Aerovironment, Inc.

Uchenna Ofoma

Bart Dean Hibbs

Justin Bates McAllister

Ronald Howard Olch

A system for managing heat transfer is provided by the present disclosure, which in one form includes a cavity having an inner wall portion, at least one heat-generating component disposed within the cavity, and a plurality of heat conducting members disposed adjacent one another. Each heat conducting member includes a resilient core and an outer shell wrapped around at least a portion of the resilient core. The outer shell is made of a material having a relatively high thermal conductivity, and the plurality of heat conducting members are positioned between the heat-generating component and the inner wall portion of the cavity.

Thermal management system for an aircraft avionics bay

A heat transfer system for use within an avionics bay of an aircraft is provided by the present disclosure that includes, in one form, an aircraft panel comprising an upper skin, a lower skin, and a foam core disposed between the upper skin and the lower skin. At least one heat conducting array extends through the foam core and between the upper skin and the lower skin, the heat conducting array defining at least one upper cap, at least one lower cap, and a wall portion extending between the upper cap and the lower cap, the upper cap being disposed proximate avionics within the avionics bay. A heat conducting spreader is disposed between the lower cap of the heat conducting array and the lower skin of the aircraft panel.

Heat transfer system for aircraft structures

A method of manufacturing a heat transfer system is provided that includes, in one form, preparing a heat conducting array by perforating at least a portion of the heat conducting array, placing the heat conducting array around foam elements, placing a heat conducting spreader along one surface area of the foam elements, placing a lower skin over the heat conducting spreader, placing an upper skin over an opposite surface area of the foam elements to create a structural assembly, and curing the structural assembly. A material of the foam elements flows through the perforated portion of the heat conducting array during the curing step.

Method of manufacturing a heat transfer system for aircraft structures

A heat transfer system is provided by the present disclosure that includes, in one form, a structural member having an upper skin, a lower skin, and a foam core disposed between the upper skin and the lower skin. At least one heat conducting array extends through the foam core and between the upper skin and the lower skin, the heat conducting array defining at least one upper cap, at least one lower cap, and a wall portion extending between the upper cap and the lower cap, the upper cap being disposed proximate a heat source. A heat conducting spreader is disposed between the lower cap of the heat conducting array and the lower skin of the structural member.

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San Gabriel, CA, United States of America

Uchenna Ofoma