Radiator Arrangement Patents (Class 244/57)
  • Patent number: 11975853
    Abstract: An electric propulsion system for a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft having a heat exchanger to cool fluids used in an electrical engine, the electric propulsion system comprising at least one electrical engine mechanically connected directly or indirectly to a fuselage of the VTOL aircraft and electrically connected to an electrical power source. The electrical engine may comprise an electrical motor having a stator and a rotor; a gearbox assembly comprising a sun gear; at least one planetary gear; a ring gear; and a planetary carrier. The electric engine may include an inverter assembly comprising a thermal plate and an inverter assembly housing; an end bell assembly that is connected to the thermal plate of the inverter assembly; and a heat exchanger comprising an array of cooling fins and tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: ARCHER AVIATION, INC.
    Inventors: Scott Graves, Alan D. Tepe
  • Patent number: 11952140
    Abstract: A cooling system for an aircraft, including a heat exchanger for cooling a hot fluid with cooling air, an air intake for the supply of cooling air and a Coand?-effect air amplifier for the creation of a flow of cooling air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Airbus Operations S.L.U.
    Inventors: Carlos Casado-Montero, Alberto Molina Parga
  • Patent number: 11939077
    Abstract: Systems and methods include providing an aircraft with a fuselage and a convertible engine disposed within the fuselage. The convertible engine is operable as a turbofan engine in a thrust mode and a turboshaft engine in a shaft power mode. The convertible engine includes a housing, an engine core having a low pressure turbine shaft, and a bypass fan system. The bypass fan system includes a bypass fan having a fan clutch. The fan clutch selectively couples at least a portion of the bypass fan to the low pressure turbine shaft when the convertible engine is operated in the thrust mode and decouples at least a portion of the bypass fan from the low pressure turbine shaft when the convertible engine is operated in the shaft power mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Hisashi Steinert, Thomas Dewey Parsons, Troy Cyril Schank
  • Patent number: 11867158
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to wind turbines comprising a tower, a nacelle mounted on the tower, a wind turbine rotor with a plurality of blades, and a wind turbine generator operatively coupled with the wind turbine rotor. The wind turbine further comprise one or more auxiliary wind energy converters arranged with the nacelle. The present disclosure further relates to methods for providing power to an auxiliary system of a wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Renovables Espana, S.L.
    Inventors: Pedro Palomares Rentero, Alio Medina Diaz, Victor Manuel García Molina, Xavier Santacruz Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 11851203
    Abstract: An aircraft has an aircraft propulsor and/or an aircraft propulsor drive. The aircraft propulsor and/or an aircraft propulsor drive acts as a waste heat source. The aircraft has a metal-air fuel cell. The aircraft has a waste heat transfer system configured to thermally couple the metal-air fuel cell and a waste heat source. The aircraft includes a control system configured to operate the waste heat transfer system to selectively transfer waste heat from the waste heat source to the metal-air fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Wright Electric, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Engler, Colin Tschida, Kok Long Ng, Deven Warke
  • Patent number: 11765871
    Abstract: An aircraft with a thermal management system and method of operating the thermal management system within an aircraft includes an avionics unit adapted to store at least one heat generating component, a first interface operably coupled to the avionics unit and thermally coupled to the at least one heat generating component; and a plurality of heat pipes, wherein a first end of the plurality of heat pipes is coupled to the first interface, defining a hot interface, and a second end of the heat pipes is coupled to the at least one of the fuselage, the wing, the skin, or the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC
    Inventor: Ronald Jacob Rightnowar
  • Patent number: 11339721
    Abstract: A system and method for supplying compressed air from an auxiliary power unit to a main engine starter motor. The inlet guide vanes are controlled using either first or second inlet guide vane control logic and the surge control valve is controlled using either first or second surge control valve control logic. When the first inlet guide vane control logic is used, the inlet guide vanes are positioned based on a demand signal, when the second inlet guide vane control logic is used, the inlet guide vanes are positioned based on a demand schedule, when the first surge control valve logic is used, the surge control valve can be commanded to repeatedly move to only a fully-closed position and a fully-open position, and when the second surge control valve logic is used, the surge control valve can be commanded to the fully-closed position only when maximum flow is commanded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Harold Riley, Michael Dwyer
