Patents by Inventor Thomas Manfredotti

Thomas Manfredotti 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).

  • Publication number: 20110155841
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mechanism (90) for damping vibrations to prevent coupling of vibration modes of the carrier structure (106) with vibration modes of a rotor (100) secured to said carrier structure (106). The mechanism comprises a support (3) suitable for being fastened to said rotor (100) and at least one resonator (1) including a mass (5) carried by said support (3) via mobile mounting means (6) for mounting said mass (5) to move on said support (3), said mechanism (90) including damper means (8) for damping the resonator (1), which means are interposed between the resonator (1) and an engagement member (9) on said support (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: EUROCOPTER
    Inventors: Paul Cranga, Thomas Manfredotti, Joachim Re, Matthieu Pula
  • Publication number: 20110095132
    Abstract: The invention provides a vibration filter mechanism for aircraft equipment. A weighted lever arm (5) is hinged via bearings (22, 23) associated respectively with a first structure connected to a fuselage and with a second structure connected to the equipment (12). Deformable means (7) oppose pivoting movement of the lever arm. The lever arm (5) is arranged as a one-piece fork that comprises a pair of branches (19, 20) that are interconnected by a crossbar (21) and that are hinged to the bearings (22, 23) about spaced-apart parallel pivot axes (A1, A2). The fork carries a torsion shaft (24) that extends between the branches (19, 20) at their free ends (9), the torsion shaft (24) constituting the weight weighting the lever arm (5) and the deformable means (7) of the mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: EUROCOPTER
    Inventors: Thomas Manfredotti, Paul Cranga
  • Publication number: 20110097193
    Abstract: A device (10) for reducing vibration of a main rotor (1) having a support (20) and a plurality of heavy elements (30) and of rollers (50). Each heavy element (30) includes two first openings (31) respectively at least partially in registration with two second openings (22) of the support (20. Each roller (50) passes through a first opening (31) and a second opening (22). The device (10) has link means (60) for connecting the support (20) to the hub (2). A drive shaft (70) and a drive means (80) rotate at a first speed of rotation (V1) greater than a second speed of rotation (V2) of the hub (2). The drive shaft (70) rotates about an axis of rotation (AX1) of the support (20). The link means (60) is connected to the support (20) by a link member (90) enabling the support (20) to rotate about the axis of rotation (AX1) relative to the link means (60).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: EUROCOPTER
    Inventor: Thomas Manfredotti
  • Publication number: 20110085889
    Abstract: The invention provides a mechanism for attenuating torque pulsations between an engine (2) and a rotor (1) of a rotorcraft. Torsion means (5) are interposed between the driving and driven shafts and comprise a torsion shaft (6) axially engaged with the drive shaft (3) and the driven shaft (4) an inlet shaft (9) and an outlet shaft (10) respectively engaged with the drive and driven shafts (3, 4) a lever system (7) that extends radially relative to the torsion shaft (6) and that has the inlet and outlet shafts (9, 10) hinged thereto via points (11, 12) that are spaced apart; and a mass (8) carried by said lever arm (7) at its free end (13) radially farthest away from the axis along which the torsion shaft (6) extends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: EUROCOPTER
    Inventors: Thomas Manfredotti, Jerome Chemin
  • Publication number: 20110020592
    Abstract: An insulating coating (1) with high damping power and suitable for being fastened to a structure (2). The coating comprises a dissipater mesh made up of a plurality of dissipater elements (3) and of nodes (4) with the bottom end (4?) of each node being fastened to said structure (2). Each dissipater element is secured to first and second nodes (6, 7). The bottom ends (4?) of said nodes (4) project from said dissipater elements (3) so as to be suitable for creating an empty space (5) between the dissipater elements (3) and said structure (2). In addition, at least one dissipater element (3) is provided with at least one branch (10, 20) provided with a heavy element (30, 31, 32). The heavy element (30, 31, 32) has a first mass that is greater than or equal to a second mass of said branch (10, 20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: EUROCOPTER
    Inventors: Thomas Manfredotti, Julien Caillet
  • Patent number: 7806774
    Abstract: A mechanical transmission system for a rotorcraft, including a supercritical transmission shaft and an active magnetic damper secured to the structure of the rotorcraft via a mechanical damper is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Eurocopter
    Inventors: Thomas Manfredotti, Damien Sequera
  • Patent number: 7731287
