Patents by Inventor Colin John West
Colin John West has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 8322657Abstract: An aircraft leading edge panel having an outer aerodynamic surface; and an inner surface carrying the elastomeric impact protection membrane. The membrane comprises a woven or knitted fabric which is impregnated with an elastomeric material. The membrane and the panel may be bonded by an adhesive or co-cured to bond the membrane to the panel. The membrane provides impact protection to the panel by de-bonding from the face of the panel and absorbing at least part of the energy of an object impacting the panel.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2008Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: Airbus Operations LimitedInventors: Colin John West, David Alistair Sutton, Fariborz F. Boozari
-
Patent number: 8305727Abstract: A joint on an aircraft, the joint comprising: a first component; a second component joined to the first component; and a bonding lead which forms an electrical connection between the components with a resistance between 100 k? and 10 M?. Surprisingly, it has been found that a bonding lead with a relatively high resistance can be used without seriously compromising the static discharge performance of the bonding lead, and that the resulting comparatively low flow of current reduces the risk of sparking in the event of an lightning strike. Bonding leads may be provided as a kit of parts in which at least two of the bonding leads have different lengths and the longer lead is formed from a material having a higher bulk conductivity than the shorter lead. Thus the bonding leads can be made with approximately similar resistances regardless of their lengths.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2010Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: Airbus Operations LimitedInventors: Colin John West, David Alistair Sutton, Robert Bernard Malia, Richard Edward Mills, Alan Donald Pout
-
Patent number: 8254078Abstract: A joint on an aircraft, a bonding lead for use in such a joint, and a method of manufacturing such a joint. The bonding lead comprises an elongate conductive core with a pair of end faces at the extremities of its length. The conductive core is encapsulated along at least a majority of its length and at both end faces in a barrier layer typically formed from an elastomer. The lead is encapsulated along its length in the barrier layer apart from at a first contact region towards a first end of the bonding lead and a second contact region towards a second end of the bonding lead.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2010Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: Airbus Operations LimitedInventors: David Alistair Sutton, Colin John West
-
Publication number: 20120043419Abstract: An aircraft landing gear assembly comprising an impact protection boot mounted to a landing gear component, the impact protection boot comprising: a resilient inner impact energy absorption layer which engages the component; and an outer protective layer which substantially covers the impact energy absorption layer, wherein the inner layer is more compressible than the outer layer. The boot has first and second ends which are tied to each other by a connector which exerts oppositely directed forces on the first and second ends respectively, the forces being directed around the circumference of the boot so as to tighten the boot against the landing gear component.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2011Publication date: February 23, 2012Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITEDInventors: Leslie John CLARK, Colin John West, David Alistair Sutton
-
Publication number: 20120043415Abstract: A bonding lead comprising a core; and a sheath bonded to the core. The core comprises a substrate of fibres coated with nano-objects with at least one dimension between 1 nm and 200 nm. The nano-objects form a continuous electrically conductive network from one end of the bonding lead to the other with some of the nano-objects coating the fibres and others forming bridges between adjacent fibres. The nano-objects may be carbon nanotubes and the core may be woven or knitted. A conductive connector is provided at each end of the bonding lead, for instance a tab formed from an electrically conductive polymer. The lead can be used to dissipate static charge and/or lightning current between components, typically within an aircraft fuel tank.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2011Publication date: February 23, 2012Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LTD.Inventors: Andrew Paul Limmack, David Alistair Sutton, Colin John West
-
Publication number: 20110180684Abstract: A method of controlling an elastomeric damper. The damper is heated by passing an electric current through the damper or through a heating element in contact with the damper said heating causing a decrease in stiffness of the damper. The elastomeric damper may comprise an elastomeric material filled with electrically conductive particles, and the damper may be heated by passing an electric current through the elastomeric material. Alternatively the damper may be heated using a discrete resistive heating element, such as a coil embedded within the elastomeric damper or wound around it.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2011Publication date: July 28, 2011Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITEDInventors: Colin John WEST, David Alistair Sutton
-
