Patents Assigned to Airbus Operations Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20230339593
    Abstract: An aircraft fuselage is configured to receive two tanks designed to contain liquid hydrogen. The fuselage includes a first section for a cockpit, a second section for a passenger cabin and a third section (T3) distinct from the first section (T1) and from the second section (T2). The third section (T3) includes two housings each to house a tank. The two housings are arranged symmetrically with respect to a vertical plane of symmetry (P1). This arrangement of the tanks in a section distinct from the other sections allows them to be located as close as possible to the motors that they have to supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Applicants: AIRBUS SAS, Airbus Operations SAS, AIRBUS OPERATIONS LTD, Airbus Operations SL, Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Elisa Alvarez López-Herrero, Matthias Wolff, Alexander Broer, Rainer Tegtmeyer, Michael Wießmeier, Till Marquardt, André Anger, Anna-Katrin Wengorra, Marco Dias Figueiredo, Jose Luis Martinez Munoz, Alberto Gallegos Elvira, Kaya Sahin, Guillaume Gallant, Kasidit Leoviriyakit, Philip Wright
  • Patent number: 11506561
    Abstract: An overheat detection system for an aircraft, the system comprising a first bleed monitoring computer, BMC1, configured to identify leakages in a pneumatic system, the BMC1 including a first optical controller, a second bleed monitoring computer, BMC2, the BMC2 including a second optical controller, an optical fiber link connecting the first optical controller of the BMC1 and the second optical controller of the BMC2 for communication between the BMC1 and the BCM2 and between the first optical controller and the second optical controller, wherein the first and the second optical controllers are configured to detect overheat of the optical fiber link based on a wavelength shift of a modulated optical signal transmitted through the optical fiber link, and transmit signals to the first BMC1 and the second BMC2 based at least on the detected overheat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignees: AIRBUS OPERATIONS S.L.U., AIRBUS OPERATIONS SAS, AIRBUS OPERATIONS LTD
    Inventors: Alessio Cipullo, Sy-Dat Le, Carlos Bueno Vazquez
  • Patent number: 11045931
    Abstract: When coupling tubular parts by fitting, the seal interposed between them may roll on itself, be pinched or damaged. Now, a twisted or damaged seal no longer correctly ensures the seal-tightness and it is very difficult to detect this. The present application discloses a tool for installing a seal between two tubular parts, one male and one female, including a compression ring to encircle the male part and exert a compression on the seal before producing the join. The tool also includes a tongue that can be positioned at a chamfered surface of the female tubular part. The tongue makes it possible to offer the pre-compressed seal with the dimensions of the female part a continuous travel making it possible to prevent any twisting or other effect compromising the seal-tightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignees: Airbus Operations LTD., Airbus Operations (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: David Petit, Geneviève Schubetzer, Damien Fraysse, Serge Vernet, Sophie Gourdon, Nicolas Charmes, Mathieu Trindade, Joel Antic
  • Patent number: 10994827
    Abstract: A wing arrangement for an aircraft, comprising a wing having a base section and a tip section pivotably connected to base section such that the tip section is pivotable about a pivot axis between a deployed position and a stowed position. The wing arrangement also comprises a latching arrangement which includes an engagement portion, a latching actuator selectively movable between a first actuator position and a second actuator position, an elastically deformable structure, and a latching element. When the tip section is pivoted from the stowed or deployed position into an engagement position, the elastically deformable structure is initially deformed, and as the tip section pivots further into the deployed or stowed position, the elastic deformation of the elastically deformable structure decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignees: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH, AIRBUS OPERATIONS LTD.
