Patents Assigned to Airbus Operations GmbH
  • Patent number: 9573676
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for a adjustable flap adjustably mounted on a main wing surface of an aeroplane wing, in particular, a landing flap, with at least one adjustment unit for purposes of adjustment of the adjustable flap, which has an actuator arranged, or that can be arranged, on the main wing surface, and has a kinematic adjustment mechanism running between the actuator and the adjustable flap, wherein the adjustable flap is mechanically coupled with the actuator via the kinematic adjustment mechanism. At least one damping unit for purposes of damping a dynamic loading effected by the adjustable flap on the adjustment unit, which can occur as a result of a critical malfunction event occurring in the region of the adjustable flap, is arranged, or can be arranged, between the main wing surface and the adjustable flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Dyckrup, Wilfried Ellmers
  • Patent number: 9573678
    Abstract: An aircraft with airfoils having a main wing and at least one control flap arranged such to be adjusted relative to the main wing, as well as a high-lift system with at least one regulating flap for adjusting the lift of the airfoils to adjust the state of lift of the aircraft, featuring flow control devices for influencing the fluid flowing over the surface segment; an activating unit; and a lift state specification device connected to the activating unit for adjusting the state of lift of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Burkhard Gölling
  • Patent number: 9573222
    Abstract: A method for friction stir welding two components, with a rotating tool that comprises a rotating or non-rotating shoulder surface for subjecting the components to a process force in the region of a joining zone, and with a stirring pin for stirring plasticized material or for plasticizing and stirring the components in the region of the joining zone, in which method a stirring pin with a section slidably plunges in a slide on which the components are supported, which slide is guided along the joining zone on a side of the component, which side faces away from the tool, so that during welding an automatic relative movement between the stirring pin and the slide or the shoulder surface of the tool and a support surface of the slide, which support surface supports the components, is made possible, as well as a device for implementing such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Sergio Tavares, Marco Pacchione, Hartmut Ostersehlte
  • Publication number: 20170043875
    Abstract: A modular lavatory assembly for a vehicle cabin includes a lavatory module having a housing and a toilet system having a toilet arranged in an inner space of the lavatory module and at least one service module having at least one service unit for personal use by a passenger. The at least one service module is attached to an outside of the housing. The housing encloses an inner space, which is free from additional service modules and includes at least one recess for accessing the at least one service unit of the at least one service module from an inside of the housing with the at least one service module being configured for providing access through the at least one recess. The at least one service module includes at least one additional access for accessing the at least one service unit from outside the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Applicant: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Martijn Vervaet, Torben Hennig, Michael Lau, Julia Rotenberger
  • Publication number: 20170043857
    Abstract: To be able to transmit higher forces when retaining movable components on board an aircraft, a retaining system includes a support structure with a first retaining area and a second retaining area having a movable locking element, and a movable component with a locking receptacle forming a locking device with the locking element, and a retaining device. The movable component is movably attached to the first retaining area with the retaining device, and the movable component can be locked on the second retaining area with the locking device. The at least one movable locking element can be moved between an open setting (SOFF) and a locked setting (SVER), wherein the at least one movable locking element engages with the locking receptacle in the locked setting, so that the movable component is temporarily immovably retained, and allows the movable component to move in the open setting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Applicant: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Seibt
  • Patent number: 9567064
    Abstract: A high lift component includes at least one intermediate seal on at least one lateral surface, wherein the intermediate seal includes at least one hollow body made of an elastic material, which hollow body includes a fluid inlet that is connectable to a fluid source. A gap between two high lift components, which gap is subjected to dynamic changes in geometry, can be flexibly sealed in this manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Schlipf, Xavier Hue
  • Patent number: 9567094
    Abstract: A method of controlling a flow rate of inerting gas introduced into a vented aircraft fuel tank, the method comprising: monitoring changes in a quantity of a fuel in the aircraft fuel tank; monitoring changes in the ambient air pressure external to the aircraft fuel tank; and actively controlling a flow rate of inerting gas, {dot over (m)}(I), introduced into the aircraft fuel tank based upon changes in the quantity of fuel in the fuel tank and changes in the ambient air pressure, p. Also, an aircraft including a vented fuel tank, a supply of inerting gas for rendering inert the fuel tank ullage, and a controller for performing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignees: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED, AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Franklin Tichborne, Brian Hughes, Gwènaëlle Marie Lucette Renouard-Vallet, Stephen Edward Burnell
