Systems and methods for cooling an electric aircraft
View Patent ↗The present disclosure is directed to systems for cooling an electric aircraft. The system comprises an electronic device, a casing, and at least one PHP. The electronic device can generate heat. The electronic device can be housed within the casing. The casing comprises a casing inner wall and a casing outer wall wherein a first casing width is between the casing outer wall and the casing inner wall, and at least one PHP embedded in the first casing width. The casing may also comprise a casing inner base and a casing outer base wherein a second casing width is between the casing inner base and the casing outer base. The first casing width and second with may comprise a single fluidly connected channel with a connecting point, and a PHP may be embedded into the single fluidly connected channel. The system may be configured for use on an eVTOL.
1 . An electric motor assembly comprising:
a motor housing having a terminal surface;
a motor within the motor housing;
an electronics assembly positioned on the terminal surface that forms an end face of the motor housing, the electronics assembly comprising:
a casing comprising a casing interior cavity and a casing outer wall and a casing inner wall where a first casing width is between the casing inner wall and the casing outer wall;
at least one electronic device within the casing interior cavity; and
one or more pulsating heat pipes embedded within the first casing width.
2 . The electric motor assembly of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the casing interior cavity in contact with the at least one electronic device is an evaporator and the portion of the casing interior cavity not in contact with the at least one electronic device is a condenser.
3 . The electric motor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one electronic device contacts the casing inner wall.
4 . The electric motor assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a propeller shaft coupled to the motor and passing through an opening of the casing; and
a propeller coupled to the propeller shaft, wherein rotation of the propeller causes air to pass by the casing outer wall.
5 . The electric motor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pulsating heat pipe has multiple condenser sections and multiple evaporator sections.
6 . An electric motor assembly comprising:
a motor housing having a terminal surface;
a motor within the motor housing;
an electronics assembly positioned on the terminal surface that forms an end face of the motor housing, the electronics assembly comprising:
a casing comprising a casing interior cavity and a casing outer wall and a casing inner wall where a first casing width is between the casing inner wall and the casing outer wall, a casing outer base and a casing inner base where a second casing width is between the casing outer base and the casing inner base, and where the first casing width and the second casing width comprise a single fluidly connected channel comprising at least one connecting point;
at least one electronic device within the casing interior cavity; and
one or more pulsating heat pipes embedded within the single fluidly connected channel.
7 . The electric motor assembly of claim 6 , wherein the first casing width is an evaporator section of the pulsating heat pipe and the second casing width is a condenser section of the pulsating heat pipe.
8 . The electric motor assembly of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of electronic devices contact the casing inner wall.
9 . The electric motor assembly of claim 6 , further comprising:
a propeller shaft coupled to the motor and passing through an opening of the casing; and
a propeller coupled to the propeller shaft, wherein rotation of the propeller causes air to pass by the casing outer wall.
10 . The electric motor assembly of claim 6 , wherein the pulsating heat pipe has multiple condenser sections and multiple evaporator sections.
11 . An electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle (eVTOL) comprising:
an electric motor assembly comprising:
a motor housing having a terminal surface;
a motor within the motor housing;
an electronics assembly positioned on the terminal surface that forms an end face of the motor housing, the electronics assembly comprising:
a casing comprising a casing interior cavity, a casing outer wall and a casing inner wall where a first casing width is between the casing inner wall and the casing outer wall, and wherein the casing defines an enclosure;
at least one electronic device within the enclosure; and
one or more pulsating heat pipes embedded within the first casing width.
12 . The eVTOL of claim 11 , further comprising:
a casing outer base and a casing inner base where a second casing width is between the casing outer base and the casing inner base, and where the first casing width and the second casing width comprise a single fluidly connected channel comprising at least one connecting point; and
the one or more pulsating heat pipes is embedded within the single fluidly connected channel.
13 . The eVTOL claim 11 , wherein a portion of the casing interior cavity in contact with the at least one electronic device is an evaporator and the portion of the casing interior cavity not in contact with the at least one electronic device is a condenser.
14 . The eVTOL claim 11 , wherein the plurality of electronic devices contact the casing inner wall.
15 . The eVTOL of claim 11 , further comprising:
a propeller shaft coupled to the motor and passing through an opening of the casing; and
a propeller coupled to the propeller shaft, wherein rotation of the propeller causes air to pass by the casing outer wall.
16 . The eVTOL of claim 11 , wherein the pulsating heat pipe has multiple condenser sections and multiple evaporator sections.