An electric aircraft engine includes an electric motor driving a propulsor. A power source powers the electric motor. An electric compressor supplies compressed air. A nacelle surrounds the electric motor, the power source and the electric compressor. An aircraft and a method are also disclosed.

An electric propulsion system for a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft having a heat exchanger to cool fluids used in an electrical engine, the electric propulsion system comprising at least one electrical engine mechanically connected directly or indirectly to a fuselage of the VTOL aircraft and electrically connected to an electrical power source. The electrical engine may comprise an electrical motor having a stator and a rotor; a gearbox assembly comprising a sun gear; at least one planetary gear; a ring gear; and a planetary carrier. The electric engine may include an inverter assembly comprising a thermal plate and an inverter assembly housing; an end bell assembly that is connected to the thermal plate of the inverter assembly; and a heat exchanger comprising an array of cooling fins and tubes.

An electric propulsion system for a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft having a heat exchanger to cool fluids used in an electrical engine, the electric propulsion system comprising at least one electrical engine mechanically connected directly or indirectly to a fuselage of the VTOL aircraft and electrically connected to an electrical power source. The electrical engine may comprise an electrical motor having a stator and a rotor; a gearbox assembly comprising a sun gear; at least one planetary gear; a ring gear; and a planetary carrier. The electric engine may include an inverter assembly comprising a thermal plate and an inverter assembly housing; an end bell assembly that is connected to the thermal plate of the inverter assembly; and a heat exchanger comprising an array of cooling fins and tubes.

A modular battery system includes an array of battery modules arranged in at least one stack. Each battery module includes a plurality of battery cells, a first side having positive and negative receptacles and a second side, that is opposite of the first side, having positive and negative plugs. The receptacles and plugs are configured such that adjacent battery modules in a side-by-side relationship are electrically coupled together via plug and receptacle connections and such that the battery modules are electrically coupled together in parallel. An interconnection electrically couples each stack of battery modules together via plug and receptacle connections with one of the battery modules in each stack such that the stacks of battery modules are electrically coupled together in parallel. Each of the battery modules includes a voltage regulator configured to convert voltage between a battery cell voltage and a bus voltage.

A modular battery system includes an array of battery modules arranged in at least one stack. Each battery module includes a plurality of battery cells, a first side having positive and negative receptacles and a second side, that is opposite of the first side, having positive and negative plugs. The receptacles and plugs are configured such that adjacent battery modules in a side-by-side relationship are electrically coupled together via plug and receptacle connections and such that the battery modules are electrically coupled together in parallel. An interconnection electrically couples each stack of battery modules together via plug and receptacle connections with one of the battery modules in each stack such that the stacks of battery modules are electrically coupled together in parallel. Each of the battery modules includes a voltage regulator configured to convert voltage between a battery cell voltage and a bus voltage.

A system for flight control of an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The system generally includes a pilot control, a pusher component, a lift component and a flight controller. The pilot control is mechanically coupled to the eVTOL aircraft. The pilot control is configured to transmit an input datum. The pusher component is mechanically coupled to the eVTOL aircraft. The lift component is mechanically coupled to the eVTOL aircraft. The flight controller is communicatively connected to the pilot control. The flight controller is configured to receive the input datum from the pilot control, initiate operation of the pusher component, and terminate operation of the lift component. A method for flight control of an eVTOL aircraft is also provided.

A system for flight control of an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The system generally includes a pilot control, a pusher component, a lift component and a flight controller. The pilot control is mechanically coupled to the eVTOL aircraft. The pilot control is configured to transmit an input datum. The pusher component is mechanically coupled to the eVTOL aircraft. The lift component is mechanically coupled to the eVTOL aircraft. The flight controller is communicatively connected to the pilot control. The flight controller is configured to receive the input datum from the pilot control, initiate operation of the pusher component, and terminate operation of the lift component. A method for flight control of an eVTOL aircraft is also provided.

A variable-geometry cooling airflow management system and method for managing the cooling of a fuel cell on an aerodynamic vehicle (such as an aircraft). The cooling management is achieved by providing a conduit having a fan, radiator, and variable-geometry openings (such as variable-geometry inlet and variable-geometry outlet) at the conduit ends. Heat from the fuel cell is transferred to a coolant, which then flows through the radiator in the conduit. Cooling airflow passes over the radiator to provide fuel cell cooling. The amount of cooling airflow over the radiator is adjusted by varying the size of the variable-geometry inlet, the variable-geometry outlet, or both. Adjustments are made based on the operational parameters of the aircraft such as airspeed and flight configuration. A fan also may be located in the conduit, a speed of which is varied by the control system based on the operational parameters of the aircraft.

A variable-geometry cooling airflow management system and method for managing the cooling of a fuel cell on an aerodynamic vehicle (such as an aircraft). The cooling management is achieved by providing a conduit having a fan, radiator, and variable-geometry openings (such as variable-geometry inlet and variable-geometry outlet) at the conduit ends. Heat from the fuel cell is transferred to a coolant, which then flows through the radiator in the conduit. Cooling airflow passes over the radiator to provide fuel cell cooling. The amount of cooling airflow over the radiator is adjusted by varying the size of the variable-geometry inlet, the variable-geometry outlet, or both. Adjustments are made based on the operational parameters of the aircraft such as airspeed and flight configuration. A fan also may be located in the conduit, a speed of which is varied by the control system based on the operational parameters of the aircraft.

An aerial vehicle adapted for vertical takeoff and landing using a set of wing mounted thrust producing elements for takeoff and landing. An aerial vehicle which is adapted to vertical takeoff with the rotors in a rotated, take-off attitude then transitions to a horizontal flight path, with the rotors rotated to a typical horizontal configuration. The aerial vehicle may have deployment mechanisms which deploy electric motor driven propellers from a forward facing to a vertical orientation. The deployment mechanisms deploy the rotor forward and up as they deploy from a forward flight configuration to a vertical thrust configuration. A single motor may drive two co-axial propellers, with a first propeller driven when the motor spins in a first direction, and a second propeller driven when the motor spins in a second direction.