Patents by Inventor Eric Wildman

Eric Wildman 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: 11267554
    Abstract: A locking pin associated with one of a fixed wing and a wing tip device, and a bush associated with the other of the fixed wing and wing tip device, the bush configured to receive the locking pin. The bush is located within a bush housing arranged to allow relative movement of the bush in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the locking pin when the locking pin is received within the bush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventors: David Brakes, Eric Wildman
  • Patent number: 10759514
    Abstract: A rotatable locking member for locking an aircraft wing with a movable wing tip device. The rotatable locking member including a U-shaped receiving portion arranged such that in an unlocked position the locking pin may be moved into and out of the U-shaped receiving portion, and in a locked position the locking pin is not able to be moved out of the U-shaped receiving portion, and the rotatable locking member is configured to be moved between the unlocked and locked position by rotational movement around the longitudinal central axis of the locking pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventors: Eric Wildman, Matthew Harding
  • Publication number: 20200164960
    Abstract: A locking pin associated with one of a fixed wing and a wing tip device, and a bush associated with the other of the fixed wing and wing tip device, the bush configured to receive the locking pin. The bush is located within a bush housing arranged to allow relative movement of the bush in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the locking pin when the locking pin is received within the bush.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: David BRAKES, Eric WILDMAN
  • Patent number: 10569858
    Abstract: An aircraft wing comprises a fixed wing, and a wing tip device at the tip thereof. The wing tip device is configurable between (i) a flight configuration for use during flight, and (ii) a ground configuration for use during ground based operations. In the ground configuration with span of the wing is reduced. The wing further comprises a locking mechanism including a locking pin with a longitudinal axis, the locking pin associated with one of the fixed wing and the wing tip device, and a bush associated with the other of the fixed wing and wing tip device, the bush configured to receive the locking pin. The bush is located within a bush housing arranged to allow relative movement of the bush in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the locking pin when the locking pin is received within the bush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventors: David Brakes, Eric Wildman
  • Patent number: 10190608
    Abstract: An actuator comprising: an inner cylinder received in an outer cylinder and a piston received in the inner cylinder that extends from the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, the piston being slideable relative to the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder in response to the application of fluid pressure to cause the piston to extend further from the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder; and an auxiliary drive mechanism operable to cause the inner cylinder to extend from the outer cylinder, wherein the piston moves together with the inner cylinder relative to the outer cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventor: Eric Wildman
  • Publication number: 20180170519
    Abstract: An aircraft wing comprises a fixed wing, and a wing tip device at the tip thereof The wing tip device is configurable between (i) a flight configuration for use during flight, and (ii) a ground configuration for use during ground based operations. In the ground configuration with span of the wing is reduced. The wing further comprises a locking mechanism including a locking pin with a longitudinal axis, the locking pin associated with one of the fixed wing and the wing tip device, and a bush associated with the other of the fixed wing and wing tip device, the bush configured to receive the locking pin. The bush is located within a bush housing arranged to allow relative movement of the bush in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the locking pin when the locking pin is received within the bush.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: David BRAKES, Eric WILDMAN
  • Publication number: 20170334543
    Abstract: A rotatable locking member for locking an aircraft wing with a movable wing tip device. The rotatable locking member including a U-shaped receiving portion arranged such that in an unlocked position the locking pin may be moved into and out of the U-shaped receiving portion, and in a locked position the locking pin is not able to be moved out of the U-shaped receiving portion, and the rotatable locking member is configured to be moved between the unlocked and locked position by rotational movement around the longitudinal central axis of the locking pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Eric WILDMAN, Matthew HARDING
  • Publication number: 20170023031
    Abstract: An actuator comprising: an inner cylinder received in an outer cylinder and a piston received in the inner cylinder that extends from the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, the piston being slideable relative to the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder in response to the application of fluid pressure to cause the piston to extend further from the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder; and an auxiliary drive mechanism operable to cause the inner cylinder to extend from the outer cylinder, wherein the piston moves together with the inner cylinder relative to the outer cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventor: Eric WILDMAN
  • Publication number: 20160046362
    Abstract: A pinned lug joint including: a first part with two first lugs projecting from a bridge which extends between them; a second part pivotally coupled to the first part, the second part including a second lug positioned between the first lugs; and a sealing member, the sealing member being mounted to the first lugs and extending between them to seal an air gap between the second lug and the bridge at least when the second part is in a first position. The pinned lug joint may be used to attach a panel assembly to part of an aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: Eric WILDMAN, Mohamed Saffique ABDULKADER
  • Patent number: 9150302
    Abstract: A pinned lug joint comprising: a first part comprising two first lugs projecting from a bridge which extends between them; a second part pivotally coupled to the first part, the second part comprising a second lug positioned between the first lugs; and a sealing member, the sealing member being mounted to the first lugs and extending between them to seal an air gap between the second lug and the bridge at least when the second part is in a first position. The pinned lug joint may be used to attach a panel assembly to part of an aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventors: Eric Wildman, Mohamed Saffique AdbulKader
  • Patent number: 9038964
