Modular liquid skin heat exchanger

• US 5,423,498 A
• Filed: 04/27/1993
• Issued: 06/13/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: L-3 Communications Integrated Systems LP (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: E-Systems LLC
• Inventors: Fluegel, Kyle G.
• Primary Examiner(s): GRANT, WILLIAM ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US08/052,704
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 244/117 A, 244/163, 244/57, 165/41, 165/76, 62/239, 62/241
• US Class Current: 244/117.00A
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/38 Constructions adapted to reduce effects of aerodynamic or other external heating
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 13/00 Arrangements or adaptations of air-treatment apparatus for aircraft crew or passengers, or freight space , or structural parts of the aircraft treatment rooms with artificial climate for medical purposes A61G10/02; respiratory apparatus in general A62B; for vehicles in general B60H
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0021 for aircrafts or cosmonautics air-treatment for aircraft B64D13/00, temperature control of cosmonautic vehicles B64G1/50
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 7/0041 the conduits for only one medium being tubes having parts touching each other or tubes assembled in panel form F28D7/0008, F28D7/0058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 1/22 the means having portions engaging further tubular elements
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 13/00 Arrangements for modifying heat-transfer, e.g. increasing, decreasing F28F1/00 - F28F11/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/50 On board measures aiming to increase energy efficiency

Abstract

A liquid coolant heat exchange system for use in semimonocoque aircraft includes an arcuate planar heat sink fixed along a radius of curvature R, by forming members, a flexible arcuate planar spreader plate having a radius R₂, such that R₁ >R₂, a heat exchange tube for transferring heat from the liquid coolant to the heat sink and means for attaching the spreader plate to the forming members to hold the spreader plate in contact with the heat sink.

Claims

1. A liquid coolant heat exchange system comprising:

an arcuate planar heat sink having an inner surface;

forming members for supporting said arcuate planar heat sink along a radius of curvature R₁ ;

a flexible arcuate planar spreader plate having an outer surface and a radius R₂, such that R₁ >

R₂ ;

a heat exchange tube attached to said flexible arcuate planar spreader plate in a substantially abutting relationship;

means for attaching said arcuate planar spreader plate to said forming members, and for positioning the outer surface of said arcuate planar spreader plate in substantially abutting relationship with the inner surface of said arcuate planar heat sink for transferring heat from said heat exchange tube to said arcuate planar heat sink.

2. The heat exchange system of claim 1 wherein said arcuate planar heat sink comprises a fuselage skin of an aircraft.

3. The heat exchange system of claim 1 wherein said arcuate planar spreader plate comprises a carbon fiber composite material.

4. A heat exchange system comprising:

an arcuate planar heat sink having an inner surface with a radius of curvature R₁ ; and

a plurality of interconnected heat exchange modules mounted to the arcuate planar heat sink, each module comprising;

a flexible arcuate planar spreader plate having an outer surface with a radius of curvature of R₂, wherein R₁ >

R₂ ;

a heat exchange tube positioned in substantially abutting relationship with said flexible arcuate planar spreader plate; and

means for mounting said arcuate planar spreader plate to said arcuate planar heat sink to position the outer surface of said arcuate planar spreader plate in substantially abutting relationship with the inner surface of said arcuate planar heat sink for transferring heat from said heat exchange tube to said arcuate planar heat sink.

5. The heat exchange system of claim 4 including means for connecting said modules in series to form a cooling circuit.

6. The heat exchange system of claim 4 wherein said modules are connected in parallel to form a cooling circuit.

7. The heat exchange system of claim 4 wherein each said arcuate planar spreader plate comprises a carbon fiber composite material.

8. An aircraft including a heat exchange system comprising:

an arcuate planar heat sink;

forming members for supporting said arcuate planar heat sink along a radius of curvature R₁ ; and

at least one heat exchange module, comprising;

a flexible arcuate planar spreader plate having a radius R₂, such that R₁ >

R₂ ;

a heat exchange tube attached to said flexible arcuate planar spreader plate in a substantially abutting relationship; and

means for mounting said arcuate planar spreader plate to said forming members and for positioning said arcuate planar spreader plate into surface contact with said arcuate planar heat sink for transferring heat from said heat exchange tube to said arcuate planar heat sink.

9. The aircraft of claim 8 wherein said arcuate planar heat sink comprises the fuselage skin of the aircraft.

11. The aircraft of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of heat exchange modules.

12. The aircraft of claim 11 including means for connecting said modules in series to form a cooling circuit.

13. The aircraft of claim 11 wherein said modules are connected in parallel to form a cooling circuit.

10. The aircraft of 8 wherein said arcuate planar spreader plate comprises a carbon filter composite material.