Patents Assigned to Airbus Operations
  • Composite joint protection
    Patent number: 9308982
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a joint between a laminar composite cover (12) and a second cover (15) (which may or may not be also formed from a composite material). The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such a joint and a method of manufacturing a composite cover suitable for use in such a joint. The laminar composite cover (12) comprises a stack of layers, substantially all of the layers being shaped to form a joggle, each joggle comprising a first portion, a second portion where the layer extends substantially parallel with the first portion, and a ramp (33) between the first and second portions where the layer extends at an angle to the first and second portions, the number of layers being substantially the same on both sides of the ramp. The second cover (15) partially overlaps with the composite cover, and a clamp or fastener (31) holds the covers together where they overlap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventors: Paul Hadley, John Flood, Alan Quayle
  • Heat exchanger for the outer skin of an aircraft
    Patent number: 9309000
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for an outer skin of an aircraft comprises at least one feed line for a coolant, at least one discharge line for the coolant and at least one bundle of coolant channels through which coolant flows, wherein in the case of the heat exchanger being attached to the outer skin, the coolant channels are positioned directly on the outer skin of the aircraft, at least in areas, for dissipating heat to the surrounding environment of the aircraft. The heat exchanger may comprise cooling fins around which air flows for increasing the heat dissipation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Piesker
  • STAPLING DEVICE WITH LOCKING MECHANISM
    Publication number: 20160095593
    Abstract: A stapling device includes a stapling needle system that is guided through the base body of the stapling device. The stapling needle system can be passed through a hole in one or more components. By exerting a tensile force on the stapling needle system, the component or components can be sandwiched between the stapling needle head and base body of the stapling device. The stapling needle system can be positively locked with the base body by means of a locking device, so as to lock the stapling device in place.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Applicant: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Schumacher, Hamid Ebrahimi
  • AIRCRAFT TAXIING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20160096618
    Abstract: A taxiing system for an aircraft including an undercarriage having a wheel, includes an electric motor associated with the wheel, an electric controller of the electric motor, connected to an output of an electrical power supply, and a taxiing control computer configured to determine control instructions for the electric motor and to transmit these instructions to the electric controller. The taxiing control computer is configured to receive braking of the aircraft commands during the taxiing of the aircraft and to determine control instructions for the electric motor corresponding to operation of the motor in generator mode when it receives a braking command. The electric controller is connected to an energy absorber making it possible to absorb the electric energy produced by the electric motor when the latter is operating in generator mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Applicants: AIRBUS SAS, Airbus Operations S.A.S.
    Inventors: Yann Nicolas, Philippe Tatry, Matthieu Bradier, Nicolas Sanz
  • Fastening device for releasably fastening a mechanism in the region of a floor of an aircraft or space craft and arrangement for a cargo loading system
    Patent number: 9302851
    Abstract: A fastening device is disclosed for releasably fastening a mechanism in the region of a floor of an aircraft or spacecraft and includes a base component and a latch component. The latch component includes at least one holding portion including a latch-component-side holding face and is movably coupled to the base component between an unlocked and a locked position. When positioned in a predefined mounting position on the floor component and/or on the base component, the holding portion of the latch component engages a fastening portion, and the latch-component-side holding face faces the mechanism-side holding face. During passage of the latch component from locked position into unlocked position a gap between the latch-component-side holding face and the mechanism-side holding face continuously widens. The invention further relates to an arrangement for a cargo loading system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Esser, Ali Lohmann, Jörg Pump, Sönke Hager, Johannes Völker
  • Self-aligning connector for data and/or power transmission
    Patent number: 9306331
    Abstract: A self-aligning connector for data and/or power transmission includes a base plate, a plurality of data and/or power contact elements arranged on the base plate, first and second positioning means attached to the base plate, a mounting means and a frame assembly connecting the base plate to the mounting means and comprising a plurality of frames. Each frame is directly connected to exactly two elements selected from a group consisting of the plurality of frames, the mounting means and the base plate. Each frame is tiltable at least about one axis and/or displaceable in at least one direction with respect to each element it is directly connected to. A connector assembly includes a first self-aligning connector and a second connector. A vehicle includes a first compartment and a second compartment separated by a wall, a bellows assembly and the connector assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Roland Lange, Stefan Ebeling, Jens Gärtner, Andreas Köhler, Raj Kotian, Ralph Hoffmann
