Patents by Inventor Francois Charleux

Francois Charleux 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: 11834765
    Abstract: A weaving installation includes a loom that receives a series of strands, and at least one device for measuring the diameter of a strand having a defined number of filaments. The device includes a diaphragm having an external ring forming a support on which a series of strips forming an iris are fixed. The strips are movable and allow a substantially circular space with variable dimensions to be defined at the center of the iris. The diaphragm is configured to adjust the dimensions of the space so as to allow a strand of the loom to pass through it, and to encircle the profile of the strand so as to allow the number of filaments in the strand to be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: François Charleux, Steven Gérard Joseph Bienvenu
  • Patent number: 11828184
    Abstract: A composite platform for an aircraft turbine engine fan includes a wall of elongate shape that is configured to extend between two fan blades. The wall has an aerodynamic external face and an internal face on which is disposed a fixing tab configured to be fixed to a fan disc. A method for manufacturing the composite platform includes the steps of: a) producing a preform by three-dimensionally weaving of fibers, b) unbinding some of the fibers of the preform to detach at least one longitudinal layer of fibers from the rest of the preform, c) inserting a metal reinforcement between this layer and the rest of the preform, and d) injecting a resin into the preform so as to form said wall and secure the reinforcement to this wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Matteo Minervino, François Charleux, Didier Fromonteil
  • Publication number: 20230102713
    Abstract: A composite platform for an aircraft turbine engine fan includes a wall of elongate shape that is configured to extend between two fan blades. The wall has an aerodynamic external face and an internal face on which is disposed a fixing tab configured to be fixed to a fan disc. A method for manufacturing the composite platform includes the steps of: a) producing a preform by three-dimensionally weaving of fibers, b) unbinding some of the fibers of the preform to detach at least one longitudinal layer of fibers from the rest of the preform, c) inserting a metal reinforcement between this layer and the rest of the preform, and d) injecting a resin into the preform so as to form said wall and secure the reinforcement to this wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Matteo MINERVINO, François CHARLEUX, Didier FROMONTEIL
  • Patent number: 11560650
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a fiber structure by multilayer three-dimensional weaving between a plurality of weft yarns and of warp yarns, the fiber structure having at least first and second portions that are adjacent in the warp direction, the first portion presenting, in a direction perpendicular to the warp and weft directions, a thickness greater than the thickness of the second portion, includes making the first portion using a step of three-dimensionally weaving warp and weft layers in which a fiber fabric is formed in the form of a Mock-Leno weave grid in a core of the first portion together with skins at a surface of the first portion, a weave of the skins being modified locally so as to deflect certain warp yarns from said skins and weave them with the fiber fabric in the form of the Mock-Leno weave grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignees: SAFRAN CERAMICS, ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
    Inventors: Marie Lefebvre, François Charleux, Dominique Coupe, Brock Gilbertson, Julie-Anne Bouchet
  • Patent number: 11549400
    Abstract: A fibrous texture in the form of a web includes a first portion extending in a longitudinal direction between a proximal part and an intermediate part. One or more layers of warp threads or strands present on the side of an inner face of the fibrous texture include threads or strands of glass fibers, the threads or strands of the other layers of warp threads or strands including threads or strands of carbon fibers. The fibrous texture further includes a second portion extending in the longitudinal direction between the intermediate part and a distal part of the fibrous texture. One or more of the plurality of layers of warp threads or strands present on the side of an outer face of the fibrous texture include threads or strands of glass fibers. The warp threads or strands are continuous over the entire length of the fibrous texture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignees: SAFRAN, SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Hervé Grelin, François Charleux, Dominique Marie Christian Coupe
  • Publication number: 20220282408
    Abstract: A weaving installation includes a loom that receives a series of strands, and at least one device for measuring the diameter of a strand having a defined number of filaments. The device includes a diaphragm having an external ring forming a support on which a series of strips forming an iris are fixed. The strips are movable and allow a substantially circular space with variable dimensions to be defined at the center of the iris. The diaphragm is configured to adjust the dimensions of the space so as to allow a strand of the loom to pass through it, and to encircle the profile of the strand so as to allow the number of filaments in the strand to be determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: François CHARLEUX, Steven Gérard Joseph BIENVENU
  • Patent number: 11261547
