US 12,103,404 B2
Electrical fault isolation in a power distribution network of an aircraft
Ed Culpin, Munich (DE); and Martin Angerer, Gilching (DE)
Assigned to Lilium eAircraft GmbH, Wessling (DE)
Filed by Lilium eAircraft GmbH, Wessling (DE)
Filed on Jun. 29, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/216,227.
Application 18/216,227 is a continuation of application No. 17/747,661, filed on May 18, 2022, granted, now 11,724,600.
Prior Publication US 2023/0391200 A1, Dec. 7, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B60L 3/04 (2006.01); B64C 29/00 (2006.01); B64C 39/12 (2006.01); B64D 27/24 (2024.01)
CPC B60L 3/04 (2013.01) [B64C 29/0033 (2013.01); B64C 39/12 (2013.01); B64D 27/24 (2013.01); B60L 2200/10 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electrical power system comprising:
a plurality of electrical loads;
a plurality of electrical power sources;
a plurality of power lanes; and
an electrical power distribution network, wherein the electrical power distribution network is configured to connect the electrical power sources with the electrical loads, such that each electrical load can be driven by at least one associated electrical power source via at least one of the plurality of power lanes, and wherein the electrical power distribution network is configured to operate in at least one normal operation mode and in at least one electrical failure mitigating operation mode;
wherein the electrical power distribution network comprises a circuit switching arrangement having a plurality of switchable or interruptible power links, wherein each power link is configured to operate in a first operational mode, and is configured to operate in a second operational mode; wherein the electrical power distribution network, in the normal operation mode, provides for load sharing across electrical power sources, such that at least one group of electrical power sources of said plurality of electrical power sources commonly drives at least one associated group of electrical loads of said plurality of electrical loads via one or more of the plurality of power lanes or one or more sections of the plurality of power lanes and at least one power link associated thereto and assuming the first operational mode; and
wherein the electrical power distribution network, in the electrical failure mitigating mode, provides for electric fault isolation, such that a network portion of the electrical power distribution network including an electrical fault is isolated from at least one other network portion of the of the electrical power distribution network by at least one power link assuming the second operational mode.