Thermal management system for an aircraft avionics bay
AssigneeAeroVironment, Inc.
InventorsUchenna Ofoma, Bart Dean Hibbs
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for managing heat transfer is provided by the present disclosure, which in one form includes a cavity having an inner wall portion, at least one heat-generating component disposed within the cavity, and a plurality of heat conducting members disposed adjacent one another. Each heat conducting member includes a resilient core and an outer shell wrapped around at least a portion of the resilient core. The outer shell is made of a material having a relatively high thermal conductivity, and the plurality of heat conducting members are positioned between the heat-generating component and the inner wall portion of the cavity.
Claims14
A system for managing heat transfer comprising:
- a cavity having an inner wall portion;
- at least one heat-generating component disposed within the cavity;
- and
- a plurality of heat conducting members disposed adjacent one another, each heat conducting member comprising:
- a resilient core;
- and
- an outer shell wrapped around at least a portion of the resilient core, the outer shell comprising a material having a relatively high thermal conductivity,
- wherein the plurality of heat conducting members are positioned between the heat-generating component and the inner wall portion of the cavity;
- a structural member disposed proximate the inner wall portion of the cavity and comprising:
- an upper skin;
- a lower skin;
- and
- a foam core disposed between the upper skin and the lower skin;
- at least one heat conducting array extending through the foam core and between the upper skin and the lower skin, the heat conducting array defining at least one upper cap, at least one lower cap, and a wall portion extending between the upper cap and the lower cap, the upper cap being disposed proximate a heat source;
- and
- a heat conducting spreader disposed between the lower cap of the heat conducting array and the lower skin of the structural member,
- wherein the heat conducting array dissipates heat from the heat-generating component by transferring heat from the at least one upper cap, through the wall portion, to the at least one lower cap, to the heat conducting spreader, through the lower skin, and out to an atmosphere.
A system for managing heat transfer comprising:
- a cavity having an inner wall portion;
- at least one heat-generating component disposed within the cavity;
- and
- a plurality of heat conducting members disposed adjacent one another, each heat conducting member comprising:
- a resilient core;
- and
- an outer shell wrapped around at least a portion of the resilient core, the outer shell comprising a material having a relatively high thermal conductivity,
- wherein the plurality of heat conducting members are positioned between the heat-generating component and the inner wall portion of the cavity;
- a structural member disposed proximate the inner wall portion of the cavity and comprising:
- an upper skin;
- a lower skin;
- and
- a foam core disposed between the upper skin and the lower skin;
- at least one heat conducting array extending through the foam core and between the upper skin and the lower skin, the heat conducting array defining at least one upper cap, at least one lower cap, and a wall portion extending between the upper cap and the lower cap, the wall portion defining a perforated portion, and the upper cap being disposed proximate a heat source, wherein the heat conducting array dissipates heat from the heat-generating component by transferring heat from the at least one upper cap, through the wall portion, to the at least one lower cap, to the heat conducting spreader, through the lower skin, and out to an atmosphere;
- and
- a heat conducting spreader disposed between the lower cap of the heat conducting array and the lower skin of the structural member,
- wherein the foam core flows through the perforated portion during forming of the structural member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.