    Abstract: A fiber structure includes a plurality of weft layers and a plurality of warp layers interlinked with three-dimensional or multilayer weaving, the fiber structure including at least first and second portions that are adjacent in the warp direction, the first portion presenting thickness in a direction perpendicular to the warp and weft directions that is greater than the thickness of the second portion. The weft layers situated in the core of the first portion of the fiber structure include braids. The weft layers extending on either side of the weft layers including the braids and going as far as the skin of the first portion include yarns or strands, the braids presenting a section greater than the section of the yarns or strands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignees: SAFRAN CERAMICS, SAFRAN
    Inventors: Marie Lefebvre, Dominique Coupe, François Charleux
  • Publication number: 20210292938
    Abstract: A strip-shaped fibrous texture has a three-dimensional or multi-layered weaving between a plurality of layers of warp yarns or strands and a plurality of layers of weft yarns or strands extending in the lateral direction. The fibrous texture includes a first section extending along the longitudinal direction from a proximal portion of the texture and in which one or more layers of the plurality of layers of weft yarns or strands consist of a plurality of groups of yarns or strands each including at least one carbon fiber yarn or strand and one glass fiber yarn or strand. The carbon fiber yarn or strand and the glass fiber yarn or strand of each group of yarns being woven together according to the same weaving pattern or weave. The fibrous texture further includes a second section present between the first section and a distal portion of the fibrous texture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: François CHARLEUX, Dominique Marie Christian COUPE, Hervé GRELIN
  • Publication number: 20210238778
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a fiber structure by multilayer three-dimensional weaving between a plurality of weft yarns and of warp yarns, the fiber structure having at least first and second portions that are adjacent in the warp direction, the first portion presenting, in a direction perpendicular to the warp and weft directions, a thickness greater than the thickness of the second portion, includes making the first portion using a step of three-dimensionally weaving warp and weft layers in which a fiber fabric is formed in the form of a Mock-Leno weave grid in a core of the first portion together with skins at a surface of the first portion, a weave of the skins being modified locally so as to deflect certain warp yarns from said skins and weave them with the fiber fabric in the form of the Mock-Leno weave grid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Marie LEFEBVRE, François CHARLEUX, Dominique COUPE, Brock GILBERTSON, Julie-Anne BOUCHET
  • Publication number: 20210164364
    Abstract: A fibrous texture in the form of a web includes a first portion extending in a longitudinal direction between a proximal part and an intermediate part. One or more layers of warp threads or strands present on the side of an inner face of the fibrous texture include threads or strands of glass fibers, the threads or strands of the other layers of warp threads or strands including threads or strands of carbon fibers. The fibrous texture further includes a second portion extending in the longitudinal direction between the intermediate part and a distal part of the fibrous texture. One or more of the plurality of layers of warp threads or strands present on the side of an outer face of the fibrous texture include threads or strands of glass fibers. The warp threads or strands are continuous over the entire length of the fibrous texture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Hervé GRELIN, François CHARLEUX, Dominique Marie Christian COUPE
  • Patent number: 10995431
    Abstract: A fiber structure includes a plurality of weft layers and of warp layers interlinked by multilayer three-dimensional weaving, the fiber structure having at least first and second portions that are adjacent in the warp direction, the first portion presenting, in a direction perpendicular to the warp and weft directions, a thickness that is greater than the thickness of the second portion, wherein the first portion has at its core at least one fiber fabric obtained by three-dimensional weaving of warp yarns and weft yarns in the form of a Mock Leno weave grid, the at least one fabric being present between two skins present at the surface of the first portion and being linked to the skins by warp yarns belonging to the skins that are locally deflected into the fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignees: ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP., SAFRAN CERAMICS
    Inventors: Marie Lefebvre, François Charleux, Dominique Coupe, Brock Gilbertson, Julie-Anne Bouchet
  • Publication number: 20200378042
    Abstract: A fiber structure includes a plurality of weft layers and of warp layers interlinked by multilayer three-dimensional weaving, the fiber structure having at least first and second portions that are adjacent in the warp direction, the first portion presenting, in a direction perpendicular to the warp and weft directions, a thickness that is greater than the thickness of the second portion, wherein the first portion has at its core at least one fiber fabric obtained by three-dimensional weaving of warp yarns and weft yarns in the form of a Mock Leno weave grid, the at least one fabric being present between two skins present at the surface of the first portion and being linked to the skins by warp yarns belonging to the skins that are locally deflected into the fabric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Marie LEFEBVRE, François CHARLEUX, Dominique COUPE, Brock GILBERTSON, Julie-Anne BOUCHET
  • Patent number: 10781708
    Abstract: A composite material guide vane for a gas turbine engine, the composite material including fiber reinforcement densified by a matrix, the fiber reinforcement being formed as a single piece by three-dimensional weaving and including an airfoil and at least two fastener flanges extending from a radial end of the vane towards opposite side faces of the airfoil, the fastener flanges being axially offset from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Matthieu Gimat, François Charleux, Sébastien Marin, Gwenael Marion
