Patent Publication Number: US-2020277081-A1

Title: Indicators for hybrid electrical powerplants

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/812,671, filed Mar. 1, 2019, the contents thereof being incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     This disclosure relates to aircraft and engine systems therefor, and more particularly to hybrid electric aircraft powerplants and indicators, e.g., such as graphical user interfaces (GUIs) therefor. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Aircraft engines vary in efficiency and function over a plurality of parameters, such as thrust requirements, air temperature, air speed, altitude, and the like. Aircraft require the most thrust at takeoff, wherein the demand for engine power is the heaviest. However, during the remainder of the mission, the aircraft engines often do not require as much thrust as during takeoff. The size and weight of the engines allows them to produce the power needed for takeoff, however after take-off the engines are in effect over-sized for the relatively low power required to produce thrust for cruising in level flight. 
     Such conventional methods and systems have generally been considered satisfactory for their intended purpose. However, there is still a need in the art for improved aircraft engine systems and indicators therefor. The present disclosure provides a solution for this need. 
     SUMMARY 
     An indicator for a hybrid electric powerplant for an aircraft can be configured to indicate at least an amount or percentage of a total power and/or total torque, and an amount or percentage of an electric motor power and/or electric motor torque. For example, the indicator can be a graphical user interface (GUI) of an aircraft cockpit display. 
     The indicator can be a torque indicator such that the amount or percentage of the total power and/or total torque is a percentage of total available torque from the powerplant. Also, in certain embodiments, the amount or percentage of the electric motor power and/or electric motor torque can be electric motor torque percentage portion of the percentage of total torque. 
     The percentage of total available torque can include at least one of a total torque percentage graphical representation or a total torque numerical value. The electric motor torque percentage portion can include at least one of an electric torque graphical representation or an electric torque numerical value. 
     The percentage of total available torque can include both of a total torque percentage graphical representation and a total torque numerical value. The electric motor torque percentage can include both of an electric torque graphical representation and an electric torque numerical value. 
     In certain embodiments, the indicator can include a torque range line, a total torque symbol indicating the percentage of total available torque in the torque range line, and an electric torque portion symbol indicating the electric torque percentage portion along the line. The electric torque portion symbol can indicate the electric torque percentage portion between the electric torque percentage portion symbol and the total torque symbol. 
     In certain embodiments, the torque range line can be a curve and include one or more numerical indices indicating a percentage value at different points of the torque range line. The total torque symbol can be a first arrow pointing to the torque range line and having first characteristics, and the electric torque portion symbol can be a second arrow pointing to the torque range line and having second characteristics. 
     In certain embodiments, the graphical representation of the electric motor torque can include an indicator ribbon having a heat engine torque percentage section having first characteristics indicating a heat engine percentage portion and an electric torque section having second characteristics indicating the electric torque percentage portion. The ribbon can be defined between a bottom end of the total torque line and the total torque symbol. The electric torque section of the ribbon can be defined between the electric torque portion symbol and the total torque symbol. 
     In certain embodiments, the indicator can also configured to indicate electric motor temperature and a heat engine temperature adjacent the amount or percentage of a total power and/or total torque and the amount or percentage of an electric motor power and/or electric motor torque. Any other suitable indications are contemplated herein. 
     In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, an aircraft instrument can include an electronic display and an instrument module connected to the electronic display. The instrument module can be configured to receive at least one of power and/or torque amount and/or percentage from an electric motor system and at least one of a heat engine system or a total torque sensor, and to display a graphical user interface (GUI) on the display. The GUI can be configured to indicate the same as any suitable embodiment of an indicator as disclosed herein. 
     In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a method can include receiving a heat engine system torque value or percentage or total torque value or percentage, receiving an electric motor system torque value and/or percentage, and displaying a total torque percentage of total available torque and an electric torque percentage portion of the total torque to indicate a share of power that is being generated by each of the heat engine system and the electric motor system. Displaying the total torque percentage and the electric torque percentage portion can include graphically displaying a percentage representation and numerically displaying a numerical percentage value. 
     These and other features of the embodiments of the subject disclosure will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       So that those skilled in the art to which the subject disclosure appertains will readily understand how to make and use the devices and methods of the subject disclosure without undue experimentation, embodiments thereof will be described in detail herein below with reference to certain figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an embodiment of an indicator in accordance with this disclosure; 
         FIG. 2A  is a schematic view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , wherein the indicator is indicating no total torque and no electric motor torque either. 