  • Supply system for an aircraft, use of a shielded supply line in an aircraft and an aircraft with a supply system
    Patent number: 9305731
    Abstract: A supply system for supplying energy in an aircraft includes at least one electrical line including at least one core connectable to a pole of a current source, an electrically conductive shield, and a detection unit having at least two electrical inputs. The shield surrounds the at least one core under a distance and creates an intermediate space between the at least one core and the shield. At least one port of the detection unit is connected to the at least one core. At least another port of the detection unit is connected to at least one of the shield and the at least one core. The detection unit is adapted for detecting a differential current over the at least one core or an absolute current between the shield and a ground potential for generating a warning signal if a predetermined threshold value for the detected current value is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Schult, Torsten Stengel, Nicolas Fouquet
  • Method of verifying the consistency of values given by an incidence probe of an aircraft
    Patent number: 9304499
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a method and apparatus for verifying the consistency of the values given by an angle of attack probe of an aircraft. The method and apparatus verifies the proper operation of the angle of attack probe by using the aircraft's vertical load factor measurement provided by an accelerometer to estimate the angle of attack and then comparing the estimated angle of attach with the measure angle of attack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (SAS)
    Inventors: Gregory Schott, Benoit Joalland, Céline Bourissou, Xavier Le Tron, Didier Ronceray
  • Panel and method of producing same
    Patent number: 9302456
    Abstract: A method of producing a panel for lining or cladding an aircraft interior, such as an aircraft cargo hold includes arranging at least one resin layer of a thermo-plastic polymer and at least one reinforcement layer of reinforcement fibers upon one another in a stack, wherein each resin layer extends adjacent and/or substantially parallel to each reinforcement layer; and consolidating the stack to form a panel by applying heat and pressure to the stack. The pressure is applied to the stack in a direction substantially perpendicular to a primary plane of the layers. The pressure is applied to the stack in a non-constant distribution over the primary plane. A corresponding panel for lining or cladding an aircraft interior, such as a cargo hold is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Stephan Hoetzeldt
  • METHOD FOR DETECTING A STRAND GAP IN FIBER FABRIC AND A DEVICE FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION
    Publication number: 20160091296
    Abstract: A method for detecting a spacing defect between two adjacent strands of a layer of a fiber fabric includes displacement of an inductive sensor relative to the fiber fabric, and identification of a defect based on a signal generated by the inductive sensor. The invention also relates to a device for its implementation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Applicant: Airbus Operations S.A.S.
    Inventors: Denis De Mattia, Christian Vivier
  • Emergency Power Supply System, Aircraft Having Such An Emergency Power Supply System And A Method For Providing At Least Electric Power And Hydraulic Power In Case Of An Emergency In An Aircraft
    Publication number: 20160090189
    Abstract: An emergency power supply system for providing hydraulic power and electric power in an aircraft includes a fuel cell having an electric outlet for providing electric power, a conversion unit couplable with at least one of an AC bus and a DC bus and the electric outlet, and at least one hydraulic pump having a reconfigurable electric motor and a motor control unit and being couplable with a hydraulic system for providing hydraulic power. The conversion unit is adapted for converting a supply voltage of the electrical outlet to at least one of an AC voltage matching a predetermined voltage at the AC bus and a DC voltage matching a predetermined voltage at the DC bus. The reconfigurable electric motor is couplable with the fuel cell and the AC bus and is adapted for being operated by the supply of electric power either from the fuel cell or the AC bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Applicants: Airbus Operations GmbH, Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Joerg Wangemann, Hauke-Peer Leudders, Sijmen Zandstra, Peer Drechsel
  • Riveting device for aircraft fuselages
    Patent number: 9296076
    Abstract: A head of a riveting device—for Hi-Lite type rivets—of at least two components of a structure for installing automatically collars on pins previously inserted in the structure. The head comprises: a collar installation tool; a collar supply to supply collars to the collar installation tool; a tool actuating device; a linear displacement device to linearly move the tool during the threading operation; a withdrawal device arranged to withdraw the second part of the collars; a control arrangement configured to automatically perform the installation of collars on pins and after this the withdrawal of the second part of the collars, using tools and collars appropriate for the pins. Also a robot having as end-effector the head and to a method of riveting two components of an aircraft fuselage are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations S.L.
