Patents by Inventor Jean-Luc Andre

Jean-Luc Andre 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).

  • Publication number: 20120260438
    Abstract: A deformable assembly which comprises an assembly of flexible metal leaves which each include a central portion having a side arm that extends from each end. The leaves are placed standing on edge, stacked against one another and attached by a central portion to the end of a plate supported by a wheeled base. The lateral arms of the assembly remain elastically deformable. The deformable assembly preferably comprises an extension of the leaves by acting on the end leaf. An intercommunicating gangway, between two consecutive plates, is manufactured using one or two of the deformable assemblies, each one of which is mounted on one of the opposing ends of the two plates and independent from the other leaf and/or from the other plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: LOHR INDUSTRIE
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Andre, Serge Brion
  • Publication number: 20120261224
    Abstract: An auxiliary and motive electric power pick-up structure for articulated and non-articulated land vehicles, such as electric public transport vehicles, that pass close to a collector-shoe-type power supply member mounted on a stationary support (17) along the route of the vehicle and positioned at intervals along the length of the route in order to provide auxiliary and motive electric power to the vehicle by way of the shoe (16). The structure comprises at least one conductor rail mounted on insulating supports (11) attached to the vehicle by suspension points (34), each including an elastic suspension unit (30) and a pneumatic, hydraulic or other type active suspension unit (33). In the case of articulated vehicles, the pick-up structure is divided into power supply segments (14) separated by a conducting link (19) at each articulated unit of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: LOHR INDUSTRIE
    Inventor: Jean-Luc Andre
  • Publication number: 20120243937
    Abstract: A junction between successive flat pre-fabricated elements which comprises an elastic transverse insert (9), an approaching mechanism (10) in the form of tie beams (23) and tensioning mechanisms (19). The flat pre-fabricated elements (2) to be assembled each have a transverse channel (3) adapted so as to receive the insert along the end transverse edges (4, 5) thereof, which must face each other after assembly on the ground, and conduits (7) of the tie beams. Each pre-fabricated element is successively arranged, one after the other, and the transverse insert is introduced into the transverse housing (6) formed by transverse channels facing each other. The tie beams are introduced into the conduits, the ends thereof projecting outside the pre-fabricated elements. The tie beams are then tensioned by a tensioning mechanism, at each of the ends thereof, in order to immobilize the flat pre-fabricated elements and thereby connected by the tie beams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: LOHR INDUSTRIE
    Inventors: Martin Klotz, Jean-Luc Andre
  • Patent number: 8232671
    Abstract: A system of localized tapping sections (1, 2 or 3) is provided with air or ground units for the distribution of electrical energy and an assembly on the vehicle (4) for tapping the energy. The electrical energy distribution units are supported by distributing poles (5), only accommodate electrical voltage when the vehicle approaches the related section, and being disconnected when the vehicle (4) leaves the tapping section. The tapping sections are located in vehicle stopping zones, for example, stations (1), acceleration zones, and uphill gradients (2), in order to recharge and/or supply drive energy to the vehicle (4). The system is beneficial to autonomous urban public transportation which accumulates drive energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Lohr Industrie
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Andre, Laurent Verdier
  • Publication number: 20120111682
    Abstract: The invention relates to an aerial power supply assembly (1) hinged on a fixed base (2) and including a fixed portion and a mobile or deformable portion (5) comprising friction members (9) for supplying electrical power to a vehicle (4) through an upper collecting structure (11) on the roof of the vehicle when passing or stopping under said aerial power supply. The friction members are not powered when the power supply assembly (1) is in a rest position, and are powered when the power supply assembly (1) or the mobile or deformable portion (5) thereof is moved by the arrival of the front part of the upper collecting structure (11) of the vehicle under the power supply assembly (1) that contacts the friction members (9) so as to transfer electrical power to the vehicle. After the passage of the vehicle, the mobile portion of the power supply assembly (1) automatically returns to the rest position in which the friction members are not powered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventor: Jean-Luc Andre
  • Patent number: 8167218
    Abstract: A support including a rail (10) that preferably has an I-shaped section and is provided in a slot (2) filled with concrete (4). During the manufacture of the rail, the rail is partially coated, substantially along its entire length, with a filler material (8) which defines at least one side extension (16) and bears on the concrete. A side groove (9) is formed in the coating of filler material (8) for the passage of a guiding or rolling wheel. The rail is directly maintained by the concrete such that an intermediate device, for additional maintenance of the rail, is not required. The rail can be bent and curved at the time of installation to conform to the curves of the track without any independent or additional bending step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Lohr Industrie
    Inventor: Jean-Luc Andre
  • Patent number: 8151713
