Patent ID: 9132923
Filing Date: 2015-09-15
Classification: B62D,B64D,F21V,F21W,F21Y

Abstract:
1. An aircraft comprising: an auxiliary power unit (APU), mounted at the tail of the aircraft and having an exhaust gas outlet for ejecting a gas jet stream; and an aircraft light, positioned in close vicinity adjacent to the exhaust gas outlet of the APU at the tail of the aircraft, the aircraft light comprising a housing coupled to a heat sink element; at least one light source to be cooled, the at least one light source being arranged in the housing; and the heat sink element thermally coupled to the at least one light source, an interior of the heat sink element defining a cooling channel traversing the interior between an upstream and a downstream end portion of the cooling channel, the cooling channel includes a cooling surface that extends between the upstream and the downstream end portions being spaced apart in a flow direction from the upstream end portion to the downstream end portion, the cooling channel being exposed to a cooling airstream for the cooling airstream to flow along the cooling surface in the flow direction, wherein the gas jet stream of the APU is provided adjacent to the downstream end portion, the gas jet stream being configured to create a pressure difference between the upstream and the downstream end portions, wherein the cooling air channel has a cooling air inlet facing toward ground, with a vertical, upward cooling air intake via the cooling air inlet being unobstructed by aircraft elements, and an airstream guiding element coupled to the housing and located immediately adjacent to the downstream end portion and guiding only a part of the cooling airstream along an exterior of the housing, the part of the cooling airstream generating a shielding air layer protecting the exterior of the housing from being exposed to the atmosphere around the housing.