    Abstract: A framework fixed to the structure of a vehicle, which framework carries a generally planar seat proper via mobility structure for providing the seat proper with mobility relative to the framework. The seat proper is rigid and is suspended from the framework via a deformable structure which is deformable in at least one of the dimensions of the plane of the seat proper. The plane of the framework for supporting the seat proper is disposed above the plane of the seat proper that is supported by the framework, so as to impart a pendular type structure to the structure providing mobility to the seat proper relative to the framework.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Eurocopter
    Inventor: Thomas Manfredotti
  • Publication number: 20090324407
    Abstract: Described is a blade (10) extending longitudinally from a root (11) of the blade (10) to a free end (12) of the blade (10), the blade (10) being provided with an incorporated resonator (20) for reducing the drag movements (F1, F2) of the blade (10), the resonator (20) being provided with a closed tank (30) that is partially filled with a liquid (50). Furthermore, the resonator (20) includes a central tube (40) immersed inside the tank (30), the tank (30) and the central tube (40) being arranged in a longitudinal direction (Y) of the blade (10), the central tube (40) having first and second ends (41, 42) that communicate with the tank (30) so that the liquid (50) can move from the tank (30) into the central tube (40), and vice versa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: EUROCOPTER
    Inventors: Thomas MANFREDOTTI, Paul CRANGA, Julien GUITTON
  • Publication number: 20090324406
    Abstract: A blade (10) extending longitudinally from a root (11) of the blade (10) to a free end (12) of the blade (10), the blade (10) having a resonator (13) incorporated therein to reduce the drag movements (F1, F2) of the blade (10), the resonator (13) being provided with a solid and movable heavy element (30) and with resilient retaining element (20) secured to the heavy element (30) and to the blade (10). Furthermore, the resonator (13) includes guide element (40) in which the heavy element (30) is capable of oscillating (F1?, F2?) longitudinally, the guide element (40) being arranged in a longitudinal direction (D1) of the blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: EUROCOPTER
    Inventors: Thomas MANFREDOTTI, Paul CRANGA, Julien GUITTON
  • Publication number: 20090267391
    Abstract: An energy absorber element comprises an absorber portion having first and second distal ends and having a first elongate element and a second elongate element facing the first elongate element and connected to the second element solely at the first and second distal ends, a first anchor point secured to the first distal end of the absorber portion, and a second anchor point secured to the second distal end of the absorber portion, wherein each of the first and second elongate elements includes a succession of straight-line segments parallel to one another and at least one circularly-arcuate segment such that at least two successive straight-line segments are connected together by one of the at least one circularly-arcuate segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: Eurocopter
    Inventors: Olivier Honnorat, Thomas Manfredotti
  • Publication number: 20090267390
    Abstract: A crashworthy seat for a vehicle comprises a stand including a first and a second foot connected mechanically to a first and a second vertical support leg; a pan connected by the stand to a floor wherein the first and the second feet are disposed on each side of the pan, the pan including a seat proper and a seat back, wherein the seat back has a support element secured to the first and the second vertical support legs configured to support the seat back a guide element configured to guide the pan in translation; an energy absorber device; a first anchor point secured to the first distal end of the absorber portion; and a second anchor point secured to the second distal end of the absorber portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: Eurocopter
    Inventors: Olivier Honnorat, Thomas Manfredotti, Olivier Feuillarade
  • Patent number: 7582032
    Abstract: An anti-vibratory device with rotary compensation weights includes two sets of two identical rotors with respective eccentric compensation weights, the units being symmetrically disposed in relation to an axis of symmetry and the axes of rotation of the rotors being parallel between themselves and orthogonal in relation to the axis of symmetry; and a rotational drive system for the rotors. Advantageously, the device includes controllable mobile equipment carrying the drive system and being able to slide along the axis of symmetry in order to drive the dephasing of the rotors with eccentric compensation weights associated with the sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Eurocopter
    Inventors: Thomas Manfredotti, Damien Sequera
  • Patent number: 7553533
