US 12,328,086 B2
Aircraft with engine-driven permanent magnet generator
David R. Trawick, Indianapolis, IN (US); Matthew Hill, Avon, IN (US); and Chandana J. Gajanayake, Singapore (SG)
Assigned to Rolls-Royce Corporation, Indianapolis, IN (US)
Filed by Rolls-Royce Corporation, Indianapolis, IN (US)
Filed on May 27, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/827,188.
Prior Publication US 2024/0007025 A1, Jan. 4, 2024
Int. Cl. H02P 3/06 (2006.01); B64D 31/18 (2024.01); B64D 35/024 (2025.01); B64D 35/025 (2025.01); F01D 21/04 (2006.01); H02K 1/12 (2006.01); H02K 1/27 (2022.01); H02K 7/00 (2006.01); H02K 11/33 (2016.01); H02P 9/00 (2006.01); H02P 9/06 (2006.01)
CPC H02P 3/06 (2013.01) [B64D 31/18 (2024.01); B64D 35/024 (2024.01); B64D 35/025 (2024.01); F01D 21/045 (2013.01); H02K 1/12 (2013.01); H02K 1/27 (2013.01); H02K 7/003 (2013.01); H02K 7/006 (2013.01); H02K 11/33 (2016.01); H02P 9/006 (2013.01); H02P 9/06 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electrified aircraft comprising
an internal combustion engine,
an electrical power system including a permanent magnet machine and an inverter coupled to the permanent magnet machine, the permanent magnet machine including a stator and a rotor configured to rotate relative to the stator to move a plurality of permanent magnets past a plurality of coils,
a shaft coupled to the rotor of the permanent magnet machine to carry rotation from the internal combustion engine to the permanent magnet machine to drive rotation of the rotor, the shaft having a predetermined failure frequency that is different from normal operating frequencies of the shaft, and
a controller coupled to the inverter and configured to direct the inverter to induce a preselected torque transient in the shaft to excite the shaft at the predetermined failure frequency to selectively cause shaft failure in response to indicators of a fault in the permanent magnet machine so that the rotor of the permanent magnet machine is mechanically decoupled from the internal combustion engine and stops rotation thereby avoiding generation of undesired power profiles and/or excess heat.