Patents by Inventor David Loder

David Loder 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: 11977131
    Abstract: In some examples, an electrical power system includes a solid state power converter including a first set of switches on a source side of the solid state power converter and a second set of switches on a load side of the solid state power converter. The electrical power system also includes a power source connected to the source side of the solid state power converter and also includes a differential bus connected to the load side of the solid state power converter. The electrical power system further includes a controller configured to receive a first signal indicating a current at the source side and receive a second signal indicating a current at the load side. The controller is further configured to detect, based on a time derivative of the first signal and a time derivative of the second signal, a fault in the electrical power system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc., Rolls-Royce Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu Yang, Chandana Jayampathi Gajanayake, David Loder, Amit Kumar Gupta
  • Patent number: 11952139
    Abstract: A voltage controlled aircraft electric propulsion system includes an electric propulsion system. The voltage controlled aircraft electric propulsion system may include electric propulsors providing thrust for the aircraft. In hybrid systems, a gas turbine engine may also be included. The electric propulsion system may include at least one electric generator power source, at least one propulsor motor load, and at least one stored energy power source, such as a battery. The propulsor motor load may be supplied power from a power supply bus. The voltage of the power supply bus may be adjusted according to an altitude of the aircraft while maintaining a substantially constant current flow to the propulsor motor load. Due to the adjustment to lower voltages at increased altitude, insulations levels may be lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Schenk, David Loder, David Trawick
  • Patent number: 11955754
    Abstract: In examples of the disclosure, a device may be couple an electrical load to a power source. The device may have a first coupling configured to couple to the power source and a second coupling configured to couple to the electrical load. The device may have a plurality of strands electrically disposed between the first coupling and the second coupling. Each of the plurality of strands may have a coating having a resistivity greater than 1.8×10?8 ?-m and less than 1 ?-m and a center conductor wrapped, at least in part, by the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: David Loder
  • Patent number: 11840148
    Abstract: A system includes a first generator configured to output a first plurality of AC signals; a second generator configured to output a second plurality of AC signals; a first set of rectifiers configured to convert the first plurality of AC signals into a first plurality of DC signals for output onto a first DC bus, wherein each of the first set of rectifiers includes a respective contactor configured to de-couple a DC output of the respective rectifier from the first DC electrical bus; and a second set of rectifiers configured to convert the second plurality of AC signals into a second plurality of DC signals for output onto a second DC bus, wherein each of the second set of rectifiers includes a respective contactor configured to de-couple a DC output of the respective rectifier from the second DC bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation/Rolls-Royce Singapore Pte. Ltd., Rolls-Royce Electrical Norway AS
    Inventors: David Loder, David Russell Trawick, Eirik Mathias Husum, Erlend Engevik, Roar Furuhaug, Chandana Jayampathi Gajanayake
  • Publication number: 20230257127
    Abstract: A system for providing propulsive electrical power for an aircraft, the system comprising: a first generator configured to output a first plurality of AC electrical signals; a second generator configured to output a second plurality of AC electrical signals; a first set of rectifiers configured to convert the first plurality of AC electrical signals into a first plurality of DC electrical signals for output onto a first DC electrical bus of a plurality of DC electrical busses; and a second set of rectifiers configured to convert the second plurality of AC electrical signals into a second plurality of DC electrical signals for output onto a second DC electrical bus of the plurality of DC electrical busses, wherein each rectifier of the plurality of rectifiers includes a respective controller of a plurality of controllers, and wherein the plurality of controllers are configured to coordinate response to detected faults.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: David Loder, David Russell Trawick, Eirik Mathias Husum, Erlend Engevik, Roar Furuhaug, Chandana Jayampathi Gajanayake
  • Publication number: 20230256828
    Abstract: A system includes a first generator configured to output a first plurality of AC signals; a second generator configured to output a second plurality of AC signals; a first set of rectifiers configured to convert the first plurality of AC signals into a first plurality of DC signals for output onto a first DC bus, wherein each of the first set of rectifiers includes a respective contactor configured to de-couple a DC output of the respective rectifier from the first DC electrical bus; and a second set of rectifiers configured to convert the second plurality of AC signals into a second plurality of DC signals for output onto a second DC bus, wherein each of the second set of rectifiers includes a respective contactor configured to de-couple a DC output of the respective rectifier from the second DC bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: David Loder, David Russell Trawick, Erik Mathias Husum, Erlend Engevik, Roar Furuhaug, Chandana Jayampathi Gajanayake
  • Publication number: 20230261595
