Abstract: An aircraft having wheels with hydraulically-actuating friction brakes and independent drives for driving the wheels in rotation and enabling the aircraft to move in stages of independent drive when engines of the aircraft are inactive. A main hydraulic circuit with a pressure source powers the brakes when the pressure source is active; with an alternative braking circuit for enabling the brake system at least when the engines of the aircraft are stopped. The alternative braking circuit includes an accumulator that is used for parking braking and is kept under pressure by the pressure source of the main circuit when the pressure source is active. An auxiliary hydraulic circuit pressurized by an auxiliary pump and power system enables the independent drives to be actuated. The auxiliary hydraulic circuit is connected to the alternative braking circuit to maintain an operating pressure in the accumulator of the alternative braking circuit.

Abstract: An independent drive device for an aircraft, the drive device comprising a motor member, a drive mechanism for driving an aircraft wheel, which is adapted to co-operate with the wheel to drive it for rotation, and a coupling mechanism interposed between the motor member and the drive mechanism to selectively couple the wheel to the motor member. The coupling mechanism comprises two coupling members of complementary shape, comprising a first coupling member that rotates with the drive and a second coupling member that rotates with the motor member. The independent drive device includes measurement device for generating information representative of a relative speed of rotation of the second coupling member and the first coupling member. The drive device is associated with a motor controller that causes the motor to rotate so as to cancel the relative speed of rotation between the coupling members prior to coupling them together.

Abstract: An actuator comprising a body in which a rod is mounted to slide, the actuator including a screw extending inside the rod to co-operate with a nut secured to the rod, the screw being driven in rotation by a motor. The rod is associated with a piston that slides in a cavity of the body so as to define two chambers therein, the chambers being filled with hydraulic fluid and being put into communication via fluid transfer means fitted with at least one regulator member adapted to throttle the fluid expelled from one of the chambers, in at least one travel direction of the rod.

Abstract: A locking device for locking together first and second elements that are movable relative to each other in an axial direction. The device has a bushing secured to a first element and catches that are cantilevered-out in an axial direction and are elastically deformable. The device also has an anchor portion secured to a second element and an annular setback to receive hook-shaped ends of the catches. The device also has a locking sleeve mounted to move relative to the catches between a release position in which the catches are free to flex, and a blocking position in which the catches are prevented from flexing, wherein the locking sleeve is movable in rotation relative to the catches and includes a circumferential succession of gaps and of obstacles.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of taxiing an aircraft having at least one nose undercarriage at the front of the aircraft and main undercarriages, each undercarriage having wheels, the method comprising the steps of: fitting at least one of the wheels carried by the nose undercarriage with a main taxiing motor member, and fitting at least one of the wheels carried by the main undercarriages with an auxiliary taxiing motor member; and in response to a taxiing order, powering the main taxiing motor member to cause the aircraft to taxi, and in particular if the driving force developed by the main taxiing motor member on the aircraft is insufficient, powering the auxiliary taxiing motor member, as required.

Abstract: The invention relates to an aircraft having wheels fitted with hydraulically-actuating friction brake means and also hydraulically-actuated independent drive means for driving the wheels in rotation and enabling the aircraft to move in stages of independent drive in which the engines of the aircraft are inactive, wherein the aircraft is fitted simultaneously with a main hydraulic circuit including a pressure source that powers the brake means when said pressure source is active; with an alternative braking circuit for enabling brake means to be actuated at least when the engines of the aircraft are stopped, the alternative braking circuit including an accumulator that is normally used for parking braking and that is kept under pressure by the pressure source of the main circuit when said pressure source is active; and with an auxiliary hydraulic circuit pressurized by auxiliary pump means activated by an auxiliary power unit of the aircraft to enable the independent drive means to be actuated; the auxiliary h

Abstract: The invention relates to an independent drive device for an aircraft, the drive device comprising a motor member, drive means for driving an aircraft wheel in rotation, which means are adapted to co-operate with said wheel to drive it in rotation, and coupling means interposed between the motor member and the drive means to selectively couple the wheel to the motor member, the coupling means comprising two coupling members of complementary shape, comprising a first coupling member constrained to rotate with the drive means and a second coupling member constrained to rotate with the motor member. The independent drive device includes measurement means for generating information representative of a relative speed of rotation of the second coupling member relative to the first coupling member, the device being associated with motor control means adapted to cause the motor to rotate so as to cancel the relative speed of rotation between the coupling members prior to coupling them together.

Abstract: The invention provides a locking device for locking together first and second elements that are movable relative to each other in an axial direction, the device comprising firstly a bushing secured to first element and including catches that are cantilevered-out in an axial direction and that are elastically deformable, and secondly an anchor portion secured to the second element and including an annular setback to receive hook-shaped ends of the catches, the device also including a locking sleeve mounted to move relative to the catches between a release position in which the catches are free to flex, and a blocking position in which the catches are prevented from flexing, wherein the locking sleeve is movable in rotation relative to the catches and includes a circumferential succession of gaps and of obstacles, such that: when the sleeve is in a first angular position corresponding to the release position, the gaps are in register with the catches which are therefore free to flex under the effect of the a

Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator comprising a body in which a rod is mounted to slide, the actuator including a screw extending inside the rod to co-operate with a nut secured to the rod, the screw being driven in rotation by a motor. According to the invention, the rod is associated with a piston that slides in a cavity of the body so as to define two chambers therein, the chambers being filled with hydraulic fluid and being put into communication via fluid transfer means fitted with at least one regulator member adapted to throttle the fluid expelled from one of the chambers, in at least one travel direction of the rod.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of taxiing an aircraft having at least one nose undercarriage at the front of the aircraft and main undercarriages, each undercarriage having wheels, the method comprising the steps of: fitting at least one of the wheels carried by the nose undercarriage with a main taxiing motor member, and fitting at least one of the wheels carried by the main undercarriages with an auxiliary taxiing motor member; and in response to a taxiing order, powering the main taxiing motor member to cause the aircraft to taxi, and in particular if the driving force developed by the main taxiing motor member on the aircraft is insufficient, powering the auxiliary taxiing motor member, as required.

Abstract: The invention relates to a telescopic actuator comprising a cylinder in which a main rod is mounted to slide telescopically along a sliding axis between a retracted position and an extended position. The actuator includes an auxiliary rod mounted to slide telescopically in the main rod along said sliding axis between a retracted position and an extended position, the actuator including controlled retaining means for retaining the auxiliary rod in the retracted position inside the main rod.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a telescopic actuator comprising a cylinder 1 receiving a main rod 2 to slide along a sliding axis X between a retracted position and an extended position, the actuator further including an auxiliary rod 20 slidable in the main rod 2 between a retracted position and an extended position, and a rotary bearing 102 carried by the main rod 2 or the auxiliary rod 20 and co-operating respectively with the auxiliary rod 20 or the main rod 2 via a reversible helical connection. According to the invention, the actuator includes retaining means 112 for retaining the sliding of the auxiliary rod 20 and comprising a blocking member 116 arranged to act directly on the rotary bearing so as to cause rotation of the rotary bearing 102 to be blocked or to be released, blocking rotation of the rotary bearing 102 preventing the auxiliary rod 20 from moving in the main rod 2.

Abstract: The invention relates to a telescopic actuator comprising a cylinder in which a main rod is mounted to slide telescopically along a sliding axis between a retracted position and an extended position. The actuator includes an auxiliary rod mounted to slide telescopically in the main rod along said sliding axis between a retracted position and an extended position, the actuator including controlled retaining means for retaining the auxiliary rod in the retracted position inside the main rod.