Patents by Inventor Laurent Bianchi

Laurent Bianchi 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: 11733282
    Abstract: A probe for non-intrusively detecting imperfections in a test object made from metallic, non-conductive, and/or composite materials. The probe may include a capacitive measuring apparatus that includes at least two coplanar electrodes, an adjustment device to adjust a spatial separation between the electrodes, and a separation device. The separation device may maintain a substantially constant distance between the at least two coplanar electrodes and the test object during test measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
    Inventors: Laurent Bianchi, Sebastien Bernier, John Enderby, Mark Bowes, Dawood Parker
  • Publication number: 20220291269
    Abstract: A probe for non-intrusively detecting imperfections in a test object made from metallic, non-conductive, and/or composite materials. The probe may include a capacitive measuring apparatus that includes at least two coplanar electrodes, an adjustment device to adjust a spatial separation between the electrodes, and a separation device. The separation device may maintain a substantially constant distance between the at least two coplanar electrodes and the test object during test measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Applicant: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
    Inventors: Laurent BIANCHI, Sebastien BERNIER, John ENDERBY, Mark BOWES, Dawood PARKER
  • Patent number: 11366150
    Abstract: A probe for non-intrusively detecting imperfections in a test object made from metallic, non-conductive, and/or composite materials. The probe may include a capacitive measuring apparatus that includes at least two coplanar electrodes, an adjustment device to adjust a spatial separation between the electrodes, and a separation device. The separation device may maintain a substantially constant distance between the at least two coplanar electrodes and the test object during test measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
    Inventors: Laurent Bianchi, Sebastien Bernier, John Enderby, Mark Bowes, Dawood Parker
  • Patent number: 10876989
    Abstract: A method for non-intrusively detecting imperfections in a test object made from metallic, non-conductive, and/or composite materials. The method uses a database with predetermined reference values and a probe that comprises a capacitive measuring apparatus with at least two coplanar electrodes. The method includes the operations of placing the at least two coplanar electrodes into a first position that is at a predetermined distance from the test object, performing a capacitive measurement to determine an effective dielectric constant, retrieving a reference value of the predetermined reference values from the database based on the test object and the predetermined distance, and detecting imperfections in the test object based on a comparison of the effective dielectric constant with the reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
    Inventors: Laurent Bianchi, Sebastien Bernier, John Enderby, Mark Bowes, Dawood Parker
  • Patent number: 10661890
    Abstract: A blade of a rotor for a rotary-wing aircraft is equipped with an outer covering extending along the span of the blade. This outer covering is provided with an extrados skin and with an intrados skin defining a cavity. The blade also includes a structure that extends into the cavity and connects the blade to a hub of the rotor. The cavity is filled with a filling material that includes at least one partition parallel to a chord of the blade and at least two independent blocks of filling material filling the cavity, thereby allowing the reduction of the torsional rigidity along the span of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Airbus Helicopters
    Inventors: Damien Reveillon, Laurent Bianchi
  • Patent number: 10497183
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method designs a three-dimensional modeled object. The method: provides, in a three-dimensional scene, said three-dimensional modeled object comprising a curve (C) defined by a set of vertices (V1, V2, V3) and a set of edges (E1, E2) connecting said vertices. Next the method places a point (P) on the curve; stores an initial position of the point on the curve, relative to a first vertex (V2); stores an initial position of the point within the three-dimensional scene; and modifies the curve by deleting the first vertex. The method further places the point onto the modified curve (C?) at a modified position (P?) situated at a minimal distance from the stored initial position of the point within the three-dimensional scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: DASSAULT SYSTEMES
    Inventors: Pierre Voirin, Laurent Bianchi
  • Publication number: 20190170799
    Abstract: A probe for non-intrusively detecting imperfections in a test object made from metallic, non-conductive, and/or composite materials. The probe may include a capacitive measuring apparatus that includes at least two coplanar electrodes, an adjustment device to adjust a spatial separation between the electrodes, and a separation device. The separation device may maintain a substantially constant distance between the at least two coplanar electrodes and the test object during test measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Applicant: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
    Inventors: Laurent BIANCHI, Sebastien BERNIER, John ENDERBY, Mark BOWES, Dawood PARKER
