Apparatus for deicing an aircraft

An improved apparatus for deicing an aircraft is provided and consists of a recycling system which applies deicing liquid onto an aircraft and then recovers the deicing liquid back so that the deicing liquid can be used again.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The instant invention relates generally to deicing devices and more 
specifically it relates to an improved apparatus for deicing an aircraft. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Numerous deicing devices have been provided in prior art that are adapted 
to remove ice from the wings, fuselage and tail of aircraft. For example, 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,733 to McClinchy is illustrative of such prior art. 
While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they 
address, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present 
invention as heretofore described. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved 
apparatus for deicing an aircraft that will overcome the shortcomings of 
the prior art devices. 
Another object is to provide an improved apparatus for deicing an aircraft 
that is a system to apply deicing liquid which is ethylene glycol, onto an 
aircraft and then recover the deicing liquid back so that the deicing 
liquid can be used again. 
An additional object is to provide an improved apparatus for deicing an 
aircraft that will stop environmental polution of the surrounding area 
since all of the deicing liquid that runs off the surface of the aircraft 
is recoverable. 
A further object is to provide an improved apparatus for deicing an 
aircraft that is simple and easy to use. 
A still further object is to provide an improved apparatus for deicing an 
aircraft that is economical in cost to manufacture. 
Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may 
be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, 
attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are 
illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific 
construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended 
claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference 
characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the 
Figures illustrate an improved apparatus 10 for deicing an aircraft 12 
consisting of a shelter 14 having a roof 16 and a pair of side walls 19 
supported on a floor 20. Support structures 22 are provided in which each 
have a pair of vertical members 24 and a horizontal member 26. Each 
vertical member 24 extends up one of the side walls 19 while the 
horizontal member 26 extends across under the roof 16 of the shelter 14. A 
feed line 18 extends through one of the vertical members 24 and the 
horizontal member 26. A plurality of spray nozzles 30 are spaced apart and 
support on the horizontal member 26 and are fluidly connected to the feed 
line 18. A first system 32 is provided for automatically applying deicing 
liquid through the feed line 18 and out of the spray nozzles 30 onto the 
air craft 12. A second system 34 is for recovering the deicing liquid so 
that the deicing liquid can be used again. 
The first system 32 includes a first tanker truck 36 having a tank 38 with 
the deicing liquid therein. A delivery hose 40 is coupled between the tank 
38 and the feed line 18 in the vertical member 24. S delivery pump 42 
within the tank 38 is coupled to the delivery hose 40. A filter 44 is 
coupled to the pump 42 while a generator 46 on the tank 38 is to activate 
the pump 42. 
The second system 34 includes a drail line 48 formed within the floor 20 to 
capture the deicing liquid after being dispensed from the spray nozzles 
30. A recovery pump 50 is coupled to the drain line 48, while a recovery 
hose 52 is coupled to the recovery pump 50. A second tanker truck 54 has a 
tank 56 that is coupled to the recovery hose 52 so that the pump 50 can 
pump the deicing liquid into the tank 56 of the second tanker 54. 
The support structures 22 include wheel assemblies 60 on each vertical 
member 24 so that the support structures 22 are mobile. The side walls 19 
of the shelter 14 include transport wheel assemblies 60 so that the 
shelter 14 is mobile. 
A polyethylene resin liner 62 is also provided and can have curb edges 64 
and drain holes 66 so that the liner 62 can protect the floor 20 and guide 
the deicing liquid into the drain line 48. The apparatus 10 can also 
include a plurality of sensors 68, which can be either photocells or 
dedectors, in the floor 20 that will activate the recovery pump 50 when 
the aircraft taxis through the shelter 14. 
A modified form of the apparatus 10 is shown in FIG. 2B wherein the first 
system 32 includes a reservoir 70 within the floor 20 for storing the 
deicing liquid therein. A filter 72 within the floor 20 is coupled to the 
reservoir 70. A pump 74 within the floor 20 is coupled between the filter 
72 and the feed line 18 in the vertical member 24. A plurality of sensors 
68 on the floor 20 will activate the pump 74 when the aircraft 12 taxis 
through the shelter 14. 
The second system 34 includes a drain line 48 formed within the floor 20 to 
capture the deicing liquid after being dispensed from the spray nozzles 30 
so as to return to the reservoir 70 to be used again. 
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 
10: improved apparatus 
12: aircraft 
14: shelter 
16: roof 
19: side wall 
20: floor 
22: support structure 
24: vertical member 
26: horizontal member 
18: feed line 
30: spray nozzle 
32: first system 
34: second system 
36: fitst tanker truck 
38: tank in 36 
40: delivery hose 
42: delivery pump 
44: filter 
46: generator 
48: drain line 
50: recovery pump 
52: recovery hose 
54: second tanker truck 
56: tank in 54 
58: wheel assembly 
60: transport wheel assembly 
62: polyethylene resin liner 
64: curb edge 
66: drain hole 
68: sensor 
70: reservoir 
72: filter in 20 
74: pump in 20 
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or 
more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods 
differing from the type described above. 
While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and 
described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to 
be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various 
omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and 
details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by 
those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spririt of 
the present invention. 
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of 
the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, 
readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, 
from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential 
characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.