Patents by Inventor John Melack

John Melack 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: 12522352
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to electric aircraft, and more specifically to electric power distribution for electric aircraft. In one embodiment, an electric aircraft is disclosed, comprising: a fuselage; two wings mounted on opposite sides of the fuselage; a plurality of first electric propulsion units, arranged on both sides of the fuselage, aft of the wings during forward flight; a plurality of second electric propulsion units arranged on both sides of the fuselage, forward of the wings during forward flight; and a plurality of battery packs, each battery pack configured to power at least: a portion of one of the first electric propulsion units on one side of the fuselage, and a portion of one of the second electric propulsion units on the other side of the fuselage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2026
    Assignee: Archer Aviation Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey C. Bower, Benjamin M. Greek, Nathan T. Depenbusch, John Melack
  • Publication number: 20250187738
    Abstract: A electric aircraft power distribution system includes a first battery pack connected to at least a first load and to a common bus that connects the first battery pack in parallel to at least a second battery pack; a first electrical component electrically connected between the first battery pack and the first load and configured to disconnect the first load from the first battery pack in response to current above a first threshold current, wherein the first electrical component has a first disconnection time at the first threshold current; and a second electrical component electrically connected between the first battery pack and the common bus and configured to disconnect the first battery pack from the common bus in response to current above a second threshold current, wherein the second electrical component has a second disconnection time at the second threshold current that is higher than the first disconnection time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2024
    Publication date: June 12, 2025
    Applicant: Archer Aviation Inc.
    Inventor: John MELACK
  • Patent number: 12300853
    Abstract: The embodiments describe a system and the corresponding assembly techniques of a battery submodule top cover. The battery submodule top cover has at least one electrical hybrid interconnect coupled to a substrate. The hybrid interconnect comprises at least a first portion made of a first metal type, and a second portion made of a second metal type. The first portion and the second portion of the hybrid interconnect are joined together such that an electrical connection may be made between two battery cell tabs where each battery cell tab is made of a different type of metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: Wisk Aero LLC
    Inventor: John Melack
  • Publication number: 20240413423
    Abstract: A battery includes a metal can having a bottom, a top opening, and four sides. The battery also includes a plurality of cells stacked inside the metal can, wherein at least two opposing sides of the four sides of the metal can are biased inward against the plurality of cells to provide compression.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2024
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Applicant: Wisk Aero LLC
    Inventors: John Melack, Thomas P. Muniz, Nihal Murthy
  • Patent number: 12162614
    Abstract: A electric aircraft power distribution system includes a first battery pack connected to at least a first load and to a common bus that connects the first battery pack in parallel to at least a second battery pack; a first electrical component electrically connected between the first battery pack and the first load and configured to disconnect the first load from the first battery pack in response to current above a first threshold current, wherein the first electrical component has a first disconnection time at the first threshold current; and a second electrical component electrically connected between the first battery pack and the common bus and configured to disconnect the first battery pack from the common bus in response to current above a second threshold current, wherein the second electrical component has a second disconnection time at the second threshold current that is higher than the first disconnection time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2024
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: ARCHER AVIATION INC.
    Inventor: John Melack
  • Publication number: 20240339860
    Abstract: A battery system includes a battery cell, a thermally insulating layer, and a thermally conducting layer which includes a fin. The fin pushes against an interior surface of a case which surrounds the battery cell, the thermally insulating layer, and the thermally conducting layer. The thermally conducting layer includes a discontinuity where the discontinuity is configured to reduce a capacitance associated with the thermally conducting layer compared to when the thermally conducting layer does not include the discontinuity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2024
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Applicant: Wisk Aero LLC
    Inventors: John Melack, Thomas P. Muniz, Nihal Murthy, Sampson Lau
  • Publication number: 20240246686
    Abstract: A electric aircraft power distribution system includes a first battery pack connected to at least a first load and to a common bus that connects the first battery pack in parallel to at least a second battery pack; a first electrical component electrically connected between the first battery pack and the first load and configured to disconnect the first load from the first battery pack in response to current above a first threshold current, wherein the first electrical component has a first disconnection time at the first threshold current; and a second electrical component electrically connected between the first battery pack and the common bus and configured to disconnect the first battery pack from the common bus in response to current above a second threshold current, wherein the second electrical component has a second disconnection time at the second threshold current that is higher than the first disconnection time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2024
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Applicant: Archer Aviation Inc.