         FIG. 2B  is a schematic view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , wherein the indicator is indicating that total torque is about one quarter of total available torque and there is no electric motor torque; 
         FIG. 2C  is a schematic view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , wherein the indicator is indicating that the total torque is about half of the total available torque and there is no electric motor torque; 
         FIG. 2D  is a schematic view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , wherein the indicator is indicating that the total torque is about three quarters of the total available torque and the electric motor torque is about one quarter of total available torque as well as about one third of the total torque; 
         FIG. 2E  is a schematic view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , wherein the indicator is indicating that the total torque is about maximum of the total available torque and the electric motor torque is about half of total available torque as well as about one half of the total torque; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , wherein the indicator is indicating that the total torque is about a quarter of the total available torque and the electric motor torque is about one eighth of the total available torque, or one half of the total torque; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , wherein the indicator is indicating that the total torque is about maximum of the total available torque and the electric motor torque is about one eighth of total available torque as well as about one eighth of the total torque; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , wherein the indicator is indicating that the total torque is about one half of the total available torque, that electric motor torque is about half of the total available torque as well as about all of the total torque; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view of an embodiment of an indicator in accordance with this disclosure, showing the embodiment of  FIG. 1  also including or more additional indicators. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural features or aspects of the subject disclosure. For purposes of explanation and illustration, and not limitation, an illustrative view of an embodiment of an indicator in accordance with the disclosure is shown in  FIG. 1  and is designated generally by reference character  100 . Other embodiments and/or aspects of this disclosure are shown in  FIGS. 2A-6 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an indicator for a hybrid electric powerplant for an aircraft can be configured to indicate at least an amount or percentage of a total power and/or total torque, and an amount or percentage of an electric motor power and/or electric motor torque. For example, the indicator can be a graphical user interface (GUI) of an aircraft cockpit display. The display can be part of any suitable aircraft device (e.g., an in individual powerplant instrument, an EFD, an MFD, and/or other suitable glass panel device for example). In certain embodiments, the indicator can be an analog indicator, or any suitable combination of an analog and digital indicator. 
     As shown, the indicator can be a torque indicator such that the amount or percentage of the total power and/or total torque is a percentage of total available torque from the powerplant. Also, in certain embodiments, the amount or percentage of the electric motor power and/or electric motor torque can be electric motor torque percentage portion of the percentage of total torque. 
     The percentage of total available torque can include at least one of a total torque percentage graphical representation (e.g., integrated in graphical representation  101  or otherwise independent) or a total torque numerical value  103 . The electric motor torque percentage portion can include at least one of an electric torque graphical representation (e.g., integrated in graphical representation  101  as shown or otherwise independent) or an electric torque numerical value  105 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , in certain embodiments, the percentage of total available torque can include both of a total torque percentage graphical representation (e.g., integrated in graphical representation  101 ) and a total torque numerical value  103  (e.g., disposed below the graphical representation as shown). Similarly, the electric motor torque percentage can include both of an electric torque graphical representation (e.g., integrated in the graphical representation  101  as shown) and an electric torque numerical value (e.g., disposed below the graphical representation and/or below the total torque numerical representation  103  as shown). 
     In certain embodiments, the indicator  100  can include a torque range line  107 , a total torque symbol  109  indicating the percentage of total available torque on the torque range line  107 , and an electric torque portion symbol  111  indicating the electric torque percentage portion along the line  107 . In certain embodiments, the electric torque portion symbol  111  can indicate the electric torque percentage portion between the electric torque percentage portion symbol  111  and the total torque symbol  109  (e.g., by being positioned at the high terminus of the heat engine system torque value as shown). 
     In certain embodiments, the torque range line  107  can be a curve, e.g., as shown, and include one or more numerical indices  113  indicating a percentage value at different points of the torque range line  107  (e.g., values from 0 to 100, and in increments of 20 as shown). Any other suitable shape for the line  107 , and any other suitable index scheme is contemplated herein. It is contemplated that a torque range line  107  need not be included in the indicator  100 . 
     In certain embodiments, the total torque symbol  109  can be a first arrow pointing to the torque range line  107  and having first characteristics (e.g., a first color and/or thickness), and the electric torque portion symbol  111  can be a second arrow pointing to the torque range line  107  and having second characteristics (e.g., a second color and/or thickness different than the first arrow). Any suitable other shape, color scheme, and/or design (e.g., cross-hatching) for either the total torque symbol  109  or the electric torque portion symbol  111  is contemplated herein. In certain embodiments, the symbols  109 ,  111  can be the same, however, different symbols can allow a pilot to quickly understand and scan the instrument. 
     In certain embodiments, the graphical representation  101  of the electric motor torque can include an indicator ribbon  115  having a heat engine torque percentage section  115   a  having first characteristics indicating a heat engine percentage portion (e.g., of total available torque) and an electric torque section  115   b  having second characteristics indicating the electric torque percentage portion. As appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art in view of this disclosure, that addition of the heat engine torque percentage portion and the electric torque percentage portion equals the total torque percentage of the total available torque. Also, as appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art in view of this disclosure, the heat engine torque percentage portion equals the total torque percentage minus the electric torque percentage portion, and vice versa for the electric torque percentage portion. 
