Patents by Inventor Dario MOLINELLI
Dario MOLINELLI 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).
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Patent number: 11971072Abstract: A bearing assembly includes a housing, a spherical bearing located within the housing, and two outer races positioned between the spherical bearing and the housing. The outer races are configured in sliding engagement with the spherical bearing to allow the spherical bearing to rotate relative to the housing. The assembly also includes a tightening element configured to engage a first of the two outer races and tighten the outer races against the spherical bearing. The assembly is configured to provide a primary load path from the tightening element to the housing, wherein the primary load path leads from the tightening element to the housing via the outer races whilst bypassing the spherical bearing.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2022Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: MICROTECNICA S.R.L.Inventors: Dario Molinelli, Franco Maino, Michele Restuccia
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Publication number: 20230417282Abstract: A bearing assembly includes a housing, an annular outer race located at least partially within the housing, a bearing located at least partially within the outer race, and a nut configured to be secured to a second axial end of the outer race. The outer race has a central axis and comprises a flange at a first axial end, wherein the flange is configured to prevent movement of the outer race relative to the housing in a first axial direction. The nut is configured to prevent movement of the outer race relative to the housing in a second axial direction, the second axial direction being opposite to the first axial direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2022Publication date: December 28, 2023Inventors: Franco MAINO, Dario MOLINELLI, Michele RESTUCCIA
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Publication number: 20230407890Abstract: An actuator includes a housing and a piston including an axis. The piston and housing are configured to move relative to each other along the axis. The housing comprises at least one chamber for holding a fluid, the piston being positioned partially within the chamber. A seal configured to isolate the fluid in the chamber is positioned between the piston and the housing. The seal includes a seal body and an energiser. At least one pressure relief conduit is located between the energiser and the chamber. The pressure relief conduit configured to relieve fluid pressure built up in a region between the energiser and the chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2023Publication date: December 21, 2023Inventors: Michele RESTUCCIA, Dario MOLINELLI, Franco MAINO
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Patent number: 11827345Abstract: A joint for an actuator of a rotorcraft includes a housing configured to be coupled to an input lever of the actuator; and a rotary bearing coupled to the housing, the rotary bearing comprising an inner race and an outer race and configured to be coupled to a control rod, wherein the inner race and outer race are rotationally fixed relative to each other until a torque applied to the joint exceeds a threshold torque value, upon which there is a relative rotatability between the inner race and the outer race.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2021Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: MICROTECNICA S.R.L.Inventors: Dario Molinelli, Michele Restuccia, Franco Maino
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Publication number: 20230358267Abstract: A lock nut assembly for an actuator, the lock nut assembly comprising a nut configured to be mounted to a bracket of the actuator for axial movement relative to the bracket, and a lock nut retaining and release mechanism configured to be fixedly mounted to the bracket and axially movable between a first engaged position in which the lock nut retaining and release mechanism engages with the nut to prevent rotation of the nut and a second unlocked position in which the lock nut retaining and release mechanism is not engaged with the nut and the nut can be rotated relative to the bracket.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2023Publication date: November 9, 2023Inventors: Dario MOLINELLI, Franco MAINO, Michele RESTUCCIA
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Publication number: 20230311436Abstract: A method of manufacturing an actuator The method comprises assembling the actuator, and curing the actuator using a predetermined heating profile.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2023Publication date: October 5, 2023Inventors: Dario Molinelli, Michele Restuccia, Franco Maino, Ettore Egisto Artoni, Francesco Marongiu
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Publication number: 20230182888Abstract: A stability and control augmentation system (SCAS) actuator is operable for actuating a flight control surface of an aircraft. The SCAS actuator includes an actuator housing having a first aperture, a second aperture and a hydraulic chamber therebetween. A piston extends through the actuator housing. Fluid inlets are in fluid communication with regions of the hydraulic chamber. A first end portion of the piston is arranged to slide through the first aperture without a seal between the first end portion and the first aperture. A second end portion of the piston is arranged to slide through the second aperture without a seal between the second end portion and the second aperture. An intermediate portion of the piston is arranged to slide in the hydraulic chamber without a seal between the intermediate portion and the hydraulic chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2022Publication date: June 15, 2023Inventor: Dario MOLINELLI
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Patent number: 11519431Abstract: A hydraulic actuator is disclosed that comprises a first, fixed portion and a second portion movable relative to the first portion. The second portion comprises a hydraulic actuating device for actuating a component, and the actuator further comprises an intermediate member configured to interconnect the first portion with the second portion and permit movement of the second portion relative to the first portion. The intermediate member is configured to convey hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic actuating device of the second portion through a body of the intermediate member.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2021Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: MICROTECNICA S.R.L.Inventors: Giacomo Mezzino, Franco Maino, Dario Molinelli