    Inventor: John MELACK
  • Patent number: 12046728
    Abstract: A battery includes a metal can having a bottom, a top opening, and four sides. The battery also includes a plurality of cells stacked inside the metal can, wherein at least two opposing sides of the four sides of the metal can are biased inward against the plurality of cells to provide compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Wisk Aero LLC
    Inventors: John Melack, Thomas P. Muniz, Nihal Murthy
  • Patent number: 12021408
    Abstract: A battery system includes a battery cell, a thermally insulating layer, and a thermally conducting layer which includes a fin. The fin pushes against an interior surface of a case which surrounds the battery cell, the thermally insulating layer, and the thermally conducting layer. The thermally conducting layer includes a discontinuity where the discontinuity is configured to reduce a capacitance associated with the thermally conducting layer compared to when the thermally conducting layer does not include the discontinuity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Wisk Aero LLC
    Inventors: John Melack, Thomas P. Muniz, Nihal Murthy, Sampson Lau
  • Patent number: 11945594
    Abstract: A electric aircraft power distribution system includes a first battery pack connected to at least a first load and to a common bus that connects the first battery pack in parallel to at least a second battery pack; a first electrical component electrically connected between the first battery pack and the first load and configured to disconnect the first load from the first battery pack in response to current above a first threshold current, wherein the first electrical component has a first disconnection time at the first threshold current; and a second electrical component electrically connected between the first battery pack and the common bus and configured to disconnect the first battery pack from the common bus in response to current above a second threshold current, wherein the second electrical component has a second disconnection time at the second threshold current that is higher than the first disconnection time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: ARCHER AVIATION, INC.
    Inventor: John Melack
  • Publication number: 20240101253
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to electric aircraft, and more specifically to electric power distribution for electric aircraft. In one embodiment, an electric aircraft is disclosed, comprising: a fuselage; two wings mounted on opposite sides of the fuselage; a plurality of first electric propulsion units, arranged on both sides of the fuselage, aft of the wings during forward flight; a plurality of second electric propulsion units arranged on both sides of the fuselage, forward of the wings during forward flight; and a plurality of battery packs, each battery pack configured to power at least: a portion of one of the first electric propulsion units on one side of the fuselage, and a portion of one of the second electric propulsion units on the other side of the fuselage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Archer Aviation Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey C. BOWER, Benjamin M. GREEK, Nathan T. DEPENBUSCH, John MELACK
  • Publication number: 20230382543
    Abstract: A electric aircraft power distribution system includes a first battery pack connected to at least a first load and to a common bus that connects the first battery pack in parallel to at least a second battery pack; a first electrical component electrically connected between the first battery pack and the first load and configured to disconnect the first load from the first battery pack in response to current above a first threshold current, wherein the first electrical component has a first disconnection time at the first threshold current; and a second electrical component electrically connected between the first battery pack and the common bus and configured to disconnect the first battery pack from the common bus in response to current above a second threshold current, wherein the second electrical component has a second disconnection time at the second threshold current that is higher than the first disconnection time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Applicant: Archer Aviation, Inc.
    Inventor: John MELACK
  • Patent number: 11745883
    Abstract: A electric aircraft power distribution system includes a first battery pack connected to at least a first load and to a common bus that connects the first battery pack in parallel to at least a second battery pack; a first electrical component electrically connected between the first battery pack and the first load and configured to disconnect the first load from the first battery pack in response to current above a first threshold current, wherein the first electrical component has a first disconnection time at the first threshold current; and a second electrical component electrically connected between the first battery pack and the common bus and configured to disconnect the first battery pack from the common bus in response to current above a second threshold current, wherein the second electrical component has a second disconnection time at the second threshold current that is higher than the first disconnection time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Archer Aviation, Inc.