  • Patent number: 11187151
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for a ducted fan gas turbine engine has a low temperature side and plural high temperature sides. The heat exchanger is configured such that heat is extracted from respective engine fluids flowing through the high temperature sides and is received by a portion of a bypass airflow of the engine which, on passing through the fan duct, is diverted through the low temperature side of the heat exchanger thereby cooling the engine fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Stephen M. Husband, Lixin Ren
  • Patent number: 10865711
    Abstract: An air inlet system for an auxiliary power unit (APU) has an intake duct having a wall defining an inlet plenum and forming an inlet opening configured to direct air into the inlet plenum. The system further comprising a load compressor passage in fluid communication with the inlet plenum and leading to a load compressor of the APU; and a core compressor passage in fluid communication with the inlet plenum and leading to a core compressor of the APU. A deflector is provided in the inlet plenum between the inlet opening and the core compressor inlet to deflect at least part of particles carried by an incoming airflow away from the core compressor inlet toward the load compressor inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Nigel Walters, Nicholas Ngoly, David Cerantola, Mark Cunningham, Roger Lachance
  • Patent number: 10807723
    Abstract: An aircraft outflow valve with a heat exchanger is disclosed herein. The aircraft outflow valve can include a heat exchanger that includes an air flow path. Air can flow through the air flow path and exit the outflow valve through an opening at the end of the air flow path. Such airflow can regulate the internal pressure of the aircraft and can also dissipate heat from the outflow valve. The outflow valve can further include a liquid coolant flow path. The liquid coolant flow path can be coupled to liquid coolant lines of electronics of the aircraft. Thus, heat from the electronics of the aircraft can be dissipated through heat transfer between the coolant and the outflow valve, which is accordingly cooled by the airflow through the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Jeffrey Joseph White
  • Patent number: 10745142
    Abstract: An assembly for an aircraft having a propeller, including an engine assembly having an engine shaft configured for driving engagement with the propeller. The engine assembly includes first and second heat exchangers configured for circulation of at least one of a liquid coolant and a lubricant therethrough. A wheel well is configured for receiving a retracted landing gear. A first cooling duct receives the first heat exchanger and has a first outlet downstream of the first heat exchanger, and a second cooling duct receives the second heat exchanger and has a second outlet downstream of the second heat exchanger. The outlets are in direct fluid communication with an environment of the aircraft, and laterally spaced from each other. The wheel well is located between the outlets. A method of cooling an engine assembly is also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Luc Dionne, Bruno Villeneuve, Jean Thomassin
  • Patent number: 10697371
    Abstract: The heat exchanger assembly includes a first internal flow path configured to channel a flow of fluid to be cooled from a first inlet to a first outlet. The heat exchanger assembly also includes a second internal flow path configured to channel a flow of a first coolant from a first inlet to a first outlet. The heat exchanger assembly further includes an external flow path configured to receive a flow of a second coolant proximate a surface of the external flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Mohammed El Hacin Sennoun
  • Patent number: 10508598
    Abstract: An air-oil cooler for a gas turbine engine includes an air cooling structure and a lubricant channel. The lubricant channel extends between a lubricant inlet and a lubricant inlet and is bounded by the air cooling structure. The air cooling structure has an arcuate shape for circumferentially spanning a portion of a gas turbine engine core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Richard Alan Weiner
  • Patent number: 10371066
    Abstract: An unmanned aircraft includes a propulsion system having a diesel or kerosene internal combustion engine and a charger device for engine charging. The propulsion system can be a hybrid propulsion system or a parallel hybrid propulsion system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Steinwandel, Florian Stagliano, Jan Van Toor
  • Patent number: 10316693
