Patents by Inventor Gérard Balducci
Gérard Balducci 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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Patent number: 11642707Abstract: A method of unclogging ducts in a part made by additive manufacturing, the ducts running from at least one well that opens out into the surface of the part, the method comprising the steps of: fabricating a guide with a body that is designed to fit in the well, the guide having internal channels that extend from a base of the guide that is accessible by a user to an outside wall of the body; cleaning the well and inserting the body of the guide in the well so that channels in the guide open out in register with inlets of ducts that are to be unclogged; and inserting a thin flexible tool, e.g. a metal cable, through the base of the guide into at least one channel therein and causing the tool to penetrate into the duct in register in the part so as to unclog it.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2018Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMSInventors: Olivier Rigo, Thomas Kairet, Denis Luttenbacher, Stéphane Lambre, Stefano Argentero, Gérard Balducci
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Patent number: 11396934Abstract: The invention relates to a method for locking a mobile element (101) of an aircraft, such as a hold door or a landing gear, the mobile element being moved between a deployed position and a closed or retracted position by means of an actuator (200) having a sliding stem (3) coupled to the mobile element, the stem being mounted so as to be able to slide in a body (1) of the actuator between an extended position corresponding to the deployed position of the mobile element and a withdrawn position corresponding to the closed or retracted position of the mobile element. The method of the invention comprises the step of positively blocking the sliding stem of the actuator in the withdrawn position.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2015Date of Patent: July 26, 2022Assignee: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTYInventors: Marc Quenerch'Du, Gerard Balducci
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Patent number: 11370176Abstract: A method of additive manufacturing including defining contiguous portions over a ceiling of a cavity of a part, including a central portion defined entirely by first edges, and peripheral portions defined by second edges and by a portion of a frontier of the ceiling. Defining a capital by facets that bear against the first edges and that converge towards an apex, and defining a slender support that extends from the capital to a cavity floor while being centered on the apex. For each peripheral portion, defining a capital by facets that bear against the second edges and that converge towards a terminal edge extending in a plane that is normal to a wall of the cavity, and defining a rib support that extends in the normal plane between the terminal edge and a wall of the cavity. Manufacturing the part including the cavity while making the supports and capitals.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2019Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMSInventors: Yves Courtois De Lourmel, Sébastien Messe, Gérard Balducci, Thierry Caule
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Publication number: 20210252794Abstract: A ceiling of a cavity is provided with contiguous portions, including a central portion defined entirely by edges, and peripheral portions defined by edges and by a portion of a frontier of the ceiling. For the central portion, a capital is defined by facets that bear against the central portion edges and converge towards an apex, and a slender support column is centered on the apex and extends from the capital to a floor of the cavity. For each peripheral portion, a capital is defined by facets that bear against the peripheral portion edges and converge towards a terminal edge extending in a plane normal to a wall of the cavity, and a support rib extends in the normal plane between the terminal edge of the capital and a wall of the cavity. The method includes manufactured the part while making the above-defined supports and capitals by additive manufacturing.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2019Publication date: August 19, 2021Applicant: SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMSInventors: Yves COURTOIS DE LOURMEL, Sébastien MESSE, Gérard BALDUCCI, Thierry CAULE
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Patent number: 10364022Abstract: An aircraft landing gear assembly includes a lock link and a rotary electromechanical actuator which includes motor and gearbox unit arranged to move a pawl into contact with the lock link to break the lock link. A release mechanism is provided to enable the lock link to be made in the event of the motor and gearbox unit jamming.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2015Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignees: Safran Landing Systems UK LTD, Safran Landing SystemsInventors: David Bond, Melvin Ekbote, Mayur Kallabettu, Gerard Balducci
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Publication number: 20190061259Abstract: A method of unclogging ducts in a part made by additive manufacturing, the ducts running from at least one well that opens out into the surface of the part, the method comprising the steps of: fabricating a guide with a body that is designed to fit in the well, the guide having internal channels that extend from a base of the guide that is accessible by a user to an outside wall of the body; cleaning the well and inserting the body of the guide in the well so that channels in the guide open out in register with inlets of ducts that are to be unclogged; and inserting a thin flexible tool, e.g. a metal cable, through the base of the guide into at least one channel therein and causing the tool to penetrate into the duct in register in the part so as to unclog it.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2018Publication date: February 28, 2019Applicant: SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMSInventors: Olivier Rigo, Thomas Kairet, Denis Luttenbacher, Stéphane Lambre, Stefano Argentero, Gérard Balducci