Publication number: 20110147523Abstract: An aircraft wing comprising first and second fuel pipe segments which are coupled together with a pipe coupling device comprising a corrugated tube formed from an elastomer filled with conductive material. The pipe coupling device is particularly useful for connecting together fuel pipe segments in an aircraft wing as it removes the need to attach bonding leads between fuel pipe segments to dissipate lightning currents and static.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2010Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITEDInventors: Colin John WEST, David Alistair SUTTON
-
Patent number: 7900412Abstract: A sealing material comprises a partially or fully cured polysulphide sealant and a reinforcing element, especially glass fibre. The sealing material is a flexible solid and is preferably in sheet form. The sealing material is cut to shape like a gasket and is assembled between components to be fastened, for example, in airframe manufacture.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2004Date of Patent: March 8, 2011Assignee: Airbus Uk LimitedInventors: Colin John West, Leslie John Clark
-
Publication number: 20100264274Abstract: A fibre-reinforced composite structure includes a cut edge; an elastomeric cap covering the cut edge; and an adhesive sealant bonding the elastomeric cap to the cut edge. The fibre-reinforced composite structure is joined to a component and the elastomeric cap includes a generally Z or L-shaped cap with a web bonded to the cut edge of the fibre-reinforced structure and a flange bonded to the component and extending away from the fibre-reinforced structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2010Publication date: October 21, 2010Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITEDInventors: Jeremy Peter BRADLEY, David Alistair SUTTON, Colin John WEST, Andrew WITHERS
-
Publication number: 20100258674Abstract: An aircraft wing assembly comprising: a spar; a fuel tank; a track container which is attached to the spar and extends into the fuel tank; a track which extends through the spar and into the track container; and a high-lift device, such as a slat or flap, carried by the track. The track container comprises a stiffening element encased in an elastomeric sheath. The track container is manufactured by placing a stiffening element and elastomeric material together in a mould; and compressing and heating them to cure and shape the elastomeric material.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2010Publication date: October 14, 2010Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITEDInventors: David Alistair SUTTON, Colin John WEST
-
Publication number: 20100258686Abstract: A cable raceway comprising: a base; a pair of side walls extending from the base to define the edges of a cable channel; three or more legs extending from the base; and a flange at a distal end of each leg for attaching the leg to a support structure. The base, side walls, legs and flanges are formed from an elastomeric material. The base contains reinforcement which extends along the length of the raceway and is embedded within the elastomeric material.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2010Publication date: October 14, 2010Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITEDInventors: David Alistair Sutton, Colin John West
-
Publication number: 20100253014Abstract: A method of sealing a joint between components especially in an aircraft comprises the steps of identifying the sealing gap to be sealed; selecting a suitable sealing material having a fractional maximum sealing thickness and a fractional fully-compressed thickness and selecting a suitable thickness of that sealing material, based on a consideration of the fractional maximum sealing thickness and the fractional fully-compressed thickness of the sealing material and on the sealing gap; locating, between the mating surfaces of the components to be sealed, the suitable thickness of the suitable sealing material; and fastening the components together.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2010Publication date: October 7, 2010Inventor: Colin John West
-
Publication number: 20100243826Abstract: A routing clip for securing a line to a structure comprising: a base for attaching the clip to a structure; and a clamp comprising: a first flexible strap which extends from the base and has one or more projections extending from its side; and a second flexible strap which extends from the base and has a passageway for receiving the first flexible strap and a locking surface which is arranged to engage one of the projections on the first flexible strap to prevent the first flexible strap from being withdrawn from the passageway. At least part of the clip is made from an elastomeric material.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2008Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: AIRBUS UK LIMITEDInventors: Colin John West, David Alistair Sutton
-
Publication number: 20100242996Abstract: An aircraft component with an aerodynamic surface coating comprising a resilient foam with an array of open cells infused with a cleaning material such as a gel, paste or liquid. This prevents contaminants such as insects from adhering to the aircraft component. The resilient foam stores at least part of the impact energy of the contaminant, the cleaning material is released from the deformed foam so that the cleaning material at least partially coats the contaminant, and the foam springs back to eject the coated contaminant from the aircraft component.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2010Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITEDInventors: Colin John West, David Alistair Sutton, Jeremy Peter Bradley
