Patent Application
20250088066
The embodiments described herein generally relate to a passive cooling system, in particular, to an airfoil fin cooling system in which propulsion air-flow is received by airfoil fins utilizing a pressure difference to direct air over an electronic device casing to cool various electronic devices.
Electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircrafts may take off from a source location, e.g., with a load in the form of purchased goods, for delivery to a location, travel a certain distance in the air, drop off the load, and return to the source location. Operation of eVTOL aircrafts, however, suffer from deficiencies. For example, during take-off and landing operations, electronics included within the eVTOL aircrafts may experience sudden increases in operating temperatures due to increased power demands, which adversely impact the operational life of these devices, and by extension, the operational life of eVTOL aircrafts.
Accordingly, a need exists for alternative cooling systems to cool motors and various electronic devices of eVTOL aircrafts.
In one embodiment, an airfoil cooling system is provided. The airfoil cooling system includes an electronic device casing configured to house one or more electronic devices. The electronic device casing is downstream a propulsion air-flow. A plurality of fins extend from the electronic device casing. At least one of the plurality of fins include an airfoil fin. The airfoil fin includes a high-pressure side with an air inlet that receives the propulsion air-flow, an inner conduit fluidly coupled to the air inlet that directs the propulsion air-flow over the electronic device casing, and a low-pressure side with an air outlet fluidly coupled to the inner conduit that expels the propulsion air-flow into the atmosphere.
In another embodiment, an electric motor assembly includes a motor housing having an end face and a motor within the motor housing. The electric motor assembly also includes a propulsion component coupled to the motor that generates a propulsion air-flow downstream the propulsion component. An electronics assembly is disposed on the end face of the motor housing. The electronics assembly includes an electronic device casing downstream the propulsion air-flow, configured to house one or more electronic devices. A plurality of fins extends from the electronic device casing. At least one of the plurality of fins include an airfoil fin. The airfoil fin includes a high-pressure side with an air inlet that receives the propulsion air-flow, an inner conduit fluidly coupled to the air inlet that directs the propulsion air-flow over the electronic device casing, and a low-pressure side with an air outlet fluidly coupled to the inner conduit that expels the propulsion air-flow into the atmosphere.
In yet another embodiment, an eVTOL system includes a motor housing having an end face. A motor is within the motor housing. At least one propeller is mechanically coupled to the motor. The propeller generates a propulsion air-flow downstream the propeller. An electronics assembly is disposed on the end face of the motor housing. The electronics assembly is downstream the propulsion air-flow and includes an electronic device casing configured to house one or more electronic devices. The electronic device casing includes a plurality of fins extending from the electronic device casing. At least one of the plurality of fins include an airfoil fin. The airfoil fin includes a high-pressure side with an air inlet that receives the propulsion air-flow, an inner conduit fluidly coupled to the air inlet that directs the propulsion air-flow over the electronic device casing, and a low-pressure side with an air outlet fluidly coupled to the inner conduit that expels the propulsion air-flow into the atmosphere.
These and additional features provided by the embodiments described herein will be more fully understood in view of the following detailed description, in conjunction with the drawings.
The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative and exemplary in nature and not intended to limit the subject matter defined by the claims. The following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments can be understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which:
Embodiments described herein relate to systems capable of cooling electronic devices. In embodiments, an airfoil cooling system includes an electronic device casing configured to house one or more electronic devices and a plurality of fins extending from the electronic device casing, where at least one of the plurality of fins is an airfoil fin. The airfoil fin receives a propulsion air-flow and provides the propulsion air-flow over the electronic device casing. This results in enhanced cooling of the electronic devices.
Electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircrafts may provide a way of delivering people and goods to various locations in a cost and energy efficient manner. However, as stated above, eVTOL aircrafts suffer from cooling deficiencies. During specific operation conditions such as, e.g., take-off, landing, and hovering, operating temperatures of the electronic devices within eVTOL aircrafts may exceed threshold operational temperatures, namely threshold operational temperatures that are considered suitable for ensuring long operational life for these electronic devices.
Embodiments described herein are generally directed to airfoil cooling systems integrated into an electronic device casing. By utilizing propulsion air-flow, the airfoil cooling system provides the propulsion air-flow over the electronic device casing. The airfoil fin directing propulsion air-flow over the electronic device casing improves heat transfer between the electronic device casing and the surrounding environment. This allows the eVTOL aircraft to operate without exceeding threshold operational temperatures.
Embodiments described herein also include an electric motor assembly that includes a motor housed within a motor housing. The motor provides energy to a propulsion component. An electronics assembly includes the electronic device casing and the airfoil fin. The airfoil fin passes air-flow over the electronic device casing to cool the electronic devices.
The embodiments disclosed herein also describe an eVTOL system that utilizes airfoil fins to cool electronic devices of the eVTOL system. The eVTOL system utilizes its own propulsion air-flow, which is provided by at least one propeller, to cool the motor and electronic devices of the eVTOL system through use of the airfoil fin. The airfoil fin directing propulsion air-flow over the electronic device casing improves heat transfer between the electronic device casing and the surrounding environment. This allows the eVTOL aircraft to function without exceeding threshold operational temperatures.
As used herein, the following terms are generally defined in the manner below. The term “longitudinal” means a direction that is in line with the propulsion air-flow direction. The term “lateral” means a direction that is approximately 90 degrees from the propulsion air-flow direction.
