Patents by Inventor Alan D. Tepe

Alan D. Tepe has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12486022
    Abstract: An electric propulsion system for a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft having a heat exchanger to cool fluids used in an electrical engine, the electric propulsion system comprising at least one electrical engine mechanically connected directly or indirectly to a fuselage of the VTOL aircraft and electrically connected to an electrical power source. The electrical engine may comprise an electrical motor having a stator and a rotor; a gearbox assembly comprising a sun gear; at least one planetary gear; a ring gear; and a planetary carrier. The electric engine may include an inverter assembly comprising a thermal plate and an inverter assembly housing; an end bell assembly that is connected to the thermal plate of the inverter assembly; and a heat exchanger comprising an array of cooling fins and tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2024
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2025
    Assignee: Archer Aviation Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Graves, Alan D. Tepe
  • Patent number: 12486021
    Abstract: An electric propulsion system for a vertical takeoff-and-landing aircraft having an inverter assembly, a gearbox assembly, an electric motor assembly. The inverter assembly, the gearbox assembly, and the electric motor assembly may be substantially aligned along an axis. The inverter assembly, a gearbox assembly, and electric motor assembly may each abut at least one of the others. The electric engine may use a liquid, such as oil, for cooling and lubricating components of the inverter assembly, gearbox assembly, and electric motor assembly. Further, the electric engine may use volumes of oil for cooling and lubricating components below a threshold volume so that the electric engines do not require a fire protective barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2025
    Assignee: Archer Aviation Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Graves, Alan D. Tepe, Robert Wayne Moore
  • Patent number: 12473074
    Abstract: An electric propulsion system for a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft having a heat exchanger to cool fluids used in an electrical engine, the electric propulsion system comprising at least one electrical engine mechanically connected directly or indirectly to a fuselage of the VTOL aircraft and electrically connected to an electrical power source. The electrical engine may comprise an electrical motor having a stator and a rotor; a gearbox assembly comprising a sun gear; at least one planetary gear; a ring gear; and a planetary carrier. The electric engine may include an inverter assembly comprising a thermal plate and an inverter assembly housing; an end bell assembly that is connected to the thermal plate of the inverter assembly; and a heat exchanger comprising an array of cooling fins and tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2025
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2025
    Assignee: Archer Aviation Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Graves, Alan D. Tepe
  • Publication number: 20250340292
    Abstract: An apparatus for aircraft propulsion includes a propeller and an electric engine mounted to a support structure and configured to rotate the propeller. The electric engine is located in an enclosure, with a heat transfer element thermally coupled to the electric engine, An air inlet is located at an upper side of the support structure and the air inlet is configured to receive downwash from the propeller. An air outlet is located at the upper side of the support structure, and the air outlet is configured to exhaust the downwash from the heat transfer element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2025
    Publication date: November 6, 2025
    Applicant: Archer Aviation Inc.
    Inventors: Karthik Kumar BODLA, Bharat TULSYAN, Christopher M. HEATH, Kerry MANNING, Alan D. TEPE
  • Patent number: 12434832
    Abstract: An apparatus for aircraft propulsion includes a propeller and a hybrid-cooled electric engine mounted to a support structure and configured to rotate the propeller. The electric engine is located in an enclosure, with a first heat transfer element thermally coupled to the electric engine via a fluid flow path, partially located outside the enclosure. A second heat transfer element, integral to or thermally coupled to the electric engine, provides air cooling. Both heat transfer elements are housed within the aircraft's support structure. At least one air inlet on the upper side of the support structure receives propeller downwash. A first cooling path directs a portion of the downwash from the air inlet to the first heat transfer element, and a first air outlet exhausts the downwash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2024
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2025
    Assignee: Archer Aviation Inc.
    Inventors: Karthik Kumar Bodla, Bharat Tulsyan, Christopher M. Heath, Kerry Manning, Alan D. Tepe
  • Publication number: 20250296687
    Abstract: An inverter assembly for an electrical propulsion system comprises at least one printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) having a plurality of power modules, a thermal plate comprising one or more channels, a plurality of fin arrays thermally coupled to the plurality of power modules, and a housing. The plurality of fin arrays are configured to receive a fluid from the one or more channels. The at least one printed circuit board assembly and the thermal plate are disposed within the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2025
    Publication date: September 25, 2025
    Applicant: Archer Aviation Inc.