  • Patent number: 9567061
    Abstract: A window funnel for an aircraft is provided, which has a ring made of an elastic material, which is arranged by means of an adhesive layer on an outer side of the window funnel, the ring having a hollow profile. The ring serves as a sight screen, light screen and dust screen for the rear side of the window funnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Jürgen Vogt, Sebastian Keil
  • Patent number: 9567057
    Abstract: An aircraft fuselage structure having a first fuselage barrel section and a second fuselage section barrel which are joined by tension fasteners extending through frame holes. A shank diameter of the fasteners is smaller than a respective frame hole diameter. A first positive locking element and a second positive locking element is provided forming a form-fit area with the first positive locking element in the circumferential direction. A method for producing such an aircraft fuselage section is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Magdalena Boyen, Wolfgang Eilken, Wolfgang Schulze
  • Patent number: 9567799
    Abstract: A window element having a window shade is provided. The window element has a viewing area, comprising a window shade element. The window shade element includes an electrically darkable element, and the window shade element is movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the window shade element is covering a first portion of the viewing area, and in the second position, the window shade element is covering a second portion of the viewing area. The first portion and the second portion are unequal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventor: Marcus Klettke
  • Patent number: 9562301
    Abstract: A component made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic is described, consisting of or comprising a matrix material (M) and carbon fibers embedded into the matrix material (M), wherein the component has at least one surface portion (A), having one or a plurality of exposed regions of the carbon fibers, characterized in that the exposed regions(s) of the carbon fibers is or are selectively coated with a layer (S). A process for producing such a component and also an assembly comprising such a component and one or a plurality of further components comprising or consisting of a material such as steel, iron, copper, magnesium or aluminum or alloys thereof are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Peter Plagemann, Andreas Brinkmann, Anja Zockoll, Armin Fangmeier, Rouven Kott, Simone Schroder, Thomas Lemckau
  • Patent number: 9561617
    Abstract: A device is provided for producing a bonded joint between fiber-reinforced thermoplastic parts to be joined, in which fiber-containing plastic material is mixed into the joining zone while friction stir welding the parts to be joined in the form of a butt joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Robert Alexander Goehlich, Malte Sander
  • Patent number: 9562559
    Abstract: A connecting arrangement for joining at least two components to form a structural assembly, near a wing of an aircraft, wherein at least one component is formed from a fiber composite plastic and at least one further component is formed from either a metal or a fiber composite plastic. A bushing is secured in a hole through the components. The bushing includes a first end with a collar which faces towards a lower face of the structural assembly and a second end. A zone of an upper face of the structural assembly radially surrounds the second end and includes a depression. A connecting element is installed in the bushing. This provides a smooth, aerodynamically beneficial configuration of the upper face, which can be coated, and which ensures a reliable electrical contact between the connecting element and a conductive surface of the first component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Schomaker, Bjoern Knickrehm
  • Patent number: 9561856
    Abstract: A heat exchanger with at least one cooling segment having a first, a second, and a third portion. A first heat carrier flow path, through which a first heat carrier medium flows, extends through the first portion. A second heat carrier flow path, through which a second heat carrier medium flows, extends through the second portion. A first coolant flow path, through which a first coolant medium flows, extends through the third portion. The heat exchanger comprises at least one cooling body, a second coolant medium flowing through a second coolant flow path extending through the cooling body. The first and the second heat carrier flow paths are thermally coupled, respectively, to the first and the second coolant flow path, to discharge heat energy of at least one of the first and the second heat carrier medium to at least one of the first and the second coolant medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Christoph Mevenkamp, Georg Muehlthaler, Sebastian Capistran Zambrano
  • Patent number: 9561854