    Abstract: An aircraft tail region including a cooling system installed in the aircraft tail region. The cooling system comprises a cooler, which forms a section of an outer skin of the aircraft tail region, and includes coolant channels allowing a flow of ambient air therethrough, and extending from a first surface of the cooler to a second surface of the cooler. The cooling system also includes a fan system, which is adapted to convey ambient air through the coolant channels of the cooler at least in specified operating phases of the cooling system, and a first opening, which is formed in the outer skin of the aircraft tail region, and which allows, in conveying operation of the fan system, ambient air which is supplied through the coolant channels of the cooler into an interior of the aircraft tail region to be discharged back into the aircraft environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Ralf-Henning Stolte, Udo Krause, Bruno Stefes, Christian Mueller, Florian Elken, Uwe Wollrab
  • Patent number: 10145304
    Abstract: A modulating fan air diverter and annular air-oil cooler for a gas turbine engine located in the inner fixed structure adjacent to the core cowl is provided. The fan air diverter modulates between an open position, corresponding to maximum fan nozzle area and airflow through the air-oil cooler, and a closed position, corresponding to minimum fan nozzle area and airflow through the air-oil cooler. As such, the device is capable of supporting dual functions of engine heat management as well as engine performance and fan stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Richard Alan Weiner
  • Patent number: 10066551
    Abstract: Ventilation of an internal compartment of a fairing device of a propulsion assembly in an aircraft moving at low speed on the ground or when it is stopped cannot be provided optimally using a conventional dynamic air intake. To solve this problem, the use of a fan housed within the internal compartment is proposed, for which the fan propeller can alternately be coupled to an accessory gear box to drive the fan propeller, and uncoupled from the accessory gear box when it is unnecessary to drive the fan propeller or when it represents a danger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (S.A.S.)
    Inventor: Olivier Verseux
  • Patent number: 9909504
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises an outer nacelle. A nose cone is spaced radially inward of the outer nacelle. The nose cone defines a particle separator for directing an outer air flow and an inner airflow. The inner airflow is directed through a core inlet to a compressor. The engine further comprises a drive gear system for driving at least one propeller. A variable pitch control system may alter a pitch angle of the at least one propeller. Some of the outer air flow is directed to at least one of the drive gear system and the pitch control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Alan H. Epstein, Wesley K. Lord, Jesse M. Chandler
  • Patent number: 9567096
    Abstract: An emergency power supply device for aircraft, including at least one air intake duct configured to receive a relative airflow during a flight of the aircraft, a turbine arranged in the duct, to be driven by the relative airflow, and at least one device for generating power for the aircraft, the turbine being connected to the power-generating device to produce power for the aircraft at least under flight conditions thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: SAFRAN ELECTRICAL & POWER
    Inventor: Jerome Mora
  • Patent number: 9309000
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for an outer skin of an aircraft comprises at least one feed line for a coolant, at least one discharge line for the coolant and at least one bundle of coolant channels through which coolant flows, wherein in the case of the heat exchanger being attached to the outer skin, the coolant channels are positioned directly on the outer skin of the aircraft, at least in areas, for dissipating heat to the surrounding environment of the aircraft. The heat exchanger may comprise cooling fins around which air flows for increasing the heat dissipation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Piesker
  • Patent number: 8973868
    Abstract: An aircraft having a cooling system is disclosed. The cooling system can be used to cool a heat emitting component. In one form the cooling system is a refrigerant system and includes a relatively high temperature device such as, but not limited to, a condenser. The relatively high temperature component is placed in thermal communication with a passing air flow. In one embodiment the aircraft includes a pod in which at least a portion of the cooling system is disposed. For example, a condenser of a vapor cycle refrigerant system can be located in the pod and in thermal communication with the air flow. The cooling system can also include a device capable of delivering a cooling fluid into the air flow and/or to the relatively high temperature component. The cooling fluid can be evaporated to provided additional cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Rolls Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Gagne
  • Patent number: 8939397
    Abstract: An aircraft, capable of hovering, having drive means; and at least one exhaust duct connected to an outlet of the drive means to expel the exhaust gas, produced by fuel combustion, from the aircraft. At least part of the exhaust duct has a thermoelectric conversion circuit for Seebeck-effect converting to electric energy the thermal gradient produced between the inside and outside of the exhaust duct by flow of the exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Agustawestland S.p.A.
