Patents Assigned to SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS
  • Clutch assembly for autonomous taxiing of aircraft
    Patent number: 11498663
    Abstract: A landing gear system includes an axle having an internal cavity and a wheel rotatably coupled to the axle. A drive shaft is mounted within the cavity to be rotatable about an axis. The landing gear system further includes a rod slidably mounted within the drive shaft and a clutch. The clutch has a first portion that is coupled to the rod and rotates with the drive shaft. A second portion of the clutch is fixedly coupled to the wheel. The rod selectively reciprocates along the axis between a first position and a second position to engage and disengage the clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS CANADA INC.
    Inventors: Robert Kyle Schmidt, Steve Amberg, Jason Brown
  • METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN OPERATING CHARACTERISTIC OF A VEHICLE, SUCH AS THE GROUND CLEARANCE
    Publication number: 20220355918
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling an operating characteristic (for example ground clearance or acceleration) of a vehicle (100) resting on a contact surface (200) by means of at least one landing gear (150) comprising means of actuating (160) adapted to vary a behaviour of the landing gear when the latter is in contact with the contact surface, whereby the said method makes the operating characteristic of the vehicle dependent upon a given set-point by generating a command intended for the means of actuating as a function of a difference (?) between the operating characteristic and the set-point. According to the invention, the control system comprises the use of an estimation (Pest) of a load (P) seen by the landing gear to generate a modification of the command so as to minimise a variation in the deviation caused by a variation in the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Applicant: SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Andrew ELLIS, Graeme KLIM
  • LANDING GEAR STRUCTURE WITH HARNESS
    Publication number: 20220314906
    Abstract: A structural component, or parts thereof, for a machine system or vehicle, such as an aircraft, is provided. In some examples, the structural component includes at least one embedded passageway or line. In other examples, the passageway or line is formed integrally on the exterior surface of the structural component. In some of these examples, the structural component can benefit from additive manufacturing techniques or methodologies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: Safran Landing Systems Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Lan, Ryan Tam
  • HYPERLOOP CONTINUOUS CONTROL
    Publication number: 20220306168
    Abstract: A disclosed controller is configured with logic that, when executed, performs actions to extend landing gear of a maglev vehicle. The actions include receiving a height control target value and transitioning between a standby control state and an active control state. The controller maintains the landing gear in a fixed position when the controller is in the standby control state, and the controller controls extension and retraction of the landing gear according to the height control target value when the controller is in the active control state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Applicants: SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS CANADA INC., SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Andrew Michael Ellis, Graeme Peter Arthur Klim, Thibaud Mazoue
  • AIRCRAFT HAVING OUTRIGGER LANDING GEAR
    Publication number: 20220297825
    Abstract: An aircraft comprising a fuselage, a pair of wings connected to an upper portion of the fuselage, and a pair of wing support struts, each wing support strut being connected between a lower portion of the fuselage and an underside of the adjacent wing, wherein at least one centre landing gear assembly is connected to the fuselage and is configured to be retractable within the fuselage, and a respective outrigger landing gear is connected to each wing support strut, each outrigger landing gear being configured to be retractable within the respective wing support strut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS UK LTD
    Inventor: Yann Simonneaux
  • Passive lateral stability for a maglev type vehicle
    Patent number: 11447157
    Abstract: A passive lateral stability system maintains the position of a vehicle relative to a guideway. The system includes first and second guide assemblies that urge the vehicle away from first and second electrically conductive guide walls, respectively. The first guide assembly includes a wheel configured to reciprocate toward and away from the first guide wall. A biasing element bias biases the wheel toward the first guide wall. The system further includes a magnetic element associated with the wheel, wherein movement of the magnetic element relative to the first guide wall produces a magnetic force that biases the wheel away from the first guide wall. A second guide assembly is mounted to the vehicle and urges the vehicle away from the second guide wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignees: SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS, SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS CANADA INC.
