IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,784,500
Granted Patent B1
US 11,784,500 · App. 17/732,169 · Granted Oct 10, 2023

Systems and methods for overvoltage protection on loads for use in an electric aircraft

Inventor: Timothy Gerard Richter (Wynantskill, NY)
Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
H02J7/00308B60L3/0046B64D27/24H02H3/025B60L2200/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,784,500
App. No.
17/732,169
Filed
Apr 28, 2022
Granted
Oct 10, 2023
Kind
B1
Art Unit
2839
USPC
361/1
Abstract

A system for overvoltage protection on loads for use in an electric aircraft is presented. The system includes an energy storage element configured to produce an electrical output, a bus element, wherein the bus is configured to transfer the electrical output from the energy storage element, a plurality of inverters, wherein each inverter is configured to generate a regulated output as a function of the electrical output and detect an overvoltage output as a function of the regulated output, and a plurality of load devices connected to the plurality of inverters, wherein each load device includes a fault protection device.

Claims (34)

1. A system for overvoltage protection on loads for use in an electric aircraft, the system comprising:

an energy storage element configured to produce an electrical output;

a bus element comprising a laminated busbar, wherein the bus element is configured to transfer the electrical output from the energy storage element;

a plurality of inverters, wherein each inverter is configured to:

generate a regulated output as a function of the electrical output; and

detect an overvoltage output as a function of the regulated output;

a plurality of load devices connected to the plurality of inverters, wherein each load device includes a fault protection device, and the bus element is further configured to connect the plurality of load devices to a computing device utilizing a physical CAN bus unit; and

a computing device communicatively connected to the bus element and configured to activate a mitigation response as a function of an identification of the overvoltage output, wherein the mitigation response comprises the plurality of inverters working in tandem to mitigate damage.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of load devices further comprises an electric motor.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of load devices further comprises a pusher.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein each inverter comprises a sensor configured to measure an environmental exposure data.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the bus element comprises a ring bus.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fault protection device further comprises a ground fault protection device.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the fault protection device further comprises a ground fault protection relay.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fault protection device is activated based on an overvoltage threshold.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fault protection device further comprises a fuse.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fault protection circuit is further configured to terminate a transmission of regulated output through the plurality of inverters.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the mitigation response further comprises activating the fault protection device.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the mitigation response comprises a response by the computing device to restart at least an inverter of the plurality of inverters experiencing a fault.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the mitigation response further comprises an emergency landing response.

14. A method for overvoltage protection on loads within an electric aircraft, the system comprising:

generating, using an energy storage element, an electrical output;

transferring, using a bus element comprising a laminated busbar, the electrical output from the energy storage element;

generating, using a plurality of inverters, a regulated output as a function of the electrical output; and

detecting, using the plurality of inverters, a overvoltage output as a function of the regulated output;

connecting a plurality of load devices to the plurality of inverters, wherein each load device includes a fault protection device;

connecting, by the bus element, the plurality of load devices to a computing device utilizing a physical CAN bus unit; and

activating, by a computing device communicatively connected to the bus element, a mitigation response as a function of an identification of the overvoltage output, wherein the mitigation response comprises the plurality of inverters working in tandem to mitigate damage.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the method further comprise measuring, by a sensor, an environmental exposure data.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein detecting the overvoltage output further comprises identifying, by the sensor, a ground fault.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the fault protection device further comprises a ground fault protection relay.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises generating a mitigation response as a function of the overvoltage output.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein activating the mitigation response comprises tripping a fuse of the fault protection device.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein activating the mitigation response further comprises terminating a transmission of regulated output through the plurality of inverters.

Cited By (3)
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