    Inventors: Massimo Brunetti, Andrea Cogliati, Dario Iannucci, Alessandro Scandroglio
  • Patent number: 8904805
    Abstract: An environmental control system includes a higher pressure tap to be associated with a higher compression location in a main compressor section associated with a gas turbine engine. A lower pressure tap is associated with a lower pressure location, which is at a lower pressure than the higher pressure location. The lower pressure tap communicates to a first passage leading to a downstream outlet and a second passage leading into a compressor section of a turbocompressor. The higher pressure tap leads into the turbine section of the turbocompressor such that air in the higher pressure tap drives the turbine section to in turn drive the compressor section of the turbocompressor. A combined outlet of the compressor section of the turbocompressor and the turbine section intermix and pass downstream to be delivered to an aircraft use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Harold W. Hipsky, Gabriel L. Suciu, Christopher M. Dye
  • Patent number: 8886374
    Abstract: The present invention provides a torque control method for an HEV, the method comprising: detecting an operation failure of an integrated starter-generator (ISG); calculating a driver demand torque based on a current accelerator position sensor (APS); controlling the hydraulic pressure and operation of a clutch so as to increase an engine speed to convert the driving mode of the vehicle from electric vehicle (EV) mode to hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) mode in the event that an operation failure of the ISG is detected and the driver demand torque is out of a predetermined range; and compensating the driver demand torque to a desired level based on a transfer torque from the clutch to a motor. The method can improve driving performance and power performance of HEV, in the event of ISG failure, by performing a hydraulic control for a clutch and calculating a driver request torque and a transfer torque from the clutch to a motor to compensate the drive request torque to a desired level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Sang Joon Kim
  • Patent number: 8794571
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a cooler for an aircraft cooling system. The cooler includes a matrix body in which a plurality of coolant channels are designed and extend from a first surface of the matrix body to a second surface of the matrix body, allowing a coolant to flow through the matrix body. The matrix body of the cooler is designed to form a section of the outer skin of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Torben Baumgardt, Ralf-Henning Stolte, Carsten Weber, Remy Reynaud, Christian Mueller
  • Patent number: 8727270
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a unique aircraft. Another embodiment is a unique aircraft propulsion system. Still another embodiment is a unique system for taxiing an aircraft without starting one or more main aircraft propulsion engines. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for aircraft taxiing and propulsion systems. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Donald Burns, Kaushik Rajashekara
  • Patent number: 8714477
    Abstract: An aircraft support pylon designed to attach a turbomachine housed in a nacelle to an aircraft fuselage is disclosed. The pylon includes a cooler, located substantially in the vicinity of a leading edge of the pylon, and able to be heated by a hot fluid, the hot fluid intended to be cooled by heat exchange with cold air outside the cooler. The pylon also includes at least one air evacuation duct, at the exit from the cooler and extending longitudinally in an internal volume of the pylon to a trailing edge of the pylon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations S.A.S.
    Inventors: Christelle Rinjonneau, Pierre Guillaume
  • Patent number: 8690099
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a unique aircraft. Another embodiment is a unique propulsion system for an aircraft. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for aircraft and aircraft propulsion systems. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Donald Burns, Kaushik Rajashekara
  • Patent number: 8690098
    Abstract: An ejector nozzle tube, having along its length an essentially constant, essentially oval hollow cross-section, with a leading edge nozzle, having a rounded exterior cross-section, being arranged at a flow leading-edge area of the ejector nozzle tube. The leading edge nozzle includes a plurality of grooves issuing to the top and bottom sides of the ejector nozzle tube and connecting to an interior of the ejector nozzle tube formed by the hollow profile. An aircraft engine has an optimized oil heat exchanger with at least one oil cooler disposed in a trailing-edge area of an aerofoil-type structure, with at least one flow entrance area being provided to supply ambient air to the oil cooler disposed in a flow duct. The ejector nozzle tube can be arranged downstream of the oil cooler in the flow duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventor: Predrag Todorovic
  • Patent number: 8684304
