The Boeing Company

Liffstre Products LLC

Mark Eugene Liffring

Kamiar J Karimi

Mark Stephen Shander

Eugene V Solodovnik

Thomas F Currier

Todd Burton Brouwer

Thomas R Hasenoehrl

Robert Dennis Holley

Christopher Mark Severns

Lowell W Schaffner

Carolyn Kerr

Ty Aaby Larsen

Robert Thomas Johnson

Andrew Johnson

George Michael Roe

Terrance L Thomas

John T Paterson

David S Krug

Sheverria Aikens

Mark William Lesyna

Andrew John Bayliss

Evelyn Marie Matheson

Mehdy Barekatein

Steven Mark Walstrom

Jon J Dhondt

N Evan Lurton

Margaret Douglas

Martin Richard Streich

Shengyi Liu

Timothy Edward Jackson

Arnold W Nordsieck

Steven B Helton

John T Peters

Marvin J Whitney

Seth C Tai

Sheau-Wei (Johnny) Fu

Ronald C Yabut

Robert L Springgay

Ed Woods

Margaret L Douglas

Robert D Holley

Mark S Shander

Todd B Brouwer

Sheau-Wei J Fu

Steve B Helton

Christopher M Sevems

Apparatus and method to access external vehicle cargo carriers and cargo are disclosed for moving cargo from a vehicle's roof to the vehicle's hood and returning the cargo to the roof for storage. A particular embodiment consists of using existing vehicle external roof-rack mounts and cargo carriers to allow mobile crossbars to deliver the cargo carrier and the cargo to a position at the front of the vehicle. A self-contained control system provides locomotive force to deploy and retrieve the cargo carrier and cargo. A human interface is used to control the apparatus and includes manual checks to ensure safe use. The apparatus can be used without a control system and operated manually.

Vehicle external cargo stowage and retrieval apparatus and related control system

An electrical power system for regenerative loads may include a DC bus and an electrical actuator load, where back-driving the electrical actuator load generates regenerative electrical energy, and where the electrical actuator load is configured to transmit the regenerative electrical energy to the DC bus. The system may also include at least one additional load, where at least a portion of the regenerative electrical energy is transmitted to the at least one additional load.

Power system architecture for aircraft with electrical actuation

An aircraft may include at least one secondary power system requiring secondary power, at least two main engines, and at least three non-propulsive utility power (NPUP) generation systems. The NPUP generation systems may each be configured to provide full-time secondary power during operation of the aircraft. The NPUP generation systems may be configured to provide at least a portion of the secondary power required by the secondary power system.

Non-propulsive utility power (NPUP) generation system for providing secondary power in an aircraft

A solid-state high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) bus voltage controller to provide active power flow control in a hybrid electric aircraft power supply system. The HVDC bus voltage controller includes an active voltage controller and an active rectifier unit configured to control the HVDC bus voltage using the PWM control technique. In one implementation, the active rectifier unit includes high-power and high-frequency semiconductor switches with fast turn-off capabilities. The active voltage controller sends an HVDC bus reference voltage to the active rectifier unit. The low-level controller inside the active rectifier unit is configured to control the HVDC bus voltage to match the HVDC bus reference voltage.

Active voltage control for hybrid electric aircraft

A solid state primary power switching network for modular equipment centers (MECs) distributing primary power throughout a vehicle. The solid state primary power switching network includes multiple primary power switch network devices (PPSNDs) of a MEC for controlling and distributing primary power to other MECs spatially distribute throughout a vehicle. In one or more configurations, the PPSNDs have a universal structure in that each includes a common power input source and a plurality of common power outputs. In one or more configurations, primary power sources to the vehicle are switched without a perceivably visible break in power.

Modular equipment center solid state primary power switching network

A method and apparatus for providing regulated direct current power for a direct current load on an aircraft. A regulated transformer rectifier unit on an aircraft comprises a plurality of converter modules connected in parallel between an input and an output. Each converter module in the plurality of converter modules comprises a transformer rectifier unit. The plurality of converter modules are controlled by a controller to provide regulated direct current power at the output from alternating current power provided at the input from an alternating current power source on the aircraft.

Regulated transformer rectifier unit for aircraft systems

Non-propulsive utility power (NPUP) generation system for providing full-time secondary power during operation of an aircraft

An electrical power distribution system for converting and distributing electrical power to local loads within a vehicle is disclosed. The electrical power distribution system includes at least one generator providing high voltage AC (HVAC) power, a primary power panel for receiving the HVAC power from the generator, and a plurality of distribution conversion units located throughout the vehicle. The plurality of distribution conversion units convert the HVAC power from the primary power panel into medium voltage AC (MVAC) power and low voltage DC (LVDC) power for consumption by the local loads within the vehicle. The electrical power distribution system also includes a plurality of HVAC distribution feeder lines. Each HVAC distribution feeder line connects the primary power panel to one of the plurality of distribution conversion units.

Electrical power distribution system with localized distribution conversion units

A method and apparatus for providing power stably for direct current loads. A regulated transformer rectifier unit is controlled to provide regulated direct current power for the direct current loads at an output of the regulated transformer rectifier unit from alternating current power provided by an alternating current power source to an input of the regulated transformer rectifier unit. The direct current loads comprise passive direct current loads and active direct current loads comprising active switching power supplies. The direct current loads have at least one of constant power characteristics, resistive power characteristics, inductive power characteristics, and capacitive power characteristics. A source impedance at the output of the regulated transformer rectifier unit is determined based on an aggregate load impedance of the direct current loads and stability criterion.

Stable electrical power system with regulated transformer rectifier unit

A modular truss assembly configured to be placed in small or narrow spaces such as within the floor, sidewall, or crown of a vehicle for mechanically and electrically mounting system components of a modular equipment center (MEC). A plurality of MECs is spatially distributed throughout the vehicle to service equipment loads. The modular truss assembly provides different voltage levels for powering the system components of the MEC and for powering the equipment loads. In one or more configurations, all or part of the modular truss assembly can be removed from the vehicle for repair or replacement.

Modular equipment center distributed equipment packaging truss

A composite vehicle architecture without a current return network for reducing lightning threats. A plurality of modular equipment centers (MECs) are spatially distributed throughout the vehicle. Equipment loads within the vehicle are each serviced by the nearest MEC. Twisted and shielded electrical conductor pairs provide secondary power to the equipment loads to minimize the amount of wire throughout the aircraft as well as the return currents on the aircraft.

Modular equipment center lightning threat reduction architecture

A plurality of modular equipment centers (MECs) spatially distributed throughout a vehicle servicing equipment loads. Each MEC independently provides localized power and communication to service the equipment loads. A zone of electrical loads is assigned to and serviced by the nearest MEC. Power and communication data are synchronized in that each equipment load receives power and data from the same MEC. In one embodiment, if a MEC experiences an operational inconsistency, one or more other MECs are assigned the equipment loads of the operationally inconsistent MEC.

Modular equipment center zonal standalone power system control architecture

A plurality of modular equipment centers (MECs) spatially distributed throughout a vehicle servicing equipment loads. Each MEC independently provides localized power and communication to service the equipment loads and each equipment load is serviced by the nearest MEC. In at least one embodiment, only primary power is distributed across section breaks of the vehicle to minimize the number of connections between section breaks, reduce overall vehicle weight, and to increase vehicle build rate.

Modular equipment center distributed primary power architecture

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Mark Eugene Liffring