Patents by Inventor Dominique Ducos

Dominique Ducos 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: 10479486
    Abstract: The invention relates to an aircraft undercarriage having a leg (2) pivotally mounted on a structure of the aircraft to pivot about a pivot axis (X1) between a deployed position and a retracted position, the undercarriage including a foldable brace (3a, 3b) comprising two hinged-together elements, one of which is hinged to the leg and the other of which is hinged to the structure of the aircraft, in such a manner that when the leg is in the deployed position, the two brace elements are locked together in a substantially aligned position, the undercarriage also being provided with a rotary drive actuator (10) having an outlet shaft acting on one of the elements of the foldable brace in order to cause the leg to pivot between its two positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Dominique Ducos, Philippe Henrion
  • Publication number: 20180001997
    Abstract: The invention relates to an aircraft undercarriage having a leg (2) pivotally mounted on a structure of the aircraft to pivot about a pivot axis (X1) between a deployed position and a retracted position, the undercarriage including a foldable brace (3a, 3b) comprising two hinged-together elements, one of which is hinged to the leg and the other of which is hinged to the structure of the aircraft, in such a manner that when the leg is in the deployed position, the two brace elements are locked together in a substantially aligned position, the undercarriage also being provided with a rotary drive actuator (10) having an outlet shaft acting on one of the elements of the foldable brace in order to cause the leg to pivot between its two positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Applicant: SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Dominique DUCOS, Philippe HENRION
  • Patent number: 9676473
    Abstract: Aircraft landing gear having a leg (12) for hinging to a structure of the aircraft so as to be movable between a deployed position and a retracted position, a main brace (15), a secondary brace (20), and a double-acting type unlocking actuator (30) having a first end coupled to the secondary brace and controllable for causing its links to move out of alignment against the action of the resilient member during retraction or deployment of the landing gear. The landing gear includes couplers (31, 33) for coupling to a second end of the unlocking actuator, which couplers ensure movement of said second end relative to the leg so that, for a given action, the unlocking actuator tends to break the alignment of the links when the landing gear is in one of its positions and tends to confirm said alignment when the landing gear is in its other position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTY
    Inventors: Philippe Henrion, Dominique Ducos, Nicolas Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9511852
    Abstract: A device for coupling an actuator for operating an aircraft undercarriage to an aircraft structure. The device comprises a lever having a first end for hinging to the structure of the aircraft, and a second end to which the actuator is hinged, a pre-loading structure acting on the lever to urge it towards a stable rest position that is occupied by the lever in the absence of any force transiting through the actuator; and an abutment structure defining at least one working position for the lever when the actuator is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTY
    Inventors: Thierry Blanpain, Dominique Ducos, Edouard Campbell
  • Patent number: 9254912
    Abstract: An anti-lofting deflector for landing gear having two wheels on an axle. The deflector comprises a stationary support (5) for being fastened in service to a portion of the landing gear that carries the axle in order to extend between the wheels and present a distal end behind the wheels. It also has a first flap (2) hinged to the support via its distal end about a first hinge axis (X1) substantially parallel to the axle and a second flap (3) hinged to the first flap about a second hinge axis (X2) substantially parallel to the first hinge axis. Finally, there is a a return member (11) arranged so as to urge the second flap against an abutment of the first flap that prevents the second flap from becoming aligned with the first flap, and to urge the first flap against an abutment of the stationary support that prevents the first flap from folding against the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTY
    Inventor: Dominique Ducos
  • Publication number: 20150314860
    Abstract: The invention relates to aircraft landing gear comprising: a leg (12) for hinging to a structure of the aircraft so as to be movable between a deployed position and a retracted position, a main brace (15), a secondary brace (20), and an unlocking actuator (30) having a first end coupled to the secondary brace and controllable for causing its links to move out of alignment against the action of the resilient member during retraction or deployment of the landing gear. According to the invention, the unlocking actuator is of the double-acting type and the landing gear includes coupling means (31, 33) for coupling to a second end of the unlocking actuator, which means ensure movement of said second end relative to the leg so that, for a given action, the unlocking actuator tends to break the alignment of the links when the landing gear is in one of its positions and tends to confirm said alignment when the landing gear is in its other position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2013
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Applicant: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTY
    Inventors: Philippe HENRION, Dominique DUCOS, Nicolas NGUYEN
  • Patent number: 9145204
