US 12,441,491 B2
Powertrain for aerial vehicle
Curtis Asa Foster, Lawrenceville, GA (US); Raymond Samuel Trey Davenport, III, Gillsville, GA (US); and Steven Brian Shenker, Cape Town (CA)
Assigned to Sonin Hybrid, LLC, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed by Sonin Hybrid, LLC, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed on Apr. 16, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/232,485.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/011,517, filed on Apr. 17, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0323691 A1, Oct. 21, 2021
Int. Cl. B64D 35/04 (2006.01); B64C 39/02 (2023.01); B64U 10/10 (2023.01); B64U 10/13 (2023.01); B64U 50/11 (2023.01); B64U 50/13 (2023.01); B64U 50/14 (2023.01); B64U 50/19 (2023.01)
CPC B64U 10/13 (2023.01) [B64D 35/04 (2013.01); B64U 50/19 (2023.01); B64U 50/11 (2023.01); B64U 2201/10 (2023.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A powertrain for an aerial vehicle, the powertrain comprising:
a mechanical power source configured to supply mechanical power;
an electric power generation device mechanically coupled to the mechanical power source and configured to convert at least a portion of the mechanical power into electrical power;
an electric motor electrically coupled to the electric power generation device and configured to convert electrical power into rotational power;
a first propulsion member mechanically coupled to the mechanical power source and configured to convert mechanical power supplied by the mechanical power source into a first thrust force;
a second propulsion member mechanically coupled to the electric motor and configured to convert rotational power supplied by the electric motor into a second thrust force; and
a vehicle controller in communication with the mechanical power source, the electric power generation device, and the electric motor, the vehicle controller configured to:
at least partially control aerial maneuvering of the aerial vehicle; and
cause supply of a first portion of the mechanical power from the mechanical power source to the first propulsion member and a second portion of the mechanical power from the mechanical power source to the electric power generation device based at least in part on at least one characteristic associated with maneuvering of the aerial vehicle,
the first propulsion member positioned for directing a cooling airflow onto at least one of the vehicle controller or the electric power storage device when the first propulsion member is operated.