Hybrid-electric and all-electric aircraft power systems
AssigneePratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
InventorDaniel Mackay
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of servicing an aircraft includes, while the aircraft is on a ground, actuating a connector module of the aircraft to release a power system of the aircraft. The power system is moved away from the aircraft using a ground vehicle that is separate from the aircraft. A different power system is moved to the aircraft in place of the power system and the connector module is actuated to engage the different power system to the aircraft. Each one of the power system and the different power system includes one of: an electric machine operatively connectable to an electric power source of the aircraft; and both a given electric machine and an electrical energy module electrically connected to the given electric machine to power the given electric machine.
Claims6
A method of servicing an aircraft, comprising:
- positioning the aircraft on a ground, the aircraft including a first power system including a first electric machine and a first electrical energy module electrically connectable to the first electric machine to power the first electric machine, the first power system being received inside a receptacle formed in a wing of the aircraft, the receptacle having an opening permitting a removal of the first power system from the receptacle;
- while the aircraft is on the ground, actuating a connector module of the aircraft to release the first power system of the aircraft;
- while the aircraft is on the ground, moving the first power system including the first electric machine and the first electrical energy module away from the aircraft using a ground vehicle that is separate from the aircraft, moving the first power system of the aircraft away from the aircraft including removing the first electrical energy module from the receptacle via the opening of the receptacle;
- while the aircraft is on the ground, moving a different second power system to the aircraft in place of the first power system and actuating the connector module to engage the second power system to the aircraft, the second power system including a second electric machine and a second electrical energy module electrically connectable to the second electric machine to power the second electric machine;
- and
- with an electrical connector of the ground vehicle electrically connected to an electrical connector of the first electrical energy module of the first power system, charging the first electrical energy module of the first power system via the electrical connector of the ground vehicle when the first power system is away from the aircraft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.