    Inventors: Scott GRAVES, Alan D. TEPE
  • Patent number: 12358633
    Abstract: An electrical propulsion system comprises an inverter, an electrical motor assembly, an assembly, and a rotor position sensor. The inverter comprises a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA). The electrical motor assembly comprises a stator and a rotor. The assembly is configured to rotate a propeller and comprises a moving component and a stationary component. The rotor position sensor comprises at least one sensor coupled to the PCBA, and a magnet located on the moving component. The at least one sensor is configured to detect a magnetic field of the magnet through the stationary component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: Archer Aviation Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Graves, Alan Baldwin, Stephen Michael Spiteri, Wei Wu, Alan D. Tepe
  • Patent number: 12351325
    Abstract: An electrical propulsion system for a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft comprises an electrical motor assembly and an inverter assembly. The inverter assembly comprises a housing, a capacitor assembly, at least one printed circuit board assembly (PCBA), and a plurality of positioning pins. The capacitor assembly comprises a center hole, at least one capacitor, a capacitor housing having at least one busbar, and a plurality of through holes in the capacitor housing. The capacitor assembly and the at least one PCBA are positioned inside the housing. The plurality of positioning pins pass through the through the plurality of through holes of the capacitor housing and the at least one PCBA and are connected to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: Archer Aviation Inc.
    Inventors: Alan D. Tepe, Michael Zwiers
  • Publication number: 20250145274
    Abstract: “A battery pack assembly, comprising: a battery pack, the battery pack comprising: a battery pack enclosure, and one or more battery cells within the battery pack enclosure, and a junction box, the junction box comprising: a junction box enclosure including one base wall, four side walls connected to the base wall, and one open end, and a battery management unit, at least one fuse, and at least one switch, each located within the junction box enclosure and mounted to the base wall. The four side walls of the junction box enclosure are removably secured to the battery pack enclosure at the open end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2025
    Publication date: May 8, 2025
    Applicant: Archer Aviation Inc.
    Inventors: Alex CLARABUT, Michael SCHWEKUTSCH, Paul FRIHAUF, Alan D. TEPE, Stephen SPITERI
  • Publication number: 20250145303
    Abstract: An electric propulsion system for a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft having a heat exchanger to cool fluids used in an electrical engine, the electric propulsion system comprising at least one electrical engine mechanically connected directly or indirectly to a fuselage of the VTOL aircraft and electrically connected to an electrical power source. The electrical engine may comprise an electrical motor having a stator and a rotor; a gearbox assembly comprising a sun gear; at least one planetary gear; a ring gear; and a planetary carrier. The electric engine may include an inverter assembly comprising a thermal plate and an inverter assembly housing; an end bell assembly that is connected to the thermal plate of the inverter assembly; and a heat exchanger comprising an array of cooling fins and tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2025
    Publication date: May 8, 2025
    Applicant: Archer Aviation Inc.
    Inventors: Scott GRAVES, Alan D. TEPE
  • Patent number: 12286234
    Abstract: An electric propulsion system for a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft having a heat exchanger to cool fluids used in an electrical engine, the electric propulsion system comprising at least one electrical engine mechanically connected directly or indirectly to a fuselage of the VTOL aircraft and electrically connected to an electrical power source. The electrical engine may comprise an electrical motor having a stator and a rotor; a gearbox assembly comprising a sun gear; at least one planetary gear; a ring gear; and a planetary carrier. The electric engine may include an inverter assembly comprising a thermal plate and an inverter assembly housing; an end bell assembly that is connected to the thermal plate of the inverter assembly; and a heat exchanger comprising an array of cooling fins and tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: ARCHER AVIATION INC.
    Inventors: Scott Graves, Alan D. Tepe
  • Publication number: 20250121948
    Abstract: An electric propulsion system for a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft having a heat exchanger to cool fluids used in an electrical engine, the electric propulsion system comprising at least one electrical engine mechanically connected directly or indirectly to a fuselage of the VTOL aircraft and electrically connected to an electrical power source. The electrical engine may comprise an electrical motor having a stator and a rotor; a gearbox assembly comprising a sun gear; at least one planetary gear; a ring gear; and a planetary carrier. The electric engine may include an inverter assembly comprising a thermal plate and an inverter assembly housing; an end bell assembly that is connected to the thermal plate of the inverter assembly; and a heat exchanger comprising an array of cooling fins and tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2024
    Publication date: April 17, 2025
    Applicant: Archer Aviation Inc.
    Inventors: Scott GRAVES, Alan D. TEPE
  • Publication number: 20250083807
    Abstract: An apparatus for aircraft propulsion includes a propeller and a hybrid-cooled electric engine mounted to a support structure and configured to rotate the propeller. The electric engine is located in an enclosure, with a first heat transfer element thermally coupled to the electric engine via a fluid flow path, partially located outside the enclosure. A second heat transfer element, integral to or thermally coupled to the electric engine, provides air cooling. Both heat transfer elements are housed within the aircraft's support structure. At least one air inlet on the upper side of the support structure receives propeller downwash. A first cooling path directs a portion of the downwash from the air inlet to the first heat transfer element, and a first air outlet exhausts the downwash.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2024
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Applicant: Archer Aviation Inc.
