Patents by Inventor Marc Kirner

Marc Kirner 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).

  • Degraded mode operation of hybrid electric propulsion systems
    Patent number: 11999495
    Abstract: A hybrid electric engine control module (ECU) can be configured to be operatively connected to a hybrid electric aircraft powerplant having a heat engine system and an electric motor system to control a torque output from each of the heat engine system and the electric motor system. The ECU can be configured to determine whether at least one of the electric motor system or the heat engine system are in a normal mode such that one of the electric motor system and/or the heat engine can provide a predetermined amount of torque. The ECU can be configured to switch to a degraded mode if either of the electric motor system or the heat engine system cannot provide the predetermined amount of torque. In the degraded mode the ECU can be configured to control the electric motor system and the heat engine system differently than in the normal mode or to not control one or both of the electric motor system or the heat engine system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Jean Thomassin, Manuel Acuna, Andrew D. Smith, Marc Kirner, Joseph Kehoe, Tatjana Pekovic
  • DEGRADED MODE OPERATION OF HYBRID ELECTRIC PROPULSION SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20200277064
    Abstract: A hybrid electric engine control module (ECU) can be configured to be operatively connected to a hybrid electric aircraft powerplant having a heat engine system and an electric motor system to control a torque output from each of the heat engine system and the electric motor system. The ECU can be configured to determine whether at least one of the electric motor system or the heat engine system are in a normal mode such that one of the electric motor system and/or the heat engine can provide a predetermined amount of torque. The ECU can be configured to switch to a degraded mode if either of the electric motor system or the heat engine system cannot provide the predetermined amount of torque. In the degraded mode the ECU can be configured to control the electric motor system and the heat engine system differently than in the normal mode or to not control one or both of the electric motor system or the heat engine system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Applicant: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Jean Thomassin, Manuel Acuna, Andrew D. Smith, Marc Kirner, Joseph Kehoe, Tatjana Pekovic