An electric propulsion system for a vertical takeoff-and-landing aircraft having an inverter assembly, a gearbox assembly, an electric motor assembly. The inverter assembly, the gearbox assembly, and the electric motor assembly may be substantially aligned along an axis. The inverter assembly, a gearbox assembly, and electric motor assembly may each abut at least one of the others. The electric engine may use a liquid, such as oil, for cooling and lubricating components of the inverter assembly, gearbox assembly, and electric motor assembly. Further, the electric engine may use volumes of oil for cooling and lubricating components below a threshold volume so that the electric engines do not require a fire protective barrier.

An electric propulsion system for a vertical takeoff-and-landing aircraft having an inverter assembly, a gearbox assembly, an electric motor assembly. The inverter assembly, the gearbox assembly, and the electric motor assembly may be substantially aligned along an axis. The inverter assembly, a gearbox assembly, and electric motor assembly may each abut at least one of the others. The electric engine may use a liquid, such as oil, for cooling and lubricating components of the inverter assembly, gearbox assembly, and electric motor assembly. Further, the electric engine may use volumes of oil for cooling and lubricating components below a threshold volume so that the electric engines do not require a fire protective barrier.

Embodiments of a propulsion system are provided herein. In some embodiments, a propulsion system for an aircraft may include an electrical power supply; a motor coupled to the electrical power supply, wherein the electrical power supply provides power to the motor; and a fan disposed proximate a rear portion of an aircraft and rotatably coupled to the motor, wherein the fan is driven by the motor.

Embodiments of a propulsion system are provided herein. In some embodiments, a propulsion system for an aircraft may include an electrical power supply; a motor coupled to the electrical power supply, wherein the electrical power supply provides power to the motor; and a fan disposed proximate a rear portion of an aircraft and rotatably coupled to the motor, wherein the fan is driven by the motor.

A propulsor is provided including a gas turbine engine having a shaft and one or more bearings supporting the shaft, a rotor hub operatively coupled to the shaft and comprising a hub flange, an electric machine comprising a stator assembly and a rotor assembly, a rotor connection member operatively coupled to the rotor assembly of the electric machine and comprising a connection flange, and an insulated joint for operatively coupling the rotor assembly with the shaft. The insulated joint includes a plurality of insulative layers, at least one of the plurality of insulative layers extending between the hub flange and the connection flange to interrupt common mode electric current from flowing between the rotor assembly and the shaft.

A propulsor is provided including a gas turbine engine having a shaft and one or more bearings supporting the shaft, a rotor hub operatively coupled to the shaft and comprising a hub flange, an electric machine comprising a stator assembly and a rotor assembly, a rotor connection member operatively coupled to the rotor assembly of the electric machine and comprising a connection flange, and an insulated joint for operatively coupling the rotor assembly with the shaft. The insulated joint includes a plurality of insulative layers, at least one of the plurality of insulative layers extending between the hub flange and the connection flange to interrupt common mode electric current from flowing between the rotor assembly and the shaft.

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 power electronics converter may include: a first multi-layer planar carrier substrate having one or more electrically conductive layers; a second multi-layer planar carrier substrate having one or more electrically conductive layers; a converter commutation cell circuit including a plurality of commutation cell components that are electrically connected together via the one or more electrically conductive layers of the first planar carrier substrate and electrical connections, the commutation cell components including one or more power semiconductor switching elements in one or more power semiconductor prepackages, each power semiconductor prepackage including a power semiconductor switching element embedded in a solid insulating material; one or more additional converter components electrically connected to the one or more electrically conductive layers of the second planar carrier substrate; and one or more further electrical connections connecting together one or more of the electrically conductive layers of the first carrier substrate and the second carrier substrate.

A power electronics converter may include: a first multi-layer planar carrier substrate having one or more electrically conductive layers; a second multi-layer planar carrier substrate having one or more electrically conductive layers; a converter commutation cell circuit including a plurality of commutation cell components that are electrically connected together via the one or more electrically conductive layers of the first planar carrier substrate and electrical connections, the commutation cell components including one or more power semiconductor switching elements in one or more power semiconductor prepackages, each power semiconductor prepackage including a power semiconductor switching element embedded in a solid insulating material; one or more additional converter components electrically connected to the one or more electrically conductive layers of the second planar carrier substrate; and one or more further electrical connections connecting together one or more of the electrically conductive layers of the first carrier substrate and the second carrier substrate.