Abstract:
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.

Description:
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. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view with parts broken away of the invention. 
     FIG. 1A is a top diagrammatic view thereof with the roof removed. 
     FIG. 1A&#39; is a front view of a portion of the shelter showing transport wheels thereon. 
     FIG. 1B is a chart to indicate the locations of the nozzles and photo cells/detectors. 
     FIG. 2 is a front view with parts broken away and in section of the mobile support structure and drain lines within the floor. 
     FIG. 2A is a perspective view partly in section and broken away of the liner on the floor. 
     FIG. 2B is a diagrammatic front view of a modification in which the deicing fluid is recycled back to be used again. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view with parts broken away of the left side of the mobile support structure shown in FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view with parts broken away of the right side of the mobile support structure. 
     FIG. 5 is a side view with parts broken away of the supply tanker truck in greater detail. 
    
    
     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.