    Inventors: Jorge Juan Soto Martinez, Juan Francisco Garcia Amado, Marta Gimenez Olazabal, Jose Gorrotxategi Txurruka, Jokin Lekunberri Urkidi, Jon Ander Altamira Ugarte
  • Distributing gas within an aircraft
    Patent number: 9296485
    Abstract: An aircraft comprising a Rubens' tube for distributing gas within the aircraft. The Rubens' tube comprises a tube with a plurality of outlets; an inlet for feeding the gas into the tube; and a loudspeaker arranged to set up a standing acoustic wave within the tube. Typically the Rubens' tube is arranged to feed inert gas into a fuel tank of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventors: Richard Haskins, Timothy Leigh
  • Device and process for determining a runway state, aircraft including such a device and piloting assistance system using said runway state
    Patent number: 9299261
    Abstract: This invention relates to a device and process for determining an airport runway state (12), as well as for using such data. The process includes: acquisition (A1) of measurement data pertaining to at least one physical size of an aircraft (10), during the take off or landing roll phase of the aircraft on said runway; obtaining (A2), using the data acquired, a plurality of estimated adhesion values “?” of the runway, corresponding to a respective plurality of taxiing moments of the aircraft; obtaining (A3), using the data acquired, a slip ratio value “s” of at least one of the aircraft's wheels for each said taxiing moment, so as to obtain (A4) a plurality of coupled data points [s,?]; and determination of a runway state by comparing (A5.2) the coupled data points [s,?] profile with at least one predetermined profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (SAS)
    Inventor: Logan Jones
  • Main-load-bearing planking shell and structural component and flow body comprising such a main-load-bearing planking shell
    Patent number: 9296463
    Abstract: According to the invention a main-load bearing skin shell for a structural component is provided, wherein the skin shell for being affixed to a support component comprises an outer edge section with an outer edge and comprises: a connection region that does not comprise a core layer, which connection region extends along the edge with the inner skin section and the outer skin section, wherein in an end region of the core layer along the outer edge section of the skin shell reinforcement devices are integrated that project through the shear-force-absorbing core layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Ichwan Zuardy, Pierre Zahlen, Axel Siegfried Herrmann
  • Method and device for the management of software updates of a set of equipment of a system such as an aircraft system
    Patent number: 9298447
    Abstract: The management of software updates of a set of equipment of an aircraft system on the basis of instructions in a service bulletin, accessible in the form of commands. A command directed to at least one instruction in said service bulletin and being directed to the modification of the configuration of an item of equipment of said system is selected and executed. If the result of executing said selected command conforms to an expected result, at least one restore command allowing the reconfiguration of said equipment to its configuration preceding the execution of said command is selected. If the result of executing said selected command does not conform to an expected result, at least one previously generated restore command is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (SAS)
    Inventor: Anne Frayssignes
  • Recording the location of a point of interest on an object
    Patent number: 9299150
    Abstract: A method of recording the location of a point of interest on an object, the method comprising capturing a digital image of an object having a point of interest, accessing a three-dimensional virtual model of the object, aligning the image with the model, calculating the location of the point of interest with respect to the model, and recording the calculated point of interest location. Also, a system for performing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventors: Lee Dann, Joerg Reitmann
  • Fastening arrangement for plate-shaped facing components, facing arrangement and aircraft or spacecraft
    Patent number: 9291181
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fastening arrangement for plate-shaped facing components. The fastening arrangement includes at least one profiled rail comprising legs in a cross-section, an intermediate space being formed between these legs and configured to hold a peripheral portion of at least one of the facing components. A first one of the legs of the profiled rail includes at least one opening which extends into the first leg in a transverse direction of the profiled rail. The fastening arrangement also includes at least one fixing element which is equipped with at least one extension. The extension is designed such that it can be pressed into the opening in the first leg to fix the facing component so that the extension protrudes into the intermediate space and portions thereof come into frictional contact with the peripheral portion of the facing component held in the intermediate space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: John Speller
  • Aircraft nose with cockpit and avionics bay modules integrated therein
    Patent number: 9290259
    Abstract: An aircraft nose comprising a primary fuselage structure, and housed inside said structure, a cockpit, and an avionics bay containing a plurality of avionics racks designed to receive electrical and/or electronic equipment. The cockpit and the avionics bay are each made in the form of a distinct module that is suitable for being installed in a single operation inside the primary fuselage structure. The use of modules for integrating in the aircraft nose makes it possible to reduce considerably the time required for fitting out the nose on the final assembly line of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (SAS)
    Inventors: Yves Durand, Bernard Guering
  • Reinforcement of cellular materials
    Patent number: 9289927
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for reinforcing cellular materials (1), a reinforced sandwich construction (5) as well as a correspondingly equipped aircraft. In the method, a cellular material (1) is provided with fiber bundles (3) that are introduced into the cellular material (1) with a needle (8). In this case, the needle (8) initially pierces a through-hole (2) into the cellular material (1) from one side in order to subsequently take hold of a fiber bundle (3) situated on the other side with the needle (8) and pull said fiber bundle into the cellular material (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Jürgen Weber, Markus Siemetzki, Gregor Christian Endres