    Inventors: Christoph Winkelmann, Wilfried Ellmers, Stephen Briancourt, David Brakes
  • Patent number: 10800549
    Abstract: A method for assembling a primary structure of an aircraft pylon, includes a step of fixing an angle bracket to each of the first and second lateral panels such as to obtain an L form for each of the first and second lateral panels prior to a placement of said L forms each placed against two sides of each transverse frame. This assembly technique makes it possible to reduce the mounting clearances such that it is unnecessary to fit shims, resulting in a reduction of mounting time and manufacturing costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignees: Airbus Operations S.A.S., AIRBUS OPERATIONS LTD
    Inventors: Stéphane Dostes, Thierry Theron, Audrey Benaben, Thomas Deforet, Julien Moulis, Joel Dedieu, Robert Whiffen, François Martinel
  • Publication number: 20200231294
    Abstract: A method for assembling an aircraft pylon having a primary structure and at least one internal system at least partially positioned within the primary structure, wherein the internal system is positioned inside the primary structure before the last lateral panel of the primary structure is attached. The absence of one of the lateral panels facilitates the installation of the internal systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Applicants: Airbus Operations S.A.S., AIRBUS OPERATIONS LTD
    Inventors: François Martinel, Joel Dedieu, Thierry Theron, Julien Moulis, Thomas Deforet, Audrey Benaben, Robert Whiffen
  • Publication number: 20190112074
    Abstract: A method for assembling a primary structure of an aircraft pylon, includes a step of fixing an angle bracket to each of the first and second lateral panels such as to obtain an L form for each of the first and second lateral panels prior to a placement of said L forms each placed against two sides of each transverse frame. This assembly technique makes it possible to reduce the mounting clearances such that it is unnecessary to fit shims, resulting in a reduction of mounting time and manufacturing costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Applicants: Airbus Operations S.A.S., AIRBUS OPERATIONS LTD
    Inventors: Stéphane Dostes, Thierry Theron, Audrey Benaben, Thomas Deforet, Julien Moulis, Joel Dedieu, Robert Whiffen, François Martinel
  • Patent number: 10196124
    Abstract: An external part of an aircraft (such as a fairing) comprising a skin made with flexible materials attached to rigid supporting elements (such as longerons and frames) arranged in, at least, two directions. The skin comprises inner inflatable panels in all bays delimited by the rigid supporting elements and/or an external inflatable panel. The skin is joined to the supporting elements so that its external surface complies with aerodynamic requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignees: Airbus Operations S.L., Airbus Operations Ltd.
    Inventors: Jesús Javier Vazquez Castro, Fernando Pereira Mosqueira, Juan José Gutierrez Santiago, Anthony Langley, Guy Tothill, Davood Sarchamy, Miguel Marín Muñoz
  • Patent number: 10179644
    Abstract: The present disclosure refers to a method for operating a landing gear system, preferably in a tricycle configuration, wherein main landing gear (MLG) and the nose landing gear (NLG) are operable from a retracted position where they are housed respectively inside landing gear bays, to a fully extended position where they are extended for landing the aircraft. According to the disclosure, the extension of the nose landing gear (NLG) is delayed in time with respect to the extension of the main landing gear (MLG), and the nose landing gear (NLG) is kept retracted during a major part of the time that the main landing gear doors (MLGD) are extended. In this manner, vibrations on the main landing gear doors are reduced and incidents caused by fatigue are also reduced, which in turn implies that the maintenance cost of the aircraft is greatly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignees: AIRBUS OPERATIONS, S.L., AIRBUS OPERATIONS S.A.S., AIRBUS OPERATIONS LTD.
    Inventors: Ramon Abarca Lopez, Marcus Barth, Norman Wood
  • 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: 9469067
    Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating a fiber reinforced thermoplastic composite structure is described. The apparatus comprises a localized heat source arranged to heat a portion of a stack of fiber reinforced thermoplastic material layers and an ultrasonic transducer arranged to locally introduce ultrasonic energy waves to the heated portion of the fiber reinforced thermoplastic material layers. The apparatus makes it possible to achieve ultrasonic consolidation of the layers occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LTD
    Inventor: David Inston
  • Patent number: 9144768
    Abstract: A fuel system includes a fuel tank, a vent tank fluidically connected to the fuel tank ullage, the vent tank having a duct open to the ambient atmosphere and the interior of the vent tank, and a catalyst disposed in the duct, wherein the catalyst is adapted to deplete one or more reactive components of gas flowing through the duct by catalytic reaction. Also, a method for depleting one or more reactive components of gas in the fuel system, includes depleting one or more reactive components of gas flowing through the duct using the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LTD
    Inventors: Franklin Tichborne, Joseph K - W Lam, David Parmenter, Simon Masters
  • Patent number: 9056671
    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: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignees: Airbus Operations GmbH, Airbus Operations Ltd.
