Patents by Inventor Bernard Certain

Bernard Certain 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: 10479494
    Abstract: A rotorcraft tail rotor comprising at least two blade elements, each blade element being suitable for pivoting about a collective pitch variation axis Z in order to vary the collective pitch of each blade element of the tail rotor, each blade element including at least one compensation weight comprising a projection emerging substantially perpendicularly to a main inertia axis of the blade element, the main inertia axis being parallel to a longitudinal direction of the blade element. In the invention, the tail rotor is wherein the compensation weight includes a deformable portion that is movable relative to the projection in a plane P that is parallel to the main inertia axis of the blade element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
    Inventors: Bernard Certain, Jeremy Jouve
  • Patent number: 10150569
    Abstract: A method of stopping an engine of a rotorcraft in overspeed, the engine comprising a gas generator and a power assembly. When the engine is in operation, a relationship is established giving a limit derivative that varies as a function of the speed of rotation of the power assembly. The speed of rotation, referred to as the “current speed”, reached by the power assembly is measured and the time derivative of the speed of rotation is determined and referred to as the “current derivative”. The engine is stopped automatically when the limit derivative corresponding to the current speed as determined by the relationship is less than or equal to the current derivative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Airbus Helicopters
    Inventor: Bernard Certain
  • Patent number: 10131425
    Abstract: A non-ducted tail rotor comprising a hub and at least five blades, each of the blades extending to a free end that, in rotation, describes a circle presenting a given “maximum” radius. The hub is rigidly secured to a drive shaft, the hub comprising a hollow circular body centered on an axis of rotation, the body presenting an “internal” radius between the axis of rotation and an outer periphery of the body, the internal radius lying in the range 0.2 times to 0.4 times the maximum radius, each blade presenting a root extended by an airfoil element projecting from the body, extending from the root to the free end, the root being swivel-hinged to the outer periphery about a pitch axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
    Inventor: Bernard Certain
  • Patent number: 10047678
    Abstract: A method of stopping an engine of a rotorcraft in overspeed, the engine comprising a gas generator and a power assembly. When the engine is in operation, the engine is automatically stopped when the following three conditions are satisfied simultaneously: a torque (Tq) measured on the power assembly is below a predetermined torque threshold (Tq1); and a speed of rotation referred to as a “first speed of rotation (N1)” of the gas generator is above a threshold referred to as a “first speed threshold (S1)”; and a speed of rotation referred to as a “second speed of rotation (N2)” of the power assembly is above a threshold referred to as a “second speed threshold (S2)”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Airbus Helicopters
    Inventor: Bernard Certain
  • Patent number: 9533757
    Abstract: A buoyancy system (10) for an aircraft (1), the buoyancy system (10) being provided with at least one inflatable float (15). The buoyancy system (10) has at least one inflator (25) and at least one actuator (30) interposed between the inflator (25) and a float (15), the actuator (30) having a cylinder (35) and a rod (40) partially received in the cylinder (35). The rod (40) is secured to a piston (50) defining a first chamber (61) within the cylinder (35) and in fluid flow communication with the inflator (25), and a second chamber (62) within the rod (40) and in fluid flow communication with the float (15), and the piston (50) has a channel (63) to put the first chamber (61) into fluid flow communication with the second chamber (62), the deployment device (20) having a shutter (70) for shutting the channel (63).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
    Inventors: Louis Delorme, Nicolas Lamarche, David Ayache, Bernard Certain
  • Patent number: 9383756
    Abstract: A method of enabling an autopilot (9) to cause a rotorcraft (1) to follow a path. At least one guide mode (G) relative to at least one progression axis (P, R, V, Y) of the rotorcraft (1) is selected by the rotorcraft pilot. Said selection causes the selected guide mode (G) to be inhibited (19) and causes a path setpoint (C) to be acquired (20) from the pilot of the rotorcraft (1) operating a manual control member (4) for controlling the progression of the rotorcraft (1). The path setpoints (C) relating to other guide modes (G) of the rotorcraft (1) that continue to be engaged are conserved in their initial states and the autopilot (9) adapts the commands relating to the progression axes (P, R, V, Y) relating to these other guide modes (G).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Helicopters
    Inventor: Bernard Certain
  • Publication number: 20160152332
    Abstract: A rotorcraft tail rotor comprising at least two blade elements, each blade element being suitable for pivoting about a collective pitch variation axis Z in order to vary the collective pitch of each blade element of the tail rotor, each blade element including at least one compensation weight comprising a projection emerging substantially perpendicularly to a main inertia axis of the blade element, the main inertia axis being parallel to a longitudinal direction of the blade element. In the invention, the tail rotor is wherein the compensation weight includes a deformable portion that is movable relative to the projection in a plane P that is parallel to the main inertia axis of the blade element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Bernard CERTAIN, Jeremy JOUVE
