AIRCRAFT HEATER FLOOR PANEL

Abstract

An aircraft heated floor panel (10) comprising a heat-generating layer (20) including an electric heater (52) having current supply lines (54) and a controller (60) which controls the current supplied to the heater (52) via the supply lines (54) to thereby control the heat generated by the layer (20). The controller (60) is integrated into the floor panel (10) whereby the panel has a stand-alone control system which need only be connected to the on-board power source of the aircraft, but can be connected to a main controller for networking or other purposes.

Description

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of aircraft floor panels according to the present invention installed in an aircraft.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of one of the aircraft floor panels.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a heat-generating layer of the aircraft floor panel.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of the connection and/or control of a plurality of the floor panels on the aircraft.

Claims

1. An aircraft heated floor panel comprising: a heat-generating layer including an electric heater having current supply lines;a support level, positioned below the heat-generating layer, for supporting the panel on structural members of the aircraft; anda controller which controls the current supplied to the heater via the lines to thereby control the heat generated by the layer;wherein the controller is integrated into the support level and/or the heat-generating layer.

2. An aircraft heated floor panel as set forth in the claim 1, wherein a sensor in or near the heat-generating layer provides temperature data to the panel-integrated controller and, based on this data, the controller regulates the amount of current supplied to the electric heater.

3. An aircraft heated floor panel as set forth in claim 2, wherein an ambient sensor provides temperature data to the panel-integrated controller and, based on this data, the controller regulates the amount of current supplied to the electric heater.

4. An aircraft heated floor panel as set forth in claim 1, wherein an ambient sensor provides temperature data to the panel-integrated controller and, based on this data, the controller regulates the amount of current supplied to the electric heater.

5. An aircraft heated floor panel as set forth in claim 4, wherein the panel-integrated controller is connected to a switch allowing selection of power levels and/or temperature set-points.

6. An aircraft heated floor panel as set forth in claim 3, wherein the panel-integrated controller is connected to a switch allowing selection of power levels and/or temperature set-points.

7. An aircraft heated floor panel as set forth in claim 2, wherein the panel-integrated controller is connected to a switch allowing selection of power levels and/or temperature set-points.

8. An aircraft heated floor panel as set forth in claim 1, wherein the panel-integrated controller is connected to a switch allowing selection of power levels and/or temperature set-points.

9. An aircraft heated floor panel as set forth in claim 8, wherein the heater comprises a plurality of heating elements each having a current line connected to the panel-integrated controller, and wherein power can be supplied to none, one, some, or all of the heater elements to control the heat output of the heater.

10. An aircraft heated floor panel as set forth in claim 8, wherein the heater comprises a plurality of heating elements each having a current line connected to the panel-integrated controller, and wherein power can be supplied to none, one, some, or all of the heater elements to control the heat output of the heater.

11. An aircraft heated floor panel as set forth in claim 8, wherein the heater comprises a plurality of heating elements each having a current line connected to the panel-integrated controller, and wherein power can be supplied to none, one, some, or all of the heater elements to control the heat output of the heater.

12. An aircraft heated floor panel as set forth in claim 7, wherein the heater comprises a plurality of heating elements each having a current line connected to the panel-integrated controller, and wherein power can be supplied to none, one, some, or all of the heater elements to control the heat output of the heater.

13. An aircraft heated floor panel as set forth in claim 3, wherein the heater comprises a plurality of heating elements each having a current line connected to the panel-integrated controller, and wherein power can be supplied to none, one, some, or all of the heater elements to control the heat output of the heater.

14. An aircraft heated floor panel as set forth in claim 2, wherein the heater comprises a plurality of heating elements each having a current line connected to the panel-integrated controller, and wherein power can be supplied to none, one, some, or all of the heater elements to control the heat output of the heater.

15. An aircraft heated floor panel as set forth in claim 1, wherein the support level comprises a honeycomb layer.

16. In combination, an aircraft and at least one aircraft floor panel as set forth in claim 1, installed in an area of the aircraft.

17. In combination, and aircraft, a plurality of aircraft floor panels as set forth in claim 1, installed in an area of the aircraft, and a main controller connected with each of the panel-integrated controllers.

18. The combination set forth in claim 17, wherein the panel-integrated controllers are connected to the main controller via control-data bus.

19. The combination set forth in claim 17, wherein an ambient sensor provides temperature data to the main controller.

20. The combination set forth in claim 17, wherein a switch connected to the main controller allows selection of power levels and/or temperature set-points.