JP4189278B2 - Structural member with integrated piping system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an antenna apparatus suitable for a radar apparatus mounted on a flying body such as an aircraft, and a structural member in which a piping system used in the apparatus is integrated.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Generally, in an aerial device used in a radar device mounted on a flying body such as an aircraft, a large number of transmission / reception modules are arranged in a transmission / reception directivity direction and a cooling device is provided, which is generated along with the operation of the transmission / reception module. A method of absorbing the amount of heat is employed.
[0003]
For example, a cooling unit in which a plurality of transmission / reception modules are arranged and arranged so that each transmission / reception module can be cooled, a cooling liquid is supplied from one side of the cooling unit, and a cooling liquid is taken out from the other side. Therefore, an antenna apparatus including a cooling unit that absorbs heat generated by a plurality of transmission / reception modules and performs temperature control of the transmission / reception modules is considered (Patent Document 1). The cooling means of the antenna device includes a plurality of cooling liquid feeding branches branched on the liquid feeding side of the cooling liquid circulation cycle, and one of the cooling liquid feeding branches is inserted from one end side of the cooling unit, and the other is the cooling unit. The return coolant that has been inserted from the other end side and flows in opposite directions into the cooling unit is passed through the cooling unit, and the returned coolant in the coolant circulation cycle passes through the plurality of coolant return branches. It is configured to be guided to the side.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-228321
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, the conventional antenna apparatus requires a cooling pipe system in addition to the cooling unit, so that the apparatus is increased in size and weight. Furthermore, since it is necessary to manufacture the cooling piping system and the cooling unit separately and to integrate them, the structure becomes complicated and a large load is imposed on the manufacturing.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a structural member that integrates a piping system capable of reducing the manufacturing load while reducing the size and weight. And
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention provides an outer frame unit that is formed in a rectangular frame shape and includes a first member corresponding to one side of the rectangular frame and a second member that faces the first member, and the first of the outer frame unit. The first member and the second member are provided between the member and the second member, and each of the first member and the second member includes a plurality of cooling units in which a first conduit for flowing the coolant is formed by a hollow structure. In each of the above, a second pipe for flowing the refrigerant is formed in a hollow structure, a connection part for coupling an external pipe connected to the second pipe, and the plurality of cooling pipes A plurality of pipe openings connected to the first pipe provided in each of the units are provided, the pipe openings provided in each of the first member and the second member, and the cooling unit. and an end portion of the first conduit is formed into a concave shape, the first member and the second part Of the respective both end portions of the cooling unit, so as to match a portion formed in the recess shape connected in the state of being in close contact, dissipate communicates between the pipe mouth and the first conduit A connecting member for preventing leakage of the refrigerant is attached to a portion formed in the concave shape formed by bringing the first member and the second member into close contact with the cooling unit, and A plurality of O-rings returned to the outer periphery of the connecting member are press-contacted to the pipe opening and the inner peripheral surface of the first pipe line.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG.1 and FIG.2 is an external view (perspective view, 3rd view) which shows the structure of the antenna apparatus 2 concerning this embodiment. The antenna device 2 is configured as an active phased array antenna, for example.
[0009]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the antenna device 2 is configured in a rectangular / long shape as a whole, and a liquid circulation type cooling device 5 is connected to the antenna device 2. The antenna device 2 includes an outer frame unit 10 configured in a rectangular frame shape and capable of mounting a plurality of cooling units 20 (details will be described later) in the frame, and a cooling unit 20 mounted in the frame of the outer frame unit 10. Covering outer plates 12, 14 are provided.
[0010]
As shown in FIG. 2 (and FIGS. 8 to 10), a cooling pipe 32 for flowing a refrigerant (coolant in the following description) is applied to the first member corresponding to the upper side of the outer frame unit 10 and the second member corresponding to the lower side. (Cooling pipes 32a and 32b) are formed in a hollow structure. The first member is provided with a feed side pipe connector 16 (connecting portion) that communicates with the cooling pipe 32 a and connects the liquid feed pipe 5 a from the liquid circulation type cooling device 5. The feed side pipe connector 16 is connected to a feed side pipe connector 5c provided at the tip of the liquid feed pipe 5a. Further, the second member is provided with a return side pipe connector 18 (connecting portion) that communicates with the cooling pipe 32 b and connects the liquid return pipe 5 b from the liquid circulation type cooling device 5. The return side pipe connector 18 is connected to the return side pipe connector 5d provided at the tip of the liquid return pipe 5b.