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Publication number: 20220373024Abstract: A bearing assembly includes a housing, a spherical bearing located within the housing, and two outer races positioned between the spherical bearing and the housing. The outer races are configured in sliding engagement with the spherical bearing to allow the spherical bearing to rotate relative to the housing. The assembly also includes a tightening element configured to engage a first of the two outer races and tighten the outer races against the spherical bearing. The assembly is configured to provide a primary load path from the tightening element to the housing, wherein the primary load path leads from the tightening element to the housing via the outer races whilst bypassing the spherical bearing.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2022Publication date: November 24, 2022Inventors: Dario MOLINELLI, Franco MAINO, Michele RESTUCCIA
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Publication number: 20220194574Abstract: A joint for an actuator of a rotorcraft includes a housing configured to be coupled to an input lever of the actuator; and a rotary bearing coupled to the housing, the rotary bearing comprising an inner race and an outer race and configured to be coupled to a control rod, wherein the inner race and outer race are rotationally fixed relative to each other until a torque applied to the joint exceeds a threshold torque value, upon which there is a relative rotatability between the inner race and the outer race.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2021Publication date: June 23, 2022Inventors: Dario MOLINELLI, Michele RESTUCCIA, Franco MAINO
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Publication number: 20210332833Abstract: A hydraulic actuator is disclosed that comprises a first, fixed portion and a second portion movable relative to the first portion. The second portion comprises a hydraulic actuating device for actuating a component, and the actuator further comprises an intermediate member configured to interconnect the first portion with the second portion and permit movement of the second portion relative to the first portion. The intermediate member is configured to convey hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic actuating device of the second portion through a body of the intermediate member.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2021Publication date: October 28, 2021Inventors: Giacomo MEZZINO, Franco MAINO, Dario MOLINELLI
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Patent number: 11085464Abstract: A hydraulic actuator is disclosed that comprises a first, fixed portion and a second portion movable relative to the first portion. The second portion comprises a hydraulic actuating device for actuating a component, and the actuator further comprises an intermediate member configured to interconnect the first portion with the second portion and permit movement of the second portion relative to the first portion. The intermediate member is configured to convey hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic actuating device of the second portion through a body of the intermediate member.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2019Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Assignee: MICROTECNICA S.R.L.Inventors: Giacomo Mezzino, Franco Maino, Dario Molinelli
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Publication number: 20210123494Abstract: There is provided a damper assembly for a helicopter rotor. The damper assembly comprises a piston movable along an axis, a piston shaft connected to and axially movable with the piston along the axis, and a bushing configured to surround the piston shaft and guide the piston shaft for movement along the axis. The bushing comprises a surface configured to oppose the piston shaft and guide the piston shaft for movement along the axis. The piston shaft comprises a surface configured to oppose the surface of the bushing. A clearance is provided between the surface of the piston shaft and the surface of the bushing so as to provide a passage for fluid to flow between the bushing and the piston shaft in use.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2019Publication date: April 29, 2021Inventors: Giacomo MEZZINO, Dario MOLINELLI, Franco MAINO
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Publication number: 20200378407Abstract: A hydraulic actuator is disclosed that comprises a first, fixed portion and a second portion movable relative to the first portion. The second portion comprises a hydraulic actuating device for actuating a component, and the actuator further comprises an intermediate member configured to interconnect the first portion with the second portion and permit movement of the second portion relative to the first portion. The intermediate member is configured to convey hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic actuating device of the second portion through a body of the intermediate member.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2019Publication date: December 3, 2020Inventors: Giacomo MEZZINO, Franco MAINO, Dario MOLINELLI
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Patent number: 10836469Abstract: A SCAS module includes one or more SCAS actuators wherein each SCAS actuator comprises a piston arranged for linear motion within a hydraulic chamber in response to a flow of hydraulic fluid metered by a valve. The piston comprises a flexible rod or quill for providing a linear output along the first axis, the flexible rod or quill being mounted internally within an annular portion of the piston so that a space is defined around the flexible rod or quill. The flexible rod or quill is capable of deforming into the surrounding space in order to accommodate movement of the flexible rod or quill.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2017Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: MICROTECNICA S.R.L.Inventors: Ettore Artoni, Franco Maino, Dario Molinelli
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Publication number: 20180172178Abstract: A SCAS module includes one or more SCAS actuators wherein each SCAS actuator comprises a piston arranged for linear motion within a hydraulic chamber in response to a flow of hydraulic fluid metered by a valve. The piston comprises a flexible rod or quill for providing a linear output along the first axis, the flexible rod or quill being mounted internally within an annular portion of the piston so that a space is defined around the flexible rod or quill. The flexible rod or quill is capable of deforming into the surrounding space in order to accommodate movement of the flexible rod or quill.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2017Publication date: June 21, 2018Inventors: Ettore ARTONI, Franco Maino, Dario MOLINELLI