Patents by Inventor François Lorin De La Grandmaison

François Lorin De La Grandmaison 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: 7594796
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotorcraft rotor blade (1) that comprises at least one tiltable trailing-edge flap (5), said flap (5) being suitable for pivoting about a virtual hinge axis (Y?) extending substantially in the span direction of said blade (1) and of said flap (5). The blade (1) is remarkable in that the flap (5) is provided with at least two fastener ball joints (30), each provided with an inner cage (32) together with an outer cage (33) and a first pin (31) that is also secured to said flap (5), the first pins (31) of the fastener ball joints (30) being perpendicular to the virtual pivot axis (Y?) of the flap (5). In addition, the blade (1) is provided at its trailing edge (BF) with a fastener tongue (20) provided with ball-receiving sockets (21), the outer cages (33) of the fastener ball joints (30) being secured to the ball-receiving sockets (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Eurocopter
    Inventors: François Lorin De La Grandmaison, Michel Morant, Jacques Gaffiero
  • Patent number: 7585151
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotorcraft rotor blade (1) having at least one trailing edge flap (5) that is tiltable, the flap (5) being suitable for pivoting about a virtual hinge axis (Y?) extending substantially along the span of the blade (1) and of the flap (5). The blade (1) is remarkable in that the flap (5) is provided with at least one main ball joint (30) having an inner cage (32) and an outer cage (33), and a first shaft (31) secured to the flap (5), the front portion (33?) of the outer cage (33) of the main ball joint (30) being connected to a linear actuator (10) which is arranged in the blade (1) and which enables the flap (5) to be pivoted, the first shaft (31) of the main ball joint (30) extending substantially perpendicularly to the virtual hinge axis (Y?) about which the flap (5) pivots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Eurocopter
    Inventors: Francois Lorin De La Grandmaison, Michel Morant, Olivier Ardesi, Jacques Gaffiero
  • Patent number: 7578654
    Abstract: A rotorcraft rotor blade (1) includes at least one tiltable trailing-edge flap (5), the flap (5) being suitable for pivoting about a virtual hinge axis (Y?) extending substantially along the span of the blade (1) and of the flap (5). The blade (1) is remarkable in that it is provided with at least one main ball joint (30) provided with an inner cage (32) together with a first pin (31) and an outer cage (33), the front portion (33?) of the outer cage (33) of the main ball joint (30) being connected to a linear actuator (10, 10?) arranged in the blade (1) and serving to pivot the flap (5), the first pin (31) of the main ball joint (30) being substantially perpendicular to the virtual hinge axis (Y?) about which the flap (5) pivots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Eurocopter
    Inventors: François Lorin De La Grandmaison, Michel Morant, Olivier Ardesi, Jacques Gaffiero
  • Publication number: 20070098554
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotorcraft rotor blade (1) that comprises at least one tiltable trailing-edge flap (5), said flap (5) being suitable for pivoting about a virtual hinge axis (Y?) extending substantially in the span direction of said blade (1) and of said flap (5). The blade (1) is remarkable in that the flap (5) is provided with at least two fastener ball joints (30), each provided with an inner cage (32) together with an outer cage (33) and a first pin (31) that is also secured to said flap (5), the first pins (31) of the fastener ball joints (30) being perpendicular to the virtual pivot axis (Y?) of the flap (5). In addition, the blade (1) is provided at its trailing edge (BF) with a fastener tongue (20) provided with ball-receiving sockets (21), the outer cages (33) of the fastener ball joints (30) being secured to the ball-receiving sockets (21).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Inventors: Francois Lorin De La Grandmaison, Michel Morant, Jacques Gaffiero
  • Publication number: 20070098553
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotorcraft rotor blade (1) having at least one trailing edge flap (5) that is tiltable, the flap (5) being suitable for pivoting about a virtual hinge axis (Y?) extending substantially along the span of the blade (1) and of the flap (5). The blade (1) is remarkable in that the flap (5) is provided with at least one main ball joint (30) having an inner cage (32) and an outer cage (33), and a first shaft (31) secured to the flap (5), the front portion (33?) of the outer cage (33) of the main ball joint (30) being connected to a linear actuator (10) which is arranged in the blade (1) and which enables the flap (5) to be pivoted, the first shaft (31) of the main ball joint (30) extending substantially perpendicularly to the virtual hinge axis (Y?) about which the flap (5) pivots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Inventors: Francois Lorin De La Grandmaison, Michel Morant, Olivier Ardesi, Jacques Gaffiero