[0011]
The cooling unit 20 mounted in the frame of the outer frame unit 10 is provided with a large number of transmission / reception modules 24 (to be described later (FIG. 5)) having an antenna element 24a on the front surface. Since the transmission / reception module 24 supplies power to the antenna element 24a, the transmission / reception module 24 has a large amount of self-heating, and has a high mounting density. In the cooling unit 20, the cooling liquid is circulated by the liquid circulation type cooling device 5 through the cooling pipe 32 provided in the outer frame unit 10. Thereby, heat generated from the cooling unit 20 itself is absorbed, and the cooling unit 20 and thus the antenna apparatus 2 are maintained at a predetermined temperature.
[0012]
FIG. 3 shows the cooling unit 20 mounted in the frame of the outer frame unit 10.
As shown in FIG. 3, the outer frame unit 10 has a plurality of cooling units 20 arranged in alignment. Each cooling unit 20 has one end in the longitudinal direction connected to the first member of the outer frame unit 10 and the other end connected to the second member.
[0013]
The cooling unit 20 is configured as an assembly in which a large number of transmission / reception modules 24 are arranged on the surface of the cooling plate 22 in a thermally conductive manner at predetermined intervals with the longitudinal direction being the vertical direction (details). This is shown in FIG.
[0014]
FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the liquid circulation type cooling device 5 that circulates the coolant with respect to the antenna device 2.
As shown in FIG. 4, the liquid circulation type cooling device 5 includes a primary side refrigeration cycle R1 that temporarily cools the coolant to a predetermined temperature, and a secondary side that is provided in the refrigeration cycle R1 so as to be able to exchange heat. The coolant circulation cycle R2.
[0015]
In the refrigeration cycle R1, a refrigerant compressor 5e filled with a predetermined refrigerant, a condenser 5f, an expansion valve 5g as a decompression means, and a heat exchanger 5h are sequentially connected to form a closed circuit.
[0016]
Further, the secondary side coolant circulation cycle R2 is a heat that can exchange heat with the coolant pump 5j that discharges the coolant L (for example, an antifreeze such as ethylene glycol solution) stored in the coolant tank T and the refrigeration cycle R1. It is connected to the feed side pipe connector 5c through the exchanger 5h, the on-off valve 5k, and the liquid feed pipe 5a.
[0017]
FIG. 5 shows a detailed configuration of the cooling unit 20.
As shown in FIG. 5, in the cooling unit 20, a large number of transmission / reception modules 24 are arranged in a row (array form) along the longitudinal direction on at least one side surface, for example, both side surfaces, of an elongated rectangular cooling plate 22. . An antenna element 24a is provided at the tip of each transmission / reception module 24, thereby obtaining a function as an array antenna. In the cooling unit 20, a cooling pipe 28 for allowing a cooling liquid to flow and function as a heat exchange pipe is formed by a hollow structure, a cooling pipe port 26 a is provided at one end in the longitudinal direction of the cooling plate 22, and the other end is provided. A cooling pipe port 26b is provided. In other words, the cooling pipe 28 is penetrated between the cooling pipe 26 a and the cooling pipe 26 b. The cooling pipe ports 26a and 26b are formed in a recessed shape, and a cooling pipe connecting unit 40 to be described later can be mounted. The cooling pipe 28 is assumed to be composed of a plurality of thin tubes (see FIGS. 9 and 10). By comprising a plurality of thin tubes, the surface area of the tube is increased and the cooling efficiency is increased. The cooling unit 20 (the cooling plate 22 and the cooling pipe 28) is preferably made of a heat transfer material having excellent heat transfer performance such as an aluminum alloy.
[0018]
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the outer frame unit 10 taken along line AA in FIG. 3, that is, a plan view of the second member corresponding to the lower side of the outer frame unit 10.
