US 11,970,276 B2
Modular battery configuration with centralized bus on an electric aircraft
Herman Wiegman, South Burlington, VT (US)
Assigned to BETA AIR, LLC, South Burlington, VT (US)
Filed by BETA AIR, LLC, South Burlington, VT (US)
Filed on Aug. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/892,273.
Prior Publication US 2024/0059418 A1, Feb. 22, 2024
Int. Cl. B64D 27/24 (2006.01); B60L 50/60 (2019.01); B64C 29/00 (2006.01); H01M 50/204 (2021.01); H01M 50/249 (2021.01); H01M 50/258 (2021.01); H01M 50/50 (2021.01)
CPC B64D 27/24 (2013.01) [B60L 50/66 (2019.02); B64C 29/0025 (2013.01); H01M 50/204 (2021.01); H01M 50/249 (2021.01); H01M 50/258 (2021.01); B60L 2200/10 (2013.01); B64D 2221/00 (2013.01); H01M 50/50 (2021.01); H01M 2220/20 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electric aircraft, comprising:
a longitudinal axis of an electric aircraft;
a lateral axis of the electric aircraft, wherein the lateral axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and intersects the longitudinal axis at a center of gravity of the electric aircraft;
a plurality of battery packs;
a plurality of propulsors comprising a first propulsor and a second propulsor; and
a centralized electrical bus including a ring bus electrically connected to the first propulsor and the second propulsor of the plurality of propulsors and the plurality of battery packs, wherein:
the ring bus includes a plurality of bus sections configured to be connected during use for electrical connection between each of the plurality of propulsors and each of the plurality of battery packs, and the plurality of bus sections are configured to be electrically isolated in response to a fault; and
the plurality of battery packs are configured to provide electricity to the centralized electrical bus for selective distribution of the electricity to power the first propulsor and the second propulsor, and the plurality of battery packs are arranged substantially symmetrically about the lateral axis and the center of gravity of the electric aircraft, wherein the symmetric arrangement of the plurality of battery packs includes:
a first plurality of battery packs located on a forward side of the lateral axis of the electric aircraft and directly connected to a first one of the plurality of bus sections; and a second plurality of battery packs located on an aft side, symmetrically opposed to the forward side, of the lateral axis of the electric aircraft and directly connected to another one of the plurality of bus sections.