IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,491,878
Granted Patent B2
US 11,491,878 · App. 17/348,137 · Granted Nov 8, 2022

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

Inventor: Herman Wiegman (Essex Junction, VT)
Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
B60L3/0046B64C29/0008B64D27/24H02J4/00B60L50/00B60L2200/10B64D2221/00H02H7/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,491,878
App. No.
17/348,137
Granted
Nov 8, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for restricting power to a load to prevent engaging a circuit protection device for an electric aircraft includes an energy source. The energy source is communicatively coupled to a load, wherein the load includes a portion of a propulsion system. The system includes sensors configured to sense an electrical parameter. The system includes an aircraft controller communicatively connected to the energy source, wherein the aircraft controller is configured to receive an electrical parameter, compare the electrical parameter to a current allocation threshold, detect that the electrical parameter has reached a current allocation threshold, generate a current allocation threshold notification as a function of the detection, wherein the current allocation threshold notification indicates that the electrical parameter has reached the current allocation threshold.

Claims (58)

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; and

measure the resistance of the at least an energy source;

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;

generate a current allocation threshold notification as a function of the detection, wherein the current allocation threshold notification indicates that the at least an electrical parameter has reached the current allocation threshold.

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:

continuous comparison of the at least an electrical parameter to the at least a current allocation threshold.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the aircraft controller is configured to:

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.

6. The system of claim 5 , 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.

7. The system of claim 5 , 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.

8. The system of claim 5 , 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.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the user selection device is further configured to:

audibly announce the power reduction to the load.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising an overload relay.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a fuse; and

a circuit breaker.

12. 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 a plurality of loads;

receiving, by an aircraft controller communicatively connected to at least an energy source, from the plurality of sensors:

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

the measured resistance of the at least an energy source;

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; and

generating a current allocation threshold notification as a function of the detection, wherein the current allocation threshold notification indicates that the at least an electrical parameter has reached the current allocation threshold.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein sensing the at least an electrical parameter further comprises sensing, by at least a current sensor, a current level.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein sensing the at least an electrical parameter further comprises sensing, by at least a voltage sensor, a voltage level.

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

continuous comparison of the at least an electrical parameter to the at least a current allocation threshold.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the aircraft controller is configured to:

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.

17. The method of claim 12 , 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.

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

audibly announcing the power reduction to the load.

19. The method of claim 16 , 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.

20. The method of claim 16 , 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.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 8, 2021
From: WIEGMAN, HERMAN
To: BETA AIR, LLC
Reel/Frame 058050/0253 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation In Part 17179522 · Feb 19, 2021
Continuation 16590496 · Oct 2, 2019
Provisional Application 62896184 · Sep 5, 2019
Related Publication 20210309110A1 · Oct 7, 2021