    Inventors: Graeme Peter Arthur Klim, Justin Guang Yuang Cheng, Andrew Michael Ellis
  • Control method for an electrical braking system and electrical braking system for aircraft
    Patent number: 11447109
    Abstract: A control method of an electrical braking system for aircraft includes a plurality of electromechanical actuators capable of applying a braking force on friction members. Each electromechanical actuator includes an electric motor equipped with one or more windings. The braking system further includes at least one power module configured to send to each electric motor winding a phase current and at least one control module configured to control, in response to a braking setpoint, the sending by the power module of a setpoint phase current determined depending on the braking force to be applied. The method further includes the variation of the phase current transmitted to each winding of the electric motor so as to cause the phase current to oscillate around the setpoint phase current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS
    Inventor: Olivier Frey
  • Maglev supervisory control architecture
    Patent number: 11440416
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a control unit for a vehicle is provided. The vehicle may be a maglev vehicle. The control unit is configured to autonomously control positions of landing gear on the vehicle that are extendible and retractable. In some embodiments, the control unit is configured to detect a change in a weight-on-wheels state of the vehicle, and to transition between passively controlling extension or retraction of the landing gear and actively controlling the extension distance of the landing gear in order to maintain a desired distance between the vehicle and a levitation mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignees: SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS, SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS CANADA INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Michael Ellis, Graeme Peter Arthur Klim, Thibaud Mazoue
  • AIRCRAFT LANDING GEAR ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20220281589
    Abstract: An aircraft landing gear assembly having a reinstating geometry in which a lock link can be moved to assume a first locking condition to inhibit movement of a stay when a main strut is in a deployed condition and a second locking condition to inhibit movement of the main strut when in a stowed condition. An unlock actuator is coupled between a first element of the stay and the lock link such that the actuator can break the lock link from the first locking condition and force it to assume the second locking condition by operational force in a single direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: Safran Landing Systems UK LTD
    Inventor: Ian Robert Bennett
  • Method of engaging two gear elements, and a drive device implementing such a method
    Patent number: 11428316
    Abstract: The invention provides an engagement method for engaging a first gear element with a second gear element, at least the second gear element being mounted to move between a meshing position and a disengaged position by means of an actuator. The engagement method including a step of driving at least one of the gear elements in rotation so as to establish a non-zero difference in speed of rotation between said gear elements, and a step of controlling the actuator to perform the following in succession: moving at least the second gear element towards the meshing position; on detecting contact between the gear elements, stopping the movement of the second gear element; and on detecting an ideal angular position for engaging said gear elements, moving the second gear element as quickly as possible into the meshing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Julien Fraim, Frédérik Giraud, Frédéric Martin, Alexandre Veillon
  • WHEEL BRAKING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20220266990
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for braking a wheel, the device comprising: a brake including at least a first actuator and a second actuator arranged to apply a braking torque to the wheel; a control system arranged to control the first and second actuators individually as a function of a required braking value; and at least a first breaking torque sensor arranged to supply the control unit with a first measurement of the braking torque applied to the wheel by the brake. According to the invention, the control system is arranged to interrupt control of the first actuator or control of the second actuator in the event of the braking torque measured by the first sensor exceeding a predetermined braking torque limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Applicant: SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Emmanuel BRUN, Vincent PAVOINE, David FRANK, Jean-Baptiste LESTAGE
  • LANDING GEAR WITH REINFORCING WEB
    Publication number: 20220266993
    Abstract: A landing gear includes structural parts arranged to connect a wheel to a structure of an aircraft, each structural part including two or more interfaces for connection to one or more other of the structural parts or to the structure of the aircraft and two or more webs which extend so as to face one another while delimiting between them a free space and which connect the two interfaces in order to transmit the forces from one to the other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Applicant: SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Alexandre DAULNY, Thierry BLANPAIN, Nicolas NGUYEN, Yves COURTOIS de LOURMEL
  • HYBRID MAIN LANDING GEAR FITTING WITH DETACHABLE DRAG ARM
    Publication number: 20220250740
    Abstract: An aircraft landing gear assembly includes a main fitting comprising having a main barrel and a cross beam fixedly positioned relative to the main barrel and extending radially from the main barrel. The main fitting further includes a drag arm with a first end pivotally coupled to the cross beam by a first pivotal connection and a second end pivotally coupled to the main barrel by a second pivotal connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Applicant: SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS CANADA INC.
