Heat exchanger structure

Abstract

Avionics systems are cooled by circulating the heated air through an onboard closed loop system which includes a heat transfer envelope comprised of a liner and the fuselage of the flight vehicle. The liner keeps a constant, thermodynamically optimal passage height between the liner and the fuselage, and is contoured in order to maintain that optimal height between the liner and internal structural support members which abut the fuselage and pass through the heat transfer envelope. The liner is comprised of flexible interlocking liner sections, each of which is produced from the same mold using heat and flame resistant material and subsequently trimmed to precisely fit into its particular area. Each liner section has a convex ridge which fits over an interal structural support member to enclose the member within the heat exchange envelope. Each convex ridge has transverse flexible ribs which accept and removably grasp the support member, thereby removably attaching the liner section to the support member. Each liner section also has a lip which overlaps and presses down against the succeeding adjacent section to hold it firmly in place, while at the same time effecting a seal. This mode of installation requires no riveting or other mechanical fasteners, and provides for quick and easy removal to facilitate maintenance or repair requiring access to the interior surface of the fuselage.