Patent ID: 11939073
Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 0:
1. A method comprising:
setting a start speed for a thermal engine of a hybrid-electric power plant in an aircraft based on ambient conditions;
using an electric motor to start the thermal engine by bringing the thermal engine to the start speed and limiting a torque output of the electric motor to prevent mechanical failure when mechanical rotation of the electric motor is hindered, wherein:
the electric motor and thermal engine are connected to one another as the electric motor and the thermal engine of the hybrid-electric power plant in the aircraft;
the electric motor is connected to a combining gear box;
the thermal engine is connected to the combining gear box so that the electric motor and the thermal engine can provide torque to the combining gear box in a parallel hybrid-electric configuration;

flying the aircraft through a mission of take-off, climb, cruise, and landing without using the electric motor as a generator;
after using the electric motor to start the thermal engine:
powering the aircraft with the hybrid-electric power plant with combined power from the electric motor and the thermal engine driving the combining gear box through take-off; and
powering the aircraft with the hybrid-electric power plant with combined power from the electric motor and the thermal engine driving the combining gear box while climbing to cruise altitude.