  • Publication number: 20190170677
    Abstract: A method for non-intrusively detecting imperfections in a test object made from metallic, non-conductive, and/or composite materials. The method uses a database with predetermined reference values and a probe that comprises a capacitive measuring apparatus with at least two coplanar electrodes. The method includes the operations of placing the at least two coplanar electrodes into a first position that is at a predetermined distance from the test object, performing a capacitive measurement to determine an effective dielectric constant, retrieving a reference value of the predetermined reference values from the database based on the test object and the predetermined distance, and detecting imperfections in the test object based on a comparison of the effective dielectric constant with the reference value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Applicant: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
    Inventors: Laurent BIANCHI, Sebastien BERNIER, John ENDERBY, Mark BOWES, Dawood PARKER
  • Publication number: 20170221275
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method designs a three-dimensional modeled object. The method: provides, in a three-dimensional scene, said three-dimensional modeled object comprising a curve (C) defined by a set of vertices (V1, V2, V3) and a set of edges (E1, E2) connecting said vertices. Next the method places a point (P) on the curve; stores an initial position of the point on the curve, relative to a first vertex (V2); stores an initial position of the point within the three-dimensional scene; and modifies the curve by deleting the first vertex. The method further places the point onto the modified curve (C?) at a modified position (P?) situated at a minimal distance from the stored initial position of the point within the three-dimensional scene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Pierre Voirin, Laurent Bianchi
  • Patent number: 9302764
    Abstract: A blade (1) provided with a fitting (2) for fastening to a hub and with an airfoil element (10) having a spar (20) extending spanwise from an attachment zone (21) towards a distal zone (22), said attachment zone (21) surrounding a centrifugal force transmission bushing (31) that is connected to said fitting (2) by a through pin (3). The blade comprises a twisting force transmission member (40) provided with a first half-shell (41) and with a second half-shell (42) that together surround said attachment zone (21), each half-shell (41, 42) having a perforated first portion (43?, 43?) giving visual access to said bushing (31) when said airfoil element is removed from the fitting, and a second portion (44?, 44?) co-operating with a torsion box (50) surrounding said distal zone (22), said transmission member (40) being secured to said fitting in rotation about a torsion axis (AX) of the blade (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
    Inventors: Laurent Bianchi, Nicolas Isidore, Jacques Gaffiero, Bernard Michel
  • Publication number: 20150298802
    Abstract: A blade (1) of a rotor (100) for a rotary-wing aircraft equipped with an outer covering (2) extending along the span of the said blade (1). This outer covering (2) is provided with an extrados skin (2?) and with an intrados skin (2?) defining a cavity (8). The said blade (1) also includes structural means extending into the said cavity (8) and connecting the said blade (1) to a hub (110) of the said rotor (100). The said cavity (8) is filled with a filling material that includes at least one partition parallel to a chord of the said blade (1) [and] at least two independent blocks of filling material filling the said cavity (8), thereby allowing the reduction of the torsional rigidity along the span of the said blade (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Damien REVEILLON, Laurent BIANCHI
  • Patent number: 9085986
    Abstract: A blade (1) having a fitting (2) for fastening to a hub and an aerodynamic element (10) having a main spar (20) surrounding a bushing (31) for transmitting centrifugal forces and connected to said fitting (2). The blade includes a transmission member (40) for transmitting torsional forces and co-operating with a torsion box. The fitting (2) includes an annular recess (200) defining a first recess (201) and a second recess (202) that are separated by a top separator (211) and a bottom separator (212) locally obstructing the annular recess (200), the blade (1) including a first ring (71) and a second ring (72) reversibly arranged respectively in the first recess (201) and in the second recess (202), each ring (71, 72) being fastened to the top separator (211) and to the bottom separator (212), a ring (71) including a fastener pin (73) passing through said bushing (31) and said fitting (2) in co-operation with the other ring (72).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Helicopters
    Inventors: Laurent Bianchi, Nicolas Isidore
  • Patent number: 9045986
    Abstract: A rotor blade (1) provided with an outer covering (2) and with at least one load take-up spar (10) associated with at least one pin-receiving bushing (3). Each spar (10) is a compartmentalized spar comprising centrifugal force take-up means (20) incorporated within a twisting stress take-up casing (30), said centrifugal force take-up means (20) comprising at least two boxes (21, 22), each having said pin-receiving bushing (3) of the spar (10) passing therethrough, each box (21, 22) including a closed retention belt (23) extending in the spanwise direction of the blade, the retention belt (23) of one box (22) surrounding the retention belt (23) of another box (21), each retention belt (23) being provided with unidirectional fibers (24) wound around said pin-receiving bushing (3), said casing (30) being provided with inclined fibers (31) presenting an angle relative to said unidirectional fibers (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Helicopters