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a unique aircraft. Another embodiment is a unique aircraft propulsion system. Still another embodiment is a unique system for taxiing an aircraft without starting one or more main aircraft propulsion engines. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for aircraft taxiing and propulsion systems. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Donald Burns, Kaushik Rajashekara
  • Patent number: 8636051
    Abstract: The present invention relates to heat exchangers, and more particularly to a heat exchange apparatus configured to operate in a free air stream. In an embodiment, a heat exchange apparatus configured to operate in a free air stream includes a heat exchange structure having a shape configured to conform to a body of a vehicle when in a stowed condition; and a deployment mechanism for moving the heat exchange structure to a deployed condition external to the vehicle. The heat exchange structure has a curved surface that is concave into the air stream when the heat exchange structure is in the deployed condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Richard M. Weber, Gary Schwartz
  • Patent number: 8601792
    Abstract: An oil cooler is provided for a wall of an air flow passage of a gas turbine engine. The oil cooler has a heat exchanger with an oil conduit for carrying a flow of heated oil proximal to the wall of the air flow passage. The heat exchanger is arranged to transfer heat from the heated oil to the air flowing through the passage. The oil cooler further has a system for altering the flow of air across the heat exchanger such that the heat transfer effectiveness of the heat exchanger can be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: John A Mylemans
  • Patent number: 8534043
    Abstract: A heat exchange system for use in fluid operated equipment to provide air and working fluid heat exchanges to cool the working fluid in airstreams on a stream side of a wall. An actuator is mounted to be substantially located on a side of the wall opposite the stream side thereof having a positionable motion effector. A heat exchanger core having a plurality of passageway structures therein to enable providing the working fluid to, and removal therefrom. The heat exchanger core is mounted on the motion effector so as to be extendable and retractable thereby through the opening for selected distances into that region to be occupied by the airstreams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, Frederick L. Elsaesser
  • Patent number: 8522529
    Abstract: An aircraft propulsion unit including a turbojet and a heat exchanger located above the turbojet and drawing a cooling air stream and a hot air stream in the turbojet. Wherein the cooling air intake and hot air intake surfaces in the housing are directed forward of the turbojet and have normal lines inclined relative to the axis of the turbojet. The embodiment also concerns an aircraft equipped with at least one such propulsion unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Martinou, Herve Marche
  • Patent number: 8408281
    Abstract: A pulsed-jet active flowfield control actuation system enhances the rate of heat transfer and heat removal in a heat exchanger for better management of thermal loads. The pulsed jet actuators impart an unsteady component of velocity to the working fluid of the heat exchanger. This design increases the convective heat transfer, and avoids increases in heat exchanger volume and weight for a given performance value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Hamstra, Daniel N. Miller, Kerry B. Ginn
  • Publication number: 20120256045
    Abstract: An aircraft having a cooling system is disclosed. The cooling system can be used to cool a heat emitting component. In one form the cooling system is a refrigerant system and includes a relatively high temperature device such as, but not limited to, a condenser. The relatively high temperature component is placed in thermal communication with a passing air flow. In one embodiment the aircraft includes a pod in which at least a portion of the cooling system is disposed. For example, a condenser of a vapor cycle refrigerant system can be located in the pod and in thermal communication with the air flow. The cooling system can also include a device capable of delivering a cooling fluid into the air flow and/or to the relatively high temperature component. The cooling fluid can be evaporated to provided additional cooling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventor: Steven Gagne
  • Patent number: 8276392
    Abstract: A turboprop engine (1) includes an engine nacelle (3) and at least one bleed air line (25) on the low-pressure compressor (4) and at least one ejector (21) formed by a cooling air duct (24) and a nozzle (22) to create a cooling air flow within the engine nacelle during critical ground idle operation (controlled or uncontrolled), and without undesirably increasing fuel consumption or disturbing the work cycle of the engine (1). The ejector (21) is arranged within the engine nacelle (3) in the forward part of the turboprop engine (1), with the cooling air duct (24) appertaining to the ejector (21) connecting at least one air intake (23) disposed on the periphery of the engine nacelle (3) with the interior of the engine nacelle (3), and with the at least one nozzle (22) being arranged in the cooling air duct (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Inventor: Matthijs Van Der Woude
  • Patent number: 8161755