    Inventors: Karthik Kumar BODLA, Bharat TULSYAN, Christopher M. HEATH, Kerry MANNING, Alan D. TEPE
  • Patent number: 12240617
    Abstract: An electrical propulsion system for a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft comprises an electrical motor assembly and an inverter assembly. The inverter assembly comprises a housing, a capacitor assembly, at least one printed circuit board assembly (PCBA), and a plurality of positioning pins. The capacitor assembly comprises a center hole, at least one capacitor, a capacitor housing having at least one busbar, and a plurality of through holes in the capacitor housing. The capacitor assembly and the at least one PCBA are positioned inside the housing. The plurality of positioning pins pass through the through the plurality of through holes of the capacitor housing and the at least one PCBA and are connected to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Archer Aviation Inc.
    Inventors: Alan D. Tepe, Robert Wayne Moore
  • Patent number: 12240599
    Abstract: A VTOL aircraft includes a plurality of lift propellers configured to rotated by lift motors to provide vertical thrust during takeoff, landing and hovering operations. The lift propellers are configured to generate a cooling airflow to cool the lift motors during use. During a cruise operation when the VTOL aircraft is in forward motion, the lift propellers may be stowed in a stationary position. Therefore, the cooling airflow may be reduced or eliminated when it is not needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Archer Aviation Inc.
    Inventors: Karthik Kumar Bodla, Bharat Tulsyan, Christopher M. Heath, Kerry Manning, Alan D. Tepe
  • Publication number: 20250038689
    Abstract: “An electrical propulsion system comprises an inverter, an electrical motor assembly, an assembly, and a rotor position sensor. The inverter comprises a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA). The electrical motor assembly comprises a stator and a rotor. The assembly is configured to rotate a propeller and comprises a moving component and a stationary component. The rotor position sensor comprises at least one sensor coupled to the PCBA, and a magnet located on the moving component. The at least one sensor is configured to detect a magnetic field of the magnet through the stationary component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2024
    Publication date: January 30, 2025
    Applicant: Archer Aviation Inc.
    Inventors: Scott GRAVES, Alan BALDWIN, Stephen Michael SPITERI, Wei WU, Alan D. TEPE
  • Patent number: 12208908
    Abstract: An electric propulsion system for a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft having a heat exchanger to cool fluids used in an electrical engine, the electric propulsion system comprising at least one electrical engine mechanically connected directly or indirectly to a fuselage of the VTOL aircraft and electrically connected to an electrical power source. The electrical engine may comprise an electrical motor having a stator and a rotor; a gearbox assembly comprising a sun gear; at least one planetary gear; a ring gear; and a planetary carrier. The electric engine may include an inverter assembly comprising a thermal plate and an inverter assembly housing; an end bell assembly that is connected to the thermal plate of the inverter assembly; and a heat exchanger comprising an array of cooling fins and tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Archer Aviation Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Graves, Alan D. Tepe
  • Patent number: 12195193
    Abstract: An electrical propulsion system for a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft comprises an electrical motor assembly and an inverter assembly. The inverter assembly comprises a housing, a capacitor assembly, at least one printed circuit board assembly (PCBA), and a plurality of positioning pins. The capacitor assembly comprises a center hole, at least one capacitor, a capacitor housing having at least one busbar, and a plurality of through holes in the capacitor housing. The capacitor assembly and the at least one PCBA are positioned inside the housing. The plurality of positioning pins pass through the through the plurality of through holes of the capacitor housing and the at least one PCBA and are connected to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: ARCHER AVIATION INC.
    Inventors: Alan D. Tepe, Alan Baldwin
  • Patent number: 12129040
    Abstract: An electric propulsion system for a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft having a heat exchanger to cool fluids used in an electrical engine, the electric propulsion system comprising at least one electrical engine mechanically connected directly or indirectly to a fuselage of the VTOL aircraft and electrically connected to an electrical power source. The electrical engine may comprise an electrical motor having a stator and a rotor; a gearbox assembly comprising a sun gear; at least one planetary gear; a ring gear; and a planetary carrier. The electric engine may include an inverter assembly comprising a thermal plate and an inverter assembly housing; an end bell assembly that is connected to the thermal plate of the inverter assembly; and a heat exchanger comprising an array of cooling fins and tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2024
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: ARCHER AVIATION INC.
    Inventors: Scott Graves, Alan D. Tepe
  • Publication number: 20240351694
    Abstract: An electrical propulsion system for a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft comprises an electrical motor assembly and an inverter assembly. The inverter assembly comprises a housing, a capacitor assembly, at least one printed circuit board assembly (PCBA), and a plurality of positioning pins. The capacitor assembly comprises a center hole, at least one capacitor, a capacitor housing having at least one busbar, and a plurality of through holes in the capacitor housing. The capacitor assembly and the at least one PCBA are positioned inside the housing. The plurality of positioning pins pass through the through the plurality of through holes of the capacitor housing and the at least one PCBA and are connected to the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2024
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Applicant: Archer Aviation, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott GRAVES, Alan BALDWIN, Stephen Michael SPITERI, Wei WU, Alan D. TEPE