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an absorbent covering having high damping power, the covering being secured to a structure (20) and being provided with an absorbent layer (10) of elastic material (4). Remarkably, said absorbent layer (10) comprises a dissipater mesh arranged in the elastic material (4) and constituted by a plurality of nodes (2) and of dissipater elements (1), which dissipater elements are advantageously elliptical in shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Eurocopter
    Inventor: Thomas Manfredotti
  • Patent number: 7461729
    Abstract: A device is provided for suspending a battery (20) of an aircraft, the device including at least one spring (41, 54); the device further includes an adjustment element enabling the stiffness of the spring to be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Eurocopter
    Inventors: Thomas Manfredotti, Damien Sequera
  • Publication number: 20080145621
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an absorbent covering (1) having high damping power, secured on a structure (2) and comprising a dissipater mesh made up of a plurality of dissipating elements (3) and of nodes (4) each having its bottom end (4?) secured on said structure (2). In remarkable manner, said bottom ends (4?) of said nodes (4) project from said dissipating elements (3) so as to leave an empty space (5) between the dissipating elements (3) and said structure (2), said absorbent covering (1) including main absorbent elements (6) arranged in said empty space (5), each of said main absorbent elements (6) being secured firstly to a bottom face (3?) of a said dissipating element (3) and secondly to said structure (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: EUROCOPTER
    Inventor: Thomas Manfredotti
  • Publication number: 20080116316
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mechanical transmission system for a rotorcraft, the system including a supercritical transmission shaft (10) and an active magnetic damper (17 to 20) secured to the structure (34) of the aircraft via a mechanical damper (50).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicant: EUROCOPTER
    Inventors: Thomas Manfredotti, Damien Sequera
  • Patent number: 7347799
    Abstract: An antivibration device for reducing the vibration of a structure, includes a stationary casing, mounted on the structure, and first and second sets each including two contra-rotary rotors having eccentric flyweights, the flyweights and the rotors being disposed respectively in first and second mutually parallel planes, the centers of rotation of the contra-rotary rotors representing the corners of a rectangular parallelogram in the second plane, and the axes of rotation of the contra-rotary rotors being mutually parallel and orthogonal to the first plane. In addition, it includes a stationary main motor secured to the casing with a through shaft having a first end driving the contra-rotary rotors of the first set and a second end driving the contra-rotary rotors of the second set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignees: Eurocopter, Artus
    Inventors: Thomas Manfredotti, Patrick Quesne
  • Publication number: 20070114104
    Abstract: A device is provided for suspending a battery (20) of an aircraft, the device including at least one spring (41, 54); the device further includes an adjustment element enabling the stiffness of the spring to be adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Publication date: May 24, 2007
    Inventors: Thomas Manfredotti, Damien Sequera
  • Publication number: 20060246257
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an absorbent covering having high damping power, the covering being secured to a structure (20) and being provided with an absorbent layer (10) of elastic material (4). Remarkably, said absorbent layer (10) comprises a dissipater mesh arranged in the elastic material (4) and constituted by a plurality of nodes (2) and of dissipater elements (1), which dissipater elements are advantageously elliptical in shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Publication date: November 2, 2006
    Applicant: Eurocopter
    Inventor: Thomas Manfredotti
  • Publication number: 20060197487
    Abstract: An antivibration device for reducing the vibration of a structure, includes a stationary casing, mounted on the structure, and first and second sets each including two contra-rotary rotors having eccentric flyweights, the flyweights and the rotors being disposed respectively in first and second mutually parallel planes, the centers of rotation of the contra-rotary rotors representing the corners of a rectangular parallelogram in the second plane, and the axes of rotation of the contra-rotary rotors being mutually parallel-and orthogonal to the first plane. In addition, it includes a stationary main motor secured to the casing with a through shaft having a first end driving the contra-rotary rotors of the first set and a second end driving the contra-rotary rotors of the second set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Publication date: September 7, 2006
    Inventors: Thomas Manfredotti, Patrick Quesne