    Inventor: John Melack
  • Patent number: 11742552
    Abstract: The embodiments describe a system and the corresponding assembly techniques of a battery submodule top cover. The battery submodule top cover has at least one electrical hybrid interconnect coupled to a substrate. The hybrid interconnect comprises at least a first portion made of a first metal type, and a second portion made of a second metal type. The first portion and the second portion of the hybrid interconnect are joined together such that an electrical connection may be made between two battery cell tabs where each battery cell tab is made of a different type of metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Wisk Aero LLC
    Inventor: John Melack
  • Publication number: 20230166854
    Abstract: A electric aircraft power distribution system includes a first battery pack connected to at least a first load and to a common bus that connects the first battery pack in parallel to at least a second battery pack; a first electrical component electrically connected between the first battery pack and the first load and configured to disconnect the first load from the first battery pack in response to current above a first threshold current, wherein the first electrical component has a first disconnection time at the first threshold current; and a second electrical component electrically connected between the first battery pack and the common bus and configured to disconnect the first battery pack from the common bus in response to current above a second threshold current, wherein the second electrical component has a second disconnection time at the second threshold current that is higher than the first disconnection time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2022
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Applicant: Archer Aviation, Inc.
    Inventor: John MELACK
  • Patent number: 11661180
    Abstract: An electric aircraft includes rotors for providing lift for vertical take-off and landing of the aircraft, proprotors that are tiltable between lift configurations for providing lift for vertical take-off and landing of the aircraft and propulsion configurations for providing forward thrust to the aircraft, a first battery pack for powering a first rotor and a first proprotor, a second battery pack for powering a second rotor and a second proprotor, a first electric power bus electrically connecting the first battery pack to the first rotor and proprotor, and a second electric power bus electrically connecting the second battery pack to the second rotor and proprotor, wherein the second electric power bus is electrically isolated from the first electric power bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Archer Aviation Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey C. Bower, Benjamin M. Greek, Nathan T. Depenbusch, John Melack
  • Patent number: 11552346
    Abstract: A battery system includes a can with a lip around an opening. At least an interior surface of the can is anodized and the lip of the can includes a longer and shorter side. The can further includes a flange on the longer side of the lip and a plurality of layers that are inserted into the can. The plurality of layers includes a battery cell and a thermally conducting layer with a fin and the fin has a spring force that pushes the fin towards the anodized interior surface. The battery system further includes a lid that is configured to cover the opening of the can, where the flange is configured to wrap around the lid when the lid covers the opening of the can.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Wisk Aero LLC
    Inventors: John Melack, Thomas P. Muniz, Colin Charles Brey
  • Patent number: 11465764
    Abstract: A electric aircraft power distribution system includes a first battery pack connected to at least a first load and to a common bus that connects the first battery pack in parallel to at least a second battery pack; a first electrical component electrically connected between the first battery pack and the first load and configured to disconnect the first load from the first battery pack in response to current above a first threshold current, wherein the first electrical component has a first disconnection time at the first threshold current; and a second electrical component electrically connected between the first battery pack and the common bus and configured to disconnect the first battery pack from the common bus in response to current above a second threshold current, wherein the second electrical component has a second disconnection time at the second threshold current that is higher than the first disconnection time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Archer Aviation, Inc.
    Inventor: John Melack
  • Publication number: 20220177145
    Abstract: A electric aircraft power distribution system includes a first battery pack connected to at least a first load and to a common bus that connects the first battery pack in parallel to at least a second battery pack; a first electrical component electrically connected between the first battery pack and the first load and configured to disconnect the first load from the first battery pack in response to current above a first threshold current, wherein the first electrical component has a first disconnection time at the first threshold current; and a second electrical component electrically connected between the first battery pack and the common bus and configured to disconnect the first battery pack from the common bus in response to current above a second threshold current, wherein the second electrical component has a second disconnection time at the second threshold current that is higher than the first disconnection time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Applicant: Archer Aviation, Inc.
    Inventor: John MELACK
  • Patent number: 11329344
    Abstract: A first holder holds a plurality of layers associated with a battery submodule that is being assembled. A first and second pair of actuators, while the plurality of layers is held by the first holder, extend so that the first and second pair of actuators apply pressure to the plurality of layers. While the first and second pair of actuators are extended and applying pressure to the plurality of layers, the first holder retracts. A second holder holds a container associated with the battery submodule that is being assembled and extends so that the container gradually surrounds the plurality of layers. While the container gradually surrounds the plurality of layers, the first and second pair of actuators sequentially retract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Wisk Aero LLC
    Inventor: John Melack