    Abstract: A propulsion system for an aircraft includes a heat exchange unit through which a hot air stream and a cooling air stream flow. The heat exchange unit includes a hot air inlet pipe situated on a rear face of the heat exchange unit, to carry the hot air stream into the heat exchange unit, and a cooling air discharge pipe situated on the rear face of the heat exchange unit to expel the cooling air stream from the heat exchange unit, the hot air inlet pipe and the cooling air discharge pipe being concentric with each other. The hot air stream flows from the rear face forward to a front of the heat exchange unit, then from the front of the heat exchange unit, to a rear of the heat exchange unit, so as to be expelled via the rear face of the heat exchange unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventor: Herve Marche
  • Patent number: 7967249
    Abstract: With a cooling system for expelling heat from a heat source (30) located in the interior of an aircraft to a heat reducer (32), with a piping system (10) sealed against the surrounding atmosphere which is thermally coupled to a heat intake section (14) with the heat source (38) and to a heat output section (22) with the heat reducer (32), and which preferably has an essentially adiabate transport section (21), it is proposed that the piping system (10) is filled with a heat conveyance medium (12) which, when taking in heat from the heat source (38) in the heat intake section (14) undergoes a transition from the liquid phase to the gaseous phase, then flows into the heat output section (22), and here, when discharging heat to the heat reducer (32) condenses once again, and flows back into the heat intake section (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Georg Mühlthaler, Michael Markwart, Andreas Edom
  • Patent number: 7920382
    Abstract: The invention relates to an improved aircraft electronics cooling system for an aircraft having a liquid cooling system (2), the aircraft electronics cooling system providing a thermal coupling between an electronic device (40a, 40b, 40c, 40d, 42, 44) to be cooled and the liquid cooling system (2) of the aircraft. A coolant delivered by the liquid cooling system (2) may flow through a board of the electronic device (40a, 40b, 40c, 40d), through a heat sink on which the electronic device (42) is arranged and/or through a housing in which the electronic device (44) is arranged. The coolant may be permanently in the liquid state in a cooling circuit. The coolant may vaporize at least partially while cooling the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Ozan Uluc, Ahmet Kayihan Kiryaman, Andreas Frey
  • Patent number: 7883053
    Abstract: Heat exchanger systems and associated systems and methods for cooling aircraft starters/generators are disclosed. A system in accordance with one embodiment includes a first fluid flow path for a first fluid, a second fluid flow path for a second fluid, and a third fluid flow path for a third fluid. The first and second flow paths are positioned proximate to the third flow path to transfer heat between the third fluid and both the first and second fluids. The third flow path is configured to allow a transfer of heat between the second and third fluids at a first transfer rate when the first fluid carries heat at a first rate, and at a second transfer rate different than the first transfer rate when the first fluid does not carry heat, or carries heat at a second rate less than the first rate. Accordingly, when the heat to be rejected by one fluid is decreased, the heat transfer rate for the remaining fluid can be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Edward Zielinski, Thomas M. Murray
  • Patent number: 7823624
    Abstract: A heat exchanger comprising a main heat exchange housing, a cooling air inlet line and a hot air inlet line to bring a cooling airflow and a hot airflow in the main housing. A heat pre-exchanger is disposed upstream from the main housing, the heat pre-exchanger being able to be crossed by the cooling airflow and the hot airflow prior to the main housing. The invention also relates to a propulsion unit and an aircraft comprising such a heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Airbus France
    Inventor: Herve Marche
  • Patent number: 7520465
    Abstract: An aircraft fluid cooling system has an air heat exchanger passed by this fluid, the air heat exchanger including a structure for introduction of air and an air exhaust. The air heat exchanger is installed in a housing located in a flap guide rail fairing connected to one wing of the aircraft. The structure for introduction of air in the air heat exchanger is connected to an air inlet crossing an outer surface of the flap guide rail fairing and an air exhaust of the air heat exchanger is connected to an air output opening outside the outer surface such that air outside the aircraft passes this air heat exchanger to cool the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Airbus
    Inventor: Fares Mahjoub
  • Patent number: 7434765