-
Publication number: 20100226063Abstract: A joint on an aircraft, the joint comprising: a first component; a second component joined to the first component; and a bonding lead which forms an electrical connection between the components with a resistance between 100 k? and 10 M?. Surprisingly, it has been found that a bonding lead with a relatively high resistance can be used without seriously compromising the static discharge performance of the bonding lead, and that the resulting comparatively low flow of current reduces the risk of sparking in the event of an lightning strike. Bonding leads may be provided as a kit of parts in which at least two of the bonding leads have different lengths and the longer lead is formed from a material having a higher bulk conductivity than the shorter lead. Thus the bonding leads can be made with approximately similar resistances regardless of their lengths.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2010Publication date: September 9, 2010Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITEDInventors: Colin John WEST, David Alistair SUTTON, Robert Bernard MALIA, Richard Edward MILLS, Alan Donald POUT
-
Publication number: 20100226062Abstract: A joint on an aircraft, the joint comprising: a first component; a second component; and a bonding lead which provides an electrical pathway between the first and second components. The bonding lead comprises a conductive core and a sheath which covers a substantial length of the core and has a lower electrical conductivity than the core. The path of least electrical resistance between the first component and the core of the bonding lead comprises the sheath, typically with an electrical resistance between 50 k? and 50 M?. By making the electrical resistance of the core much smaller than that of the sheath, the total resistance of the bonding lead remains substantially the same regardless of its length.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2010Publication date: September 9, 2010Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITEDInventors: Colin John West, David Alistair Sutton
-
Publication number: 20100226061Abstract: A joint on an aircraft, a bonding lead for use in such a joint, and a method of manufacturing such a joint. The bonding lead comprises an elongate conductive core with a pair of end faces at the extremities of its length. The conductive core is encapsulated along at least a majority of its length and at both end faces in a barrier layer typically formed from an elastomer. The lead is encapsulated along its length in the barrier layer apart from at a first contact region towards a first end of the bonding lead and a second contact region towards a second end of the bonding lead.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2010Publication date: September 9, 2010Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITEDInventors: David Alistair SUTTON, Colin John WEST
-
Publication number: 20100221064Abstract: A joint comprising: a first component having a face and a bore defined by a bore wall; a second component; a fastener joining the first component to the second component, the fastener comprising a head and a shaft protruding from the head; and a polysulphide gasket comprising a ring which is compressed between the head of the fastener and the face of the first component; and a collar between the shaft of the fastener and the bore wall. The gasket comprises a ring of sealing material surrounding a hole for receiving a fastener, the sealing material comprising an at least partially cured polysulphide sealant. The gasket has a region of increased thickness positioned towards the inner periphery of the ring which flows to form the collar.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2008Publication date: September 2, 2010Applicant: AIRBUS UK LIMITEDInventors: Colin John West, David Alistair Sutton
-
Publication number: 20100200700Abstract: A tank for containing a fluid, such as fuel, oil or gas within a chamber. The walls of the chamber are partially defined by a rigid structure having an opening; and partially defined by an elastomeric diaphragm which is attached around its periphery to the rigid structure and covers the opening in the rigid structure. An attachment frame engages the diaphragm and the rigid structure, and extends around the periphery of the diaphragm. The attachment frame has a first portion which engages the diaphragm, and a second portion which is positioned outside an outer edge of the diaphragm and attached to the rigid structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2010Publication date: August 12, 2010Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITEDInventors: Colin John WEST, James ALVES, Robert PIPER
-
Patent number: 7708281Abstract: A method of sealing a joint between components especially in an aircraft comprises the steps of identifying the sealing gap to be sealed; selecting a suitable sealing material having a fractional maximum sealing thickness and a fractional fully-compressed thickness and selecting a suitable thickness of that sealing material, based on a consideration of the fractional maximum sealing thickness and the fractional fully-compressed thickness of the sealing material and on the sealing gap; locating, between the mating surfaces of the components to be sealed, the suitable thickness of the suitable sealing material; and fastening the components together.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2004Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Airbus UK LimitedInventor: Colin John West