IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,522,371
Granted Patent B2
US 12,522,371 · App. 18/605,226 · Granted Jan 13, 2026

Aircraft cooling system and aircraft

Inventors: Yuichi Fukuchi (Wako, JP); Takuya Kubota (Wako, JP); Hikari Hirayanagi (Wako, JP); Azuki Ichikawa (Wako, JP)
Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
B64D33/10B64C27/605B64C29/0025
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,522,371
App. No.
18/605,226
Granted
Jan 13, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An aircraft cooling system includes: a rotor capable of generating thrust in a vertical direction; a heat generating member disposed below the rotor; a support member (a boom) that supports the heat generating member; a structure (a second fairing) protruding from the support member toward the rotor; and a heat exchanger (a surface heat exchanger) provided in the structure. A refrigerant heated by the heat generating member is introduced to an inlet (a fairing inlet) provided in the heat exchanger, and the refrigerant cooled by the heat exchanger is supplied to the heat generating member from an outlet (a fairing outlet) provided in the heat exchanger.

Claims (30)

1 . An aircraft cooling system comprising:

a rotor configured to generate thrust in a vertical direction;

a heat generating member disposed below the rotor;

a support member configured to support the heat generating member;

a structure protruding from the support member toward the rotor; and

a heat exchanger provided in the structure,

wherein a refrigerant heated by the heat generating member is introduced to an inlet provided in the heat exchanger,

the refrigerant cooled by the heat exchanger is supplied to the heat generating member from an outlet provided in the heat exchanger,

the heat exchanger is provided along a side surface of the structure,

the heat exchanger is disposed at a position higher than the heat generating member,

the inlet and the outlet are disposed at positions higher than the heat generating member, and

the inlet is disposed at a position higher than the outlet.

2 . The aircraft cooling system according to claim 1 , wherein

the heat exchanger is provided on an outer surface of the structure.

3 . The aircraft cooling system according to claim 1 , wherein

the structure includes a hole penetrating in a front-rear direction of an aircraft, and

the heat exchanger is provided on an inner surface of the hole.

4 . The aircraft cooling system according to claim 1 , wherein

the refrigerant reaches the inlet in a state of being vaporized by the heat generating member, and flows out from the outlet in a state of being liquefied by the heat exchanger.

5 . The aircraft cooling system according to claim 1 , wherein

the heat generating member includes at least one of a motor configured to rotate the rotor, or an inverter connected to the motor.

6 . The aircraft cooling system according to claim 1 , wherein

the rotor is stopped during cruising of an aircraft.

7 . The aircraft cooling system according to claim 1 , further comprising a variable pitch mechanism disposed below the rotor and configured to change a pitch of a blade of the rotor, wherein

the structure is a cover configured to cover a periphery of the variable pitch mechanism.

8 . An aircraft comprising the aircraft cooling system according to claim 1 .

9 . The aircraft cooling system according to claim 1 , wherein

the outlet is disposed at a lowest position of the heat exchanger.

10 . The aircraft cooling system according to claim 1 , wherein

the heat exchanger is mounted in an upper portion of the structure.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 15, 2024
From: FUKUCHI, YUICHI; KUBOTA, TAKUYA; HIRAYANAGI, HIKARI; ICHIKAWA, AZUKI
To: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 066781/0964 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2023-044177 · Mar 20, 2023 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240317417A1 · Sep 26, 2024
References Cited (4)
US 10150560B2 · Tighe et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20190161179A1 · Uebori · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20210389054A1 · Welsh · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 20220227490A1 · Tian · 2022 [cited by examiner]