US 11,713,126 B2
Aircraft air conditioning pack assembly and method of assembling
Myles Edward Brown, Bothell, WA (US); Jean-Michel I Fouard, Marysville, WA (US); Bryce Aaron Tillack, Mukilteo, WA (US); and Sean Paul William Anderson, Bothell, WA (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Aug. 12, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/537,685.
Prior Publication US 2021/0047045 A1, Feb. 18, 2021
Int. Cl. B64D 13/06 (2006.01); B64D 13/08 (2006.01)
CPC B64D 13/08 (2013.01) 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An aircraft air conditioning pack assembly comprising:
an air conditioning pack configured to discharge heat; and
an exterior panel positioned in close proximity to the air conditioning pack, the exterior panel comprising an opening defined therein, and the exterior panel comprising a first side facing towards the air conditioning pack, and a second side defining an exterior surface of the aircraft configured to be in communication with a free stream airflow,
wherein the air conditioning pack comprises a bottom wall that is disposed within and extends through the opening such that the bottom wall protrudes beyond the exterior surface of the aircraft as defined by the exterior panel, the bottom wall including a curved section oriented obliquely relative to the free stream airflow to facilitate transferring heat from the air conditioning pack to the free stream airflow, and wherein the portion of the bottom wall extending through the opening has an airfoil cross-sectional shape.
 
6. An aircraft comprising:
a pack bay defined on an underside of the aircraft, the pack bay comprising an interior;
an air conditioning pack positioned within the interior, the air conditioning pack configured to discharge heat; and
an exterior panel positioned in close proximity to the air conditioning pack and at least partially defining the interior, the exterior panel comprising an opening defined therein, and the exterior panel comprising a first side facing towards the air conditioning pack, and a second side defining an exterior surface of the aircraft configured to be in communication with a free stream airflow,
wherein the air conditioning pack comprises a bottom wall that is disposed within and extends through the opening such that the bottom wall protrudes beyond the exterior surface of the aircraft as defined by the exterior panel, the bottom wall including a continuous curved section oriented obliquely relative to the free stream airflow to facilitate transferring heat from the air conditioning pack to the free stream airflow.
 
12. A method of assembling an aircraft, the method comprising:
defining a pack bay on an underside of the aircraft, wherein the pack bay includes an interior;
positioning an air conditioning pack within the interior, wherein the air conditioning pack is configured to discharge heat;
positioning an exterior panel in close proximity to the air conditioning pack to at least partially define the interior, wherein the exterior panel includes an opening defined therein, and wherein the exterior panel is positioned such that a first side thereof faces towards the air conditioning pack, and such that a second side thereof defines an exterior surface of the aircraft configured to be in communication with a free stream airflow; and
disposing a bottom wall of the air conditioning pack within the opening, the bottom wall extending through the opening such that the bottom wall protrudes beyond the exterior surface of the aircraft as defined by the exterior panel, the bottom wall including a continuous curved section oriented obliquely relative to the free stream airflow to facilitate transferring heat from the air conditioning pack to the free stream airflow.