Electric accumulator utilizing an ultra-capacitor array

• US 8,242,624 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2009
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safran Landing Systems Canada Incorporated / Safran Systemes D'Atterrissage Canada Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Messier-Dowty Incorporated (Safran SA)
• Inventors: Brookfield, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Fritz M
• Application Number:
  US12/638,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20110140513A1
• Time in Patent Office: 973 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 320/167
• US Class Current: 307/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/44 for aircrafts
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads

Abstract

Disclosed is an electric accumulator for selectively operating at least one aircraft device. The electric accumulator includes an ultra-capacitor array for storing electrical energy, which can later be used to power an aircraft device. The stored electrical energy can also be used as a source of emergency backup power. The distribution of the electrical energy is controlled by a power distribution controller. The electric accumulator may be charged by a power source on an aircraft, or it may be pre-charged by an external power source.

Claims

1. An electric accumulator for selectively operating an aircraft device, comprising:

an ultra-capacitor for storing electrical energy;

an input connector configured to couple the ultra-capacitor to a power source;

an output connector configured to couple both the ultra-capacitor and the power source to the aircraft device; and

a power distribution controller operatively connected to the input connector and the output connector for controlling the flow of electrical energy to and from the ultra-capacitor, the power distribution controller configured to;

determine power demand on the power source;

selectively close the input connector to charge the ultra-capacitor by allowing electrical energy to flow into the ultra-capacitor if the power demand is low;

selectively open the input connector to restrict electrical energy from flowing into the ultra-capacitor if the power demand is high; and

selectively close the output connector to power the aircraft device using the electrical energy from both the ultra-capacitor and the power source by allowing it to flow to the aircraft device.

2. The electric accumulator of claim 1 further comprising at least one additional ultra-capacitor for storing electrical energy, the at least one additional ultra-capacitor arrayed in series with the ultra-capacitor for increasing the voltage of the electric accumulator.

3. The electric accumulator of claim 1 further comprising at least one additional ultra-capacitor for storing electrical energy, the at least one additional ultra-capacitor arrayed in parallel with the ultra-capacitor for increasing the power output of the electric accumulator.

4. The electric accumulator of claim 1 wherein the aircraft device is an electrical or electro-mechanical load device which is at least partially operable by electrical energy.

5. The electric accumulator of claim 1 wherein the aircraft device is selected from the group consisting of a landing gear device, an uplock, a landing gear actuator, a steering system and a braking system.

6. The electric accumulator of claim 1, further comprising at least one second aircraft device, the at least one second aircraft device connected to the ultra-capacitor, the ultra-capacitor providing stored electrical energy to the at least one second aircraft device for powering the aircraft device.

7. The electric accumulator of claim 1 wherein the power source is the aircraft electrical supply.

8. The electric accumulator of claim 1 wherein the power source is an external power supply.

9. The electric accumulator of claim 1 wherein the aircraft device receives all of its required power from the electric accumulator.

10. The electric accumulator of claim 1 further comprising a diode operatively connected to the ultra-capacitor, the diode for blocking electric current from flowing from the ultra-capacitor to the power source.

11. The electric accumulator of claim 1 further comprising a second diode operatively connected to the ultra-capacitor, the second diode for blocking electric current from flowing into the ultra-capacitor from the output connection.

12. The electric accumulator of claim 10, the power distribution controller for selectively allowing electrical energy to flow back into the power supply.