Patent abstracts Available to Purchase

In UK patent 2259679 Short Brothers plc describe an aircraft structural component such as an engine nacelle nose cowl. It comprises a forward compartment formed by a forward bulkhead and a skin structure which has an outer surface to be protected from accumulation of ice. A rear compartment is formed between the forward bulkhead and a rear bulkhead. A supply duct extends through the rear compartment and into the forward compartment for the delivery of pressurized hot gases to the inner surface of the skin structure. A protective shroud duct surrounds the supply duct between rear bulkhead and forward bulkhead and forms an annular space around the supply duct. The annular space is closed at the rear bulkhead and throughout its length within the rear compartment by a shroud duct and is open at its forward end into the forward compartment. Leakage of hot gases from the supply duct on rupture are therefore prevented by the shroud duct from entering into the rear compartment. A duct is provided for discharging spent gases from the forward compartment to the atmosphere.