As shown in FIG. 6, when the cooling unit 20 is mounted inside the outer frame unit 10, the cooling pipe port 30 connected to the cooling pipe port 26 b provided in the cooling unit 20 includes the cooling unit 20. A plurality is provided for each interval at which 20 is mounted.
[0019]
7 is an enlarged view of the vicinity where the cooling pipe port 30 shown in FIG. 6 is provided, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a cross section of the second member of the outer frame unit 10.
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the cooling pipe opening 30 is formed in a concave shape, and a cooling pipe connecting unit 40 described later can be mounted. As shown in FIG. 8, the cooling pipe port 30 communicates with a cooling pipe 32 (32 b) formed in the outer frame unit 10 by a hollow structure.
[0020]
FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of the outer frame unit 10 and the cooling unit 20 along the line BB in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9, when the cooling unit 20 is mounted on the outer frame unit 10, the cooling pipe connecting unit 40 is mounted on the recessed portions of the cooling pipe port 30 and the cooling pipe ports 26 a and 26 b. The The cooling pipe connecting unit 40 has a cylindrical hollow structure, and the cooling liquid can circulate between the cooling pipe 32 formed in the outer frame unit 10 and the cooling pipe 28 formed in the cooling unit 20. Concatenate so that.
[0021]
FIG. 10 shows an enlarged view of a portion where the first member of the outer frame unit 10 and the upper end of the cooling unit 20 in FIG. 9 are connected.
As shown in FIG. 10, the cooling pipe connecting unit 40 is attached to the cooling pipe opening 30 and the cooling pipe openings 26a and 26b formed in the recessed portions. A plurality of O-rings 42 a and 42 b are returned on the outer periphery of the cooling pipe connecting unit 40. The O-ring 42 a is in pressure contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cooling pipe port 30 of the outer frame unit 10 when the cooling pipe connection unit 40 is mounted so as to connect the outer frame unit 10 and the cooling unit 20. The O-ring 42 b is in pressure contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cooling pipe port 26 a of the cooling unit 20. Thereby, even if the outer frame unit 10 or the cooling unit 20 is bent due to vibration applied to the antenna device 2, the cooling liquid flowing into the cooling pipe 32a of the outer frame unit 10 is cooled by the cooling pipe connecting unit. It is possible to prevent leakage when flowing into the cooling pipe 28 through the 40 hollow portions.
[0022]
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the cooling pipe 28 is composed of a plurality of thin tubes. The cooling liquid from the cooling pipe 32a of the outer frame unit 10 flows into each thin tube through the cooling pipe connecting unit 40 attached to the upper end of the cooling unit 20, and the cooling liquid connected from the thin pipe is attached to the lower part. It flows out to the cooling pipe 32b through the unit 40.
[0023]
Next, the circulation of the coolant when the cooling unit 20 is mounted on the outer frame unit 10 will be described (see FIG. 4).
[0024]
When the antenna device 2 is driven, the transmission / reception module 24 is activated at the same time, and starts self-heating due to power feeding to the antenna element 24a.
[0025]
The liquid circulation cooling device 5 operates the refrigeration cycle R1 and the cooling liquid circulation cycle R2 so as not to exceed a normal predetermined temperature range of the electronic equipment constituting the transmission / reception module 24 due to this heat generation.
[0026]
In the cooling liquid circulation cycle R2, the cooling liquid pump 5j is started and cooled to the feed side pipe connector 16 of the outer frame unit 10 through the heat exchanger 5h, the on-off valve 5k, the liquid feed pipe 5a, and the feed side pipe connector 5c. Liquid is supplied.
[0027]
The coolant flowing in from the feed-side tube connector 16 is injected into the cooling tube 32 a formed on the first member of the outer frame unit 10. The cooling pipe 32a is connected to the cooling pipes 28 provided in the plurality of cooling units 20, respectively. Accordingly, the cooling liquid injected into the cooling pipe 32a flows into the cooling pipe 28 of each cooling unit 20 (through the cooling pipe connecting unit 40). As a result, the cooling liquid absorbs heat generated by the transmission / reception module 24 via the cooling plate 22 and lowers the temperatures of the transmission / reception module 24 and the cooling plate 22. The transmission / reception module 24 can maintain the internal electronic device at a desired temperature by dissipating heat to the cooling plate 22 (cooling liquid).