    Inventors: Gerd Heller, Alexander Buescher, Frank Theurich, Tom Gibson, Michael Karwin, Stephen Powell
  • Patent number: 9011062
    Abstract: An assembly comprising at least two non-metal components which are fixed to each other using at least one fixing system. The fixing system includes a fixing device with a fixing element which is provided with a head and a rod, and a crimping ring which is in contact with one of the components. A protection device is a part of the fixing system which delimits a cavity for confining gas around a portion of the device comprising the crimping ring. In order to improve the repeatability of the operation for positioning the protection device, a guiding device is provided which includes an assembly element on the portion of the fixing device, and an element for guiding the protection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignees: Airbus Operations SAS, Airbus Operations Ltd.
    Inventors: Clement Chirol, Philip Cresswell, Florian Dapot
  • Publication number: 20140321944
    Abstract: An assembly comprising at least two non-metal components which are fixed to each other using at least one fixing system. The fixing system includes a fixing device with a fixing element which is provided with a head and a rod, and a crimping ring which is in contact with one of the components. A protection device is a part of the fixing system which delimits a cavity for confining gas around a portion of the device comprising the crimping ring. In order to improve the repeatability of the operation for positioning the protection device, a guiding device is provided which includes an assembly element on the portion of the fixing device, and an element for guiding the protection device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicants: Airbus Operations (SAS), Airbus Operations LTD
    Inventors: Clement Chirol, Philip Cresswell, Florian Dapot
  • Patent number: 8852512
    Abstract: A monitor for monitoring the concentration of oxygen in a fuel or in an ullage over a fuel comprises (i) a sensing element comprising a luminescent substance comprising a luminophore and a support in which the luminophore is covalently bound to the support, (ii) a light source arranged to irradiate the sensing element with light, and (iii) a photosensor arranged to detect light emitted from the luminescent substance. The luminescent substance may be, for example, a platinum porphyrin covalently bound to silica.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Ltd
    Inventors: Joseph K-W Lam, David Osborne, Norman Mark Ratcliffe
  • Patent number: 8826942
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a hose that makes it possible to channel the pressurized air that is used in a sleeve (52) that delimits an annular chamber with the hose, with the sleeve (52) including at least one opening (54) that is delimited by an edge (58) that makes it possible to link the annular chamber and the outside of the sleeve (52), and a leak detection system that includes at least one loop (A) in the form of a threadlike element (56), characterized in that it includes a connecting device that includes a ring (60) that is connected at at least one connecting point (64) with a loop (A), and a flexible wall that delimits a hose (68) for channeling the air that extends from the edge (58) of the opening (54) up to the ring (60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignees: Airbus Operations (SAS), Airbus Operations Ltd.
    Inventors: Gérard Millet, Terence J Burt, Xavier Bernard
  • Publication number: 20140230993
    Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating a fibre reinforced thermoplastic composite structure is described. The apparatus comprises a localised heat source arranged to heat a portion of a stack of fibre reinforced thermoplastic material layers and an ultrasonic transducer arranged to locally introduce ultrasonic energy waves to the heated portion of the fibre reinforced thermoplastic material layers. The apparatus makes it possible to achieve ultrasonic consolidation of the layers occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LTD.
    Inventor: David INSTON
  • Patent number: 8747585
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a fiber reinforced thermoplastic composite structure comprising: placing a first layer of fiber reinforced thermoplastic material on top of a second layer of fiber reinforced thermoplastic material; providing a local heating source and locally heating a portion of at least the upper layer of thermoplastic composite material; and providing an ultrasonic transducer and locally introducing ultrasonic energy waves to the heated portion of the thermoplastic material such that ultrasonic consolidation of the fiber reinforced thermoplastic occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Ltd
    Inventor: David Inston
  • Patent number: 8600534
    Abstract: A method of designing a structure, such as an airfoil section. A first set of candidate designs is generated in a first optimisation process, each candidate design comprising a set of M design variables associated with an M-dimensional design space. A subset of the first set of candidate designs is selected. The selected subset of candidate designs is analysed by proper orthogonal decomposition or principal component analysis to generate an N-dimensional design space defined by N design variables, N being less than M. A second set of one or more candidate designs is then generated in a second optimisation process, each candidate design comprising a set of N design variables associated with the N-dimensional design space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Ltd
    Inventors: Carren Holden, David J J Toal, Neil W. Bressloff, Andrew J. Keane