US 12,187,441 B2
Aircraft environmental control systems having electrically powered ram circuit fans
Steve G. Mackin, Bellevue, WA (US); and Douglas J. Silva, Auburn, WA (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed on Jan. 12, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/574,297.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/180,459, filed on Apr. 27, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0340287 A1, Oct. 27, 2022
Int. Cl. B64D 13/08 (2006.01); B64D 13/06 (2006.01)
CPC B64D 13/08 (2013.01) [B64D 2013/0614 (2013.01); B64D 2013/0618 (2013.01); B64D 2013/0644 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An environmental control system for an aircraft, the environmental control system comprising:
an air cycle machine to produce cabin air for a cabin of the aircraft, the air cycle machine including a turbine and a heat exchanger;
a ram circuit, the heat exchanger disposed in the ram circuit;
a fan in the ram circuit to control air flow through the ram circuit and across the heat exchanger;
an electric motor; and
an overrunning clutch operatively coupled between the turbine and the electric motor to couple the turbine to the fan to enable the turbine to drive the fan during a first mode of operation and to decouple the turbine from the fan to enable the electric motor to drive the fan independent of the turbine during a second mode of operation.