    Abstract: The guidance system comprises two guidance devices (16) mounted in opposite directions either side of the axle (2) and each comprising: a guidance arm (17) terminated by at least one guidance roller (18); a set of articulated connecting rods serving as a deformable link interface (23) between the axle and the guidance arm; and a jack (29) with two independent and opposing rods (30, 31), having a “rods extended” position in which its two rods lock the set of connecting rods to render it rigid and orient the axle, and a “rods retracted” position in which the set of connecting rods is free and allows a lateral oscillation. Preferably, the jack (29) offers an additional function for damping the lateral oscillation. This invention is of interest in the field of the guidance of public transport road vehicles by a rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Lohr Industrie
    Inventor: Jean-Luc Andre
  • Patent number: 8146512
    Abstract: The invention relates to an anti-extraction safety device comprising, for each roller (13, 14), a rotatably fixed, preferably enveloping, shroud element (32, 33) forming a one-piece functional mechanical assembly with its counterpart. The base of the shroud elements has an extension (46, 47) which extends beneath the projecting flanks (21, 22) of the head of the guiding rail (19) in order to prevent any extraction of the guide assembly. At the front, the base of the shroud elements is preferably shaped as a lip for collecting and disposing of objects which may be present on the guiding track. The invention can be used for the rail guidance of road vehicles used for public transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Lohr Industrie
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Andre, Franck Lamanna
  • Patent number: 8141496
    Abstract: A sliding body (25) which includes an electrical contact shoe (32) that moves on a guide rail (5) along the length thereof. The sliding body (25) is mounted to the front of a guiding assembly, in the direction of movement of a vehicle, and articulated with the assembly by a connecting rod (26) that is designed to rupture upon exceeding a pre-determined limit. The sliding body (25) includes a device (43), which is located on at least one of the sides of the body, for lifting and releasing objects or debris. The loss of electrical contact between the shoe and the rail enables a risk of derailment to be detected. The invention is suitable for rail-guided vehicle manufactures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Lohr Industrie
    Inventor: Jean-Luc Andre
  • Publication number: 20110278366
    Abstract: A prefabricated module (1) to be used in constructing a track for an urban transport vehicle. The module comprises an integral carrier structure (2) made of concrete and comprising two side sills (4) having an upper surface (5), used as a driving pathway for the vehicle wheels, and connecting crossbars (8) which connect and retain the sills substantially parallel to each other. The lower surfaces (6, 39) of the sills and crossbars are ground-bearing surfaces. A guiding rail section (3), mounted on the carrier structure, is preferably symmetrical, has an I section and a lower portion coated with a liner material (13). The modules, whether rectilinear or curved, are to be placed on an existing road layout or in a trench with a compacted bottom, and are connected one after the other to form the driving track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: LOHR INDUSTRIE
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Andre, Martin Klotz
  • Patent number: 8052067
    Abstract: A self-cleaning assembly employing a gap filler for a rail on the ground which guides or in which there runs rollers or wheels with lugs housed in a groove so as to lie flush with or protrude only slightly from the ground and which has a gap on the side of the rail corresponding to the passage of the lug. A filling substance is placed in the gap outside of the dynamic footprint of the lug and at least partially lines the gap, at least partially filling it. The filling material has properties of compressibility and is positioned in such a way that under all normal conditions of use or normal environmental conditions, the gap remains filled outside of the dynamic footprint of the lug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Lohr Industrie
    Inventor: Jean-Luc Andre
  • Publication number: 20110266772
    Abstract: The articulated connection is characterized in that it is: disconnectable and formed of a hitching device (6) with a drawbar component (7) and means of rapid coupling and uncoupling (5), carried at the front by the following module (2), fixed in terms of orientation with respect to the central longitudinal axis (12) of the leading module (1), independent of the steering axle of the following module or oif its steering assembly, and in that it has: a rear end (9) of the piece pivot-mounted (14) on the chassis of the following module (2) and a front end exhibiting complementary coupling and uncoupling means, together with roll and pitch travel means and angular end stop means. Application to the urban transport of passengers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: LOHR INDUSTRIE
    Inventor: Jean-Luc Andre
  • Publication number: 20110108334
    Abstract: The road vehicle comprises a communicating door (8, 9) in each of the front (3) and rear (4) transverse faces, a part at the front and a part at the rear of the split able connection that can combine with that of another identical or same-type vehicle respectively in front (5) and behind (6) so as to constitute a disconnect able articulated connection for aligning the vehicles and obtaining a short distance between the vehicles, a projection at the front or at the rear at the inter-vehicular passenger access, a course set point for the vehicle (6) behind using a system for directional control of the vehicle behind. The road vehicle is applicable to urban public transport vehicles which can form a road train.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: LOHR INDUSTRIE
