Hybrid Aircraft Powerplant with Multiple Electric Machines and Planetary Gearset
AssigneeVerdeGo Aero, Inc.
InventorsDavid N. Spitzer, Richard Pat Anderson, Patrick Currier, Austin Cassels
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An aircraft powerplant including an engine comprising a shaft configured to output power from the engine. The aircraft powerplant further includes a bypass fan, a first electric machine, a second electric machine, and a gearset. The gearset includes a sun gear, a plurality of planet gears connected to a planet carrier, and a ring gear. The shaft is configured to drive an input of the first electric machine. The shaft is further configured to drive the sun gear. The second electric machine is configured to drive the ring gear. The bypass fan is connected to the planet carrier.
Claims29
An aircraft powerplant comprising:
- an engine comprising a shaft configured to output power from the engine;
- a bypass fan;
- a first electric machine;
- a second electric machine;
- and
- a gearset comprising:
- a sun gear,
- a plurality of planet gears connected to a planet carrier, and
- a ring gear,
- wherein:
- the shaft is configured to drive an input of the first electric machine,
- the shaft is further configured to drive the sun gear,
- the second electric machine is configured to drive the ring gear, and
- the bypass fan is connected to the planet carrier.
A method for splitting power output from an engine between a first electric machine and a bypass fan comprising:
- controlling, in a first mode of operation, the first electric machine to generate electricity using most or all mechanical power output from the engine, wherein in the first mode further comprises controlling a gearset using a second electric machine such that little or none of the mechanical power output from the engine is directed to a bypass fan, wherein the gearset comprises:
- a sun gear connected to an output shaft of the engine;
- a plurality of planet gears connected to a planet carrier, wherein the planet carrier is connected to the bypass fan;
- and
- a ring gear connected to the second electric machine;
- controlling, in a second mode of operation using the first electric machine and the second electric machine, to cause the first electric machine to generate electricity using a first substantial portion of the mechanical power output from the engine and to cause a second substantial portion of the mechanical power output from the engine to the bypass fan;
- and
- controlling, in a third mode of operation, the first electric machine to generate very little or no electricity from the mechanical power output from the engine, wherein in the third mode further comprises controlling the gearset using the second electric machine such that most or all of the mechanical power output from the engine is directed to the bypass fan.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.