Patents Assigned to Airbus Operations
  • Patent number: 8904669
    Abstract: A fuel system comprising a fuel tank, a vent tank having a duct open to the ambient atmosphere, a first vent line fluidically connecting the fuel tank ullage to the vent tank, a gas drying system including a pump and a dehumidifying device disposed within the vent tank, and a second vent line fluidically connecting a dry gas outlet of the dehumidifying device to the ullage, wherein the pump is operable to maintain a higher pressure within the ullage than in the vent tank so as to drive vapor rich gas from the ullage into the vent tank via the first vent line. Also, a method of operating the fuel system and a method of retro-fitting the gas drying system in an existing fuel system. The gas drying system may optionally be a gas drying/inerting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventors: Franklin Tichborne, Joseph K-W Lam, David Parmenter, Simon Masters
  • Patent number: 8905605
    Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a modular lighting system having a casing containing a lamp, as well as its power and control circuits fitted within a wing and a flush fitting glazing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventors: George Edmond, Derek Paul Baron, Philip Dickinson, Stephen Wyatt
  • Patent number: 8905350
    Abstract: A stiffened panel including at least one stiffener, known as a longitudinal stiffener, extending substantially from one extremity of the panel to another and whose trace on a surface of the panel follows a path having non-zero geodesic curvature between the two extremities of the stiffener. This configuration makes it possible to optimize both a stiffness of the panel and its resistance to the force flow to which the panel is subjected to during operation by minimizing its mass through an optimum definition of an orientation of the stiffeners relative to the force flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations S.A.S.
    Inventors: Cedric Meyer, Jocelyn Gaudin
  • Patent number: 8905361
    Abstract: A cable routing clip comprises a base for attaching the clip to a structure. At least one cable clamp extends from the base. The, or each, cable clamp comprises a ring of resilient material having a split to enable a cable to be inserted therein. A plurality of fastening means are provided for closing the split or splits to retain a cable therein. Each of the plurality of fastening means is arranged to independently retain a cable in the event of the failure of another of the fastening means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Gollin, Jack Blanchard
  • Patent number: 8906489
    Abstract: Method for producing a fiber composite component, in particular for aerospace, having the following method steps: forming a moulding core that comprises a predetermined number of hollow bodies for defining an external geometry of the moulding core, the hollow bodies being designed such that they extend in the longitudinal direction of the moulding core and are expandable elastically at least in their lateral direction, and are fixed to one another, the formed moulding core having a flexible outer layer for smoothing the contour of its outer surfaces, and a core sleeve surrounding the moulding core, for sealing the moulding core from the fiber composite component to be produced; placing at least one fiber semi-finished product, at least in places, on the moulding core (that has been formed, in order to shape at least one moulding section of the fiber composite component to be produced; and applying heat and/or pressure to the at least one moulding section in order to produce the fiber composite component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Torben Jacob, Joachim Piepenbrock
  • Patent number: 8910145
    Abstract: A system, method and device for installation and/or deinstallation of at least one software module, with centralized resolution of constraints, in aircraft equipment items. After having received a list of software module references, the list comprising at least one reference to the at least one software module, and at least one command, linked to the at least one reference, for installation of deinstallation of the at least one software module, the constraints are accessed. This access is independent of the access to the at least one software module. A sequence of basic operations resolving the constraints then is evaluated for applying the at least one command to the at least one reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventors: Thierry Baraldi, William Barsse
  • Patent number: 8907662
    Abstract: An arrangement for transmitting data and/or power between a chassis and a seat that is movably disposed on said chassis by means of a guide rail. Several primary iron half-cores that support at least one primary winding are arranged in a fixed manner within the guide rail while at least one secondary iron half-core comprising at least one secondary winding is placed on the seat. The primary half-cores are disposed within the guide rail in such a way that at least one primary and one secondary iron half-core are positioned relative to each other so as to transmit data and/or power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Achim Bauer, Andre Zybala
  • Patent number: 8906493
    Abstract: A structural panel consisting of a stratified composite material includes one face exposed to impacts and further includes a layer consisting of a hyper-elastic material bonded adhesively to its other face. According to this embodiment, debris striking the exposed face of this composite panel will have some of its energy dissipated by the local rupture of the composite skin, while the rest of the energy is absorbed by the deformation of the layer of hyper-elastic material that captures the debris and expels it again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (S.A.S.)