Referring now to the drawings,
As stated above, the electronic device casing 102 also includes the plurality of fins 106. The plurality of fins 106 extend from the electronic device casing 102. The plurality of fins 106 may be coupled to the electronic device casing 102 through bolts, screws, adhesive, or any other suitable coupling means. The plurality of fins 106 may also be integrated into and cast as part of the electronic device casing 102. The plurality of fins 106 may extend from the electronic device casing 102 in varying frequencies. There may be any number of the plurality of fins 106 extending from the electronic device casing 102. The plurality of fins 106 may be spaced out evenly or in varying frequencies. The plurality of fins 106 may also be layered above or beneath one another.
The plurality of fins 106 are configured to improve cooling of the electronic device casing 102 and, thus, improve cooling of the electronic devices 104. The electronic devices 104 generate heat to the electronic device casing 102 and the plurality of fins 106 provide an increased surface area for heat to dissipate from the electronic device casing 102. The plurality of fins 106 may be longitudinal fins, lateral fins, or curved fins.
As stated above, the plurality of fins 106 also include one or more airfoil fin 108. Referring to
The airfoil fin 108 may have a plurality of air inlets or a plurality of air outlets. These air inlets and air outlets may be connected to a single inner conduit, or a plurality of inner conduits. The propulsion air-flow 110 may flow through the inner conduit 111 as turbulent air-flow, or any other air-flow suitable to draw heat from the electronic device casing 102.
The airfoil fin 108 may be any shape capable of producing the high-pressure side and the low-pressure side. The airfoil fin 108 may have a curved shape. Referring to
The airfoil fin 108 directs the propulsion air-flow 110 next to the electronic devices 104 housed in the electronic device casing 102, drawing heat generated by the electronic devices 104 and expelling the heat into the atmosphere. The inner conduit 111 may direct the propulsion air-flow 110 over the electronic device casing 102 in any suitable direction. In some embodiments, the inner conduit 111 directs the propulsion air-flow 110 longitudinally over the electronic device casing 102. In other embodiments, the inner conduit 111 directs the propulsion air-flow 110 laterally over the electronic device casing 102.
In some embodiments, an electric motor assembly 500 is disclosed, as depicted in
The motor 118 is housed in the motor housing 114. The motor 118 may be coupled to the motor housing 114 through bolts, screws, adhesive, or any other suitable coupling means. The motor 118 may be a DC motor, an AC motor, or any other suitable electric motor. The motor 118 may be coupled to the electronic devices 104, such as the power module. The power module may be rechargeable, exchangeable, or both. The motor 118 is also coupled to the propulsion component 120 in order to provide power to the propulsion component 120.
The propulsion component 120 may be a propeller, a turbofan, a turbine, or any other device capable of producing an air-flow. The propulsion component 120 utilizes surrounding air to generate the propulsion air-flow 110. The electronic device casing 102 and the plurality of fins 106 are downstream the propulsion air-flow 110. Thus, the propulsion air-flow 110 flows over the electronic device casing 102 and the plurality of fins 106, drawing heat generated by the electronic devices 104 away from the electronic device casing 102 and the plurality of fins 106 and expelling it into the atmosphere. The airfoil fin 108 is also downstream the propulsion air-flow 110 so that the airfoil fin 108 receives the propulsion air-flow 110 at the air inlet 109 and directs the propulsion air-flow 110 over the electronic device casing 102 through the inner conduit 111, further expelling heat generated by the electronic devices 104 and the motor 118. The propulsion air-flow 110 is then expelled into the atmosphere via the air outlet 113.
Now referring to
The eVTOL system 600 may be capable of carrying a load 126, passengers, or a combination thereof. The eVTOL system 600 may be controlled in a variety of manners. In some embodiments, the eVTOL system 600 may be controlled through the use of a user controller. The controller may be any device that a user can manipulate to control the eVTOL system 600. The controller may also be integrated into a user device, such as in an application on the user device that the user can interact with to control the eVTOL system 600. The eVTOL system 600 may also be autonomous. The eVTOL system 600 may be controlled in accordance with a predefined set of instructions. The eVTOL system 600 may also integrate machine-learning. The eVTOL system 600 may adjust its predefined set of instructions based on previous trips/iterations.
It should now be understood that embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to assemblies and systems that provide enhanced cooling of electronics of an aircraft. Airfoil fins may cool motors and electronic devices within aircrafts, specifically, within eVTOL aircrafts. The airfoil fins may be integrated into an electronic device casing and provide increased air-flow over the electronic device casing, dissipating heat produced by the motor and electronic devices. This allows for continuous operation of the aircraft, even when the motor and electronic devices are subject to increased power demands, and increased operational life of aircraft components.
It is noted that recitations herein of a component of the present invention being “configured” in a particular way, “configured” to embody a particular property, or function in a particular manner, are structural recitations as opposed to recitations of intended use. More specifically, the references herein to the manner in which a component is “configured” denotes an existing physical condition of the component and, as such, is to be taken as a definite recitation of the structural characteristics of the component.
It is noted that one or more of the following claims utilize the term “wherein” as a transitional phrase. For the purposes of defining the present invention, it is noted that this term is introduced in the claims as an open-ended transitional phrase that is used to introduce a recitation of a series of characteristics of the structure and should be interpreted in like manner as the more commonly used open-ended preamble term “comprising”.
While particular embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be understood that various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, although various aspects of the claimed subject matter have been described herein, such aspects need not be utilized in combination. It is therefore intended that the appended claims cover all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of the claimed subject matter.
