Configurable Cooling Assembly and Cooling Method

Abstract

An assembly of thermally conductive cooling blocks is configured to be placed against a composite skin between a heating blanket used to thermally cure a composite repair patch and a structure formed of a heat sensitive material. The cooling block assembly conducts heat away from the skin to prevent overheating of the heat sensitive material.

Description

BACKGROUND INFORMATION1. Field[0001]The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for cooling structures, and deals more particularly with an array of configurable cooling blocks for conducting heat away from a structure.2. Background[0002]It is sometimes necessary to protect heat sensitive structures against overheating. For example, in order to carry out an in-situ repair of a composite structure such as a composite aircraft skin, a heating blanket is used to thermally cure a composite repair patch placed on area of the skin requiring repair. In some cases, the skin repair area is located close to heat sensitive materials (HSM) such as an underlying peened titanium or aluminum stiffener.[0003]Depending on the difficulty of the application, shot bags that act as heat sinks, chilled air and / or fans can be used to cool the skin between the edge of the heating blanket and the HSM, in order to prevent overheating of the HSM. In other applications, however, the distanc...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]One of the advantages of the cooling assembly is that it is simple, passive, may be installed in tight spaces and is readily configurable to suit unusual or complex geometries of a structure requiring cooling. Another advantage of the cooling assembly is that it is reusable and can be reconfigured to achieve different heat sink shapes and levels of cooling required in different applications. A further advantage of the cooling assembly is that it avoids the need for interrupting thermal curing of a composite patch when there is a risk of overheating of the adjacent HSMs.

Problems solved by technology

In other applications, however, the distance between the edge of the heating blanket and the HSM may be relatively small, for example on the order of a few inches, limiting the effectiveness of cooling fans.

The challenge of preventing overheating of HSMs is made more difficult by complicated structural geometries and repair areas that are hard-to-reach.

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