Patents by Inventor Stephen Andrew Long

Stephen Andrew Long 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: 12291996
    Abstract: Methods of controlling an in-line heater for an energy storage device are provided. A determination is made that a pump is running. When running, the pump circulates a thermal management fluid through a thermal management conditioning loop, which includes the in-line heater and a heat transfer hardware configured to transfer heat between the thermal management fluid and the energy storage device, wherein the in-line heater is in thermal communication with the thermal management fluid. The in-line heater is turned on in response to the determination that the pump is running and a temperature of the thermal management fluid is below a lower control limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Andrew Long, Michael Dougherty, Tomasz Marek Lubecki, Firman Sasongko, Chandana Jayampathi Gajanayake, Michael Adam Zagrodnik
  • Publication number: 20250074613
    Abstract: A power reduction system for an energy storage system of an aircraft includes a controller configured to control power reduction of power supplied from the energy storage system to an aircraft engine supply bus; and an override switch configurable in an override state and a non-override state. The override switch is configured to: in the non-override state, permit the controller to control the power reduction according to a default configuration comprising one or more parameters that trigger the power reduction; and in the override state, control the power reduction to be performed according to a relaxed configuration that at least one of relaxes and omits the one or more parameters in the default configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2023
    Publication date: March 6, 2025
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Andrew Long, Michael Dougherty, Tomasz Marek Lubecki, Firman Sasongko, Chandana Gajanayake, Michael Adam Zagrodnik
  • Publication number: 20240336364
    Abstract: An example hybrid aircraft propulsion system includes one or more power units configured to output electrical energy onto one or more electrical busses; a plurality of propulsors; and a plurality of electrical machines, each respective electrical machine configured to drive a respective propulsor of the plurality of propulsors using electrical energy received from at least one of the one or more electrical busses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2023
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Inventor: Stephen Andrew Long
  • Publication number: 20240166361
    Abstract: An example system includes a throttle control for managing power in a hybrid propulsion system that includes an electrical propulsion unit configured to operate using electrical energy sourced from an electrical energy storage system (ESS) and/or one or more electrical generators, the throttle control comprising: a control lever movable through a plurality of positions, the plurality of positions including: a regeneration position; an off position; a maximum electric only position; a maximum continuous dual source position; and a maximum non-continuous dual source position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2024
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: Stephen Andrew Long, David Virgil Kopeschka, Michael P. Dougherty, Mark Ian McLaren
  • Patent number: 11970973
    Abstract: An example system comprises an electric machine including a stator and a rotor, a cooling system configured to supply a cooling fluid to cool the electric machine, and a stator tube configured to contain the cooling fluid within a stator portion of the electric machine and prevent the cooling fluid from contacting the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce Electrical Norway AS, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Andrew Long, David Russell Trawick, Sean Morgan, Kolbeinn Kristjansson
  • Publication number: 20240069527
    Abstract: A thermal management system for an energy storage system for an aircraft includes a pump circulating a thermal management fluid through the thermal management system and an energy storage device of the aircraft. A controller circuitry may control a variable pumping capacity of the pump based on sensing pressure or temperature of the thermal management fluid at the energy storage device. The controller circuitry may default operation of the pump to a first pumping capacity in response to the pressure or temperature being within a predetermined operating range and a predetermined failure condition or a power demand of an aircraft engine supply bus exceeding a predetermined threshold. The controller controlling operation of the pump to a second pumping capacity in response to absence of the power demand signal of the aircraft engine supply bus and the pressure or temperature being within the predetermined operating range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Andrew LONG, Michael DOUGHERTY, Tomasz Marek LUBECKI, Firman SASONGKO, Chandana Jayampathi Gajanayake
  • Patent number: 11905026
    Abstract: An example system includes a throttle control for managing power in a hybrid propulsion system that includes an electrical propulsion unit configured to operate using electrical energy sourced from an electrical energy storage system (ESS) and/or one or more electrical generators, the throttle control comprising: a control lever movable through a plurality of positions, the plurality of positions including: a regeneration position; an off position; a maximum electric only position; a maximum continuous dual source position; and a maximum non-continuous dual source position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventors: Stephen Andrew Long, David Kopeschka, Michael P. Dougherty, Mark McLaren