  • Patent number: 10612186
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a curved cellular structure includes making an expandable fiber structure by multilayer weaving between layers of warp yarns and layers of weft yarns, the structure having zones of non-interlinking extending in the thickness of the structure, the non-interlinking zones spaced apart from one another by portions of interlinking between layers of weft yarns, the portions of interlinking offset by one or more weft yarns in a direction parallel to the direction of the layers of weft yarns between each series of these planes; impregnating the fiber structure with a resin; expanding the fiber structure on support tooling to form a cell in the fiber structure at each zone of non-interlinking, the tooling also presenting a curved shape corresponding to the shape of the cellular structure that is to be fabricated; and polymerizing the resin of the fiber structure to form a curved cellular structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: SAFRAN CERAMICS
    Inventors: Stéphanie Fouquet, Sébastien Jimenez, Eric Philippe, François Charleux
  • Patent number: 10436036
    Abstract: A fitted platform for positioning between two adjacent blades of an aviation turbine engine fan includes a flow passage wall made of composite material having a central portion, and first and second margins each extending in a longitudinal direction of the wall. Each margin extends over a determined distance from the central portion in a transverse direction of the wall. The flow passage wall includes a fiber reinforcement densified by a matrix. The fiber reinforcement present in the central portion presents three-dimensional weaving, and the fiber reinforcement present in the first and second margins presents two-dimensional weaving, at least in part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Safran Aircraft Engines
    Inventors: Jeremy Guivarc'h, Francois Charleux
  • Patent number: 9988750
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a composite material part comprises fiber reinforcement densified by a matrix. The method comprises the following steps: making a fiber fabric by weaving yarns having an initial mean fiber percentage; and densifying the fiber fabric with a matrix. The fiber fabric is subjected, prior to densification, to one or more jets of water under pressure so as to reduce the mean fiber percentage in the fabric to a value lying in the range 20% to 45%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: HERAKLES
    Inventors: Arnaud Fillion, Eric Philippe, Francois Charleux, Eric Bouillon
  • Publication number: 20180038021
    Abstract: A fiber structure includes a plurality of weft layers and a plurality of warp layers interlinked with three-dimensional or multilayer weaving, the fiber structure including at least first and second portions that are adjacent in the warp direction, the first portion presenting thickness in a direction perpendicular to the warp and weft directions that is greater than the thickness of the second portion. The weft layers situated in the core of the first portion of the fiber structure include braids. The weft layers extending on either side of the weft layers including the braids and going as far as the skin of the first portion include yarns or strands, the braids presenting a section greater than the section of the yarns or strands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Marie LEFEBVRE, Dominique COUPE, François CHARLEUX
  • Publication number: 20180010462
    Abstract: The invention provides a fitted platform (1) for positioning between two adjacent blades of an aviation turbine engine fan, said platform comprising a flow passage wall (10) made of composite material having a central portion (16) and first and second margins (18) each extending in a longitudinal direction of said wall, each margin extending over a determined distance (D) from the central portion (16) in a transverse direction of said wall, said flow passage wall comprising fiber reinforcement densified by a matrix, the platform being characterized in that the fiber reinforcement present in the central portion (16) presents three-dimensional weaving, and in that the fiber reinforcement present in the first and second margins (18) presents two-dimensional weaving, at least in part. The invention also provides a fan module, a turbine engine, and a method of fabricating such a platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Applicant: Safran Aircraft Engines
    Inventors: Jeremy GUIVARC'H, Francois Charleux
  • Patent number: 9784217
    Abstract: A thermostructural composite material part including carbon or ceramic fiber reinforcement densified by a matrix having at least one thin portion in which: the thickness of the part is less than 2 mm, or indeed less than 1 mm; the fiber reinforcement is made as a single thickness of multilayer fabric made of spread yarns having a weight of not less than 200 tex; the fiber volume ratio lies in the range 25% to 45%; and the ratio between the number of layers of the multilayer fabric and the thickness in millimeters of the part is not less than four.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: HERAKLES
    Inventors: François Charleux, Dominique Coupe, Eric Philippe
  • Publication number: 20170276005
    Abstract: A composite material guide vane for a gas turbine engine, the composite material including fiber reinforcement densified by a matrix, the fiber reinforcement being formed as a single piece by three-dimensional weaving and including an airfoil and at least two fastener flanges extending from a radial end of the vane towards opposite side faces of the airfoil, the fastener flanges being axially offset from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Matthieu GIMAT, François CHARLEUX, Sébastien MARIN, Gwenael MARION