Patent ID: 8956021
Filing Date: 2015-02-17
Classification: B64D,F21S,F28F

Abstract:
1. Aircraft light comprising a housing ( 20 ) having an outer side, at least one light source ( 38 ) located within the housing ( 20 ) for emitting light, a heat sink element ( 24 ) for cooling the at least one light source ( 38 ), wherein at least a portion ( 22 ) of the heat sink element ( 24 ) forms at least a portion of the outer side of the housing ( 20 ), an auxiliary thermal capacitor ( 34 ) for receiving thermal energy from the at least one light source ( 38 ), wherein the auxiliary thermal capacitor ( 34 ) is thermally decoupled from the heat sink element ( 24 ), and actuator means ( 48 ) thermally coupled to the heat sink element ( 24 ) and operable to thermally decouple the at least one light source ( 38 ) from the heat sink element ( 24 ) and thermally couple the at least one light source ( 38 ) to the auxiliary thermal capacitor ( 34 ) when the actual temperature of the heat sink element ( 24 ) exceeds a threshold value, wherein the actuator means ( 48 ) comprises a volume of a thermally expandable medium ( 32 ) for displacing the at least one light source ( 38 ) out of thermal coupling to the heat sink element ( 24 ) and towards thermal coupling to the auxiliary thermal capacitor ( 34 ).