US 12,202,619 B2
Structural cooling system for an aircraft
Kristian Zimmermann, Ottobrunn (DE); Christian Metzner, Gmund (DE); Uwe Beier, Höhenkirchen-Siegertsbrunn (DE); and Jorge A. Carretero Benignos, Garching bei München (DE)
Assigned to Airbus (S.A.S.), Blagnac (FR)
Filed by Airbus (S.A.S.), Blagnac (FR)
Filed on May 11, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/196,284.
Claims priority of application No. 22173145 (EP), filed on May 13, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0116647 A1, Apr. 11, 2024
Int. Cl. B64D 33/10 (2006.01); B64D 27/355 (2024.01)
CPC B64D 33/10 (2013.01) [B64D 27/355 (2024.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A component for an aircraft, the component comprising:
at least one heat source;
a housing enclosing the at least one heat source;
at least one heat exchanger;
at least one heat sink;
at least one structural suspension element; and
an air duct;
wherein each of the at least one structural suspension element is attached to an inner surface of the housing and supports one or more of the at least one heat source within the housing;
wherein the heat sink is part of the housing and is configured to guide air from an inside of the housing to an outside of the housing to thereby convey thermal energy from the heat sink to surroundings;
wherein each of the at least one heat exchanger is thermally coupled to at least one of the at least one heat source;
wherein each of the at least one heat exchanger is fluidly connected to one of the at least one heat sink via an inlet line for a coolant flowing along one of the at least one structural suspension element;
wherein each of the at least one heat sink is fluidly connected to at least one of the at least one heat exchanger via a return line for the coolant flowing along one of the at least one structural suspension element; and
wherein the air duct is configured to guide ambient air from the outside of the housing through the housing, past each of the at least one structural suspension element, and through the at least one heat sink out of the housing, thereby enabling a cooling of the coolant flowing through each of the inlet line and the return line and through each of the at least one heat sink.