     As shown the ribbon  115  can be defined between a bottom end of the total torque line  107  and the total torque symbol  109 . The electric torque section  115   b  of the ribbon  115  can be defined between the electric torque portion  111  symbol and the total torque symbol  109 . Any other suitable location for the electric torque section  115  is contemplated herein (e.g., switching places with the heat engine torque section  115   a ). 
     In certain embodiments, there can be more than two contributing sources of torque. For example, certain systems can include a thermal power, electric power, and fuel cell powered. In such cases, for example, the indicator can include three or more segments on the ribbon to represent each source of a plurality of sources greater than two as appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art in view of this disclosure. 
       FIGS. 2A-2E  show various possible states of the indicator (e.g., in different flight and/or power production conditions). For example,  FIG. 2A  shows that the indicator  100  is indicating no total torque and no electric motor torque either, e.g., such that the powerplant connected to the indicator  100  is off (e.g., total torque is set to 0 on a power lever (PLA)). 
       FIG. 2B  shows that the indicator  100  is indicating that total torque is about one quarter of total available torque and there is no electric motor torque. For example,  FIG. 2B  may indicate a low power setting such as idle or any other suitable setting such as a PLA that is being advanced up toward takeoff power from  0 . In certain torque balancing systems, a torque splitting module may not utilize the electric motor system until more torque is needed than the heat engine system can provide, thereby providing all power from the heat engine system as shown, for example. 
       FIG. 2C  shows that the indicator  100  is indicating that the total torque is about half of the total available torque and there is no electric motor torque still, e.g., similar to  2 B. This can indicate a cruise setting power where only heat engine torque is needed, or can indicate any other point before heat engine system torque is above a maximum (e.g., when continuing to advance a PLA toward takeoff power from  FIG. 2B ). 
       FIG. 2D  shows that the indicator  100  is indicating that the total torque is about three quarters of the total available torque and the electric motor torque is about one quarter of total available torque as well as about one third of the total torque. This can indicate a cruise climb setting, for example, or any other setting where more torque than maximum heat engine system torque can provide, but less than full power is required (e.g., fast cruise). This can also indicate continued advancement of the PLA toward takeoff power from  FIG. 2C ). 
       FIG. 2E  shows that the indicator  100  is indicating that the total torque is about maximum of the total available torque and the electric motor torque is about half of total available torque as well as about one half of the total torque. This can indicate full power operation for takeoff power and/or max climb power (e.g., in systems where the electric motor system provides about the same torque as the heat engine system). In certain embodiments, any suitable portion of the indicator  100  (e.g., the numerical readouts and/or arrows) can change color (e.g., to red) to indicate out of range or failure conditions. For example, as shown, a numerical percentage value can change to red when over 100. In certain embodiments, the symbols (e.g., arrows) and/or one or more of the ribbon sections can also change color in a value limit (e.g., high or low) or failure scenario, for example. In certain embodiments, where a torque sensor has failed, the color change can be to yellow dashes for the numerical readout and removal of the ribbon section and/or pointer from the analog display. Any other suitable color or shape changes are contemplated herein. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates where the indicator  100  is indicating that the total torque is about a quarter of the total available torque and the electric motor torque is about one eighth of the total available torque, or one half of the total torque. This can indicate that the torque balancing system is defective, or that the powerplant system applies a different torque balancing scheme than that shown in  FIGS. 2A-2E , for example. In certain systems, this can also indicate that the heat engine is unable to produce torque above about one eighth of total available torque. 
       FIG. 4  shows that the indicator  100  is indicating that the total torque is about maximum of the total available torque and the electric motor torque is about one eighth of total available torque as well as about one eighth of the total torque. This indicates a different power distribution than the systems connected to the indicator  100  in  FIGS. 2A-2E  (e.g., where the heat engine produces about 90% of the total torque of the powerplant and the electric motor produces around 10%). In systems where this is not this case, such an indication can mean the indicator  100  has a faulty readout, for example. 
       FIG. 5  shows that the indicator  100  is indicating that the total torque is about one half of the total available torque, that electric motor torque is about half of the total available torque as well as about all of the total torque. For example, this can indicate a heat engine failure scenario where there is a total loss of power from the heat engine system and the electric motor system is supplying all torque. While several indications and interpretations thereof are disclosed above, any suitable indication and/or interpretation thereof is contemplated herein, and can be application dependent. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , in certain embodiments, an indicator  600 , e.g., including indicator  100  disclosed above, can also be configured to indicate electric motor temperature and a heat engine temperature adjacent the amount or percentage of a total power and/or total torque and the amount or percentage of an electric motor power and/or electric motor torque. For example, the indicator  600  can include a heat engine temperature indicator  601  (e.g., a dial and/or any other suitable indicator) and an electric motor temperature indicator (e.g., a dial and/or any other suitable indicator). This can aid the pilot in assessing powerplant system health for a hybrid electric powerplant system. Any other suitable indications are contemplated herein (e.g., battery state of charge, a rate of discharge or charge, etc.) 