    Inventor: Nicolas Pechnik
  • Publication number: 20140352877
    Abstract: A hybrid tool for curing composite structures for aircrafts, such as stringers, torsion boxes, skin panels, wing surfaces, horizontal tail or vertical stabilizers, etc. The hybrid tool comprises a metallic portion and an elastic portion arranged on a surface of the metallic portion. The elastic portion and the metallic portion are permanently joined to each other so that the metallic portion and the elastic portion together define a surface having a shape which copies at least part of a surface of a piece of composite material to be cured. The tool is capable of satisfactorily curing pieces of composite material which have a minimum thickness and/or a very aggressive change of thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: Airbus Operations, S.L.
    Inventors: Alejandro Fernandez Alonso, Aquilino Garcia Garcia, Jorge Juan Galiana Blanco, Pablo Cebolla Garrofe, Carlos Romon Banogon
  • Patent number: 8902083
    Abstract: A method for presenting information by means of an autostereoscopic 3D-display in a passenger cabin of an aircraft or spacecraft, comprising the following steps: provision of the autostereoscopic 3D-display in a predetermined portion of the passenger cabin; provision of a first item of information by means of the autostereoscopic 3D-display such that this information can be detected from a first seat in the passenger cabin; simultaneous provision of a second item of information, which is different from the first item of information, by the autostereoscopic 3D-display such that this second item of information can be detected from a second seat in the passenger cabin. A display device for implementing a method of this type. A passenger cabin for an aircraft or spacecraft comprises a display device of this type. An aircraft or spacecraft having a display device of this type or having a passenger cabin of this type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Riedel, Stefan Mahn
  • Patent number: 8899522
    Abstract: A fuselage section of an aircraft includes a skin, a plurality of frames positioned transversely to a longitudinal axis of a fuselage of the aircraft, and a plurality of longitudinal stringers at least one of which is configured with a closed transversal section including a stringer hat, two stringer webs, and two stringer feet joined to the skin. At least one of the frames is configured in at least one sector with a frame foot joined to the skin, a frame web having holes at crossing zones with the stringers, a frame cap, and a frame cap extension which does not interfere with the stringers. The frames are joined to, at least, the stringer hats at crossing zones of the frames and the stringer hats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations, S.L.
    Inventors: Eduardo Vinue Santolalla, Diego Folch Cortes, Esteban Martino Gonzalez, Enrique Guinaldo Fernandez, Pablo Goya Abaurrea
  • Patent number: 8899518
    Abstract: An engine debris guard for preventing tyre propelled debris striking an aircraft engine, the debris guard comprising a guard bar pivotably connected to an aircraft main landing gear having at least one wheel and tyre assembly, the guard bar being arranged to be movable between a first position and a second position wherein in the first position the guard bar extends laterally across the wheel and tyre assembly to intersect the possible trajectories between the wheel and tyre assembly and an engine of the aircraft of any tyre propelled debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventors: Chris Foster, Ching Yu Hui
  • Patent number: 8899521
    Abstract: An aircraft floor portion includes crossmembers. Each crossmember comprises a top partial crossmember and a bottom crossmember, with at least one gap being left between the top partial crossmember and the bottom partial crossmember of each crossmember.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations
    Inventors: Romain Delahaye, Guillaume Gallant, Olivier Eve
  • Patent number: 8899528
    Abstract: A blade seal comprises a flexible member having a relatively thick edge opposite a relatively thin edge, and an actuator at least partially embedded in the flexible member for actively deflecting the thin edge with respect to the thick edge upon activation of the actuator. The blade seal may be fixed to an aerodynamic trailing edge of either a fixed aerofoil portion or a flight control surface of an aerofoil for sealing between the fixed aerofoil portion and the flight control surface. Also, a method of sealing an aerofoil using the blade seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventor: Christopher Coconnier
  • Patent number: 8899545