    Abstract: A turbo-generator system for generating propulsive electrical power for an aircraft includes an electric machine comprising: a rotor configured to be rotated by a gas-turbine of the turbo-generator system; a stator comprising: a first active section comprising first windings surrounding a first portion of the rotor; and a second active section comprising second windings surrounding a second portion of the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: David Loder, David Russell Trawick, Eirik Mathias Husum, Erlend Engevik, Roar Furuhaug, Chandana Jayampathi Gajanayake
  • Patent number: 11703536
    Abstract: A fault monitoring device may monitor and detect for faults corresponding to a high-side voltage rail, to low-side voltage rail, or internally within a voltage source connected to the high-side voltage rail and the low-side voltage rail. The fault monitoring device may determine sample voltage levels and/or sample resistance values to detect the faults. Also, in various embodiments, the fault monitoring device may perform one or more fault monitoring processes over multiple stages. The fault monitoring device may determine the sample voltage levels and/or the sample resistance values while switching a secondary resistance circuit in different states over the multiple stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Loder, Sándor Hallai, Gábor Nagy, Máté Bérces, Péter Bence Németh
  • Patent number: 11703535
    Abstract: A fault monitoring device may monitor and detect for faults corresponding to a high-side voltage rail, to low-side voltage rail, or internally within a voltage source connected to the high-side voltage rail and the low-side voltage rail. The fault monitoring device may determine sample voltage levels and/or sample resistance values to detect the faults. Also, in various embodiments, the fault monitoring device may perform one or more fault monitoring processes over multiple stages. The fault monitoring device may determine the sample voltage levels and/or the sample resistance values while switching a secondary resistance circuit in different states over the multiple stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Loder, Sándor Hallai, Gábor Nagy, Máté Bérces, Péter Bence Németh
  • Patent number: 11588322
    Abstract: In some examples, this disclosure describes a method for detecting a fault in an electrical power system comprising a bus connected between a first solid state power converter and a second solid state power converter. The method includes receiving, at a controller of the electrical power system, a first signal indicating a current at a source side of the first solid state power converter, wherein the source side of the first solid state power converter is connected to a power source of the electrical power system. The method also includes receiving, at the controller, a second signal indicating a current at the bus and determining, by the controller, that a fault occurred in the electrical power system based on the first signal and further based on the second signal. The method further includes controlling the first solid state power converter in response to determining that the fault occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc., Rolls-Royce Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Chandana Jayampathi Gajanayake, Yu Yang, David Loder, Amit Kumar Gupta
  • Publication number: 20230039344
    Abstract: A rotor assembly includes a rotor core having an axial length and configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis and at least one permanent magnet disposed about a radially outer surface of the rotor core. The rotor assembly further includes an electrical insulator disposed between the radially outer surface of the rotor core and the at least one permanent magnet and configured to disrupt an electrical conduction path along the axial length of the rotor core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Peter Schenk, Mathew Hill, David Loder
  • Publication number: 20220413035
    Abstract: A fault monitoring device may monitor and detect for faults corresponding to a high-side voltage rail, to low-side voltage rail, or internally within a voltage source connected to the high-side voltage rail and the low-side voltage rail. The fault monitoring device may determine sample voltage levels and/or sample resistance values to detect the faults. Also, in various embodiments, the fault monitoring device may perform one or more fault monitoring processes over multiple stages. The fault monitoring device may determine the sample voltage levels and/or the sample resistance values while switching a secondary resistance circuit in different states over the multiple stages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: David Loder, Sándor Hallai, Gábor Nagy, Máté Bérces, Péter Bence Németh
  • Publication number: 20220413034
    Abstract: A fault monitoring device may monitor and detect for faults corresponding to a high-side voltage rail, to low-side voltage rail, or internally within a voltage source connected to the high-side voltage rail and the low-side voltage rail. The fault monitoring device may determine sample voltage levels and/or sample resistance values to detect the faults. Also, in various embodiments, the fault monitoring device may perform one or more fault monitoring processes over multiple stages. The fault monitoring device may determine the sample voltage levels and/or the sample resistance values while switching a secondary resistance circuit in different states over the multiple stages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: David Loder, Sándor Hallai, Gábor Nagy, Máté Bérces, Péter Bence Németh
  • Patent number: 11514732
    Abstract: An example method includes receiving, by one or more processors and via a sensor, a signal representing operational characteristics of a device included in an aircraft; determining, by the one or more processors and based on the signal, a partial discharge intensity value; receiving, by the one or more processors and via an environmental sensor, at least one environmental measurement of the device; modifying, by the one or more processors and based on the at least one environmental measurement, the partial discharge intensity value to determine a modified partial discharge intensity value; and responsive to determining that the modified partial discharge intensity value satisfies a threshold, outputting an alert signal for the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: David Loder