    Abstract: A toilet assembly for a vehicle comprises a first toilet compartment including a first opening, a first foldable toilet compartment door for closing the first opening, and a first toilet opposite to the first opening. An adjacent second toilet compartment includes a second opening, a second toilet compartment door for closing the second opening, and a second toilet opposite to the second opening. A forward dividing flap is rotatably supported by the front wall and situated between the first toilet compartment and the second toilet compartment for at least partially dividing the first toilet compartment from the second toilet compartment, wherein the forward dividing flap is rotatably supported at the front wall, the first toilet compartment door is retractable to a side facing away from the dividing flap, the first toilet is further from the front wall than is the second toilet, and the forward dividing flap closes the first opening when the first toilet compartment door is retracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Ralf Schliwa, Jens Wiebalck, Roland Lange
  • Patent number: 9562352
    Abstract: A rotary joint includes an outer shell segment having the outer shape of a solid of revolution, the outer shell segment having a plurality of openings arranged in the outer surface; an inner shell segment having the outer shape of the solid of revolution of the outer shell segment, the inner shell segment being aligned concentrically with the outer shell segment and spaced apart from the outer shell segment by a compensation gap; and a plurality of strut holding fixtures, the strut holding fixtures having a hollow interior and a flange portion, wherein each of the strut holding fixtures is arranged in one of the plurality of openings and the flange portion extends within the compensation gap between the inner shell segment and the outer shell segment in each case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Hermann Benthien, Ion Lucian Florea, Jens Wilhelmi
  • Patent number: 9555875
    Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to an actuation mechanism for a flap with aileron functionality, including a crank having a crank axle, a crank arm and a crank pivot; a displacement shaft articulated to the crank pivot at an actuating end portion; and a rotatable linear-motion bearing in which the displacement shaft is slidably supported, wherein the displacement shaft is fixedly connectable to a flap body of the aircraft flap at a flap end portion of the displacement shaft opposite to the actuating end portion, and wherein the linear-motion bearing is rotatably attachable at a pivot point to an aircraft wing comprising the aircraft flap, so that the displacement shaft is able to rotate around an axis running spanwise of the aircraft wing around the pivot point. The present disclosure further pertains to an aircraft flap with such an actuation mechanism and an aircraft having an aircraft flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Alexander Burchard
  • Patent number: 9555874
    Abstract: A fixed wing of an aircraft, having a main wing extending over a half-span with a wing box including spars extending along the spanwise direction of the main wing, ribs arranged one in back of the other viewed in the spanwise direction, and an outer skin. The wing box includes a wing box base section (K10) and a wing box adapter section, that forms the outer end area of the wing box, as viewed from the wing root, and is designed to secure a wing tip device. In its nominal state of construction, the dihedral angle of the wing box adapter section referring to the respective local spanwise direction continuously increases by at most 60 degrees from the outer rib of the wing box base section (K10) up to the outermost rib of the wing box adapter section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignees: Airbus Operations GmbH, Airbus Operations Ltd.
    Inventors: Gerd Heller, Alexander Buescher, Frank Theurich, Tom Gibson, Michael Karwin, Stephen Powell
  • Patent number: 9555901
    Abstract: A method of protecting a part of a surface of an aircraft against contamination with insect residues and/or against icing is described. The method includes the following steps: a) coating the part of the surface to be protected with a coating that can, within a period of ?3 hours from take-off of the aircraft and in normal flying conditions, reduce the adhesion to the part of the surface to be protected until detachment occurs on the basis of (i) temperature change and/or (ii) UV radiation and/or (iii) addition of a decomposing component and/or (iv) difference in air humidity, and b) exposing the part of the surface to be protected to (i) a temperature change and/or (ii) UV irradiation (iii) and/or addition of a decomposing component and/or (iv) a difference in air humidity, so that the coating together with any contaminants and/or icing thereon detaches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Volkmar Stenzel, Yvonne Wilke, Steffen Schrübbers, Andreas Hartwig, Georg Niedzwiedzki, Silke Grünke
  • Patent number: 9557122
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for cooling air, with a coolant onward-flow connection for feeding liquid coolant for cooling air and a coolant return-flow connection for discharging liquid coolant. For removing ice by melting accumulated ice in the heat exchanger, a heater is provided that is associated with an electrical heating element. An operational safety device prevents overheating of the heater. The operational safety device comprises a fault-current detection device. Such a heater, with a heating element for heating air for subjecting accumulated ice to heated air, and with such an operational safety device is provided. Also, a galley for a commercial aircraft is provided with a receiving space for trolleys, and a cooling device for cooling the receiving space. The cooling device comprises such a heat exchanger for cooling air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Schult, Thorsten Truemper