    Abstract: An aerodynamic control surface assembly comprising: an aerodynamic control surface (4); an actuator (10) for controlling deployment of the control surface; and a locking mechanism (30) moveable from a locked to an unlocked position. When the locking mechanism is set to the locked position, the actuator is operatively coupled to the control surface and the control surface can move in dependently of the actuator when the locking mechanism is set to the unlocked position. Such an assembly may be used in an aircraft to prevent clashing between a deployed flap (16) and a drooped spoiler (4) in the event of an actuator control systems failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventor: Eric Wildman
  • Patent number: 8757543
    Abstract: A support assembly for guiding a flap on an aircraft wing during deployment of the flap. The assembly includes an arcuate guide track mountable to an aircraft wing and defining a two-dimensional path, a carriage mounted on the guide track so as to slide along the track during flap deployment, a part-spherical bearing, and a shaft having one end attachable to a flap and the opposite end coupled to the carriage via said part-spherical bearing. The shaft is free to pivot relative to the carriage about a center of the part-spherical bearing in all directions, as the carriage slides along the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventor: Eric Wildman
  • Patent number: 8684309
    Abstract: An integrated bracket assembly for attachment to a convex outer corner surface of a torsion box of an aerofoil structure, the bracket assembly comprising a bracket strip having a plurality of brackets arranged spaced side by side, and connected by an infill rail integrally formed with the bracket strip, wherein the infill rail has a concave surface for mating with the convex surface of the torsion box. The torsion box may be of a “U-box” construction where a front spar and a rear spar are integrally formed with either an upper or lower torsion box cover to form an omega-shaped unitary component, and the other cover is attached to the omega-shaped component to provide an enclosed volume. The bracket strip may be used for attaching a leading/trailing edge structure of the aerofoil to the torsion box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventor: Eric Wildman
  • Patent number: 8556214
    Abstract: A panel assembly for an aircraft including a panel having an upper aerodynamic surface and a leading edge, and a hinge fitting connected to an underside of the panel, defining a hinge line for the direction of rotation of the panel. The upper surface of the leading edge has an arcuate portion centered about the hinge line, and has an upturned portion forward of the arcuate portion. The panel assembly is pivotally connected to its hinge fitting to the trailing edge of the fixed wing portion and rotatable between a first position wherein the upper surfaces of the fixed wing portion and the panel are substantially flush, and a second position wherein the panel is rotated downwardly from the first position. A seal member attached to the trailing edge of the fixed wing portion, has a lower surface which seals against the upper surface of the panel during its movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventors: Jon McAlinden, Eric Wildman
  • Patent number: 8424801
    Abstract: A support assembly for deployment and retraction of an aero surface from an aircraft is disclosed. The assembly comprises a guide track, a primary support arm having one end coupled to a carriage mounted on the track such that the primary support arm is rotatable relative to the carriage about multiple axes, and a control arm having one end coupled to the primary support arm and a second end pivotably attachable to a fixed support forming part of the structure of the aircraft. The assembly being configured such that, when the carriage is driven along the guide track, the control arm causes the primary support arm to pivot about said multiple axes to deploy and/or retract an aero surface pivotally attached to an opposite end of the primary support member along an arcuate path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventors: Eric Wildman, Simon John Parker, Anthony Bryant, Christian Folkard
  • Patent number: 8360438
    Abstract: A seal (500) comprises a seal body (502) having a mounting portion (504), a first leg (506) and a second leg (508), a first stiffening member (514) and a second stiffening member (516) separated by an arcuate shear seal portion (529) in which the motions of the first leg (506) and second leg (508) are relatively constrained by the second stiffening member (516).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventors: Eric Wildman, Simon John Parker
  • Publication number: 20130001360
    Abstract: An integrated bracket assembly for attachment to a convex outer corner surface of a torsion box of an aerofoil structure, the bracket assembly comprising a bracket strip having a plurality of brackets arranged spaced side by side, and connected by an infill rail integrally formed with the bracket strip, wherein the infill rail has a concave surface for mating with the convex surface of the torsion box. The torsion box may be of a “U-box” construction where a front spar and a rear spar are integrally formed with either an upper or lower torsion box cover to form an omega-shaped unitary component, and the other cover is attached to the omega-shaped component to provide an enclosed volume. The bracket strip may be used for attaching a leading/trailing edge structure of the aerofoil to the torsion box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventor: Eric WILDMAN
  • Patent number: 8292236
    Abstract: A seal for sealing a gap between a first (252) and a second (207) component of an aircraft flight surface which has a first seal body (222) having a first sealing portion (246) arranged to seal against the first component, wherein the first seal body is movably mounted to the second component so as to seal at least part of the gap during relative movement of the first and second components. A seal is also provided with components movable relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventor: Eric Wildman
  • Publication number: 20120234983
    Abstract: An aerodynamic control surface assembly comprising: an aerodynamic control surface (4); an actuator (10) for controlling deployment of the control surface; and a locking mechanism (30) moveable from a locked to an unlocked position. When the locking mechanism is set to the locked position, the actuator is operatively coupled to the control surface and the control surface can move in dependently of the actuator when the locking mechanism is set to the unlocked position. Such an assembly may be used in an aircraft to prevent clashing between a deployed flap (16) and a drooped spoiler (4) in the event of an actuator control systems failure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventor: Eric Wildman
  • Publication number: 20110253832
    Abstract: A support assembly for deployment and retraction of an aero surface from an aircraft is disclosed. The assembly comprises a guide track, a primary support arm having one end coupled to a carriage mounted on the track such that the primary support arm is rotatable relative to the carriage about multiple axes, and a control arm having one end coupled to the primary support arm and a second end pivotably attachable to a fixed support forming part of the structure of the aircraft. The assembly being configured such that, when the carriage is driven along the guide track, the control arm causes the primary support arm to pivot about said multiple axes to deploy and/or retract an aero surface pivotally attached to an opposite end of the primary support member along an arcuate path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Eric Wildman, Simon John Parker, Anthony Bryant, Christian Folkard