Patents by Inventor Christian Mercier
Christian Mercier 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).
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Publication number: 20210229826Abstract: The present invention relates to an aircraft provided with a rotary airfoil, a power plant and an assistance system having an electric motor. The power plant comprises a power transmission box and at least one heat engine. The aircraft includes at least one accessory which is set in motion by a secondary output shaft of the power transmission box. The assistance system is provided with a mechanical connection module having a connection shaft which is connected to the secondary output shaft. A first connection member is connected to said at least one accessory and is connected by a first mechanical link internal to the connection shaft, a second connection member being connected to the electric motor and connected by a second mechanical link internal to the connection shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2020Publication date: July 29, 2021Applicant: AIRBUS HELICOPTERSInventors: Christian MERCIER, Jean-Victor LAPEYRE, Marc GAZZINO
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Patent number: 10577990Abstract: An internal combustion engine having at least one crankcase for defining a guide housing in which at least one crankshaft is guided in rotation about an axis of rotation and lubricated by a lubricating fluid, the at least one crankcase being of the “dry-sump” type. Such an internal combustion engine has at least two pumps forming a pump train of pumps on a common axis, the pump train being fitted in a cylindrical bore of the at least one crankcase.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2017Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERSInventors: Pierre-Julien Hubert, Pierre Gavanier, Christian Mercier
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Patent number: 10145421Abstract: The present invention relates to a combustion engine which includes at least one crankshaft rotating about a first rotation shaft; at least one output shaft outputting an engine torque, said output shaft rotating about a second rotation shaft separate from said first rotation shaft; at least one transmission assembly rotating about said first rotation shaft and being rotated by said crankshaft in order to transmit said engine torque to said output shaft.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2016Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS P.C.Inventors: Christian Mercier, Pierre-Julien Hubert, Pierre Gavanier, Yann Balastrier
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A COMBUSTION ENGINE, AN AIRCRAFT FITTED WITH SAID ENGINE, AND A METHOD OF FABRICATING SUCH AN ENGINE
Publication number: 20180156281Abstract: The present invention relates to a combustion engine which includes at least one crankshaft rotating about a first rotation shaft; at least one output shaft outputting an engine torque, said output shaft rotating about a second rotation shaft separate from said first rotation shaft; at least one transmission assembly rotating about said first rotation shaft and being rotated by said crankshaft in order to transmit said engine torque to said output shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2016Publication date: June 7, 2018Applicant: AIRBUS HELICOPTERSInventors: Christian MERCIER, Pierre-Julien HUBERT, Pierre GAVANIER, Yann BALASTRIER -
Publication number: 20180106170Abstract: An internal combustion engine having at least one crankcase for defining a guide housing in which at least one crankshaft is guided in rotation about an axis of rotation and lubricated by a lubricating fluid, the at least one crankcase being of the “dry-sump” type. Such an internal combustion engine has at least two pumps forming a pump train of pumps on a common axis, the pump train being fitted in a cylindrical bore of the at least one crankcase.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2017Publication date: April 19, 2018Applicant: AIRBUS HELICOPTERSInventors: Pierre-Julien HUBERT, Pierre GAVANIER, Christian MERCIER
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Patent number: 9593661Abstract: A preheater assembly of a glowplug and a hollow sheath extending longitudinally from a bottom external zone to a top external zone, the sheath extending radially from an inside surface defining a cavity towards an outside surface, the glowplug being inserted in the cavity, the tip projecting from the sheath through the bottom external zone, the inside surface of the sheath presenting a second thread meshing with a first thread of the glowplug, the inside surface of the sheath presenting a first conical seat bearing against the first conical bearing surface of the glowplug, the outside surface of the bottom external zone having a third thread screwed into a cylinder head and a second bearing surface that bears against the second seat of a cylinder head.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2015Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERSInventors: Pierre-Julien Hubert, Romain Clair, Christian Mercier
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Patent number: 9359082Abstract: A power plant comprising a fuel-burning engine, a main gearbox, and a drive train. The power plant includes two connection bars extending respectively along a first direction and a second direction, which directions are not parallel and intersect a common pivot axis, each connection bar being hinged by a ball joint to the main gearbox and to the engine in order to eliminate relative movements along the longitudinal direction between the main gearbox and the engine, and in order to allow limited pivoting of the main gearbox and of the engine relative to the axis.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2015Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: Airbus HelicoptersInventor: Christian Mercier