     In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, an aircraft instrument can include an electronic display and an instrument module connected to the electronic display. The instrument module can be configured to receive at least one of power and/or torque amount and/or percentage from an electric motor system and at least one of a heat engine system or a total torque sensor, and to display a graphical user interface (GUI) on the display. The GUI can be configured to indicate the same as any suitable embodiment of an indicator as disclosed herein (e.g., described above). The instrument can include any suitable indicator as disclosed herein (e.g., as described above), and is not limited to GUIs. Embodiments of an instrument can include any suitable hardware and/or software modules as appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art configured to perform any suitable function (e.g., disclosed herein). For example, the instrument can include any suitable memory to store computer code configured to generate a GUI as disclosed herein on an electronic display, and any suitable processor to cause display of the GUI. 
     Embodiments of an instrument can receive total torque from a torque sensor (e.g., on an output shaft) and receive an estimated or actual torque value from the control system that balances the torque and/or controls the electric motor (e.g., a torque splitting module, an electric motor control module). In certain embodiments, the instrument can receive the total torque and the electric torque. The instrument can subtract the electric torque from the total torque to get the thermal torque instead of adding two sources to get the total torque. In certain embodiments, the torque can be sensed on both power lanes. Embodiments of an instrument can be configured to be a drop in replacement for an existing instrument, and/or can be integrate in any suitable manner into an existing instrument (e.g., by modifying the software and/or hardware to receive suitable inputs and output at least total torque and electric motor torque indications). The instrument can include any suitable modules to receive any suitable inputs (e.g., total torque values from one or more total torque sensors and electric torque values from an ECU or one or more torque sensors) and to process the inputs (e.g., subtracting electric torque from total torque to produce a thermal torque value) to allow indication of electric torque, thermal torque, total torque, and/or any other suitable indication. 
     In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a method can include receiving a heat engine system torque value or percentage or total torque value or percentage, receiving an electric motor system torque value and/or percentage, and displaying a total torque percentage of total available torque and an electric torque percentage portion of the total torque to indicate a share of power that is being generated by each of the heat engine system and the electric motor system. Displaying the total torque percentage and the electric torque percentage portion can include graphically displaying a percentage representation and numerically displaying a numerical percentage value. 
     Embodiments include an additive torque display and can show total torque and portion of total torque that is electric power. In applications where a FADEC or other control system (e.g., having a torque splitting module) do the balancing and this is just a display, the pilot may not have any manual control over the distribution of electric power vs heat power (e.g., other than to reduce total power in certain systems to reduce electric power contribution and reduce battery discharge). In certain applications, the pilot may have separate manual control to modify the distribution manually, and thus control the electric motor system and/or the heat engine system as a function of what is indicated by the indicator  100 , for example. Embodiments enable safe and efficient operation of a hybrid electric powerplant for an aircraft, for example. 
     As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, aspects of the present disclosure may be embodied as a system, method or computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of this disclosure may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.), or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects, all possibilities of which can be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module,” or “system.” A “circuit,” “module,” or “system” can include one or more portions of one or more separate physical hardware and/or software components that can together perform the disclosed function of the “circuit,” “module,” or “system”, or a “circuit,” “module,” or “system” can be a single self-contained unit (e.g., of hardware and/or software). Furthermore, aspects of this disclosure may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer readable medium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon. 
     Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may be utilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readable storage medium would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. 
     A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signal with computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may take any of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. A computer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium that is not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate, propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. 
     Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing. 
     Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of this disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The program code may execute entirely on the user&#39;s computer, partly on the user&#39;s computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user&#39;s computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user&#39;s computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). 
     Aspects of the this disclosure may be described above with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of this disclosure. It will be understood that each block of any flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in any flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in any flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
     These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readable medium produce an article of manufacture including instructions which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
     The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other devices to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes for implementing the functions/acts specified herein. 
     Those having ordinary skill in the art understand that any numerical values disclosed herein can be exact values or can be values within a range. Further, any terms of approximation (e.g., “about”, “approximately”, “around”) used in this disclosure can mean the stated value within a range. For example, in certain embodiments, the range can be within (plus or minus) 20%, or within 10%, or within 5%, or within 2%, or within any other suitable percentage or number as appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art (e.g., for known tolerance limits or error ranges). 
     Any suitable combination(s) of any disclosed embodiments and/or any suitable portion(s) thereof are contemplated herein as appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art. 
     The embodiments of the present disclosure, as described above and shown in the drawings, provide for improvement in the art to which they pertain. While the subject disclosure includes reference to certain embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that changes and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject disclosure.