    Abstract: A simple device for blocking and unblocking the locking member of an undercarriage having a breaker strut and including an unlocking device. The device comprises a rotary actuator of axis parallel to the hinge axis of the links of the stabilizing member; a crank connected to a shaft of the actuator; a pawl hinged to the end of the crank and including a step; a pin secured to and at a distance from one of the links of the stabilizing member; and return means for urging the pawl towards the pin. The actuator is actuatable between a first angular position in which the pin is in contact with the pawl facing the step while the links are substantially in alignment, and a second angular position that the crank reaches when the step of the pawl has pushed back the pin, taking the links of the stabilizer member out of alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTY
    Inventor: Dominique Ducos
  • Patent number: 9073629
    Abstract: An aircraft undercarriage comprising two rocker beams (1, 2) carrying wheels and mounted to pivot on a common pivot (Y1), the undercarriage including a shock-absorber device comprising two connecting rods (5, 6), each rod (5, 6) being coupled to a respective rocker beam, at least one connecting rod being telescopic and forming a shock absorber. The two connecting rods also are coupled to a rocker (7) pivotally mounted on a central pivot (8), wherein the common pivot of the rocker beams is secured to a structure of an aircraft to which the undercarriage is fastened and is mounted in a fixed position on the structure. The central pivot of the rocker is movable between a first position (rocker beams in a landing position) and a second position in which a rocker has pulled on the connecting rods to cause the rocker beams to pivot towards a retracted position of the undercarriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTY
    Inventor: Dominique Ducos
  • Publication number: 20140231584
    Abstract: An anti-lofting deflector for landing gear having two wheels on an axle, the deflector comprising: a stationary support (5) for being fastened in service to a portion of the landing gear that carries the axle in order to extend between the wheels and present a distal end behind the wheels; a first flap (2) hinged to the support via its distal end about a first hinge axis (X1) substantially parallel to the axle; a second flap (3) hinged to the first flap about a second hinge axis (X2) substantially parallel to the first hinge axis; and a return member (11) arranged so as to urge the second flap against an abutment of the first flap that prevents the second flap from becoming aligned with the first flap, and to urge the first flap against an abutment of the stationary support that prevents the first flap from folding against the support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTY
    Inventor: Dominique Ducos
  • Patent number: 8800920
    Abstract: The invention relates to an aircraft landing gear of deformable-parallelogram type, including: a leg including a casing (1) having a lower end on which a rocker arm (3) carrying at least one wheel is hinged by means of a pivot (2), a shock absorber (5) being connected between the rocker arm and the casing; two panels (10, 11) each hinged on the one hand on the structure of the aircraft and on the other hand on the leg, about parallel axes; According to the invention, one of the panels (11) is hinged on the leg while being connected to the casing by a pin on one end of the pivot (2) of the rocker arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Messier-Bugatti-Dowty
    Inventors: Dominique Ducos, Jean-François Locufier
  • Publication number: 20140209738
    Abstract: A device for coupling an actuator for operating an aircraft undercarriage to an aircraft structure. The device comprises a lever having a first end for hinging to the structure of the aircraft, and a second end to which the actuator is hinged, a pre-loading structure acting on the lever to urge it towards a stable rest position that is occupied by the lever in the absence of any force transiting through the actuator; and an abutment structure defining at least one working position for the lever when the actuator is activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTY
    Inventors: Thierry Blanpain, Dominique Ducos, Edouard Campbell
  • Patent number: 8602352
    Abstract: A method of operating an aircraft landing gear between a deployed position and a retracted position. The landing gear comprises a leg hinged to the aircraft, the leg being stabilized in the deployed position by a folding strut comprising two hinged-together links, the strut being held in an aligned position by a stabilizer member comprising two hinged-together links themselves held in alignment by a locking member. The method comprises the steps of arranging the strut (2; 102) and the stabilizer member (4; 104) in such a manner that at least one of the links (4a; 104a) of the stabilizer member moves continuously during a movement of the leg from the deployed position to the retracted position, and of attaching an operating actuator (10; 110) to the link in order to cause the link to pivot against the locking member and to exert thereon a force tending to move the leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Messier-Bugatti-Dowty
    Inventors: Nicolas Keller, Albert De Pindray, Edouard Campbell, Dominique Ducos, Sebastien Dubois
  • Patent number: 8495810
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a metal part reinforced with ceramic fibers, in which: a housing is formed for an insert in a main metal body having an upper face; an insert formed from a bundle of fibers with a metal matrix is placed in the housing; a metal cover is placed on the main body so as to cover the insert; the cover is welded onto the metal body; a hot isostatic pressing operation is carried out; and the part obtained is machined to the desired shape. The housing has the shape of a notch of L-shaped cross section with a face perpendicular to the upper face and a face parallel to the upper face, the cover having an internal notch of L-shaped cross section, this having a shape complementary to that of the metal body with said insert, the cover being shaped on the outside so that the pressure forces are exerted perpendicular to said faces of the notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Messier-Bugatti-Dowty
    Inventors: Richard Masson, Dominique Ducos
  • Patent number: 8458886