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Publication number: 20160010617Abstract: A preheater assembly of a glowplug and a hollow sheath extending longitudinally from a bottom external zone to a top external zone, the sheath extending radially from an inside surface defining a cavity towards an outside surface, the glowplug being inserted in the cavity, the tip projecting from the sheath through the bottom external zone, the inside surface of the sheath presenting a second thread meshing with a first thread of the glowplug, the inside surface of the sheath presenting a first conical seat bearing against the first conical bearing surface of the glowplug, the outside surface of the bottom external zone having a third thread screwed into a cylinder head and a second bearing surface that bears against the second seat of a cylinder head.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2015Publication date: January 14, 2016Inventors: Pierre-Julien HUBERT, Romain CLAIR, Christian MERCIER
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Publication number: 20150232187Abstract: A power plant comprising a fuel-burning engine, a main gearbox, and a drive train. The power plant includes two connection bars extending respectively along a first direction and a second direction, which directions are not parallel and intersect a common pivot axis, each connection bar being hinged by a ball joint to the main gearbox and to the engine in order to eliminate relative movements along the longitudinal direction between the main gearbox and the engine, and in order to allow limited pivoting of the main gearbox and of the engine relative to the axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2015Publication date: August 20, 2015Inventor: Christian MERCIER
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Patent number: 9045223Abstract: A method of assisting a pilot of a single-engined rotary wing aircraft (1) during a stage of flight in autorotation, said aircraft (1) including a hybrid power plant having an engine (13), an electric machine (12), and a main gearbox (11). Said aircraft (1) also includes electrical energy storage means (14) and a main rotor (2) mechanically connected to said hybrid power plant (5). According to said method, while in flight, the operation of said engine (13) is monitored in order to detect a failure thereof, in particular by monitoring for a drop of power on said main rotor (2), and then in the event of a failure of said engine (13) being detected, said electric machine (12) is controlled to deliver auxiliary power We to said main rotor (2), thereby enabling the pilot of said aircraft (1) to be assisted in maneuvering said aircraft (1) during said stage of flight in autorotation following said failure.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2013Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: Airbus HelicoptersInventors: Matthieu Connaulte, Christian Mercier, Damien Mariotto
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Patent number: 8882027Abstract: The present invention relates to a power plant (10) having a piston engine (30) driving a conventional gearbox (20) dimensioned for a turbine engine, said piston engine (30) comprising a first row (31) of pistons (33) presenting an angle (?) relative to a second row (32) of pistons (33). The power plant includes a flywheel (50) and a torsion shaft (40) set into motion by said pistons (33), said torsion shaft (40) being arranged between the first and second rows (31, 32) of pistons.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2011Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: Airbus HelicoptersInventors: Jérôme Chemin, Thomas Manfredotti, Christian Mercier
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Patent number: 8757542Abstract: A hybrid power plant (5) for an aircraft (1) comprises at least: a hybrid drive system (37) having a main on-board electricity network (16) and an auxiliary electricity network (34); and a selective adaptation interface (38) arranged to enable electrical energy to be exchanged selectively between the main and auxiliary electricity networks (16; 34). At least one engine and a hybrid drive auxiliary electrical machine (7, 31) are mechanically connected to a transmission (8); said machine (7) being electrically connected to at least one auxiliary electrical bus (36) in parallel with at least one auxiliary device for delivering electric charge.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2011Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Airbus HelicoptersInventors: Marie-Laure Hopdjanian, Matthieu Connaulte, Marc Gazzino, Christian Mercier
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Patent number: 8682549Abstract: Is provided herein a torque-limiting electronically controlled CVT comprising a drive portion having a drive pulley including two opposed sheaves adapted to be actuated with an electric motor to set a transmission ratio between an engine and a ground contacting rotating member of a vehicle, an input module adapted to receive a signal indicative of whether a ground-contacting rotating member is airborne, a processing module adapted to determine a desired CVT ratio, and an output module adapted to actuate the electric motor to obtain the desired CVT ratio to match the circumferential velocity of the vehicle's airborne ground-contacting rotating member with the speed of the vehicle in order to limit a mechanical peak torque sustained by a drive system of the vehicle. Also provided hereby is a vehicle equipped with the CVT, a kit including such a CVT and a method of managing the CVT to limit the mechanical peak torque sustained by a drive train of a vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2010Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: CVTech Inc.Inventors: Hubert Roberge, David Levasseur, Christian Mercier