  • Patent number: 9353642
    Abstract: An aircraft (1) having a rotary wing (2) and turboshaft engines (11, 12, 13) for driving said rotary wing (2). The aircraft then includes two main engines (11, 12) that are identical, each capable of operating at at least one specific rating associated with a main power (maxTOP, OEIcont), and a secondary engine (13) capable of operating at at least one specific rating by delivering secondary power (maxTOP?, OEIcont?) proportional to the corresponding main power (maxTOP, OEIcont) in application of a coefficient of proportionality (k) less than or equal to 0.5, said aircraft having a control system (20) for driving the rotary wing by causing each main engine (11, 12) to operate continuously throughout a flight, and by using the secondary engine (13) as a supplement during at least one predetermined specific stage of flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Helicopters
    Inventor: Bernard Certain
  • Publication number: 20160144955
    Abstract: A non-ducted tail rotor comprising a hub and at least five blades, each of the blades extending to a free end that, in rotation, describes a circle presenting a given “maximum” radius. The hub is rigidly secured to a drive shaft, the hub comprising a hollow circular body centered on an axis of rotation, the body presenting an “internal” radius between the axis of rotation and an outer periphery of the body, the internal radius lying in the range 0.2 times to 0.4 times the maximum radius, each blade presenting a root extended by an airfoil element projecting from the body, extending from the root to the free end, the root being swivel-hinged to the outer periphery about a pitch axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventor: Bernard CERTAIN
  • Patent number: 9302769
    Abstract: A rotorcraft ducted rotor comprising a rotary assembly arranged in a passage to rotate about an axis of symmetry (AX1). The rotary assembly (15) has a plurality of blades (20), each fastened to a hub (16), each blade (20) complies with a twisting relationship defining an angle of twist lying in the range zero degrees inclusive to 5 degrees inclusive. Spanwise, each blade (20) comprises a first zone (21) followed by a second zone (22), which second zone presents rearward sweep, being provided with a second trailing edge (30?) situated downstream from a first trailing edge (30?) of the first zone (21). Each first zone (21) includes a root (24) connected to the hub (16) by a fastener device (40) having a rolling bearing (45) without clearance and a conical laminated abutment (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
    Inventor: Bernard Certain
  • Publication number: 20160090918
    Abstract: A method of stopping an engine of a rotorcraft in overspeed, the engine comprising a gas generator and a power assembly. When the engine is in operation, the engine is automatically stopped when the following three conditions are satisfied simultaneously: a torque (Tq) measured on the power assembly is below a predetermined torque threshold (Tq1); and a speed of rotation referred to as a “first speed of rotation (N1)” of the gas generator is above a threshold referred to as a “first speed threshold (S1)”; and a speed of rotation referred to as a “second speed of rotation (N2)” of the power assembly is above a threshold referred to as a “second speed threshold (S2)”.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventor: Bernard CERTAIN
  • Publication number: 20160090187
    Abstract: A method of stopping an engine of a rotorcraft in overspeed, the engine comprising a gas generator and a power assembly. When the engine is in operation, a relationship is established giving a limit derivative that varies as a function of the speed of rotation of the power assembly. The speed of rotation, referred to as the “current speed”, reached by the power assembly is measured and the time derivative of the speed of rotation is determined and referred to as the “current derivative”. The engine is stopped automatically when the limit derivative corresponding to the current speed as determined by the relationship is less than or equal to the current derivative.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventor: Bernard CERTAIN
  • Publication number: 20150309513
    Abstract: A method of enabling an autopilot (9) to cause a rotorcraft (1) to follow a path. At least one guide mode (G) relative to at least one progression axis (P, R, V, Y) of the rotorcraft (1) is selected by the rotorcraft pilot. Said selection causes the selected guide mode (G) to be inhibited (19) and causes a path setpoint (C) to be acquired (20) from the pilot of the rotorcraft (1) operating a manual control member (4) for controlling the progression of the rotorcraft (1). The path setpoints (C) relating to other guide modes (G) of the rotorcraft (1) that continue to be engaged are conserved in their initial states and the autopilot (9) adapts the commands relating to the progression axes (P, R, V, Y) relating to these other guide modes (G).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventor: Bernard Certain
  • Publication number: 20150125258