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Patent number: 9651066Abstract: The invention relates to a telescopic actuator comprising a rod (4), a hollow lead screw (5), a fixed piston (9) comprising a first tail (10) which extends in the lead screw (5) and a head (11). According to the invention, the actuator comprises a first hydraulic connection channel (16) extending through the first tail (10) to fluidically connect a first chamber (C1) with a source of hydraulic fluid (17), and the channel (16) comprises first damping means suitable for slowing down the rod (4) when the latter is depressed by regulating a hydraulic fluid flow rate in the first channel provoked by the depression of the rod.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2014Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTYInventors: Nicolas Moretti, Sébastien Meziane, Gérard Balducci
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Publication number: 20160137295Abstract: An aircraft landing gear assembly includes a lock link and a rotary electromechanical actuator which includes motor and gearbox unit arranged to move a pawl into contact with the lock link to break the lock link. A release mechanism is provided to enable the lock link to be made in the event of the motor and gearbox unit jamming.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2015Publication date: May 19, 2016Inventors: David Bond, Melvin Ekbote, Mayur Kallabettu, Gerard Balducci
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Publication number: 20150285350Abstract: The invention relates to a method for locking a mobile element (101) of an aircraft, such as a hold door or a landing gear, the mobile element being moved between a deployed position and a closed or retracted position by means of an actuator (200) having a sliding stem (3) coupled to the mobile element, the stem being mounted so as to be able to slide in a body (1) of the actuator between an extended position corresponding to the deployed position of the mobile element and a withdrawn position corresponding to the closed or retracted position of the mobile element. The method of the invention comprises the step of positively blocking the sliding stem of the actuator in the withdrawn position.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2015Publication date: October 8, 2015Applicant: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTYInventors: Marc QUENERCH'DU, Gerard BALDUCCI
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Publication number: 20150075361Abstract: The invention relates to a telescopic actuator comprising a rod (4), a hollow lead screw (5), a fixed piston (9) comprising a first tail (10) which extends in the lead screw (5) and a head (11). According to the invention, the actuator comprises a first hydraulic connection channel (16) extending through the first tail (10) to fluidically connect a first chamber (C1) with a source of hydraulic fluid (17), and the channel (16) comprises first damping means suitable for slowing down the rod (4) when the latter is depressed by regulating a hydraulic fluid flow rate in the first channel provoked by the depression of the rod.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2014Publication date: March 19, 2015Applicant: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTYInventors: Nicolas MORETTI, Sébastien MEZIANE, Gérard BALDUCCI
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Patent number: 8833693Abstract: The invention relates to a device for selectively transmitting force, the device comprising a first element and a second element that is movably mounted on the first element, a friction member being arranged between the first element and the second element to exert a friction force between them, which force presents a maximum value that depends on prestress imparted by a presser member. The device includes control means for varying the prestress imparted by the presser member to the friction member and arranged, where appropriate, to substantially release the prestress imparted by the presser member so that the prestress becomes substantially zero.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2010Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Messier-Bugatti-DowtyInventors: Arnaud Lafitte, Gérard Balducci
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Patent number: 8820679Abstract: The invention relates to landing gear mounted on an aircraft in such a way as to be movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, the landing gear incorporating: a barrel mounted in a hinged way on the aircraft; a folding strut with two arms; a stabilizing member to stabilize the strut in an aligned position, having two rods hinged to each other; a telescopic unlocking member having one end coupled to one of the rods, the telescopic member being selectively activatable to break an alignment of the rods. According to the invention, said rod has an aperture in which the end of the telescopic unlocking member engages and which is arranged in such a way that, when the telescopic member is activated, said end interacts with an end of the aperture to move the associated rod toward a non-aligned position which said rod reaches when the telescopic member reaches an internal stop, the aperture allowing any hinged movement of the rod beyond the non-aligned position.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2009Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Messier-Bugatti-DowtyInventors: Laurent Martinez, François Boilley, Gérard Balducci