[0028]
The coolant that has absorbed heat in the cooling pipes 28 of the respective cooling units 20 and has risen in temperature flows out to the cooling pipes 32 b provided in the second member of the outer frame unit 10 through the cooling pipe connecting units 40. The coolant that has flowed out of the cooling pipe 32b is returned from the return side pipe connector 18 to the liquid pump 5j of the liquid circulation type cooling device 5 through the return side pipe connector 5d and the liquid return pipe 5b. The circulating coolant is cooled to a predetermined temperature (heat exchanged) by the refrigeration cycle R1 in the heat exchanger 5h.
[0029]
In this way, the liquid circulation type cooling device 5 absorbs heat generated by the transmission / reception module 24 by circulating the cooling liquid through the cooling pipe 32 formed in the outer frame unit 10 and the cooling pipe 28 formed in each cooling unit 20. be able to.
[0030]
Thus, in the antenna device 2 according to the present embodiment, the outer frame unit 10 and the cooling unit 20 are each formed with a hollow structure for the flow path of the cooling liquid, so that the cooling unit 20 (cooling plate 20 22) and the cooling pipe can be manufactured more than when the cooling pipes are manufactured separately, and the number of parts constituting the cooling unit 20 can be reduced, thereby greatly reducing the manufacturing burden and reducing the cost. Can be achieved. In addition, the entire apparatus can be reduced in size and weight.
[0031]
Further, by mounting the cooling unit 20 in the frame of the outer frame unit 10, the cooling pipe 32 formed in the outer frame unit 10 and the cooling pipe 28 formed in the cooling unit 20 are communicated. That is, it is not necessary to perform work such as connection of pipes separately from the mounting of the cooling unit 20, so that the work burden when assembling the antenna apparatus 2 can be reduced.
[0032]
Since the cooling pipe 32 formed in the outer frame unit 10 and the cooling pipe 28 formed in the cooling unit 20 are connected by the cooling pipe connecting unit 40, the outer frame unit 10 and the cooling unit are affected by the influence of vibration and the like. Even if bending or the like occurs in the coolant 20, leakage of the coolant can be prevented.
[0033]
In the above description, the cooling unit 20 (cooling plate 22) is provided with one cooling pipe 28 (consisting of a plurality of thin tubes) penetrating between the cooling pipe opening 26a and the cooling pipe opening 26b. However, a plurality of cooling pipe openings may be provided to form a plurality of cooling pipes. In this case, also in the outer frame unit 10, it is assumed that the cooling pipe openings 30 corresponding to each of the plurality of cooling tubes opening 26 provided in the cooling unit 20 is provided.
[0034]
Further, when a plurality of (for example, two) cooling pipes 28 are formed in the cooling unit 20, the cooling liquid may flow in different directions. That is, as a cooling means for the cooling unit 20, the cooling liquid flow path to the cooling plate 22 is formed in a flow path shape in which the flow is opposite to each other, thereby cooling the entire cooling plate 22 uniformly and uniformly. It is possible to obtain a simple temperature distribution. In the case of this configuration, in the outer frame unit 10, two cooling pipes 32 a are formed in a hollow structure inside the first member corresponding to the upper side, the feed side pipe connector 16 is provided for one cooling pipe 32 a, and the other The return side pipe connector 18 is provided in the cooling pipe 32a. Similarly, two cooling pipes 32a are formed in a hollow structure inside the second member corresponding to the lower side, a return side pipe connector 18 is provided for one cooling pipe 32a, and a feeding side pipe is provided to the other cooling pipe 32a. A connector 16 is provided. The liquid circulation type cooling device 5 circulates the cooling liquid in different flow path systems through the feed side pipe connector 16 and the return side pipe connector 18 provided in each of the first member and the second member of the outer frame unit 10.
