Patents by Inventor Paul C. Imel
Paul C. Imel 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).
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Patent number: 11958622Abstract: A method includes controlling an electric motor of a hybrid-electric powerplant for an aircraft using an EPC (electric powertrain controller) and controlling a heat engine of the hybrid-electric powerplant using an ECU (engine control unit). The method includes performing at least one of the following to protect the hybrid-electric powerplant: using the ECU to power down the electric motor, and/or using the EPC to power down the heat engine.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2020Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventors: Richard A. Poisson, Paul C. Imel, Leonid Guerchkovitch
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Publication number: 20240116645Abstract: A hybrid electric propulsion (HEP) system can include a heat engine torque sensor connected between a heat engine and a combining gear box to sense a heat motor input torque input to the combining gear box, an electric motor torque sensor connected between an electric motor and the combining gear box to sense an electric motor input torque input to the combining gear box, and a combining gear box torque sensor connected to an output of the combining gearbox. The system can include a HEP controller operatively connected to each of the heat engine torque sensor, the electric motor torque sensor, and the combining gear box torque sensor to receive one or more torque signals therefrom. The controller can be configured to output one or more output signals as a function of the signals from each of the heat engine torque sensor, the electric motor torque sensor, and the combining gear box torque sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2023Publication date: April 11, 2024Inventors: Michael MARK, Paul C. IMEL, Leonid GUERCHKOVITCH
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Patent number: 11939073Abstract: A method includes using an electric motor to start a thermal engine. The electric motor and thermal engine are connected to one another as the electric motor and the thermal engine of a hybrid-electric power plant in an aircraft. The electric motor can be connected to a combining gear box. The thermal engine can be connected to the combining gear box so that the electric motor and the thermal engine can provide torque to the combining gear box in a parallel hybrid-electric configuration. The combining gearbox can output torque to an air mover for providing thrust to the aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2020Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventors: Paul C. Imel, Sebastien Bergeron, Etienne Plamondon, Samuel Gosselin-Brisson, Leonid Guerchkovitch
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Patent number: 11884412Abstract: A hybrid electric propulsion (HEP) system can include a heat engine torque sensor connected between a heat engine and a combining gear box to sense a heat motor input torque input to the combining gear box, an electric motor torque sensor connected between an electric motor and the combining gear box to sense an electric motor input torque input to the combining gear box, and a combining gear box torque sensor connected to an output of the combining gearbox. The system can include a HEP controller operatively connected to each of the heat engine torque sensor, the electric motor torque sensor, and the combining gear box torque sensor to receive one or more torque signals therefrom. The controller can be configured to output one or more output signals as a function of the signals from each of the heat engine torque sensor, the electric motor torque sensor, and the combining gear box torque sensor.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2020Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventors: Michael Mark, Paul C. Imel, Leonid Guerchkovitch
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Patent number: 11794916Abstract: A control system for a hybrid electric powerplant of an aircraft can include a throttle controller configured to receive one or more power settings and to output a heat engine setting and an electric motor setting, a heat engine controller operatively connected to the throttle controller. The heat engine controller can be configured to receive the heat engine setting and to control a heat engine system as a function of the heat engine setting to control torque output by a heat engine. The system can include a heat engine protection module that is part of or connected to the heat engine controller and configured to provide one or more protection commands to directly control one or more heat engine protection systems. The system can include an electric motor controller operatively connected to the throttle controller.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2020Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventors: Michael Mark, Paul C. Imel, Leonid Guerchkovitch
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Patent number: 11760495Abstract: A control system for a hybrid electric powerplant of an aircraft can include a heat engine controller configured to receive one or more power settings and to determine a heat engine setting and an electric motor setting. The heat engine controller can be configured to use the heat engine setting to control a heat engine system as a function of the heat engine setting to control torque output by a heat engine. The heat engine controller can be configured to output the electric motor setting. The system can include an electric motor controller can be operatively connected to the heat engine controller. The electric motor controller configured to receive the electric motor engine setting from the heat engine controller and to control an electric motor system as a function of the electric motor setting to control torque output by an electric motor.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2020Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventors: Michael Mark, Paul C. Imel, Leonid Guerchkovitch
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Publication number: 20220135240Abstract: A method includes using an electric motor to start a thermal engine. The electric motor and thermal engine are connected to one another as the electric motor and the thermal engine of a hybrid-electric power plant in an aircraft. The electric motor can be connected to a combining gear box. The thermal engine can be connected to the combining gear box so that the electric motor and the thermal engine can provide torque to the combining gear box in a parallel hybrid-electric configuration. The combining gearbox can output torque to an air mover for providing thrust to the aircraft.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2020Publication date: May 5, 2022Applicant: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.Inventors: Paul C. Imel, Sebastien Bergeron, Etienne Plamondon, Samuel Gosselin-Brisson, Leonid Guerchkovitch
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Publication number: 20210354837Abstract: A control system for a hybrid electric powerplant of an aircraft can include a heat engine controller configured to receive one or more power settings and to determine a heat engine setting and an electric motor setting. The heat engine controller can be configured to use the heat engine setting to control a heat engine system as a function of the heat engine setting to control torque output by a heat engine. The heat engine controller can be configured to output the electric motor setting. The system can include an electric motor controller can be operatively connected to the heat engine controller. The electric motor controller configured to receive the electric motor engine setting from the heat engine controller and to control an electric motor system as a function of the electric motor setting to control torque output by an electric motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2020Publication date: November 18, 2021Inventors: Michael Mark, Paul C. Imel, Leonid Guerchkovitch
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Publication number: 20210354840Abstract: A control system for a hybrid electric powerplant of an aircraft can include a throttle controller configured to receive one or more power settings and to output a heat engine setting and an electric motor setting, a heat engine controller operatively connected to the throttle controller. The heat engine controller can be configured to receive the heat engine setting and to control a heat engine system as a function of the heat engine setting to control torque output by a heat engine. The system can include a heat engine protection module that is part of or connected to the heat engine controller and configured to provide one or more protection commands to directly control one or more heat engine protection systems. The system can include an electric motor controller operatively connected to the throttle controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2020Publication date: November 18, 2021Applicant: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.Inventors: Michael Mark, Paul C. Imel, Leonid Guerchkovitch
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Publication number: 20210354841Abstract: A method includes controlling an electric motor of a hybrid-electric powerplant for an aircraft using an EPC (electric powertrain controller) and controlling a heat engine of the hybrid-electric powerplant using an ECU (engine control unit). The method includes performing at least one of the following to protect the hybrid-electric powerplant: using the ECU to power down the electric motor, and/or using the EPC to power down the heat engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2020Publication date: November 18, 2021Applicant: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.Inventors: Richard A. Poisson, Paul C. Imel, Leonid Guerchkovitch
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Publication number: 20210101691Abstract: A hybrid electric propulsion (HEP) system can include a heat engine torque sensor connected between a heat engine and a combining gear box to sense a heat motor input torque input to the combining gear box, an electric motor torque sensor connected between an electric motor and the combining gear box to sense an electric motor input torque input to the combining gear box, and a combining gear box torque sensor connected to an output of the combining gearbox. The system can include a HEP controller operatively connected to each of the heat engine torque sensor, the electric motor torque sensor, and the combining gear box torque sensor to receive one or more torque signals therefrom. The controller can be configured to output one or more output signals as a function of the signals from each of the heat engine torque sensor, the electric motor torque sensor, and the combining gear box torque sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2020Publication date: April 8, 2021Applicant: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.Inventors: Michael Mark, Paul C. Imel, Leonid Guerchkovitch