US 11,884,412 B2
Hybrid electric powerplant systems and controllers
Michael Mark, Montreal (CA); Paul C. Imel, Hartford, CT (US); and Leonid Guerchkovitch, Dollard des Ormeaux (CA)
Assigned to PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP., Longueuil (CA)
Filed by Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp., Longueuil (CA)
Filed on Aug. 24, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/001,560.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/892,352, filed on Aug. 27, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0101691 A1, Apr. 8, 2021
Int. Cl. B64D 31/06 (2006.01); B64D 27/02 (2006.01); B64D 27/24 (2006.01); B64D 45/00 (2006.01); B64D 31/14 (2006.01)
CPC B64D 31/06 (2013.01) [B64D 27/02 (2013.01); B64D 27/24 (2013.01); B64D 31/14 (2013.01); B64D 45/00 (2013.01); B64D 2027/026 (2013.01); B64D 2045/0085 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A hybrid electric propulsion (HEP) system, comprising:
a heat engine;
an electric motor;
a combining gear box configured to receive a heat engine torque input from the heat engine and an electric motor torque input from the electric motor;
a heat engine torque sensor connected between the heat engine and the combining gear box to sense the heat engine torque input to the combining gear box;
an electric motor torque sensor connected between the electric motor and the combining gear box to sense the electric motor torque input to the combining gear box;
a combining gear box torque sensor connected to an output of the combining gear box;
a HEP controller operatively connected to each of the heat engine torque sensor, the electric motor torque sensor, and the combining gear box torque sensor to receive torque signals from the heat engine torque sensor, the electric motor torque sensor and the combining gear box torque sensor, wherein the HEP controller is configured to output one or more output signals as a function of the torque signals from the heat engine torque sensor, the electric motor torque sensor and the combining gear box torque sensor;
a heat engine disconnect disposed between the heat engine and the combining gear box and configured to disconnect the heat engine from the combining gear box; and
an electric motor disconnect disposed between the electric motor and the combining gear box and configured to disconnect the electric motor from the combining gear box,
wherein:
the HEP controller is connected to the heat engine disconnect and to the electric motor disconnect to control the heat engine disconnect and the electric motor disconnect;
the HEP controller is configured to:
detect a fault when one or more of the torque signals indicate that less torque is being provided by the heat engine or the electric motor than is commanded; and
when the fault is detected, control the heat engine disconnect or the electric motor disconnect to disconnect one of the heat engine or the electric motor from the combining gear box.