Ground service systems and devices for an electric aircraft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12065059-B2
Application number	US-202318116020-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 1, 2023
Priority date	May 24, 2022
Publication date	Aug 20, 2024
Grant date	Aug 20, 2024

Abstract

A ground service system for an electric aircraft is disclosed. The system includes a charging module configured to charge a battery of an electric aircraft. The charging module includes a charging cable electrically connected to an energy source. The system includes a cooling module configured to regulate a temperature of the battery. The cooling module includes a cooling cable configured to carry a coolant. The system also includes a cabin soak module configured to provide a cabin soak coolant to a cabin of the electric aircraft. The cabin soak module includes a cabin soak cable configured to carry a fluid.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A ground service system for an electric aircraft, the system comprising:
a charging module including a charging cable electrically connected to an energy source and configured to charge a battery of the electric aircraft;
a cooling module including a cooling channel configured to fluidly couple the electric aircraft to a first coolant source,
wherein the cooling module is configured to transmit a first coolant from the first coolant source and through the cooling channel to the electric aircraft to regulate a temperature of the battery;
a cabin soak module including a cabin soak channel configured to fluidly couple the electric aircraft and a second coolant source,
wherein the cabin soak module is configured to transmit a second coolant from the second coolant source through the cabin soak channel and into a cabin of the electric aircraft.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the charging module further includes a charging sensor configured to detect a condition parameter of the battery of the electric aircraft.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the charging module further includes a charging connector electrically connected to the charging cable opposite the energy source and configured for coupling to a charging port of the electric aircraft.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the charging connector further includes a communication pin communicatively coupled to a flight controller of the electric aircraft and exchange data therebetween.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the charging connector further includes a proximity pin configured to transmit a proximity signal when coupled to the charging port of the electric aircraft, the proximity signal indicating electrical communication between the charging connector and the charging port.

6. The system of claim 3 , wherein the charging module further includes a charge control panel configured to display a condition parameter of the battery of the electric aircraft.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the condition parameter includes a state of charge of the battery of the electric aircraft.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cooling module further includes a cooling control panel configured to control flow of the first coolant through the cooling channel and the electric aircraft.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cooling module further includes:
a cable storage device configured to house the cooling channel therein; and
a reel disposed in the cable storage device and configured to hold the cooling channel thereon.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the cooling module further includes:
a rotation mechanism configured to selectively rotate the reel; and
a reel control operatively coupled to the rotation mechanism, wherein the reel control is configured to:
actuate the rotation mechanism in a first direction, which causes the reel to rotate in the first direction, and in turn cause the cooling channel to wind around the reel; and
actuate the rotation mechanism in a second direction opposite the first direction, which causes the reel to rotate in the second direction, and in turn cause the cooling channel to unwind from around the reel.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cooling module is communicatively connected to the charging module.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the cooling module exchanges at least one of operational data, settings data, and sensor measurement data with the charging module.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the cooling module further includes a cooling sensor configured to measure a temperature parameter of the first coolant.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cooling module includes a cooling cable within the cooling channel and fluidly coupled to the battery of the electric aircraft through a cooling connector.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cabin soak module is communicatively connected to the charging module.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the cabin soak module exchanges at least one of operational data, settings data, and sensor measurement data with the charging module.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the cabin soak module further includes a cabin soak sensor configured to measure a temperature parameter of the cabin of the aircraft.

18. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cabin soak module comprises a cabin soak control panel configured to control flow of the second coolant through the cabin soak channel and to the cabin of the electric aircraft.

19. The system of claim 1 , wherein the charging module, the cooling module, and the cabin soak module are each removably coupled to a ground service system housing.

20. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a charging controller in communication with the charging module.

Assignees

• Beta Air Llc

Inventors

• Pill Jake
• Hanson Cole William
• Hall Edward
• Donnelly Richard
• Whitehill James
• Williams Bruce

Classifications

• H02J7/977

  of the battery · CPC title

• B64F1/35

  for supplying electrical power to stationary aircraft · CPC title

• B60L58/26 Primary

  by cooling · CPC title

• B64D13/08 Primary

  the air being heated or cooled · CPC title

• B64C29/0008

  having its flight directional axis horizontal when grounded · CPC title