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a metal part reinforced with ceramic fibers, in which: a housing for an insert is machined in a metal body having an upper face; an insert formed from a fiber bundle having a metal matrix is placed in the housing; a metal cover is placed on the metal body so as to cover the insert; the cover is welded onto the metal body; the assembly including the metal body with the cover undergoes a hot isostatic compression treatment; and the treated assembly is machined to obtain the part. The insert is a rectilinear insert and the housing forms a rectilinear groove that extends beyond the insert and is open at each end, the groove being filled by a tab when the cover is placed on the metal body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Messier-Bugatti-Dowty
    Inventors: Richard Masson, Dominique Ducos
  • Publication number: 20130140399
    Abstract: An aircraft landing gear, characterized in that it comprises two rocker beams carrying wheels and mounted to pivot on at least one pivot of the landing gear, the landing gear including a shock absorber device comprising two connecting rods coupled to respective ones of the rocker beams, and at least one of the connecting rods being telescopic and forming a shock absorber. The two connecting rods also are coupled to a rocking crossbar pivotally mounted on a central pivot, the pivots of the rocker beams and the central pivot of the crossbar being mounted on a leg that is connected to the fuselage of the aircraft by means of two panels that are hinged to the leg and to the structure of the aircraft about axes that are perpendicular to the hinge axes of the rocker beams and that co-operate with the leg to form a deformable parallelogram system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTY
    Inventor: Dominique Ducos
  • Publication number: 20130119197
    Abstract: A simple device for blocking and unblocking the locking member of an undercarriage having a breaker strut and including an unlocking device. The device comprises. a rotary actuator of axis parallel to the hinge axis of the links of the stabilizing member; a crank connected to a shaft of the actuator; a pawl hinged to the end of the crank and including a step; a pin secured to and at a distance from one of the links of the stabilizing member; and return means for urging the pawl towards the pin. The actuator is actuatable between a first angular position in which the pin is in contact with the pawl facing the step while the links are substantially in alignment, and a second angular position that the crank reaches when the step of the pawl has pushed back the pin, taking the links of the stabilizer member out of alignment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTY
    Inventor: Dominique Ducos
  • Publication number: 20130068884
    Abstract: An aircraft undercarriage comprising two rocker beams (1, 2) carrying wheels and mounted to pivot on a common pivot (Y1), the undercarriage including a shock-absorber device comprising two connecting rods (5, 6), each coupled to a respective one of the rocker beams, at least one of the connecting rods being telescopic and forming a shock absorber, the two connecting rods also being coupled to a rocker (7) pivotally mounted on a central pivot (8). The common pivot of the rocker beams is secured to the structure of the aircraft and is mounted in a fixed position thereon, while the central pivot of the rocker is movable between a first position in which the rocker beams are in a landing position, and a second position in which the rocker has pulled on the connecting rods to cause the rocker beams to pivot towards a retracted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTY
    Inventor: Dominique Ducos
  • Publication number: 20130020436
    Abstract: The invention relates to an aircraft landing gear of deformable-parallelogram type, including: a leg including a casing (1) having a lower end on which a rocker arm (3) carrying at least one wheel is hinged by means of a pivot (2), a shock absorber (5) being connected between the rocker arm and the casing; two panels (10, 11) each hinged on the one hand on the structure of the aircraft and on the other hand on the leg, about parallel axes; According to the invention, one of the panels (11) is hinged on the leg whilst being connected to the casing by a pin on one end of the pivot (2) of the rocker arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTY
    Inventors: Dominique Ducos, Jean-François Locufier
  • Publication number: 20120080559
    Abstract: A method of operating an aircraft landing gear between a deployed position and a retracted position. The landing gear comprises a leg hinged to the aircraft, the leg being stabilized in the deployed position by a folding strut comprising two hinged-together links, the strut being held in an aligned position by a stabilizer member comprising two hinged-together links themselves held in alignment by a locking member. The method comprises the steps of arranging the strut (2; 102) and the stabilizer member (4; 104) in such a manner that at least one of the links (4a; 104a) of the stabilizer member moves continuously during a movement of the leg from the deployed position to the retracted position, and of attaching an operating actuator (10; 110) to the link in order to cause the link to pivot against the locking member and to exert thereon a force tending to move the leg.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTY
    Inventors: Nicolas Keller, Albert De Pindray, Edouard Campbell, Dominique Ducos, Sebastien Dubois
  • Publication number: 20110180360
    Abstract: The invention relates to an overpressure and bottoming detector for a shock-absorber or the like, the detector including a hollow body inside which a piston slides sealingly and that is designed to be subjected to a pressure via an inlet of the body that is in communication with an enclosure in which said pressure exists, the piston being retained in position against the pressure by threshold retaining means adapted to release the piston when the pressure reaches or exceeds said threshold in such a manner that the piston is pushed under the effect of the pressure towards an indication position, and wherein the piston is secured to a pin that projects from the inlet of the body so as to be capable of being pushed against the threshold retaining means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: MESSIER-DOWTY SA
    Inventors: Pascal Martin, Dominique Ducos