Backup electrical power system for solid-state aircraft power distribution systems

• US 7,622,818 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2007
• Issued: 11/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems Corporation (Astronics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Vertical Power, Inc. (Astronics Corporation)
• Inventors: DeVries, Kevin, Dostal, Jake, Ausman, Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Deberadinis; Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US11/875,815
• Publication Number:
  US 20080036298A1
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1
• US Class Current: 307/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/068 Electronic means for switching from one power supply to another power supply, e.g. to avoid parallel connection

Abstract

A system comprised of switches, fuses, microprocessor-based monitoring, and a pilot display that provides a method to bypass computer-controlled switching of aircraft power circuits. A backup circuit in addition to the computer-controlled switching circuit provides a method to guarantee power delivery in the case of a failure of the computer-controlled switch. The system provides the pilot with an indication when the backup circuit is engaged. When the other devices are turned off and/or the engine is shut down, an indication can be provided to the pilot that the backup circuit is on. An indication can also be provided to the pilot that the switch is in the off position when it should be on.

Claims

1. A backup electrical supply system for an aircraft having a power supply, and an electrically controllable switch adapted to communicate electrical energy from the power supply to one or more electrical loads, comprising:

a. A user-operable switch having a first terminal in electrical communication with the power supply, and having a second terminal;

b. A first directional current control device having first and second terminals, adapted to permit electrical energy to pass from the first terminal to the second terminal but substantially prevent electrical energy from passing from the second terminal to the first terminal, with the first termination in electrical communication with the second terminal of the user-operable switch;

c. A second directional current control device having first and second terminals, adapted to permit electrical energy to pass from the first terminal to the second terminal but substantially prevent electrical energy from passing from the second terminal to the first terminal, with the first termination in electrical communication with an output of the electrically controllable switch, and the second terminal in electrical communication with the second terminal of the first directional current control device;

d. Wherein second terminals of the first and second directional current control devices can be placed in electrical communication with one or more electrical loads.

2. A system as in claim 1, further comprising an overcurrent protection device mounted either between the power supply and the user-operable switch or between the user-operable switch and the first directional current control device.

3. A system as in claim 1, further comprising an electrical energy sensor mounted so as to sense electrical energy in communication with the second terminal of the user-operable switch, and further comprising an indicator that is activated when the electrical energy sensor senses electrical energy above a threshold value.

4. A system as in claim 3, wherein the indicator system comprises a control system and a display, adapted to display to the pilot a visual indication corresponding to the sensing of electrical energy above the threshold value.

5. A system as in claim 3, wherein the indicator system comprises an audible signal provided when the energy sensed is above a threshold and the aircraft engine has been shut down and groundspeed is substantially zero.

6. A system as in claim 1, wherein the first and second directional current control devices are diodes.

7. An aircraft electrical control and distribution system, comprising:

a. An electrical power source;

b. A main power bus;

c. A first diode;

d. A first electrically controllable switch adapted to communicate electrical energy from the main power bus to the input of the first diode;

e. A second diode;

f. A user-operable switch, adapted to communicate electrical energy from the power supply to the input of the second diode responsive to user actuation of the user-operable switch;

g. Wherein the outputs of the first and second diodes are in electrical communication with each other and with one or more first electrical loads.

8. A system as in claim 7, wherein the power supply comprises a battery, an alternator, a generator, or a combination thereof.

9. A system as in claim 7, further comprising a voltage sensor adapted to sense voltage present at the input of the second diode.

10. A system as in claim 9, further comprising an indicator adapted to provide an indication to a pilot responsive to a signal from the voltage sensor.

11. A system as in claim 10, wherein the indicator comprises a controller and a display, and wherein the indication comprises a configuration of the display to communicate to the pilot the signal from the voltage sensor.

12. A system as in claim 10, wherein the indicator comprises an audible or visible signal communicated to a pilot if the voltage sensed by the voltage sensor exceeds a threshold value and aircraft sensors indicate that the aircraft is in a condition where the voltage sensor should not indicate a value exceeding the threshold.

13. A system as in claim 10, wherein the indicator comprises a controller and a display, and wherein the indication comprises a configuration of the display to communicate to the pilot the signal from the current sensor.

14. A system as in claim 10, wherein the indicator comprises an audible or visible signal communicated to a pilot if the current sensed by the current sensor exceeds a threshold value and aircraft sensors indicate that the aircraft is in a condition where the voltage sensor should not indicate a value exceeding the threshold.

15. A system as in claim 10, wherein the indicator comprises an audible or visible signal communicated to a pilot if the voltage sensed by the voltage sensor is below a threshold value.

16. A system as in claim 10, wherein the indicator comprises an audible or visible signal communicated to a pilot if the current sensed by the current sensor is below a threshold value.

17. A system as in claim 9, further comprising an indicator adapted to provide an indication to a pilot responsive to a signal from the current sensor.

18. A system as in claim 7, further comprising a current sensor adapted to sense current flowing from the power supply to the input of the second diode.

19. A system as in claim 7, further comprising a second electrically controllable switch, adapted to communicate electrical energy from the main power bus to one or more second electrical loads.

20. A system as in claim 19, wherein the one or more second electrical loads comprise one or more electrical devices whose failure would not jeopardize the safe operation of the aircraft.

21. A system as in claim 7, wherein the one or more first electrical loads comprise one or more electrical devices whose failure would jeopardize safe operation of the aircraft.

22. An electrical system for an aircraft having power distribution system, wherein a power supply can be connected to an electrical device using an electrically-controlled switch, comprising:

a. A failsafe switch to a power supply

b. A diode connected between the failsafe switch and the electrical device;

c. An electrical sensor adapted to generate a signal representative of electrical power between the failsafe switch and the diode;

d. An indication system adapted to communicate the presence, absence, or level of electrical power between the failsafe switch and the diode.