Heat flow device

Abstract

A device comprises equipment ( 101 ) with a heat source, a cold part ( 102 ) relative to the equipment, and a thermal conductor element ( 103 ) capable of conducting the heat from the equipment to the cold part. The element ( 103 ) is such that, under certain thermal conditions above a given thermal condition, the equipment and the cold part are essentially thermally isolated.

1 . A device comprising an equipment item ( 101 ;  201 ;  211 ;  301 ;  401 ) with a heat source, a part ( 102 ;  202 ;  212 ;  302 ;  402 ) relatively colder than the equipment item and a member ( 103 ;  203 ;  204 ;  213 ;  214 ;  303 ;  403 ,  404 ,  405 ) capable of transmitting the heat from the equipment item to the cold part,
 characterized in that the member is such that, under certain thermal conditions situated above a given thermal condition, the equipment item and the cold part are substantially insulated thermally.   
     
     
         2 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the equipment item and the cold part are substantially insulated electrically, at least under the said thermal conditions. 
     
     
         3 . A device according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the equipment item and the cold part are separated substantially by a gas screen ( 106 ;  206 ;  216 ;  303 ′), at least under the said thermal conditions. 
     
     
         4 . A device according to one of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the member is such that its thermal resistance is capable of increasing under the said thermal conditions, in such a way that the member becomes substantially insulating. 
     
     
         5 . A device according to  claim 4 , wherein the member comprises at least one component ( 303 ) whose change of state under the said thermal conditions causes the increase of the said thermal resistance. 
     
     
         6 . A device according to  claim 5 , wherein the said change of state is a transition from the liquid state to the gas state. 
     
     
         7 . A device according to  claim 5  or  6 ,  claim 4  being taken in dependence on  claim 3 , wherein the component forms the said screen ( 303 ′) after the said change of state. 
     
     
         8 . A device according to one of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the member ( 103 ;  203 ;  213 ;  404 ) is configured to lose contact with the equipment item or the cold part under the said thermal conditions. 
     
     
         9 . A device according to  claim 8 , wherein the member comprises at least one component ( 103 ;  204 ;  214 ;  403 ) whose change of state under the said thermal conditions causes the said loss of contact. 
     
     
         10 . A device according to  claim 9 , wherein the said component ( 103 ) participates in conduction from the equipment item to the cold part outside the said thermal conditions and disappears due to its change of state under the said thermal conditions, thus substantially insulating the equipment item and the cold part. 
     
     
         11 . A device according to  claim 9 , wherein the change of a mechanical property of the component ( 204 ;  214 ;  403 ) during its change of state leads to a movement of a part ( 203 ;  213 ;  404 ) of the member, thus causing the said loss of contact. 
     
     
         12 . A device according to one of  claims 9  to  11 ,  claim 8  being taken in dependence on  claim 3 , wherein the member is configured in such a way that the change of state of the component permits the formation of the said gas screen. 
     
     
         13 . A device according to one of  claims 9  to  12 , wherein the change of state is a transition from the solid state to the liquid state. 
     
     
         14 . A device according to one of  claims 9  to  12 , wherein the change of state is a transition from the liquid state to the gas state. 
     
     
         15 . A device according to one of  claims 1  to  14 , wherein the equipment item is a fuel pump. 
     
     
         16 . A device according to one of  claims 1  to  15 , wherein the cold part is a liquid fuel. 
     
     
         17 . A device according to one of  claims 1  to  15 , wherein the cold part is a member sensitive to temperature elevations. 
     
     
         18 . An aircraft equipped with a device according to any one of  claims 1  to  17 .