3 does not integrate the de-icing device of the de-icing system 1. Such a configuration allows the protective surface 3 to have a thinner thickness than the main surface 2.

[0073] The thickness of the protective surface 3 may be between 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm, in particular between 0.7 mm and 1.5 mm, in particular between 0.7 mm and 1 mm.

[0074] The first outer layer 9 and respectively the second outer layer 14 are intended to be in contact with the section 8 of the blade 4 to be protected. Thus, the first outer layer 9, respectively the second outer layer 14 may have a composition comprising an elastomer, for example polyurethane.

[0075] According to an alternative embodiment, the protective surface 3 may be made solely of elastomer.

[0076] Thus, a deicing system 1 for deicing components 4 is produced, which can be operated thermoelectrically and is made of an elastomer, and which has a surface larger than the surface to be heated for deicing, eliminating the need for laying the attached protective surface. Furthermore, the deicing system 1 according to the invention makes it possible to eliminate local discontinuities at the joint area.

[0077] In the detailed disclosure of the present invention given above, the terms used should not be interpreted as limiting the present invention to the embodiments disclosed in the specification that has just been disclosed, but should be interpreted as including all equivalents that can be foreseen by a person skilled in the art by applying his / her general knowledge to implement the teachings that have just been disclosed to him / her.

[0078] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, which are provided only as examples. The present invention encompasses various modifications, alternative forms and other variations that can be conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A deicing system (1) for deicing a component (4), in particular a blade (4), comprising: a main surface (2) intended to cover a first face (5) of the component (4), said main surface being capable of deicing said first face (5), and a protective surface (3), in particular folded relative to the main surface (2), intended to cover a second face of the component (4), in particular opposite to the first face (5), It is characterized in that the main surface (2) and the protective surface (3) are formed by the same part and are continuous with each other in terms of material.

2. The de-icing system (1) according to claim 1, wherein: The main surface (2) has sufficient dimensions to at least partially cover the first face (5), in particular to cover more than half of the first face, and typically to cover the entire first face.

3. De-icing system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The protective surface (3) comprises a wear-resistant material suitable for protecting the component (4).

4. De-icing system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The protective surface (3) comprises an elastomeric material.

5. The de-icing system (1) according to claim 4, wherein: The elastomer includes polyurethane.

6. De-icing system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The thickness of the main surface (2) is between 1 mm and 2.5 mm, in particular between 1.4 mm and 2.5 mm.

7. De-icing system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The thickness of the protective surface (3) is between 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm, in particular between 0.7 mm and 1.5 mm, in particular between 0.7 mm and 1 mm.

8. De-icing system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The protective surface (3) extends over between 10% and 50% of the surface of the second face.

9. De-icing system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a de-icing device, in particular a thermal de-icing device, adapted to be able to heat the main surface (2) in order to de-ice the first face (5).

10. The de-icing system (1) according to claim 9, wherein: The de-icing device is a thermoelectric device.

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