Patents by Inventor Francois Buffenoir

Francois Buffenoir 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: 7634916
    Abstract: Unbalanced mass effects can occur at the low pressure compressor (5) of an aircraft engine. Stiffeners (20) are proposed to increase the stiffness of the assembly and therefore reduce possible cracks due to accidental unbalanced masses, one end (22) of the stiffener can be fixed to the engine casing (7) at the structural arm (10), and the other end (32) can be fixed to the compressor (5), preferably at the upstream face of the third guide vane (RD3). Advantageously, the stiffeners (20) are made of two parts fixed to each other; their manufacturing is optimized to limit the additional weight due to their presence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Snecma
    Inventors: Jerome Mace, Claude Lejars, Pierre-Yves Maillard, Francois Buffenoir, Thierry Niclot
  • Patent number: 7628356
    Abstract: The invention relates to a yaw control device for an aircraft fitted with a supersonic nozzle having a rectangular or flat section comprising a supersonic throat extended by a diverging portion in which supersonic flow occurs. In order to enable the aircraft to be controlled in yaw in the absence of a vertical fin, the device of the invention makes use of jet control surfaces in the form of airfoils disposed in the diverging portion of the nozzle. The control surfaces are movable about respective pivot axes in order to generate a lateral force when in a deflected position, so as to enable the aircraft to turn about its yaw axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Snecma Propulsion Solide
    Inventors: François Buffenoir, André Lafond
  • Publication number: 20070095972
    Abstract: The invention relates to a yaw control device for an aircraft fitted with a supersonic nozzle having a rectangular or flat section comprising a supersonic throat extended by a diverging portion in which supersonic flow occurs. In order to enable the aircraft to be controlled in yaw in the absence of a vertical fin, the device of the invention makes use of jet control surfaces in the form of airfoils disposed in the diverging portion of the nozzle. The control surfaces are movable about respective pivot axes in order to generate a lateral force when in a deflected position, so as to enable the aircraft to turn about its yaw axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Inventors: Francois Buffenoir, Andre Lafond
  • Publication number: 20070039309
    Abstract: Unbalanced mass effects can occur at the low pressure compressor (5) of an aircraft engine. Stiffeners (20) are proposed to increase the stiffness of the assembly and therefore reduce possible cracks due to accidental unbalanced masses, one end (22) of the stiffener can be fixed to the engine casing (7) at the structural arm (10), and the other end (32) can be fixed to the compressor (5), preferably at the upstream face of the third guide vane (RD3). Advantageously, the stiffeners (20) are made of two parts fixed to each other; their manufacturing is optimized to limit the additional weight due to their presence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2005
    Publication date: February 22, 2007
    Applicant: SNECMA MOTEURS
    Inventors: Jerome Mace, Claude Lejars, Pierre-Yves Maillard, Francois Buffenoir, Thierry Niclot
  • Patent number: 7112040
    Abstract: A guide device for guiding a variable-pitch blade, in particular in a turbomachine compressor, the blade having a pivot formed by a cylindrical axial shank mounted in a cylindrical housing of a casing and pivotally guided about an axis in said housing by bearings, where the bearings are abutment bearings with conical rollers, the axes of the rollers being substantially perpendicular to the pivot axis of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Snecma Moteurs
    Inventors: Pierre Debeneix, Alain Bromann, Francois Buffenoir
  • Publication number: 20050008477
    Abstract: A guide device for guiding a variable-pitch blade, in particular in a turbomachine compressor, the blade having a pivot formed by a cylindrical axial shank (6) mounted in a cylindrical housing (10) of a casing and pivotally guided about an axis in said housing by bearings, the device being characterized in that said bearings are abutment bearings (14, 15) with conical rollers (17), the axes of the rollers being substantially perpendicular to the pivot axis of the blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Publication date: January 13, 2005
    Applicant: SNECMA MOTEURS
    Inventors: Pierre Debeneix, Alain Bromann, Francois Buffenoir