SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVED SPOT-COOLING OF AIRCRAFT ELECTRONICS

• US 20160237999A1
• Filed: 02/16/2015
• Published: 08/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Cordatos, Haralambos, St. Rock, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 10,119,532 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 19/006 Micropumps F04B43/043 and F04B43/095 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 35/04 the means being electric
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/0054 particularities of the flexible members
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 45/027 having electric drive
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 45/047 Pumps having electric drive
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/08 Cooling; Heating; Preventing freezing

Abstract

A spot-cooling system including an electroactive polymer actuator, an enclosure defining an internal cavity, and a port in the enclosure is described herein. The electroactive polymer actuator may be configured to draw air into the enclosure. The electroactive polymer actuator may be configured to force air from the enclosure. The electroactive polymer actuator may comprise a corrugated electroactive polymer actuator. The electroactive polymer actuator may comprise a plurality of layered electroactive polymer actuators.

Claims

1. A spot-cooling system comprising:

an electroactive polymer actuator;

an enclosure defining an internal cavity, wherein the electroactive polymer actuator is configured to draw air into the enclosure, wherein the electroactive polymer actuator is configured to force air from the enclosure; and

a port in the enclosure.

2. The spot-cooling system of claim 1, wherein the electroactive polymer actuator comprises a corrugated electroactive polymer actuator.

3. The spot-cooling system of claim 1, wherein the electroactive polymer actuator comprises a plurality of layered electroactive polymer actuators.

4. The spot-cooling system of claim 1, wherein the port is configured to act as an air inlet and an air outlet.

5. The spot-cooling system of claim 1, wherein the port is an outlet, wherein the enclosure comprises a check valve inlet.

6. The spot-cooling system of claim 1, further comprising a diaphragm coupled to the electroactive polymer actuator configured to draw air in and out the internal cavity.

7. The spot-cooling system of claim 1, wherein the port is disposed in close proximity to an electrical component.

8. The spot-cooling system of claim 1, wherein at least part of the internal cavity is formed by the electroactive polymer actuator.

9. The spot-cooling system of claim 1, wherein the spot-cooling system is configured to at least one of draw hot air away from an electrical component or actively flow relatively cooler air on the electrical component.

10. A method of spot-cooling comprising;

removing an application of a first voltage to an electroactive polymer actuator to cause the electroactive polymer actuator to contract;

drawing air into an enclosure defining an internal cavity via the contraction;

applying a second voltage to the electroactive polymer actuator to cause the electroactive polymer actuator to expand; and

forcing air from the enclosure via the expanding.

11. The method of spot-cooling of claim 10, wherein the electroactive polymer actuator comprises a corrugated electroactive polymer actuator.

12. The method of spot-cooling of claim 10, wherein the air is drawn into a port.

13. The method of spot-cooling of claim 12, wherein the port is comprises a check valve inlet, wherein the enclosure comprises a check valve outlet.

14. The method of spot-cooling of claim 12, wherein the port is configured to act as an air inlet and an air outlet.

15. The method of spot-cooling of claim 10, wherein the drawing air into the enclosure is via a diaphragm coupled to the electroactive polymer actuator.