  • Publication number: 20240011437
    Abstract: A thermal management system for an energy storage system, the energy storage system comprising an energy storage device, an energy storage monitoring system including circuitry dedicated and configured to monitor a temperature of the energy storage device. The thermal management system comprises: a thermal management conditioning loop, a pump configured to circulate a thermal management fluid through the thermal management conditioning loop, a heat source, and a heat transfer hardware in thermal communication with the energy storage device. An energy storage controller of the energy storage monitoring system is configured to confirm that a temperature of the thermal management fluid and/or a temperature of the energy storage device is below an upper safety limit, between a lower control limit and an upper control limit, or both, and in response, to send an enable heater request indicating the heat source is to turn on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Andrew LONG, Michael DOUGHERTY, Tomasz Marek LUBECKI, Firman SASONGKO, Chandana Jayampathi Gajanayake, Michael Adam Zagrodnik
  • Publication number: 20240011438
    Abstract: Methods of controlling an in-line heater for an energy storage device are provided. A determination is made that a pump is running. When running, the pump circulates a thermal management fluid through a thermal management conditioning loop, which includes the in-line heater and a heat transfer hardware configured to transfer heat between the thermal management fluid and the energy storage device, wherein the in-line heater is in thermal communication with the thermal management fluid. The in-line heater is turned on in response to the determination that the pump is running and a temperature of the thermal management fluid is below a lower control limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2022
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Andrew LONG, Michael DOUGHERTY, Tomasz Marek LUBECKI, Firman SASONGKO, Chandana Jayampathi Gajanayake, Michael Adam Zagrodnik
  • Patent number: 11866180
    Abstract: An example hybrid aircraft propulsion system includes one or more power units configured to output electrical energy onto one or more electrical busses; a plurality of propulsors; and a plurality of electrical machines, each respective electrical machine configured to drive a respective propulsor of the plurality of propulsors using electrical energy received from at least one of the one or more electrical busses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Andrew Long
  • Patent number: 11520362
    Abstract: In some examples, a system includes an energy storage device configured to deliver power to a bus or receive power from a bus via a power converter. The system also includes a controller configured to determine that a voltage magnitude on the bus is less than a first threshold level in a first instance and cause the energy storage device to deliver power to the bus in response to determining that the voltage magnitude is less than the first threshold level. The controller is also configured to determine that the voltage magnitude on the bus is greater than a second threshold level in the second instance, wherein the second threshold level is greater than a first threshold level and cause the energy storage device to receive power from the bus in response to determining that the voltage magnitude is greater than the second threshold level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Singapore Pte. Ltd., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Souvik Dasgupta, Gabriel Ooi, Chandana Jayampathi Gajanayake, Suvajit Mukherjee, Michael P. Dougherty, Stephen Andrew Long
  • Patent number: 11518538
    Abstract: In some examples, a system includes a load configured to generate propulsion based on power received from a bus via a power converter. The system also includes a controller configured to determine that a voltage magnitude on the bus is not less than a threshold level in a first instance and cause the power converter to deliver a first magnitude of power to the load in response to determining that the voltage magnitude is not less than the threshold level in the first instance. The controller is also configured to determine that the voltage magnitude on the bus is less than the threshold level in a second instance and cause the power converter to deliver a second magnitude of power to the load in response to determining that the voltage magnitude is less than the threshold level in the second instance, the second magnitude being less than the first magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Singapore Pte. Ltd., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Souvik Dasgupta, Gabriel Ooi, Chandana Jayampathi Gajanayake, Suvajit Mukherjee, Michael P. Dougherty, Stephen Andrew Long
  • Patent number: 11520361
    Abstract: In some examples, a system includes a bus and a first power converter connected to the bus. The system also includes a second power converter connected to the bus, the second power converter having a topology different from the topology of the first power converter. The system further includes a power source and an energy storage device connected to the bus via the first and second power converters, respectively. In addition, the system includes a source controller configured to control the first power converter and a storage controller configured to control the second power converter. The system also includes a system controller configured to determine a first set point for the first power converter, transmit an indication of the first set point to the source controller, determine a second set point for the second power converter, and transmit an indication of the second set point to the storage controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Singapore Pte. Ltd., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Souvik Dasgupta, Gabriel Ooi, Chandana Jayampathi Gajanayake, Suvajit Mukherjee, Michael P. Dougherty, Stephen Andrew Long
