IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,338,684
Granted Patent B2
US 11,338,684 · App. 17/179,522 · Granted May 24, 2022

Systems and methods for restricting power to a load to prevent engaging circuit protection device for an aircraft

Inventor: Herman Wiegman (South Burlington, VT)
Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
B60L3/0046B64C29/0008B64D27/24H02J4/00B60L50/00B60L2200/10B64D2221/00H02H7/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,338,684
App. No.
17/179,522
Granted
May 24, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for restricting power to a load to prevent engaging circuit protection device for an aircraft. The system includes an energy source of an aircraft. The system further includes a plurality of sensors configured to sense at least an electrical parameter of a load of the plurality of loads. The system further includes an aircraft controller configured to receive electrical parameter of a load of the plurality of loads from the plurality of sensors, compare the electrical parameter to at least a current allocation threshold, detect that the electrical parameter has reached the current allocation threshold, calculate a power reduction to the load, and reduce power from the at least an energy source to each load of the plurality of loads by the power reduction. The system further includes at least an electrical circuit of an aircraft, wherein the electrical circuit comprises a circuit protection device.

Claims (51)

1. A system for restricting power to a load to prevent engaging a circuit protection device for an electric aircraft, the system comprising:

at least an energy source of an electric aircraft, wherein the at least an energy source is communicatively coupled to a load of a plurality of loads, wherein the load comprises at least a portion of a propulsion system of the electric aircraft;

a plurality of sensors mounted on the electric aircraft, wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors are designed and configured to:

sense at least an electrical parameter of the at least a portion of the propulsion system of the electric aircraft;

an aircraft controller communicatively connected to the at least an energy source, wherein the aircraft controller is designed and configured to:

receive at least an electrical parameter of the at least a portion of the propulsion system of the electric aircraft from the plurality of sensors;

compare the at least an electrical parameter to at least a current allocation threshold, wherein the current allocation threshold is generated as a function of at least a circuit protection threshold of load;

detect that the at least an electrical parameter has reached the current allocation threshold;

calculate a power reduction to the load;

at least an electrical circuit of the electric aircraft, wherein the at least an electrical circuit comprises:

a circuit protection device communicatively connected to the aircraft controller.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors further comprises the plurality of sensors communicatively connected to the aircraft controller.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors further includes:

at least a current sensor; and

at least a voltage sensor.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein comparing the at least an electrical parameter to the at least a current allocation threshold further comprises:

periodic comparison; and

continuous comparison.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a user selection device, wherein the user selection device is configured to:

receive the power reduction to the load;

display the power reduction to the load.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the user selection device is further configured to:

audibly announce the power reduction to the load.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least a circuit protection device further includes an overload relay.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least a circuit protection device further includes:

a fuse; and

a circuit breaker.

9. A method of restricting power to a load to prevent engaging a circuit protection device for an electric aircraft, the method comprising:

sensing, by a plurality of sensors, at least an electrical parameter of a load of the plurality of loads;

receiving, by an aircraft controller communicatively connected to at least an energy source, at least an electrical parameter of at least a portion of the propulsion system of the electric aircraft from the plurality of sensors;

comparing the at least an electrical parameter to at least a current allocation threshold, wherein the current allocation threshold is generated as a function of at least a circuit protection threshold of load;

detecting the at least an electrical parameter has reached the current allocation threshold;

calculating a power reduction to the load.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein sensing the at least an electrical parameter further comprises sensing, by at least a current sensor, a current level.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein sensing the at least an electrical parameter further comprises sensing, by at least a voltage sensor, a voltage level.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein comparing the at least an electrical parameter to the at least a current allocation threshold further comprises:

continuously comparing; and

periodically comparing.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the aircraft controller is configured to:

receiving a reduction confirmation datum; and

reducing power from the at least an energy source to each load of the plurality of loads by the power reduction as a function of receiving the reduction confirmation datum.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein reducing power from the at least an energy source to each load further includes:

disconnecting the communication between the at least an energy source and the at least an electrical circuit; and

reconnecting the communication between the at least an energy source and the at least an electrical circuit.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein reducing power from the at least an energy source to each load further includes:

preventing communication between the at least an energy source and the at least an electrical circuit.

16. The method of claim 9 , further comprising a user selection device, wherein the user selection device is configured to:

receiving the power reduction to the load;

displaying the power reduction to the load.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the user selection device is further configured to:

audibly announcing the power reduction to the load.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 12, 2021
From: WIEGMAN, HERMAN
To: BETA AIR, LLC
Reel/Frame 056820/0674 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 16590496 · Oct 2, 2019
Provisional Application 62896184 · Sep 5, 2019
Related Publication 20210206276A1 · Jul 8, 2021