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Patent number: 8794088Abstract: The invention relates to a telescopic actuator comprising a body (1) defining a cylindrical cavity of longitudinal axis (X); a rod (3) mounted to slide telescopically in the cylinder along the said axis; a nut (7) secured to the rod; a lead screw (4) mounted on the cylinder to extend along and rotate about the said axis (X) and collaborate with the nut in such a way that a rotation of the lead screw causes a telescopic movement of the rod in the cylinder; means (8, 9, 10) for driving the rotation of the lead screw. According to the invention, the nut is mounted on the rod to be axially retained thereon by retaining means (12, 13, 14; 30 to 38) which can be made to release the nut axially from the rod.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2012Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: Messier-Bugatti-DowtyInventors: Marc Quenerch'Du, Gërard Balducci
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Patent number: 8794085Abstract: A telescopic actuator comprising a cylinder having a structure for coupling the cylinder to a first external element a rod mounted to slide telescopically in the cylinder along a sliding axis and including a structure for coupling it to a second external element and a lead screw mounted to rotate in the cylinder about the sliding axis and extending inside the rod to co-operate with a nut secured to the rod, such that rotating the lead screw causes the rod to slide. There also is a drive structure for driving the lead screw in rotation and a retention structure for axially retaining the lead screw. The retention structure holds a bearing of the lead screw captive in an axial direction and is arranged to retain the bearing of the lead screw with axial clearance suitable for absorbing movements imparted to the rod relative to the cylinder.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2011Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: Messier-Bugatti-DowtyInventors: Gerard Balducci, Marc Quenerch'Du
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Publication number: 20120304787Abstract: The invention relates to a telescopic actuator comprising a body (1) defining a cylindrical cavity of longitudinal axis (X); a rod (3) mounted to slide telescopically in the cylinder along the said axis; a nut (7) secured to the rod; a lead screw (4) mounted on the cylinder to extend along and rotate about the said axis (X) and collaborate with the nut in such a way that a rotation of the lead screw causes a telescopic movement of the rod in the cylinder; means (8, 9, 10) for driving the rotation of the lead screw. According to the invention, the nut is mounted on the rod to be axially retained thereon by retaining means (12, 13, 14; 30 to 38) which can be made to release the nut axially from the rod.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2012Publication date: December 6, 2012Applicant: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTYInventors: Marc QUENERCH'DU, Gérard BALDUCCI
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Publication number: 20120137802Abstract: The invention relates to a telescopic actuator comprising: a cylinder having means for coupling it to a first external element; a rod mounted to slide telescopically in the cylinder along a sliding axis and including means for coupling it to a second external element; a lead screw mounted to rotate in the cylinder about the sliding axis and extending inside the rod to co-operate with a nut secured to the rod, such that rotating the lead screw causes the rod to slide; drive means for driving the lead screw in rotation; and retention means for axially retaining the lead screw, which means hold a bearing of the lead screw captive in an axial direction; wherein the retention means are arranged to retain the bearing of the lead screw with axial clearance suitable for absorbing movements imparted to the rod relative to the cylinder.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2011Publication date: June 7, 2012Applicant: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTYInventors: Gerard BALDUCCI, Marc QUENERCH'DU
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Publication number: 20120091264Abstract: The invention relates to a device for selectively transmitting force, the device comprising a first element and a second element that is movably mounted on the first element, a friction member being arranged between the first element and the second element to exert a friction force between them, which force presents a maximum value that depends on prestress imparted by a presser member. The device includes control means for varying the prestress imparted by the presser member to the friction member and arranged, where appropriate, to substantially release the prestress imparted by the presser member so that the prestress becomes substantially zero.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2010Publication date: April 19, 2012Applicant: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTYInventors: Arnaud Lafitte, Gérard Balducci
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Publication number: 20110163202Abstract: The invention relates to landing gear mounted on an aircraft in such a way as to be movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, the landing gear incorporating: a barrel mounted in a hinged way on the aircraft; a folding strut with two arms; a stabilizing member to stabilize the strut in an aligned position, having two rods hinged to each other; a telescopic unlocking member having one end coupled to one of the rods, the telescopic member being selectively activatable to break an alignment of the rods. According to the invention, said rod has an aperture in which the end of the telescopic unlocking member engages and which is arranged in such a way that, when the telescopic member is activated, said end interacts with an end of the aperture to move the associated rod toward a non-aligned position which said rod reaches when the telescopic member reaches an internal stop, the aperture allowing any hinged movement of the rod beyond the non-aligned position.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2009Publication date: July 7, 2011Inventors: Laurent Martinez, François Boilley, Gérard Balducci