Patents by Inventor Laurent LaFont

Laurent LaFont 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: 11807373
    Abstract: The pylon, intended to support a flying vehicle engine, includes a primary structure formed by at least one longeron and one panel, the panel including at least one end part provided with a notch, the longeron being provided with an end adapted to be positioned in the notch, the panel and the longeron being assembled by welding a part of the end to a part of the notch. A welded primary structure enables minimization of the blanks of parts associated with the longerons and with the panels by avoiding having recourse to the production of edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Inventors: Julien Allain, Stéphane Dida, Jérome Colmagro, Olivier Dubois, Julien Moulis, Jacky Puech, Laurent Lafont
  • Patent number: 11599141
    Abstract: A synchronizing system including a generation unit for generating a synchronizing pulse from data of an independent clock, the synchronizing pulse being generated in a periodic manner, transmission links to transmit the synchronizing pulse to all the computation units, and in each of the computation units, a control element to compare the synchronizing pulse that has been received to a pulse generated by an internal clock of the computation unit and to detect a compliance or a lack of compliance, a scheduler of each of the computation units activating a sequence of partitions when the synchronizing pulse is received, and this only if the control element has detected a compliance. The synchronizing system is configured to synchronize the computation units in a reliable and accurate manner and to increase the operating safety of these computation units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS SAS
    Inventors: Christophe Vlacich, Bertrand Deshayes, Frédéric Viader, Laurent Lafont
  • Patent number: 11565822
    Abstract: A propulsion assembly having a pylon, a turbomachine comprising an engine and a fan that is enclosed by a fan casing, a nacelle surrounding the engine and the fan casing and having a load support disposed in the top part of the nacelle, a front engine attachment between the pylon and a front part of the engine, a rear engine attachment between the pylon and a rear part of the engine, a front fan attachment between the fan casing and the load support, and a rear pylon attachment between the pylon and the load support. Such a propulsion assembly allows a reduction in bulk since the load of the turbojet engine is distributed between the load support and the pylon, and the pylon is attached to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS SAS
    Inventors: Philippe Auge, Benoit Orteu, Julien Bernat, Jean Geliot, Delphine Jalbert, Frédéric Ridray, Laurent Lafont, Pascal Gardes
  • Publication number: 20220411084
    Abstract: A propulsion unit, and an aircraft, with a propeller and electric motor, including at least one intermediate element interposed between the electric motor and the propeller and configured to transmit at least thrust loads generated by the propeller, a primary structure supporting the propulsion unit, at least one interface having: a first load path, configured to transmit loads perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the propeller, linking the at least one intermediate element to a support linked rigidly to or incorporated in the primary structure, a second load path, configured to transmit loads that are parallel to the axis of rotation of the propeller, linking the at least one intermediate element to a support linked rigidly to or incorporated in the primary structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Pascal POME, Nicolas JOLIVET, Rémi AMARGIER, Lionel CZAPLA, Franck ALVAREZ, Kotaro FUKASAKU, Benoît PENVEN, Delphine JALBERT, Laurent LAFONT, Milan TASIC, Frédéric GOUPIL, Jean-Victor LAPEYRE, Emmanuel MERMOZ
  • Patent number: 11305882
    Abstract: In order to bring the primary structure of an engine mounting pylon of an aircraft as close as possible to a wing box: an aircraft wing includes a wing box made partly by a front spar and an intermediate spar; a mounting pylon including a primary structure in the form of a box having transverse reinforcement ribs; and attachment means for attaching the primary structure of the mounting pylon on the wing box. These attachment means include a row of bolts along which each bolt passes through a structural part of the pylon on one hand, and on the other hand a fitting attached to one of the front and intermediate spars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Inventors: Olivier Pautis, Laurent Lafont, Rohan Nanda
  • Publication number: 20210311522
    Abstract: A synchronizing system including a generation unit for generating a synchronizing pulse from data of an independent clock, the synchronizing pulse being generated in a periodic manner, transmission links to transmit the synchronizing pulse to all the computation units, and in each of the computation units, a control element to compare the synchronizing pulse that has been received to a pulse generated by an internal clock of the computation unit and to detect a compliance or a lack of compliance, a scheduler of each of the computation units activating a sequence of partitions when the synchronizing pulse is received, and this only if the control element has detected a compliance. The synchronizing system is configured to synchronize the computation units in a reliable and accurate manner and to increase the operating safety of these computation units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Christophe VLACICH, Bertrand DESHAYES, Frédéric VIADER, Laurent LAFONT
  • Patent number: 11027852
    Abstract: An assembly for an aircraft and comprising a wing comprising an airfoil box partly produced using a front spar, a mounting pylon arranged under the wing and comprising a primary structure formed as a primary box having a top spar extending at least partly under the airfoil box and having a slit, a bottom spar, lateral panels and a transverse reinforcing fixing rib, of which a bottom part is housed and fixed inside the primary structure and of which a top part passes through the slit. A fixing arrangement fixes the top part to the front spar. The fixing arrangement comprises a plurality of fixing bolts, where each fixing bolt fixes the top part to the front spar and has its axis at right angles to the fixing rib. Such an assembly allows the mounting pylon primary structure to be as close as possible to the wing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS SAS