[0035]
Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, an outer frame unit that is formed in a rectangular frame shape and includes a first member corresponding to one side of the rectangular frame and a second member facing the first member, and the outer frame It is mounted between the first member and the second member of the unit, and includes a cooling unit in which a conduit for flowing a coolant is formed by a hollow structure, and each of the first member and the second member is A pipe line for flowing the refrigerant is formed in a hollow structure, a connection part for connecting an external pipe line connected to the pipe line, and a pipe port part connected to the pipe line provided in the cooling unit Thus, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing load while reducing the size and weight.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external view (perspective view) showing a configuration of an antenna apparatus 2 according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an external view (three views) showing a configuration of an antenna apparatus 2 according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a view showing a cooling unit 20 mounted in the frame of the outer frame unit 10 in the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a liquid circulation type cooling device 5 that circulates a cooling liquid to the antenna device 2 in the present embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of a cooling unit 20 in the present embodiment.
6 is a cross-sectional view of the outer frame unit 10 taken along line AA in FIG.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the vicinity where the cooling pipe port 30 shown in FIG. 6 is provided.
8 is a perspective view showing a cross section of a second member of the outer frame unit 10. FIG.
9 is a cross-sectional view of the outer frame unit 10 and the cooling unit 20 taken along the line BB in FIG.
10 is an enlarged view of a portion where the first member of the outer frame unit 10 and the upper end of the cooling unit 20 are connected in FIG. 9;
[Explanation of symbols]
2 ... Antenna device, 5 ... Liquid circulation type cooling device, 5a ... Liquid feed pipe, 5b ... Liquid return pipe, 5c ... Feed side pipe connector, 5d ... Return side pipe connector, 5e ... Refrigerant compressor, 5f ... Condenser, 5g ... expansion valve, 5h ... heat exchanger, 5j ... liquid pump, 5k ... on-off valve, R1 ... refrigeration cycle, R2 ... cooling liquid circulation cycle, L ... cooling liquid, 10 ... outer frame unit, 12, 14 ... outer plate , 16 ... feed side pipe connector, 18 ... return side pipe connector, 20 ... cooling unit, 22 ... cooling plate, 24 ... transmission / reception module, 24a ... antenna element, 26a, 26b ... cooling pipe port, 28 ... cooling pipe, 30 ... Cooling pipe port, 32 (32a, 32b) ... cooling pipe, 40 ... cooling pipe connecting unit, 42a, 42b ... O-ring.

Claims (4)

An outer frame unit that is formed in a rectangular frame shape and includes a first member corresponding to one side of the rectangular frame and a second member facing the first member;
A plurality of cooling units that are mounted between the first member and the second member of the outer frame unit, and in which a first pipe for flowing a refrigerant is formed by a hollow structure;
Each of the first member and the second member has a hollow structure in which a second conduit for flowing a coolant is formed in a hollow structure, and connects an external conduit communicated with the second conduit. And a plurality of pipe openings connected to the first pipe line provided in each of the plurality of cooling units,
Forming the tube opening provided in each of the first member and the second member and the end of the first conduit of the cooling unit in a concave shape;
Connecting each of the first member and the second member and both ends of the cooling unit so as to match the portions formed in the concave shape in close contact with each other;
Formed by adhering the respectively and the cooling unit of the tube connecting member for preventing leakage of the refrigerant causes the communicating the first conduit and the mouth portion, the first member and the second member and mounted in the recess formed in the shape portion that is, so as to press the plurality of O-rings that are KaeSo the outer periphery of the connecting member to the inner peripheral surface of the said tube mouth first conduit A structural member that integrates a piping system characterized by that.   2. The structural member integrated with a piping system according to claim 1, wherein the pipe line formed in the cooling unit includes a plurality of thin tubes.   2. The structural member integrated with a piping system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of transmission / reception modules having antenna elements are arranged in the cooling unit. Each of the first member and the second member is provided with two second conduits,
The cooling unit is provided with the two first pipe lines,
One of the second pipes and one of the first pipes communicate with each other to form a first flow path system,
The other second conduit and the other first conduit are connected to form a second flow path system;
2. The structural member integrated with a piping system according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerant is caused to flow through the first flow path system and the second flow path system in opposite directions.

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