    Inventor: Jean-Luc Andre
  • Publication number: 20110089666
    Abstract: An intercommunicating gangway in that two successive road modules (5, 6) are connected by a detachable coupling with a minimum inter-module distance at least in the in-line configuration such that the opposite facing surfaces (3, 4) are each provided with a communicating door (8, 9) which can only be opened in when the two road modules are arranged in an in-line configuration and the vehicle is stopped. The intercommunicating gangway is suitable for use in the urban passenger transport field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: LOHR INDUSTRIE
    Inventor: Jean-Luc Andre
  • Publication number: 20100213268
    Abstract: The invention relates to a support including a rail (10) preferably having an I-shaped section and provided in a channel (2) filled with concrete (4). The rail is partially coated, during the manufacture thereof and essentially along its entire length, with a filler material (8) defining at least one lateral extension (16) resting on the concrete and in which is formed a lateral groove (9) for the passage of the guiding or rolling roller. The rail is directly maintained by the concrete without requiring the use of an intermediate device for an additional fixation. The rail can be curved upon laying in order to conform to the curves of the track without any independent or additional bending step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: LOHR INDUSTRIE
    Inventor: Jean-Luc Andre
  • Publication number: 20100133034
    Abstract: The guidance system comprises two guidance devices (16) mounted in opposite directions either side of the axle (2) and each comprising: a guidance arm (17) terminated by at least one guidance roller (18); a set of articulated connecting rods serving as a deformable link interface (23) between the axle and the guidance arm; and a jack (29) with two independent and opposing rods (30, 31), having a “rods extended” position in which its two rods lock the set of connecting rods to render it rigid and orient the axle, and a “rods retracted” position in which the set of connecting rods is free and allows a lateral oscillation. Preferably, the jack (29) offers an additional function for damping the lateral oscillation. This invention is of interest in the field of the guidance of public transport road vehicles by a rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: LOHR INDUSTRIE
    Inventor: Jean-Luc Andre
  • Publication number: 20100071582
    Abstract: An anti-extraction safety device having, for each roller (13, 14), a rotationally fixed, preferably enveloping, shroud element (32, 33) forming a single-component functional mechanical set with its counterpart. The shroud parts are inclined and each has an extension (46, 47), at the base, which extends beneath the projecting flanks (21, 22) of the head of the guiding rail (19) to prevent extraction of the guidance set. At the front, the base of the shroud parts is preferably moulded into a spout for collecting and disposing of objects which may be present on the guiding track. The anti-extraction safety device can be used for rail guidance of road vehicles used for public transport.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: LOHR INDUSTRIE
    Inventors: Jean-Luc ANDRE, Franck LAMANNA
  • Publication number: 20100065692
    Abstract: A sliding body (25) which includes an electrical contact shoe (32) that moves on a guide rail (5) along the length thereof. The sliding body (25) is mounted to the front of a guiding assembly, in the direction of movement of a vehicle, and articulated with the assembly by a connecting rod (26) that is designed to rupture upon exceeding a pre-determined limit. The sliding body (25) includes a device (43), which is located on at least one of the sides of the body, for lifting and releasing objects or debris. The loss of electrical contact between the shoe and the rail enables a risk of derailment to be detected. The invention is suitable for rail-guided vehicle manufactures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: LOHR INDUSTRIE
    Inventor: Jean-Luc Andre
  • Publication number: 20100052427
    Abstract: A system of localized tapping sections (1, 2 or 3) is provided with air or ground units for the distribution of electrical energy and an assembly on the vehicle (4) for tapping the energy. The electrical energy distribution units are supported by distributing poles (5), only accommodate electrical voltage when the vehicle approaches the related section, and being disconnected when the vehicle (4) leaves the tapping section. The tapping sections are located in vehicle stopping zones, for example, stations (1), acceleration zones, and uphill gradients (2), in order to recharge and/or supply drive energy to the vehicle (4). The system is beneficial to autonomous urban public transportation which accumulates drive energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: LOHR INDUSTRIE
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Andre, Laurent Verdier
  • Publication number: 20090206169
    Abstract: A self-cleaning assembly employing a gap filler for a rail on the ground which guides or in which there runs rollers or wheels with lugs housed in a groove so as to lie flush with or protrude only slightly from the ground and which has a gap on the side of the rail corresponding to the passage of the lug. A filling substance is placed in the gap outside of the dynamic footprint of the lug and at least partially lines the gap, at least partially filling it. The filling material has properties of compressibility and is positioned in such a way that under all normal conditions of use or normal environmental conditions, the gap remains filled outside of the dynamic footprint of the lug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: Lohr Industrie
    Inventor: Jean-Luc Andre