  • Publication number: 20220289393
    Abstract: An example hybrid aircraft propulsion system includes one or more power units configured to output electrical energy onto one or more electrical busses; a plurality of propulsors; and a plurality of electrical machines, each respective electrical machine configured to drive a respective propulsor of the plurality of propulsors using electrical energy received from at least one of the one or more electrical busses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventor: Stephen Andrew Long
  • Publication number: 20220261023
    Abstract: In some examples, a system includes an energy storage device configured to deliver power to a bus or receive power from a bus via a power converter. The system also includes a controller configured to determine that a voltage magnitude on the bus is less than a first threshold level in a first instance and cause the energy storage device to deliver power to the bus in response to determining that the voltage magnitude is less than the first threshold level. The controller is also configured to determine that the voltage magnitude on the bus is greater than a second threshold level in the second instance, wherein the second threshold level is greater than a first threshold level and cause the energy storage device to receive power from the bus in response to determining that the voltage magnitude is greater than the second threshold level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Souvik Dasgupta, Gabriel Ooi, Chandana Jayampathi Gajanayake, Suvajit Mukherjee, Michael P. Dougherty, Stephen Andrew Long
  • Publication number: 20220258876
    Abstract: In some examples, a system includes a load configured to generate propulsion based on power received from a bus via a power converter. The system also includes a controller configured to determine that a voltage magnitude on the bus is not less than a threshold level in a first instance and cause the power converter to deliver a first magnitude of power to the load in response to determining that the voltage magnitude is not less than the threshold level in the first instance. The controller is also configured to determine that the voltage magnitude on the bus is less than the threshold level in a second instance and cause the power converter to deliver a second magnitude of power to the load in response to determining that the voltage magnitude is less than the threshold level in the second instance, the second magnitude being less than the first magnitude.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Souvik Dasgupta, Gabriel Ooi, Chandana Jayampathi Gajanayake, Suvajit Mukherjee, Michael P. Dougherty, Stephen Andrew Long
  • Publication number: 20220261022
    Abstract: In some examples, a system includes a bus and a first power converter connected to the bus. The system also includes a second power converter connected to the bus, the second power converter having a topology different from the topology of the first power converter. The system further includes a power source and an energy storage device connected to the bus via the first and second power converters, respectively. In addition, the system includes a source controller configured to control the first power converter and a storage controller configured to control the second power converter. The system also includes a system controller configured to determine a first set point for the first power converter, transmit an indication of the first set point to the source controller, determine a second set point for the second power converter, and transmit an indication of the second set point to the storage controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Souvik Dasgupta, Gabriel Ooi, Chandana Jayampathi Gajanayake, Suvajit Mukherjee, Michael P. Dougherty, Stephen Andrew Long
  • Publication number: 20220258871
    Abstract: An example system includes a throttle control for managing power in a hybrid propulsion system that includes an electrical propulsion unit configured to operate using electrical energy sourced from an electrical energy storage system (ESS) and/or one or more electrical generators, the throttle control comprising: a control lever movable through a plurality of positions, the plurality of positions including: a regeneration position; an off position; a maximum electric only position; a maximum continuous dual source position; and a maximum non-continuous dual source position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Stephen Andrew Long, David Kopeschka, Michael P. Dougherty, Mark McLaren
  • Patent number: 11370554
    Abstract: An example hybrid aircraft propulsion system includes one or more power units configured to output electrical energy onto one or more electrical busses; a plurality of propulsors; and a plurality of electrical machines, each respective electrical machine configured to drive a respective propulsor of the plurality of propulsors using electrical energy received from at least one of the one or more electrical busses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Andrew Long
  • Publication number: 20220042458
    Abstract: An example system comprises an electric machine including a stator and a rotor, a cooling system configured to supply a cooling fluid to cool the electric machine, and a stator tube configured to contain the cooling fluid within a stator portion of the electric machine and prevent the cooling fluid from contacting the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Stephen Andrew Long, David Russell Trawick, Sean Morgan, Kolbeinn Kristjansson