Wisk Aero LLC

Archer Aviation, Inc.

Kitty Hawk Corporation

Zee.aero Inc.

Cora Aero LLC

John Melack

Thomas P Muniz

Nihal Murthy

Sampson Lau

Colin Charles Brey

Geoffrey C Bower

Eric Allison

Ke Zhang

Benjamin M Greek

Nathan Thomas Depenbusch

Cody Patrick Leuck

Sheldon Wong

Colin Brey

Thomas Muniz

The present disclosure relates generally to electric aircraft, and more specifically to electric power distribution for electric aircraft. In one embodiment, an electric aircraft is disclosed, comprising: a fuselage; two wings mounted on opposite sides of the fuselage; a plurality of first electric propulsion units, arranged on both sides of the fuselage, aft of the wings during forward flight; a plurality of second electric propulsion units arranged on both sides of the fuselage, forward of the wings during forward flight; and a plurality of battery packs, each battery pack configured to power at least: a portion of one of the first electric propulsion units on one side of the fuselage, and a portion of one of the second electric propulsion units on the other side of the fuselage.

Systems and methods for power distribution in electric aircraft

The embodiments describe a system and the corresponding assembly techniques of a battery submodule top cover. The battery submodule top cover has at least one electrical hybrid interconnect coupled to a substrate. The hybrid interconnect comprises at least a first portion made of a first metal type, and a second portion made of a second metal type. The first portion and the second portion of the hybrid interconnect are joined together such that an electrical connection may be made between two battery cell tabs where each battery cell tab is made of a different type of metal.

Hybrid battery interconnects

A electric aircraft power distribution system includes a first battery pack connected to at least a first load and to a common bus that connects the first battery pack in parallel to at least a second battery pack; a first electrical component electrically connected between the first battery pack and the first load and configured to disconnect the first load from the first battery pack in response to current above a first threshold current, wherein the first electrical component has a first disconnection time at the first threshold current; and a second electrical component electrically connected between the first battery pack and the common bus and configured to disconnect the first battery pack from the common bus in response to current above a second threshold current, wherein the second electrical component has a second disconnection time at the second threshold current that is higher than the first disconnection time.

A battery includes a metal can having a bottom, a top opening, and four sides. The battery also includes a plurality of cells stacked inside the metal can, wherein at least two opposing sides of the four sides of the metal can are biased inward against the plurality of cells to provide compression.

Battery with compression and prevention of thermal runaway propagation features

A battery system includes a battery cell, a thermally insulating layer, and a thermally conducting layer which includes a fin. The fin pushes against an interior surface of a case which surrounds the battery cell, the thermally insulating layer, and the thermally conducting layer. The thermally conducting layer includes a discontinuity where the discontinuity is configured to reduce a capacitance associated with the thermally conducting layer compared to when the thermally conducting layer does not include the discontinuity.

Capacitance reduction in battery systems

An electric aircraft includes rotors for providing lift for vertical take-off and landing of the aircraft, proprotors that are tiltable between lift configurations for providing lift for vertical take-off and landing of the aircraft and propulsion configurations for providing forward thrust to the aircraft, a first battery pack for powering a first rotor and a first proprotor, a second battery pack for powering a second rotor and a second proprotor, a first electric power bus electrically connecting the first battery pack to the first rotor and proprotor, and a second electric power bus electrically connecting the second battery pack to the second rotor and proprotor, wherein the second electric power bus is electrically isolated from the first electric power bus.

A battery system includes a can with a lip around an opening. At least an interior surface of the can is anodized and the lip of the can includes a longer and shorter side. The can further includes a flange on the longer side of the lip and a plurality of layers that are inserted into the can. The plurality of layers includes a battery cell and a thermally conducting layer with a fin and the fin has a spring force that pushes the fin towards the anodized interior surface. The battery system further includes a lid that is configured to cover the opening of the can, where the flange is configured to wrap around the lid when the lid covers the opening of the can.

Capacitance reducing battery submodule with thermal runaway propagation prevention and containment features

A first holder holds a plurality of layers associated with a battery submodule that is being assembled. A first and second pair of actuators, while the plurality of layers is held by the first holder, extend so that the first and second pair of actuators apply pressure to the plurality of layers. While the first and second pair of actuators are extended and applying pressure to the plurality of layers, the first holder retracts. A second holder holds a container associated with the battery submodule that is being assembled and extends so that the container gradually surrounds the plurality of layers. While the container gradually surrounds the plurality of layers, the first and second pair of actuators sequentially retract.

Battery submodule assembly fixture with multiple actuators

Battery assembly techniques and a corresponding system are disclosed. In various embodiments, the battery assembly techniques include compressing battery cells and inserting the battery cells in a can. Battery cells are stacked and then compressed using pneumatic cylinders that exert pressure on a first external layer of the stacked battery cells. A first portion of the stacked battery cells is released from the pneumatic cylinders while a second portion of the battery cells remains compressed. The first portion of the stacked battery cells is inserted in a can. In various embodiments, friction decreasing materials are added to the stacked battery cells to compress the stacked battery cells or ease insertion.

Battery assembly techniques

A desired departure temperature is determined for a battery, having a temperature, in a vehicle based at least in part on trip information associated with a trip. A temperature controlling system is used to bring the temperature of the battery towards the desired departure temperature, wherein the vehicle begins the trip with the battery at the desired departure temperature.

Growing community of inventors

Redwood City, CA, United States of America

John Melack