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Publication number: 20140054411Abstract: A method of assisting a pilot of a single-engined rotary wing aircraft (1) during a stage of flight in autorotation, said aircraft (1) including a hybrid power plant having an engine (13), an electric machine (12), and a main gearbox (11). Said aircraft (1) also includes electrical energy storage means (14) and a main rotor (2) mechanically connected to said hybrid power plant (5). According to said method, while in flight, the operation of said engine (13) is monitored in order to detect a failure thereof, in particular by monitoring for a drop of power on said main rotor (2), and then in the event of a failure of said engine (13) being detected, said electric machine (12) is controlled to deliver auxiliary power We to said main rotor (2), thereby enabling the pilot of said aircraft (1) to be assisted in maneuvering said aircraft (1) during said stage of flight in autorotation following said failure.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2013Publication date: February 27, 2014Applicant: EUROCOPTERInventors: Matthieu Connaulte, Christian Mercier, Damien Mariotto
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Publication number: 20120025032Abstract: A hybrid power plant (5) for an aircraft (1) comprises at least: a hybrid drive system (37) having a main on-board electricity network (16) and an auxiliary electricity network (34); and a selective adaptation interface (38) arranged to enable electrical energy to be exchanged selectively between the main and auxiliary electricity networks (16; 34). At least one engine and a hybrid drive auxiliary electrical machine (7, 31) are mechanically connected to a transmission (8); said machine (7) being electrically connected to at least one auxiliary electrical bus (36) in parallel with at least one auxiliary device for delivering electric charge.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2011Publication date: February 2, 2012Applicant: EUROCOPTERInventors: Marie-Laure Hopdjanian, Matthieu Connaulte, Marc Gazzino, Christian Mercier
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Publication number: 20110290200Abstract: The present invention relates to a power plant (10) having a piston engine (30) driving a conventional gearbox (20) dimensioned for a turbine engine, said piston engine (30) comprising a first row (31) of pistons (33) presenting an angle (?) relative to a second row (32) of pistons (33). The power plant includes a flywheel (50) and a torsion shaft (40) set into motion by said pistons (33), said torsion shaft (40) being arranged between the first and second rows (31, 32) of pistons.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2011Publication date: December 1, 2011Applicant: EUROCOPTERInventors: Jérôme Chemin, Thomas Manfredotti, Christian Mercier
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Publication number: 20110153174Abstract: Is provided herein a torque-limiting electronically controlled CVT comprising a drive portion having a drive pulley including two opposed sheaves adapted to be actuated with an electric motor to set a transmission ratio between an engine and a ground contacting rotating member of a vehicle, an input module adapted to receive a signal indicative of whether a ground-contacting rotating member is airborne, a processing module adapted to determine a desired CVT ratio, and an output module adapted to actuate the electric motor to obtain the desired CVT ratio to match the circumferential velocity of the vehicle's airborne ground-contacting rotating member with the speed of the vehicle in order to limit a mechanical peak torque sustained by a drive system of the vehicle. Also provided hereby is a vehicle equipped with the CVT, a kit including such a CVT and a method of managing the CVT to limit the mechanical peak torque sustained by a drive train of a vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2010Publication date: June 23, 2011Inventors: Hubert Roberge, David Levasseur, Christian Mercier
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Patent number: 6520878Abstract: The driving pulley (12) is used in a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and comprises two flanges (22,24) around which a drivebelt (20) is partially wound. The first flange (22) is fixed in translation with reference to the drive shaft (16) while the second flange (24) is movable, with reference to the first flange (22), between a distal position and a proximal position. The driving pulley (12) is provided with an arrangement which allows the return force on the second flange (24) to be maximum when the second flange (24) is at the distal position, and minimum when the second flange (24) is at the proximal position. The driving pulley (12) is also capable of being disengaged from the drivebelt (20) at a low rotation speed. This driving pulley (12) is particularly well adapted for use on a scooter.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2000Date of Patent: February 18, 2003Assignee: Cvtech R & D Inc.Inventors: Alexandre Leclair, Christian Mercier, Josée Lacouline, Rémi Breton