Granted Patent B2

US 12,649,582 · App. 18/814,297 · Granted Jun 9, 2026

Inventor: Bharat Tulsyan (San Jose, CA)

Assignee: Archer Aviation Inc.

B64D27/31B64C29/0033

Abstract

Claims (30)

1 . An electric propulsion system, comprising:

an electric motor assembly including a rotor and a stator, the stator having end windings;

a main shaft connected to the rotor; and

a collar connected to a rotating component of the electric motor assembly, wherein:

the collar encircles the main shaft, and

the collar comprises a channel configured to direct a fluid away from the main shaft, through at least one opening in the collar, and toward the end windings.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the collar comprises a first portion and a second portion, and the channel is formed between the first portion and the second portion.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the first portion extends outward from the main shaft, and the second portion extends inward toward the main shaft in relation to the first portion.

4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein one of the first portion or the second portion comprises a bend configured to direct the fluid around the rotor.

5 . The system of claim 4 , further comprising a bearing at an output end of the main shaft, wherein the bend is disposed adjacent to the bearing.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the rotating component comprises the main shaft.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the rotating component comprises the rotor.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid is fed to the collar from the rotating component of the electric propulsion system.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the rotating component includes a bearing at an output end of the main shaft.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a fluid pressure at the at least one opening depends on a depth of the fluid in the channel and a rotational speed of the collar.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening in the collar comprises a slit.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening in the collar comprises a plurality of openings in the collar.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein:

a first opening of the plurality of openings is configured to direct the fluid in a first direction; and

a second opening of the plurality of openings is configured to direct the fluid in a second direction different from the first direction.

14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the main shaft is connected to the rotor via a gear reduction, and the main shaft extends through the rotor.

15 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the electric propulsion system is configured to provide propulsion for an electric aircraft.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the electric aircraft is an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

17 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising an inverter mounted to a first end of a housing of the electric motor assembly, wherein the stator receives electricity from the inverter.

18 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises oil.

19 . A method of operating an electric propulsion system, the method comprising:

operating an electric motor assembly including a rotor and a stator by rotating a main shaft connected to the rotor, wherein the stator includes end windings;

distributing fluid by a collar connected to the main shaft, wherein the collar encircles the main shaft and the collar comprises a channel; and

directing the fluid away from the main shaft, through at least one opening in the collar, and toward the end windings.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the collar comprises a first portion and a second portion, and the channel is formed between the first portion and the second portion.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (201)