    Inventors: Laurent Lafont, Stéphane Dida, Jérôme Colmagro
  • Publication number: 20210130001
    Abstract: The pylon, intended to support a flying vehicle engine, includes a primary structure formed by at least one longeron and one panel, the panel including at least one end part provided with a notch, the longeron being provided with an end adapted to be positioned in the notch, the panel and the longeron being assembled by welding a part of the end to a part of the notch. A welded primary structure enables minimization of the blanks of parts associated with the longerons and with the panels by avoiding having recourse to the production of edges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Applicant: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventors: Julien Allain, Stéphane Dida, Jérome Colmagro, Olivier Dubois, Julien Moulis, Jacky Puech, Laurent Lafont
  • Publication number: 20200189759
    Abstract: A propulsion assembly having a pylon, a turbomachine comprising an engine and a fan that is enclosed by a fan casing, a nacelle surrounding the engine and the fan casing and having a load support disposed in the top part of the nacelle, a front engine attachment between the pylon and a front part of the engine, a rear engine attachment between the pylon and a rear part of the engine, a front fan attachment between the fan casing and the load support, and a rear pylon attachment between the pylon and the load support. Such a propulsion assembly allows a reduction in bulk since the load of the turbojet engine is distributed between the load support and the pylon, and the pylon is attached to the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Philippe AUGE, Benoit ORTEU, Julien BERNAT, Jean GELIOT, Delphine JALBERT, Frédéric RIDRAY, Laurent LAFONT, Pascal GARDES
  • Publication number: 20200148378
    Abstract: In order to bring the primary structure of an engine mounting pylon of an aircraft as close as possible to a wing box: —an aircraft wing includes a wing box made partly by a front spar and an intermediate spar; —a mounting pylon including a primary structure in the form of a box having transverse reinforcement ribs; and —attachment means for attaching the primary structure of the mounting pylon on the wing box. These attachment means include a row of bolts along which each bolt passes through a structural part of the pylon on one hand, and on the other hand a fitting attached to one of the front and intermediate spars.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Applicant: Airbus Operations S.A.S.
    Inventors: Olivier Pautis, Laurent Lafont, Rohan Nanda
  • Patent number: 10494113
    Abstract: In order to reduce the size of the attachment arrangement between an aircraft engine and its attachment device, an engine assembly is provided for which the primary structure of the attachment device includes a central box and two movable structural cowls. Further the arrangement for attaching the engine on the structure comprises a group of main ties laid out in a main transverse plane for absorbing forces crossing a front end of the movable structural cowls, this group comprising three main shearing pins radially oriented and distributed around a longitudinal axis of the engine, each pin crossing a first shearing orifice provided on a fitting secured to the hub of the intermediate case on the one hand, and a second shearing orifice provided on one of the movable cowls or on its connecting structure to the central box on the other hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS SAS
    Inventors: Olivier Pautis, Laurent Lafont, Pascal Gougeon
  • Publication number: 20190233129
    Abstract: An assembly for an aircraft and comprising a wing comprising an airfoil box partly produced using a front spar, a mounting pylon arranged under the wing and comprising a primary structure formed as a primary box having a top spar extending at least partly under the airfoil box and having a slit, a bottom spar, lateral panels and a transverse reinforcing fixing rib, of which a bottom part is housed and fixed inside the primary structure and of which a top part passes through the slit. A fixing arrangement fixes the top part to the front spar. The fixing arrangement comprises a plurality of fixing bolts, where each fixing bolt fixes the top part to the front spar and has its axis at right angles to the fixing rib. Such an assembly allows the mounting pylon primary structure to be as close as possible to the wing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Laurent LAFONT, Stéphane DIDA, Jérôme COLMAGRO
  • Publication number: 20170240288
    Abstract: In order to reduce the size of the attachment arrangement between an aircraft engine and its attachment device, an engine assembly is provided for which the primary structure of the attachment device includes a central box and two movable structural cowls. Further the arrangement for attaching the engine on the structure comprises a group of main ties laid out in a main transverse plane for absorbing forces crossing a front end of the movable structural cowls, this group comprising three main shearing pins radially oriented and distributed around a longitudinal axis of the engine, each pin crossing a first shearing orifice provided on a fitting secured to the hub of the intermediate case on the one hand, and a second shearing orifice provided on one of the movable cowls or on its connecting structure to the central box on the other hand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Olivier PAUTIS, Laurent LAFONT, Pascal Gougeon
  • Patent number: 9032740
    Abstract: An aircraft engine assembly including an attachment mechanism of a turbojet onto a rigid structure of a mounting strut, including a first, second, and third forward engine attachment for taking up thrust loads brought onto the fan frame, and arranged such that the third attachment passes through a first diametrical plane of the turbojet, the first and second attachments being disposed on one side and another of the first plane. The first and second forward engine attachments are respectively brought to the fan frame at two points, situated beyond the second diametrical plane of the turbojet, orthogonal to the first diametrical plane, with respect to the third attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS S.A.S.