    Abstract: Heat exchanger systems and associated systems and methods for cooling aircraft starters/generators are disclosed. A system in accordance with one embodiment includes a first fluid flow path for a first fluid, a second fluid flow path for a second fluid, and a third fluid flow path for a third fluid. The first and second flow paths are positioned proximate to the third flow path to transfer heat between the third fluid and both the first and second fluids. The third flow path is configured to allow a transfer of heat between the second and third fluids at a first transfer rate when the first fluid carries heat at a first rate, and at a second transfer rate different than the first transfer rate when the first fluid does not carry heat, or carries heat at a second rate less than the first rate. Accordingly, when the heat to be rejected by one fluid is decreased, the heat transfer rate for the remaining fluid can be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Edward Zielinski, Thomas M. Murray
  • Patent number: 7246658
    Abstract: A heat exchanger extracts heat from a two-phase fluid coolant so that the coolant changes from a vapor state to a liquid state. Two valves have respective inlets which communicate with the coolant in the heat exchanger, and which are physically spaced from each other. Valve control structure responds to the presence of liquid at the inlet to either valve by opening that valve, so that the liquid coolant flows through the valve to a discharge section. A different feature involves a housing with a heat exchanger therein, the heat exchanger having a plurality of coolant conduits that are axially spaced. A flow of air travels axially within the housing, then flows transversely past the conduits to the other side thereof, and then resumes flowing axially on the other side of the conduits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: William Gerald Wyatt, James L. Haws, Richard M. Weber
  • Patent number: 7143813
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for a lightweight heat rejection system suitable for spacecraft applications. The apparatus comprises a manifold configured with an array of heat pipes in thermal contact with a manifold coolant. The heat pipes transfer the coolant heat to associated bumper/radiators external to the manifold. The bumper/radiators are fabricated from a lightweight thermally conductive foam material. The bumper portion protects the heat pipe from space debris and the radiator portion dissipates the heat transferred from the heat pipe through the bumper to the radiator portion. The foam bumper/radiator can be cast over the heat pipe in a relatively simple and economical manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Adon Delgado, Jr., Michael P. Moriarty, Alan von Arx
  • Patent number: 7080681
    Abstract: A component of a heat pipe assembly (100) has hollow fluid transport sections (108) communicating with hollow bendable fluid transport sections (110); the bendable fluid transport sections (110) being bendable to deploy the transport sections (108) from a compact volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Thermal Corp.
    Inventor: Kevin L. Wert
  • Patent number: 6942181
    Abstract: A passive cooling system for an auxiliary power unit (APU) installation on an aircraft is provided. The system is for an auxiliary power unit having at least a compressor portion of a gas turbine engine and an oil cooler contained separately within a nacelle. The system includes the auxiliary power unit housed within the nacelle of the aircraft, an engine exhaust opening defined in the aft portion of the nacelle and communicating with the gas turbine engine, at least a first air inlet duct communicating with a second opening defined in said nacelle and with said compressor portion and the oil cooler is located within a second duct communicating with an opening other than the engine exhaust opening of said nacelle and with the engine exhaust opening. Exterior cooling air and engine exhaust ejected through said engine exhaust opening entrain cooling air through said second duct to said oil cooler, and thus provide engine oil cooling. An exhaust eductor is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: Luc Dionne
  • Patent number: 6715713
    Abstract: An exchanger (10) intended for cooling air admitted into an air conditioning circuit of an aircraft is housed inside the rigid caisson of the strut by which a turboreactor is suspended from the wing unit. The exchanger comprises superposed hollow plates (12) forming air guides for the relatively cold air drawn off in the fan duct of the turboreactor. More precisely, this air is drawn off at the front, alternatively on both sides of the exchanger, via each of the plates (12). It is released behind and on the opposite side. The warm air intended for the air conditioning circuit circulates from front to back between the plates (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Airbus France
    Inventor: Hervé Marche
  • Patent number: 6698687
    Abstract: A heat exchanger system and method for heating selected areas of the wings of an aircraft. The heat exchanger apparatus involves the use of a heat exchanger and thermal contact with the fluid of a gear box associated with a geared fan powerplant used on an aircraft. The heat exchanger is in fluid communication with at least one, and more preferably a plurality, of conduits which circulate fluid heated by the fluid of the gearbox throughout the selected areas of the wings of the aircraft. This serves to selectively heat various areas of the wings to help prevent icing of the leading edge of each of the wings, as well as to increase the region of laminar flow over the wings, and thus decrease those areas where turbulent flow occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: David L. Daggett