System for attaching heat generating equipment to an exterior of an aircraft

1 . A mounting system for attaching heat generating equipment to an exterior of an aircraft, the mounting system comprising:

an adapter plate configured to be connected to a fuselage of an aircraft;

a layer of insulation substantially covering a first face of the adapter plate;

a subplate formed of a conductive material and connected to the adapter plate such that the layer of insulation is positioned between the subplate and the adapter plate;

heat generating equipment secured within the subplate;

a radome connected to the adapter plate and positioned to cover the heat generating equipment and the subplate; and

a connector formed of a conductive material and connected only between the subplate and the radome.

2 . The mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the radome is formed of a conductive material.

3 . The mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the subplate is a unitary metal structure.

4 . The mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the heat generating equipment comprises a number of electronic antennas.

5 . The mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the radome is formed of a composite material.

6 . The mounting system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a heat transfer portal cut into the radome.

7 . The mounting system of claim 6 , further comprising:

a heat transfer door positioned within the heat transfer portal.

8 . The mounting system of claim 7 , wherein the heat transfer door comprises a metallic material with a plurality of perforations in the metallic material.

9 . The mounting system of claim 8 , wherein the perforations take the form of one of a matrix of holes, a plurality of slots, or a plurality of overlapping louvers.

10 . The mounting system of claim 8 , wherein the heat transfer door comprises shape memory alloy actuators.

11 . The mounting system of claim 7 ,

wherein the connector is formed from metal, and

wherein the connector is configured to conduct heat between the subplate and the heat transfer door.

12 . A method of using the mounting system of claim 1 for attaching heat generating equipment to an exterior of an aircraft, the method comprising:

positioning the layer of insulation between the heat generating equipment and a skin of the fuselage of the aircraft; and

securing the radome over the layer of insulation and the heat generating equipment.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein said positioning the layer of insulation comprises laying the layer of insulation over the adapter plate connected to the fuselage.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

mounting the subplate to the adapter plate such that the layer of insulation is between the subplate and the adapter plate, wherein the subplate is configured to support the heat generating equipment.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said securing the radome over the layer of insulation and the heat generating equipment comprises connecting the radome to the adapter plate.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the connector formed of conductive material is a metal connection, the method further comprising:

placing the metal connection between the subplate and a heat transfer door in the radome, wherein the metal connection is configured to conduct heat between the subplate and the heat transfer door.

17 . A method of using the mounting system of claim 1 for retrofitting the radome for covering heat generating equipment on an aircraft, the method comprising:

cutting a heat transfer portal into the radome; and

securing a heat transfer door within the heat transfer portal, wherein the heat transfer door comprises a metallic material and a plurality of perforations through the metallic material.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

connecting the radome with the heat transfer portal to the adapter plate connected to the fuselage of the aircraft such that the radome covers the heat generating equipment.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the connector formed of conductive material is a metal connection, the method further comprising:

placing the heat transfer door in contact with the metal connection of the subplate supporting the heat generating equipment such that heat is conducted between the subplate and the heat transfer door via the metal connection.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

covering a first face of the adapter plate with the layer of insulation; and

connecting the subplate to the adapter plate so that the subplate is in contact with the layer of insulation.