Patents by Inventor Arnaud Lafitte

Arnaud Lafitte has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12208885
    Abstract: An encapsulated shock absorber of an aircraft undercarriage includes a sliding rod slidably mounted in a leg strut of the undercarriage and an inner cylinder extending inside the strut. The inner cylinder is fastened to the strut via a top end, and the rod slides around the inner cylinder. The inner cylinder is terminated inside the sliding rod by a diaphragm that defines an oil chamber in the shock absorber and inside the sliding rod. A mixed oil/gas chamber is located in the inner cylinder, and an expansion chamber extends between the sliding rod and the inner cylinder. A hole being made in the inner cylinder in register with the expansion chamber is connected by a pipe to a pressure sensor situated outside the strut. The pipe extends inside the inner cylinder from the hole to the top end of the inner cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Philippe Henrion, Arnaud Lafitte
  • Publication number: 20230038683
    Abstract: An encapsulated shock absorber of an aircraft undercarriage includes a sliding rod slidably mounted in a leg strut of the undercarriage and an inner cylinder extending inside the strut. The inner cylinder is fastened to the strut via a top end, and the rod slides around the inner cylinder. The inner cylinder is terminated inside the sliding rod by a diaphragm that defines an oil chamber in the shock absorber and inside the sliding rod. A mixed oil/gas chamber is located in the inner cylinder, and an expansion chamber extends between the sliding rod and the inner cylinder. A hole being made in the inner cylinder in register with the expansion chamber is connected by a pipe to a pressure sensor situated outside the strut. The pipe extends inside the inner cylinder from the hole to the top end of the inner cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Philippe HENRION, Arnaud LAFITTE
  • Patent number: 8833693
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for selectively transmitting force, the device comprising a first element and a second element that is movably mounted on the first element, a friction member being arranged between the first element and the second element to exert a friction force between them, which force presents a maximum value that depends on prestress imparted by a presser member. The device includes control means for varying the prestress imparted by the presser member to the friction member and arranged, where appropriate, to substantially release the prestress imparted by the presser member so that the prestress becomes substantially zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Messier-Bugatti-Dowty
    Inventors: Arnaud Lafitte, Gérard Balducci
  • Patent number: 8789672
    Abstract: A mechanical transmission device for transmitting a threshold force, comprising first and second elements rotatably mounted relative to each other about an axis of rotation, and having a transmitter member interposed between them to constrain the two elements to rotate together when a torque is imparted to one up to a threshold torque beyond which the two elements become movable in rotation. The transmitter member has a first friction disk constrained to rotate with the first element, and a second friction disk facing the first disk. It also has a bearing member that is axially movable to press the disks together and against a bearing turntable of the first element under drive from a presser member. Finally, it has a rotary drive, interposed between the bearing member and the second element, which are arranged to cause the bearing member to move axially against the presser member during rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Messier-Bugatti-Dowty
    Inventors: Arnaud Lafitte, Sabien Verlyck, Guy Valembois
  • Patent number: 8739942
    Abstract: A controlled-friction device comprising a first element having a second element mounted thereon to slide in a sliding direction, and friction retaining means arranged to exert between the two elements an opposing force against relative movement of the two elements. The friction retaining mechanism comprises a friction member mounted securely to the first element to rub against the second element via a friction surface extending parallel to the sliding direction, a presser member for exerting a thrust force on the friction member, urging the friction member against the second element in a direction normal to the relative movement of the elements, and a linkage linking the friction member to the first element causing the friction member to separate from the second element during movement in either direction of the second element relative to the first element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Messier-Bugatti-Dowty
    Inventors: Arnaud Lafitte, Sabien Verlyck
  • Patent number: 8567572
    Abstract: The invention relates to a controlled-friction device comprising first and second elements mounted to move relative to each other in a sliding direction, wherein the device of the invention includes first and second friction members arranged symmetrically between the two elements in order to rub selectively against the second element, each of the friction members being urged towards a wedging position by a presser member, the first friction member being arranged, in a first direction of relative movement between the two elements along the travel direction, to tend to prevent relative movement between the two elements, and in a second direction to exert on the two elements an opposing friction force that depends on a stress applied against the first wedge member by the presser member; while the second friction member is arranged in the second direction to tend to prevent relative movement of the two elements, and in the first direction to exert on the two elements an opposing friction force that depends on a s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Messier-Bugatti-Dowty
    Inventors: Arnaud Lafitte, Sabien Verlyck
  • Publication number: 20120091264
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for selectively transmitting force, the device comprising a first element and a second element that is movably mounted on the first element, a friction member being arranged between the first element and the second element to exert a friction force between them, which force presents a maximum value that depends on prestress imparted by a presser member. The device includes control means for varying the prestress imparted by the presser member to the friction member and arranged, where appropriate, to substantially release the prestress imparted by the presser member so that the prestress becomes substantially zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTY
    Inventors: Arnaud Lafitte, Gérard Balducci
  • Publication number: 20110315495
    Abstract: The invention relates to a controlled-friction device comprising first and second elements (1, 2) mounted to move relative to each other in a sliding direction, the device of the invention being characterized in that it includes first and second friction members (5, 5) arranged symmetrically between the two elements in order to rub selectively against the second element, each of the friction members being urged towards a wedging position by a presser member (6), the first friction member being arranged, in a first direction of relative movement between the two elements along the travel direction, to tend to prevent relative movement between the two elements, and in a second direction to exert on the two elements an opposing friction force that depends on a stress applied against the first wedge member by the presser member; while the second friction member is arranged in the second direction to tend to prevent relative movement of the two elements, and in the first direction to exert on the two elements an op
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: Messier-Bugatti-Dowty
    Inventors: Arnaud Lafitte, Sabien Verlyck
  • Publication number: 20110308906
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mechanical transmission device for transmitting a threshold force, the device comprising a first element (1; 101) and a second element (2; 102) rotatably mounted relative to each other about an axis of rotation (X), and having a transmitter member (10; 110) interposed between them to constrain the two elements to rotate together when a torque is imparted to one of the elements for transmitting the torque to the other one of the elements, up to a threshold torque beyond which the two elements become movable in rotation against an opposing torque equal to the threshold torque, the transmitter member comprising: at least a first friction disk (11; 111) constrained to rotate with the first element, and a second friction disk (12; 112) facing the first disk; a bearing member (13; 113) that is axially movable to press the disks together and against a bearing turntable (15; 115) of the first element under drive from a presser member; and rotary drive means (20, 21; 120, 121) interposed
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTY
    Inventors: Arnaud Lafitte, Sabien Verlyck, Guy Valembois
  • Publication number: 20110311171
    Abstract: A controlled-friction device comprising a first element having a second element mounted thereon to slide in a sliding direction, and friction retaining means arranged to exert between the two elements an opposing force against relative movement of the two elements. The friction retaining means comprises a friction member mounted securely to the first element to rub against the second element via a friction surface extending parallel to the sliding direction, a presser member for exerting a thrust force on the friction member, urging the friction member against the second element in a direction normal to the relative movement of the elements, and a link means linking the friction member to the first element causing the friction member to separate from the second element during movement in either direction of the second element relative to the first element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTY
    Inventors: Arnaud Lafitte, Sabien Verlyck