    Inventors: Frédéric Journade, Laurent Lafont, Delphine Jalbert
  • Patent number: 9011098
    Abstract: A propeller for an aircraft turbine engine comprising a plurality of vanes as well as a hub having a plurality of accommodating ports receiving the bases of said vanes, each vane base being rotatably mounted in its associated accommodating port. The propeller also has at least one vane retaining ring structure in the radial direction outwardly from the hub, being cladded around the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Operations S.A.S.
    Inventors: Laurent Lafont, Damien Prat, Lionel Diochon
  • Patent number: 8973885
    Abstract: A structural rod has a primary rod that has an axial cavity and a secondary rod inside the axial cavity so that the secondary rod is able to move inside the axial cavity along the direction of the longitudinal axis of the rod. The primary rod has a bearing for fastening the structural rod at the first end in a rigid manner and is not fastened rigidly to the structure at the second end. Conversely, the secondary rod has a bearing for fastening the structural rod at the second end in a rigid manner and is not fastened rigidly to the structure at the first end. The primary and secondary rods are joined through one or more intermediate linkage elements made of a deformable and elastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventors: Mathieu Bonnet, Frederic Journade, Laurent Lafont, Benoit Valery
  • Patent number: 8845292
    Abstract: An aircraft turbomachine propeller including multiple blades assembled on a hub rotating around an axis of rotation of the propeller, that can reduce risks of loss of the blade following impact of a foreign body. At least one blade includes a recess opening radially towards the inside in the area of the base of this blade. A retaining device includes a moving retaining mechanism positioned in the recess and configured to be moved from a retracted position to a deployed blade-retaining position, and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations S.A.S.
    Inventor: Laurent Lafont
  • Patent number: 8794568
    Abstract: An aircraft assembly comprising a wing and an engine attachment pylon fixed to the wing by an attachment comprising a first and a second front wing system cleat connecting a rigid structure of the attachment pylon and a front longeron of the wing. The first front wing system cleat comprises a first shearing pin oriented in the transversal direction to ensure take-up of forces exerted in the longitudinal and vertical directions of the pylon, and the second front wing system cleat comprises a second shearing pin oriented in the longitudinal direction to ensure take-up of forces exerted in the transversal and vertical directions of the pylon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations S.A.S.
    Inventors: Laurent Lafont, Frederic Journade, Eric Renaud
  • Patent number: 8651416
    Abstract: An engine is mounted on a structure by an intermediate structure assembled by flanges, to the structure and to the engine, where a rigid structure connects the flanges. This arrangement enables design of the structure to be simplified while allowing a substantial overhang when it is sought to mount the engine by the plane of its center of gravity, while being obliged to move the mounting structure away from it. The intermediate structure is resistant to forces resulting from the overhang, and also allows assemblies that are favorable to a balanced transmission of forces to the structure and a satisfactory ability to filter vibrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations S.A.S.
    Inventors: Frederic Journade, Laurent Lafont, Laurent Agostini, Eric Renaud, Delphine Jalbert
  • Patent number: 8646725
    Abstract: An engine assembly for an aircraft including a dual-flow turbomachine and an attachment strut. The turbomachine includes a structural case extending downstream of the hub of an intermediate casing, the case contributing to the internal radial delimitation of a passage for a secondary flow of the turbomachine. Also, the primary structure includes a structural case, assembled on the structural case and positioned directly downstream of the structural case such that it also contributes to the internal radial delimitation of the passage for the secondary flow. The primary structure also includes an offset structure positioned in the passage, and configured to connect the case to an element of the aircraft. The structural case also includes a thrust reversal system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations S.A.S.
    Inventor: Laurent Lafont