Current return network

• US 8,031,458 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2008
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Doherty, Michael J., Scott, Stephen M., Braden, Stephen M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson; Stephen W
• Application Number:
  US12/276,979
• Publication Number:
  US 20100127564A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,044 Days
• Field of Search: 361/218
• US Class Current: 361/218
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 13/00 Installations of lightning conductors; Fastening thereof to supporting structure

Abstract

A composite moving apparatus made substantially of composites may include a plurality of longitudinal conductive electrical pathways extending along a substantial length of the composite moving apparatus, and a plurality of lateral conductive electrical pathways extending along a substantial lateral width of the composite moving apparatus. The longitudinal and lateral conductive electrical pathways may be connected in order to provide redundant electrical pathways extending along a substantial portion of the composite moving apparatus. The redundant electrical pathways may carry return current, carry fault current, provide grounding, carry lightning current, provide electromagnetic shielding, minimize resistance and voltage differential, and/or provide a bleed path for electrostatic charge.

Claims

1. A method of providing conductive electrical pathways in a composite moving apparatus comprising:

providing a composite moving apparatus made substantially of composites;

providing a plurality of longitudinal conductive electrical pathways extending along a substantial length of the composite moving apparatus;

providing a plurality of lateral conductive electrical pathways extending along a substantial lateral width of the composite moving apparatus; and

connecting said longitudinal conductive electrical pathways to said lateral conductive electrical pathways to provide redundant electrical pathways, extending along a substantial portion of the composite moving apparatus, for at least one of carrying return current, carrying fault current, providing grounding, earning lightning current, providing electromagnetic shielding, minimizing resistance and voltage differential, and providing a bleed path for electrostatic charge.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of connecting said longitudinal conductive electrical pathways and said lateral conductive electrical pathways to at least one conductive metal structure disposed within the composite moving apparatus to additionally utilize the at least one conductive metal structure as part of the conductive electrical pathways.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the composite moving apparatus comprises at least one of a composite aircraft, a composite ship, a composite spacecraft, a composite satellite, and a composite vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing a plurality of longitudinal conductive electrical pathways comprises providing a plurality of parallel longitudinal conductive electrical pathways to provide pathway redundancy in the event of a failure of one or more of the pathways.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing a plurality of lateral conductive electrical pathways comprises providing a plurality of parallel lateral conductive electrical pathways to provide pathway redundancy in the event of a failure of one or more of the pathways.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the connected conductive electrical pathways are adapted to carry return current, carry fault current ground equipment, provide electromagnetic shielding, carry lightning current, minimize resistance and voltage differential, and provide a bleed path for electrostatic charge.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the lateral and longitudinal conductive electrical pathways are made of at least one of wire, extruded metal, metal, copper, and aluminum.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of at least one of fastening and supporting the lateral and longitudinal conductive electrical pathways to a structure of the composite moving apparatus.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of connecting said lateral and longitudinal conductive electrical pathways to at least one electrical source and to at least one piece of equipment powered by the electrical source, and using the connected pathways to carry alternating current return current, direct current return current, and fault current.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the at least one electrical source comprises at least one of an engine, a battery, a converter, a rectifier unit, and a generator, and the at least one piece of equipment comprises at least one of navigation equipment, avionics equipment, control equipment, entertainment equipment, communication equipment, lighting equipment, environment control equipment, actuator equipment, and power distribution equipment.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the connecting step comprises attaching electrical joints to at least one of the lateral conductive electrical pathways, the longitudinal conductive electrical pathways, and to electrically conductive structural elements in order to connect them.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of using a computer program to determine locations, configurations, orientations, sizing, and quantities of the lateral and longitudinal conductive electrical pathways in the composite moving apparatus in order to reduce weight, to meet performance requirements, and to provide comprehensive conductive electrical pathways throughout the composite moving apparatus.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of pre-installing the lateral and longitudinal conductive electrical pathways in a plurality of sections of the composite moving apparatus, and connecting the pre-installed lateral and longitudinal conductive electrical pathways when the sections are joined during assembly of the composite moving apparatus.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the method eliminates the necessity of using metallic structures for electrical purposes in the composite moving apparatus.

15. A composite moving apparatus comprising:

a moving apparatus made substantially of composites;

a plurality of longitudinal conductive electrical pathways extending along a substantial length of the composite moving apparatus; and

a plurality of lateral conductive electrical pathways extending along a substantial lateral width of the composite moving apparatus, wherein the longitudinal and lateral conductive electrical pathways are connected for providing redundant electrical pathways extending along a substantial portion of the composite moving apparatus for at least one of earning return current, earning fault current, providing grounding, carrying lightning current, providing electromagnetic shielding, minimizing resistance and voltage differential, and providing a bleed path for electrostatic charge.

16. The composite moving apparatus of claim 15 further comprising at least one conductive metal structure disposed within the composite moving apparatus, wherein the longitudinal and lateral conductive electrical pathways are connected to the at least one conductive metal structure to utilize the at least one conductive metal structure as part of the electrical pathways.

17. The composite moving apparatus of claim 15 wherein the composite moving apparatus comprises at least one of a composite aircraft, a composite ship, a composite spacecraft, a composite satellite, and a composite vehicle.

18. The composite moving apparatus of claim 15 wherein the plurality of longitudinal conductive electrical pathways are parallel to one another to provide pathway redundancy, and the plurality of lateral conductive electric pathways are parallel to one another to provide pathway redundancy.

19. The composite moving apparatus of claim 15 wherein the lateral and longitudinal conductive electrical pathways are made of at least one of wire, extruded metal, metal, copper, and aluminum.

20. The composite moving apparatus of claim 15 wherein the lateral and longitudinal conductive electrical pathways are at least one of fastened to and supported from a structure of the composite moving apparatus.

21. The composite moving apparatus of claim 15 wherein the lateral and longitudinal conductive electrical pathways are connected to at least one electrical source and are also connected to at least one piece of equipment powered by the electrical source, and the connected pathways are for earning alternating current return current, carrying direct current return current, and earning fault current.

22. The composite moving apparatus of claim 15 wherein the at least one electrical source comprises at least one of an engine, a battery, a converter, a rectifier unit, and a generator, and the at least one piece of equipment comprises at least one of navigation equipment, avionics equipment, control equipment, entertainment equipment, communication equipment, lighting equipment, environment control equipment, actuator equipment, and power distribution equipment.

23. The composite moving apparatus of claim 15 wherein electrical joints are attached to both the lateral conductive electrical pathways and the longitudinal conductive electrical pathways in order to connect them.

24. The composite moving apparatus of claim 15 wherein a computer program is used to determine locations, configurations, orientations, sizing, and quantities of the lateral and longitudinal conductive electrical pathways in the composite moving apparatus in order to reduce weight to meet performance requirements, and to provide comprehensive conductive electrical pathways throughout the composite moving apparatus.

25. The composite moving apparatus of claim 15 wherein the lateral and longitudinal conductive electrical pathways are pre-installed in a plurality of sections of the composite moving apparatus, and the pre-installed lateral and longitudinal conductive electrical pathways are connected when the sections are joined during assembly of the composite moving apparatus.