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US 11,958,622 B2Granted
Protection functions
AssigneePratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
InventorsRichard A. Poisson, Paul C. Imel, Leonid Guerchkovitch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method includes controlling an electric motor of a hybrid-electric powerplant for an aircraft using an EPC (electric powertrain controller) and controlling a heat engine of the hybrid-electric powerplant using an ECU (engine control unit). The method includes performing at least one of the following to protect the hybrid-electric powerplant: using the ECU to power down the electric motor, and/or using the EPC to power down the heat engine.
Claims19
A method comprising:
- controlling an electric motor of a hybrid-electric powerplant for an aircraft using an EPC (electric powertrain controller);
- controlling a heat engine of the hybrid-electric powerplant using an ECU (engine control unit);
- and
- performing at least one of the following to protect the hybrid-electric powerplant:
- using the ECU to power down the electric motor;
- and/or
- using the EPC to power down the heat engine,
- wherein powering down the electric motor includes powering down the electric motor using the ECU as a failsafe in an event of failure of the EPC to power down the electric motor and/or erroneous commands from the EPC,
- wherein powering down the heat engine includes powering down the heat engine using the EPC as a failsafe in an event of failure of the ECU to power down the heat engine and/or erroneous commands from the ECU.
6 more elements
A system comprising:
- a heat engine connected to a hybrid-electric power plant for an aircraft;
- an electric motor connected to the hybrid-electric power plant;
- an ECU (engine control unit) connected to control fuel supplied to the heat engine;
- and
- an EPC (electric powertrain controller) connected to control power supplied to the electric motor, wherein the ECU and EPC are interconnected to one another so that the EPC alone can shut down both the heat engine and the electric motor and/or so that the ECU alone can shut down both the heat engine and the electric motor
- wherein the ECU is configured to power down the electric motor in an event of failure of the EPC and/or erroneous commands from the EPC,
- wherein the EPC is configured to power down the heat engine in an event of failure of the ECU and/or erroneous commands from the ECU.
4 more elements
A method comprising:
- controlling an electric motor of a hybrid-electric powerplant for an aircraft using an EPC;
- controlling a heat engine of the hybrid-electric powerplant using an ECU;
- and
- performing at least one of the following to protect the hybrid-electric powerplant:
- using the ECU to power down the electric motor;
- and/or
- using the EPC to power down the heat engine.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.