    Inventors: Laurent Bianchi, Jacques Gaffiero, Alain Charreyre, Francois Marchand
  • Patent number: 8821128
    Abstract: A rotor blade (1) with adaptive twisting, the blade being provided with an outer covering (2) extending along a pitch variation axis (AY) from a first end zone (3) to a second end zone (4), the outer covering (2) defining an internal cavity (8). The blade includes a strip (10) extending inside said cavity (8) along said pitch variation axis (AY), said strip (10) comprising a composite material that is anisotropic so as to be suitable for twisting under the effect of centrifugal forces (F) directed parallel to said pitch variation axis (AY) when the blade (1) is in rotation, said strip (10) being fastened to said outer covering (2) via first and second fastener means (11, 12) in order to be capable of twisting said outer covering (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Helicopters
    Inventors: Laurent Bianchi, Rémy Cuenca, Mathieu Galan, Damien Reveillon
  • Publication number: 20130177422
    Abstract: A rotor blade (1) provided with an outer covering (2) and with at least one load take-up spar (10) associated with at least one pin-receiving bushing (3). Each spar (10) is a compartmentalized spar comprising centrifugal force take-up means (20) incorporated within a twisting stress take-up casing (30), said centrifugal force take-up means (20) comprising at least two boxes (21, 22), each having said pin-receiving bushing (3) of the spar (10) passing therethrough, each box (21, 22) including a closed retention belt (23) extending in the spanwise direction of the blade, the retention belt (23) of one box (22) surrounding the retention belt (23) of another box (21), each retention belt (23) being provided with unidirectional fibers (24) wound around said pin-receiving bushing (3), said casing (30) being provided with inclined fibers (31) presenting an angle relative to said unidirectional fibers (24).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: EUROCOPTER
    Inventors: Laurent Bianchi, Jacques Gaffiero, Alain Charreyre, Francois Marchand
  • Publication number: 20120195762
    Abstract: A blade (1) provided with a fitting (2) for fastening to a hub and with an airfoil element (10) having a spar (20) extending spanwise from an attachment zone (21) towards a distal zone (22), said attachment zone (21) surrounding a centrifugal force transmission bushing (31) that is connected to said fitting (2) by a through pin (3). The blade comprises a twisting force transmission member (40) provided with a first half-shell (41) and with a second half-shell (42) that together surround said attachment zone (21), each half-shell (41, 42) having a perforated first portion (43?, 43?) giving visual access to said bushing (31) when said airfoil element is removed from the fitting, and a second portion (44?, 44?) co-operating with a torsion box (50) surrounding said distal zone (22), said transmission member (40) being secured to said fitting in rotation about a torsion axis (AX) of the blade (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: EUROCOPTER
    Inventors: Laurent Bianchi, Nicolas Isidore, Jacques Gaffiero, Bernard Michel
  • Publication number: 20110211959
    Abstract: A rotor blade (1) with adaptive twisting, the blade being provided with an outer covering (2) extending along a pitch variation axis (AY) from a first end zone (3) to a second end zone (4), the outer covering (2) defining an internal cavity (8). The blade includes a strip (10) extending inside said cavity (8) along said pitch variation axis (AY), said strip (10) comprising a composite material that is anisotropic so as to be suitable for twisting under the effect of centrifugal forces (F) directed parallel to said pitch variation axis (AY) when the blade (1) is in rotation, said strip (10) being fastened to said outer covering (2) via first and second fastener means (11, 12) in order to be capable of twisting said outer covering (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: EUROCOPTER
    Inventors: Laurent Bianchi, Rémy Cuenca, Mathieu Galan, Damien Reveillon
  • Patent number: 7811061
    Abstract: A rotorcraft blade is provided having at least one spar and an outer covering. At the root of the blade, the spar is subdivided into at least one bottom tape and at least one top tape. The blade further includes a hollow cuff whose outer wall includes the outer covering secured to the bottom and top tapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Eurocopter
    Inventors: Laurent Bianchi, Bernard Michel, Julien Jaume, Florian Gregoire
  • Publication number: 20070280828
    Abstract: A rotorcraft blade is provided having at least one spar and an outer covering. At the root of the blade, the spar is subdivided into at least one bottom tape and at least one top tape. The blade further includes a hollow cuff whose outer wall includes the outer covering secured to the bottom and top tapes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Applicant: EUROCOPTER
    Inventors: Laurent Bianchi, Bernard Michel, Julien Jaume, Florian Gregoire