    Abstract: An apparatus for affixing an object to a rail includes, but is not limited to at least one base body, at least one locking body and at least one operating element. The locking body is held so as to be movable relative to the base body and is connected to the operating element by way of at least one bearing. The operating element is arranged so as to be rotatable in the base body, includes, but is not limited to a cam that acts on the base body, and when rotated moves the locking body towards the base body. In this way apparatus is created which makes possible the manual affixing and undoing, without the need for tools, of an object on and from a rail, for example, if needed, in order to reposition displaceable monuments in a cabin of an aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Blees, Dieter Krause, Ralf Koblitz, Oliver Gehlen, Dirk Humfeldt, Mark Herzog
  • Patent number: 8899529
    Abstract: A telescopic strut comprises a plurality of hollow members arranged to slide one within another between a retracted and an extended position. Adjacent hollow members are arranged to be electrically connected by one or more electrical connector assemblies as the hollow members move between the retracted and extended positions. Each electrical connector assembly includes an electrically conductive pad on one of the hollow members which is in sliding contact with an electrically conductive strip on the other of the hollow members. The telescopic strut may be used to electrically connect a moveable control surface to a fixed aerofoil structure in an aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventor: Timothy Sanderson
  • Patent number: 8899377
    Abstract: Systems and methods for sound damping in air conditioning systems in an aircraft is provided. In one embodiment, an air conditioning conduit can comprise a sound-damping wall that at least partially encloses a continuous hollow space for guiding the air. The wall comprises a multilayer design with a core layer and at least one first cover layer. The core layer comprises a sound-absorbing open-pore core material so that the wall shows an acoustic effect. The first cover layer is airtight, is arranged on the external surface of the core layer, and is two-dimensionally connected to the core layer. The two-dimensional connection between the core layer and the first cover layer causes a composite effect in such a manner that the wall is self-supporting and has a structural function in order to be able to transfer mechanically-occurring loads to structural parts of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Thomas
  • Patent number: 8903569
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for controlling a high-lift device or a flight control surface of an aircraft or spacecraft, especially with a system according to the present invention, comprising the steps of receiving, at least one first control unit, a command signal from a commander unit via a data network, providing a primary control signal to at least one secondary control unit via the data network, wherein the primary control signal depends on the received command signal, receiving, at the at least one second control unit, a sensor signal of one or more sensors of the high-lift device or flight control surface, and providing a secondary control signal to one or more actuators of the high-lift device or flight control surface, wherein the secondary control signal depends on the received sensor signal. Furthermore, the present invention discloses a system and an aircraft or spacecraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignees: Airbus Operations GmbH, Airbus Operations (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: Ina Ruckes, Marc Fervel, Tobias Sebastian Rumpf
  • Publication number: 20140346282
    Abstract: A flap arrangement for a wing of an aircraft includes a base member, at least one first flap, at least one second flap and at least one connecting assembly. The first flap is movably supported on the base member and the second flap is movably supported on the first flap. The connecting assembly is mechanically coupled with the base member and the second flap and is designed to move the second flap relative to the first flap when the first flap is moved relative to the base member. Due to the resulting forced guiding of a second flap relative to a first flap a separate actuator for moving the second flap and linkages extending outside of the shape defining contour of the flap arrangement may substantially be eliminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Sascha Aljets
  • Publication number: 20140349042
    Abstract: A rail cover for a seat rail includes a plurality of longitudinal section parts, wherein each longitudinal section part includes a first partial longitudinal section and a second partial longitudinal section, which abut one another in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal section part. A first longitudinal section part is movable in the longitudinal direction of the rail cover with respect to a second longitudinal section part abutting the first longitudinal section part in the longitudinal direction of the rail cover, wherein in a non-expanded state of the rail cover, the first partial longitudinal section of the second longitudinal section part overlaps the second partial longitudinal section of the first longitudinal section part in the longitudinal direction of the rail cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Lars Schomacker