Low Drag Heat Exchanger
AssigneeTextron Aviation Inc.
InventorsRobert Glynn Wiegers, Gonzalo Eduardo Mendoza, Steven Michael Klausmeyer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A low drag heat exchanger for an aircraft includes an intake which allows airflow to pass against a heat exchanger disposed within an aircraft wing. After flowing past the heat exchanger, airflow may be released out of the air exit and controlled with an adjustable exhaust door configured to open and close to allow or disallow airflow out of the air exit. The door may be positioned to minimize drag produced when air is released out of the air exit.
Claims20
A low drag heat exchanger for an aircraft, the heat exchanger comprising:
- an air intake opening disposed on a leading wing edge of a wing, the air intake opening being configured to receive incoming airflow;
- a heat exchanger disposed at least partially within the wing such that air flowing into the air intake opening passes through the heat exchanger and then out of an exhaust opening disposed on an underside of the wing;
- and
- an adjustable exhaust door configured to control airflow out of the exhaust opening, wherein opening the adjustable exhaust door allows airflow out of the exhaust opening and closing the adjustable exhaust door disallows airflow out of the exhaust opening.
A method for having a low drag heat exchanger, the method comprising:
- collecting aircraft flight information, wherein the aircraft flight information includes data corresponding to air passing into an air intake opening, being directed through a heat exchanger, and passing out of an exhaust opening, the air intake opening and the exhaust opening being configured on an aircraft frame;
- determining an adjustment based on the aircraft flight information, the adjustment corresponding to an adjustable exhaust door configured to allow or disallow air from passing out of the exhaust opening;
- and
- implementing the adjustment to the adjustable exhaust door.
A low drag heat exchanger system for an aircraft, the system comprising:
- an air intake opening configured to receive air, wherein the air intake opening is disposed on a forward facing portion of an aircraft frame;
- an adjustable exhaust door configured to pivot open and closed relative to an exhaust opening disposed on the aircraft frame;
- a heat exchanger disposed at least partially internal of the aircraft frame wherein air is directed towards the heat exchanger when air passes into the air intake opening and out of the exhaust opening;
- a controller comprising:
- a decision making component configured to determine an adjustment based on information collected by an aircraft information component wherein the adjustment corresponds to the adjustable exhaust door being in an open, partially open, or closed position;
- and
- a door actuation component configured to implement the adjustment to the adjustable exhaust door.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.