    Inventors: Randy Lee, Zoran Pasic, Charles Borchert, Adam Lucci
  • Landing gear with shortening motion
    Patent number: 11407500
    Abstract: A landing gear for a vehicle includes a strut configured for reciprocating movement between a stowed position and a deployed position. A shock absorber has a first element slidingly disposed within the strut and a second element slidingly coupled to the first element. A trailing arm is rotatably coupled to the second element. A first linkage is coupled to the first element, wherein the first linkage drives the first element between a raised position when the strut is in the stowed position and a lowered position when the strut is in the deployed position. The landing gear further includes a second linkage coupled to the trailing arm. The second linkage rotates the trailing arm between a first trailing arm position when the strut is in the stowed position and a second trailing arm position when the strut is in the deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS CANADA, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Kyle Schmidt, Steve Amberg, Michael Saccoccia
  • Bar spacer for a braked aircraft wheel
    Patent number: 11408473
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bar spacer (10) for a braked aircraft wheel, the bar being for fitting to a rim (1) of the wheel in order to drive the rotor disks of the brake in rotation, the spacer being for interposing between the bar and the rim, the spacer comprising two bearing blocks (11) connected together by a core (15) that is pierced to pass a screw for fastening the bar to the rim. According to the invention, the bearing blocks (11) of the spacer include voids defining a void fraction of at least 30% of the volume of the bearing blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Valérie Laget, Stefano Argentero, Rémy Dendievel, Théophile Camus
  • Aircraft undercarriage fitted with visual warning means for signaling an angular overstroke of a steerable bottom portion of the undercarriage
    Patent number: 11407524
    Abstract: An aircraft undercarriage comprising a top portion (2) secured to the aircraft and a steerable bottom portion (3) carrying wheels and suitable for being steered by a steering control system (4) fitted to the undercarriage or else by an external towing device, the undercarriage being fitted with visual warning means (9) for indicating an angular overstroke. The visual warning means comprising at least one visual indicator (14) mounted to move between a retracted position that is invisible and an extended position that is visible. An aircraft provided with an undercarriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Philippe Fernandes, Marc Farcy, Christophe Clement
  • Taxi drive system for aircraft
    Patent number: 11407502
    Abstract: A taxi drive system is disclosed that provides motive force to wheels of an aircraft. The motive force is transferred by a motor powered continuous track (e.g., belt, chain, or other flexible transmission element) directly to the wheel(s) of an aircraft. The system is carried by the landing gear of the aircraft, and is placed in engagement with an aircraft wheel with sufficient force to allow for the track to drive the aircraft wheel. The taxi drive system includes a separate motor from the main aircraft engines so that the aircraft may be taxied while the main engines are shutdown or at idle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS CANADA INC.
    Inventor: Robert Kyle Schmidt
  • BAR FOR A BRAKED AIRCRAFT WHEEL
    Publication number: 20220235835
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bar (10) for a braked aircraft wheel (103), the bar being for fitting to a rim (104) of the wheel in order to drive rotor brake disks (106b) in rotation. The bar comprises a substantially rectilinear body (11) having at least one segment (14) including two wings (15) connected together by a core (16) and intended to co-operate with the rotor disks. At least one brace element (17) connects a free edge of each of the wings to a central portion of the core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Applicant: SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Aurélie SOULA, Patrice PALAZZOLI, Alexandre DAULNY, Arnaud CARATY
  • PYROTECHNIC WHEEL ACCELERATION SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20220234726
    Abstract: Wheel acceleration systems are disclosed that provide a motive force to at least one wheel of an aircraft, in order to accelerate the aircraft to takeoff speed with the assistance of main engine thrust. The wheel acceleration system includes a pyrotechnic unit configured to generate expanding gases by combusting a propellant, and a rotary propulsion unit pneumatically coupled to the pyrotechnic unit. The rotary propulsion unit includes an impeller configured to be driven by the expanding gases and to deliver torque to the wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Applicant: SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS CANADA INC.
    Inventor: Robert Kyle Schmidt
  • BRAKE ASSEMBLY WITH CONTAINED BRAKE ENVIRONMENT
    Publication number: 20220234727
    Abstract: A brake assembly is configured for use with a wheel in an ambient environment. The wheel includes a rim rotatably mounted to an axle. The brake assembly includes a brake stack and an actuation assembly configured to selectively apply a force to the brake stack. A cover sealingly engaged the rim to at least partially define a fluidic barrier between a brake cavity and the ambient environment. The brake stack is located within the brake cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Applicants: SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS, SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS CANADA INC.
    Inventors: Graeme Peter Arthur Klim, Justin Guang Yuang Cheng, Leszek Marian Dacko, Andrew Michael Ellis