    Abstract: An aircraft (1) having a rotary wing (2) and turboshaft engines (11, 12, 13) for driving said rotary wing (2). The aircraft then includes two main engines (11, 12) that are identical, each capable of operating at at least one specific rating associated with a main power (maxTOP, OEIcont), and a secondary engine (13) capable of operating at at least one specific rating by delivering secondary power (maxTOP?, OEIcont?) proportional to the corresponding main power (maxTOP, OEIcont) in application of a coefficient of proportionality (k) less than or equal to 0.5, said aircraft having a control system (20) for driving the rotary wing by causing each main engine (11, 12) to operate continuously throughout a flight, and by using the secondary engine (13) as a supplement during at least one predetermined specific stage of flight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: EUROCOPTER
    Inventor: Bernard Certain
  • Publication number: 20150102164
    Abstract: A buoyancy system (10) for an aircraft (1), the buoyancy system (10) being provided with at least one inflatable float (15). The buoyancy system (10) has at least one inflator (25) and at least one actuator (30) interposed between said inflator (25) and a float (15), said actuator (30) having a cylinder (35) and a rod (40) partially received in said cylinder (35). Said rod (40) is secured to a piston (50) defining a first chamber (61) within said cylinder (35) and in fluid flow communication with the inflator (25), and a second chamber (62) within said rod (40) and in fluid flow communication with said float (15), and said piston (50) has a channel (63) to put the first chamber (61) into fluid flow communication with the second chamber (62), said deployment device (20) having a shutter (70) for shutting said channel (63).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Louis DELORME, Nicolas LAMARCHE, David AYACHE, Bernard CERTAIN
  • Patent number: 9004400
    Abstract: A buoyancy system (2) includes at least one float (3), a deployment assembly (30) having at least one deployment member (34) for deploying the float (3), an engagement controller (5) which activates the deployment assembly (30), and at least two immersion sensors (20) for issuing an order for automatic deployment of the float (3) to the deployment assembly (30). The deployment assembly (30) is provided with a memory (31) containing a pre-established list of events. The deployment assembly (30) deploys each float (3) when a predetermined event occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Helicopters
    Inventors: Bernard Certain, Louis Delorme, Francois-Xavier Filias
  • Patent number: 8977412
    Abstract: A method of enabling an autopilot (9) to cause a rotorcraft (1) to follow a path. At least one guide mode (G) relative to at least one progression axis (P, R, V, Y) of the rotorcraft (1) is selected by the rotorcraft pilot. Said selection causes the selected guide mode (G) to be inhibited (19) and causes a path setpoint (C) to be acquired (20) from the pilot of the rotorcraft (1) operating a manual control member (4) for controlling the progression of the rotorcraft (1). The path setpoints (C) relating to other guide modes (G) of the rotorcraft (1) that continue to be engaged are conserved in their initial states and the autopilot (9) adapts the commands relating to the progression axes (P, R, V, Y) relating to these other guide modes (G).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Helicopters
    Inventor: Bernard Certain
  • Publication number: 20140326826
    Abstract: A rotorcraft ducted rotor comprising a rotary assembly arranged in a passage to rotate about an axis of symmetry (AX1). The rotary assembly (15) has a plurality of blades (20), each fastened to a hub (16), each blade (20) complies with a twisting relationship defining an angle of twist lying in the range zero degrees inclusive to 5 degrees inclusive. Spanwise, each blade (20) comprises a first zone (21) followed by a second zone (22), which second zone presents rearward sweep, being provided with a second trailing edge (30?) situated downstream from a first trailing edge (30?) of the first zone (21). Each first zone (21) includes a root (24) connected to the hub (16) by a fastener device (40) having a rolling bearing (45) without clearance and a conical laminated abutment (50).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
    Inventor: Bernard CERTAIN
  • Publication number: 20130327880
    Abstract: A method of enabling an autopilot (9) to cause a rotorcraft (1) to follow a path. At least one guide mode (G) relative to at least one progression axis (P, R, V, Y) of the rotorcraft (1) is selected by the rotorcraft pilot. Said selection causes the selected guide mode (G) to be inhibited (19) and causes a path setpoint (C) to be acquired (20) from the pilot of the rotorcraft (1) operating a manual control member (4) for controlling the progression of the rotorcraft (1). The path setpoints (C) relating to other guide modes (G) of the rotorcraft (1) that continue to be engaged are conserved in their initial states and the autopilot (9) adapts the commands relating to the progression axes (P, R, V, Y) relating to these other guide modes (G).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventor: Bernard Certain
  • Patent number: 8464980
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a power plant (10) having a single engine (13) together with both a main gearbox (MGB) suitable for driving the rotary wing (3) of a helicopter (1) and a tail gearbox (TGB) suitable for driving an anti-torque rotor (4) of a helicopter (1). The power plant (10) also includes a first electric motor (11) mechanically connected to said main gearbox (MGB) in order to be capable of driving said main gearbox (MGB), and a second electric motor (12) mechanically connected to said tail gearbox (TGB) in order to be capable of driving said tail gearbox (TGB).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Eurocopter
    Inventor: Bernard Certain