Abstract: An ice protection assembly on an airfoil includes a heater positioned on the leading edge, and one or more ice phobic layers positioned to inhibit runback ice formation on the surface of the airfoil downstream of the heater.

Abstract: A method of making a carbon nanotube heater includes impregnating a dry carbon nanotube fiber matrix with a conductive resin, the conductive resin is made of an organic resin and a conductive filler material. The carbon nanotube heater is lightweight, strong, and maintains appropriate electrical conductivity and resistance for use as a heater.

Abstract: An aircraft may include a fuselage and a wing extending away from the fuselage to a wing tip. The wing may have a leading edge portion, a suction side portion, and a pressure side portion. A thermoelectric element may be coupled to an inner surface of the wing. A chemical adhesive may be disposed on a thermoelectric inner surface. A structural rib may be adhesively bonded to the thermoelectric element by curing the chemical adhesive. The structural rib may be mechanically fastened to a suction side of the wing and to a pressure side of the wing.

Abstract: A method of making monolithic carbon nanotube heater elements with geometric shape with multiple, complex curvatures is disclosed. The method includes depositing carbon nanotubes on to a forming surface, draining the carbon nanotubes, and drying the carbon nanotubes. Alternatively, the method includes thermoforming carbon nanotube sheets containing thermoplastic binders. The resulting carbon nanotube heater element is a thin, monolithic carbon nanotube heater sheet having a geometric shape with complex curvatures.

Abstract: A de-icing assembly for a surface of an aircraft includes a carcass with a first layer and a second layer, a plurality of seams sewn into the carcass, and a bonded region. The plurality of seams join the first and second layers of the carcass together. Each of the plurality of seams comprises two or more stitchlines. The bonded region is disposed between the two or more stitchlines and seals a portion of the first layer of the carcass to a portion of the second layer of the carcass.

Abstract: An ice protection heater element includes a carbon allotrope heater with micro-perforations across up to about sixty percent of the carbon allotrope heater's surface. The micro-perforations allow uniform heating across the heating element and tailored electrical resistances for ice protection.

Abstract: A conformable tank includes a body with a plurality of composite walls formed around a cavity, and an internal support connected to one of the plurality of composite walls and positioned in the cavity. The plurality of composite walls includes a flat side wall disposed opposite a curved side wall. A first section of one of the plurality of composite walls includes an exterior facing, an interior facing, and a core positioned between the exterior facing and the interior facing.

Abstract: A nano alumina fabric protects heaters used for de-icing aircraft or other vehicles. This allows heaters to withstand mechanical foreign object damage (FOD), is environmentally safe, and is a cost-efficient alternative to other protection fabrics.

Abstract: An ice protection system for an aircraft component includes a plurality of heaters. The aircraft component has at least two section and a junction area. At least one of the heaters is an H-shape carbon allotrope heater designed to apply heat to the junction area and prevent ice accumulation in the junction area.

Abstract: A pneumatic deicer includes a base layer, a forming layer, a first chamber, and a first sensor. The base layer has an inlet, a first side, and a second side. The forming layer is connected to the base layer along at least two seams and has inner side and an outer side with the outer side being distant from the base layer. The first chamber is formed between the base layer and the forming layer and configured to be inflated by air passing into the first chamber through the inlet in the base layer. The first sensor is situated within the first chamber.

Abstract: Additively manufactured heating elements for tubes are made from a positive temperature coefficient heater ink printed on the tube. A bus bar is likewise printed onto the tube using a conductive ink. The positive temperature coefficient heater ink and bust bar conductive ink are encapsulated with a closing adhesive.

Abstract: A method of preserving power quality on a power grid is provided. The method is implemented by a voltage overflow device that is electrically coupled to the power grid through electrical contacts. A voltage monitoring circuit of the voltage overflow device monitors a voltage via the electrical contacts on the power grid with respect to a predetermined voltage. The voltage monitoring circuit determines whether the voltage exceeds the predetermined voltage. A switch of the voltage overflow device shunt an excess voltage over the predetermined voltage to a resistive load when the voltage exceeds the predetermined voltage to preserve the power quality on the power grid.

Abstract: A heater panel includes a face layer. A heater/dielectric layer includes a heater layer between a pair of dielectric layers. The face layer is bonded to a first one of the dielectric layers. A ballistic structure is bonded to a second one of the dielectric layers. The face layer can be bonded directly to the first one of the dielectric layers with a film adhesive. The ballistic structure can be bonded directly to the second one of the dielectric layers with a film adhesive. The ballistic structure can be configured to withstand at least a 5.56 mm bullet impact.

Abstract: A heating element includes a first bus bar disposed to receive current from a power source, and a second bus bar non-adjacent to the first bus bar. The heating element further includes a polymer ink section extending between the first and second bus bars, and the section includes a plurality of PTC polymer inks each different from one another. The second bus bar is electrically connected to the first bus bar via the polymer ink section.

Abstract: A heated floor panel assembly for aircraft includes structural layers made of a fiber matrix and a high temperature thermoplastic resin. The structural layers are within the heated floor panel assembly to protect the other assembly components from damage and absorb stress. The heated floor panel assembly further includes a heating layer with a heating element, an impact layer, and a core layer to take shear stress exerted on the assembly.

Abstract: A heater panel includes a core and a heater/dielectric layer including a positive thermal coefficient (PTC) heater layer between a pair of dielectric layers. A structural facing is included, wherein the heater/dielectric layer is bonded directly between the core and the structural facing. A second structural facing can be bonded to the core opposite the heater/dielectric layer. An impact layer can be bonded to the structural facing, e.g., the first structural facing described above, opposite the heater/dielectric layer. The heater layer can be formed by direct writing a heating element pattern onto a dielectric layer bonded to the core.

Abstract: A heated floor panel assembly for aircraft includes an impact layer made from a 2-D or 3-D woven high temperature thermoplastic fiber matrix impregnated with a resin. The impact layer can further include woven metallic fibers. The assembly also includes a stack of structural layers, a heating layer, and a core layer for absorbing shear stress.

Abstract: A heated floor panel assembly contains a positive temperature coefficient heater secured in the assembly through a number of welded joints through a thermoplastic dielectric layer. The positive temperature coefficient heater is on a thermoplastic substrate, which is bonded to the thermoplastic dielectric layer. The assembly further includes an impact layer, a core layer, and structural layers.

Abstract: A heater panel includes a core. A heater/dielectric layer including a positive thermal coefficient (PTC) heater layer between a pair of dielectric layers is bonded to the core in a stack. An impact layer is bonded to the stack, wherein the impact layer includes a first sub-layer for impact absorption that is bonded to the stack and a second sub-layer for cut resistance bonded to the first sub-layer. The second sub-layer has a higher material hardness than that of the first-sub layer.

Abstract: A method for reducing the resistivity of a thermoplastic film containing carbon nanotubes includes connecting an electric power supply to the thermoplastic film containing carbon nanotubes and passing electric current through the thermoplastic film containing carbon nanotubes to heat the thermoplastic film to an elevated temperature and align carbon nanotubes within the thermoplastic film. The thermoplastic film is solid at room temperature.