  • Publication number: 20220363402
    Abstract: A voltage controlled aircraft electric propulsion system includes an electric propulsion system. The voltage controlled aircraft electric propulsion system may include electric propulsors providing thrust for the aircraft. In hybrid systems, a gas turbine engine may also be included. The electric propulsion system may include at least one electric generator power source, at least one propulsor motor load, and at least one stored energy power source, such as a battery. The propulsor motor load may be supplied power from a power supply bus. The voltage of the power supply bus may be adjusted according to an altitude of the aircraft while maintaining a substantially constant current flow to the propulsor motor load. Due to the adjustment to lower voltages at increased altitude, insulations levels may be lower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Schenk, David Loder, David Trawick
  • Patent number: 11374400
    Abstract: A bi-directional direct current (DC) solid state power controller (SSPC) architecture and control method. The SSPC protects a DC distribution system by isolating both the positive and negative buses independently in case of short circuit or ground fault. The SSPC architecture includes two self-heal interleaved capacitors and includes a fast, soft-charging control technique that provides line-isolated charging of the DC bulk capacitor to avoid inrush current when powering up the DC distribution system. The soft-charging function alternately charges one of the two interleaved capacitors, while the other capacitor discharges to the DC bulk capacitor. Repetitive switching results in a charging and discharging process that increases the voltage of the DC bulk capacitor prior to powering up the DC distribution system, while keeping the DC power source isolated from the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE SINGAPORE PTE. LTD., ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Chandana Jayampathi Gajanayake, David Loder, Yu Yang, Amit Kumar Gupta
  • Publication number: 20220173588
    Abstract: A bi-directional direct current (DC) solid state power controller (SSPC) architecture and control method. The SSPC protects a DC distribution system by isolating both the positive and negative buses independently in case of short circuit or ground fault. The SSPC architecture includes two self-heal interleaved capacitors and includes a fast, soft-charging control technique that provides line-isolated charging of the DC bulk capacitor to avoid inrush current when powering up the DC distribution system. The soft-charging function alternately charges one of the two interleaved capacitors, while the other capacitor discharges to the DC bulk capacitor. Repetitive switching results in a charging and discharging process that increases the voltage of the DC bulk capacitor prior to powering up the DC distribution system, while keeping the DC power source isolated from the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: Chandana Jayampathi Gajanayake, David Loder, Yu Yang, Amit Kumar Gupta
  • Publication number: 20220166211
    Abstract: In some examples, this disclosure describes a method for detecting a fault in an electrical power system comprising a bus connected between a first solid state power converter and a second solid state power converter. The method includes receiving, at a controller of the electrical power system, a first signal indicating a current at a source side of the first solid state power converter, wherein the source side of the first solid state power converter is connected to a power source of the electrical power system. The method also includes receiving, at the controller, a second signal indicating a current at the bus and determining, by the controller, that a fault occurred in the electrical power system based on the first signal and further based on the second signal. The method further includes controlling the first solid state power converter in response to determining that the fault occurred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Chandana Jayampathi Gajanayake, Yu Yang, David Loder, Amit Kumar Gupta
  • Publication number: 20220155383
    Abstract: In some examples, an electrical power system includes a solid state power converter including a first set of switches on a source side of the solid state power converter and a second set of switches on a load side of the solid state power converter. The electrical power system also includes a power source connected to the source side of the solid state power converter and also includes a differential bus connected to the load side of the solid state power converter. The electrical power system further includes a controller configured to receive a first signal indicating a current at the source side and receive a second signal indicating a current at the load side. The controller is further configured to detect, based on a time derivative of the first signal and a time derivative of the second signal, a fault in the electrical power system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Yu Yang, Chandana Jayampathi Gajanayake, David Loder, Amit Kumar Gupta
  • Patent number: 11121542
    Abstract: A control unit of an electrical system is described. The control unit causes some of the switches in a power converter of the electrical system to not be shut down and not conducting upon detection of a fault current caused by a line-to-line fault. Instead, the control unit causes at least one of the switches to be switched-on and conducting to allow the some of the fault current to flow through the at least one switch, before activating a protection device that creates an open circuit and breaks the fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David Loder, David Russell Trawick