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: 8640987
    Abstract: An engine is suspended from a main linear portion of a structure mounted on a fuselage or a wing surface of an aircraft. A connection includes flat symmetrical wings at an angle to one another, to support an attaching flange on which the engine is mounted, directly or through a mounting element. The flat shape of the wings makes them easy to manufacture, and enables them to resist the forces satisfactorily. The intermediate element resists overhang forces of the mounting satisfactorily. Flexible connections filter the engine's vibrations and prevent irregular forces being transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations S.A.S.
    Inventors: Frederic Journade, Laurent Lafont, Laurent Agostini, Eric Renaud, Delphine Jalbert
  • Patent number: 8613404
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a take-up device for thrust forces (14) for an aircraft engine attachment pylon (4), comprising a first fitting (194) attached to a rigid structure (108) of the attachment pylon, and two lateral connecting rods (14a) for take-up of thrust forces. It also comprises an axis system (190) bearing three first ball joint organs (192a, 196a) arranged along the latter and belonging respectively to a primary ball joint (192) and two secondary ball joints (196) arranged on either side of the primary ball joint, the first fitting (194) integrating a second ball joint organ (192b) cooperating with the first organ (192a) of the primary ball joint (192), and an end of each of the two connecting rods (14a) integrating a second ball joint organ (196b) cooperating respectively with the first organs (196a) of the two secondary ball joints (196).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: AIRBUS Operations S.A.S.
    Inventors: Laurent Lafont, Stephane Combes, Stephane Levert
  • Patent number: 8613405
    Abstract: An assembly for an aircraft including: a mechanism attaching a primary structure of an attachment strut to a wing, forming an isostatic system; an attachment housed in a leading edge of the wing and configured to only take up forces exerted along the transverse and longitudinal directions; and an attachment including a connecting rod extending rearwardly, of which one end is connected to the primary structure and the other end is connected to the wing element, the connecting rod being offset along the vertical direction of the attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations S.A.S.
    Inventor: Laurent Lafont
  • Patent number: 8496438
    Abstract: The invention concerns an aircraft turbomachine propeller comprising a plurality of blades (1) each comprising a root (20) mounted on a hub (2) rotating about the rotation axis of the propeller (I-I), and its purpose is to reduce the risks of loss of the entire blade (1) following an impact by a foreign body. To achieve this, at least one blade (1) comprises a means (30) of retaining the blade in an outwards radial direction, said retaining means (30) being engaged in a housing (5) of said blade (1) opening radially inwards at the root of the blade (20), and fixed in translation in said outwards radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventor: Laurent Lafont
  • Patent number: 8480025
    Abstract: A rear part of an aircraft including two connecting rods positioned symmetrically on either side of a median vertical plane, wherein each connecting rod has an end mounted on a support structure of the engines and another end mounted on the fuselage, wherein this part is configured to allow, by rotation of the connecting rods around their axes of rotation, an oscillating movement of limited amplitude of the assembly formed by the support structure and the engines, relative to the fuselage, through the first and second fuselage openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations S.A.S.
    Inventors: Laurent Lafont, Jean-Michel Saucray, Esteban Quiroz-Hernandez, Jerome Antypas, Mathieu Bonnet, Frederic Journade
  • Patent number: 8448897
    Abstract: A rear part of an aircraft including a support structure for supporting engines, passing through the fuselage, through first and second openings. The rear part includes a connection structure connecting the support structure to the fuselage, including a first connection mechanism connecting the support structure to a first casing forming the first opening and a second connection mechanism connecting the support structure to a second casing forming the second opening. The first and second connection mechanisms each include at least one blocking element of the support structure, under compression loading by being applied to the casing and to the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventors: Laurent Lafont, Frederic Journade
  • Patent number: 8439300
    Abstract: A rear part of an aircraft, including a support structure for supporting engines, extending through the fuselage, through two openings distributed on either side of a vertical median plane of the aircraft. The support structure includes a first half-structure and a second half-structure respectively extending through the first and second fuselage openings, the first and second half-structures being joined to each other so that they can be disassembled in an inside space defined by the fuselage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventor: Laurent Lafont
  • Patent number: 8366040
    Abstract: A rear part of an aircraft including a support structure for supporting engines, extending through the fuselage, through a first opening and a second opening. A connection structure connects the support structure to the fuselage, including a first connection mechanism connecting the support structure to a first casing forming the first opening and a second connection mechanism connecting the support structure to a second casing forming the second opening. The connection structure also includes at least one effort recovery connecting rod, the first end of which is mounted on the support structure and the opposite end is mounted on the fuselage, at a distance from the first and second openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventors: Laurent Lafont, Frederic Journade, Delphine Jalbert, Etienne Bardou
  • Patent number: 8348621
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vane (200) for an aircraft turbine engine receiver. The vane is a blade (14) having an aerodynamic shell (24) enveloping a principal hollow structure core (34) extending in the direction of wingspan of the blade. The vane further has a secondary structural assembly (34?) enveloped by the hollow core (34) and extending also in the direction of wingspan, as well as a first coating made of shock-absorbing material (50) arranged between a longeron (44) of the core (34) and the assembly (34?), and a second coating made of shocking-absorbing material (52) arranged between another longeron (38) of the core (34) and this same assembly (34?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventor: Laurent Lafont
  • Patent number: 8342037
    Abstract: A device for measuring a pattern of the forces and moments (2) generated by an aircraft propulsion system (1), includes a hooking structure (5) that can support at least one propulsion system (3). This hooking structure (5) passes through the fuselage transversely relative to the main axis of the fuselage of the aircraft via an opening, whereby the structure has at least a first part (AC) that is found on the outside of the aircraft connected to a propulsion system, and a second part (CB) that is found on the inside of the aircraft that is connected to structural elements of the aircraft via an isostatic system of connecting elements (9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 22) so as to take up the six degrees of freedom, measuring elements being integrated in the connecting elements to reconstitute the pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations S.A.S.
    Inventors: Laurent Lafont, Herve Magnin, Jean-Michel Rogero
  • Patent number: 8226027
    Abstract: An aircraft engine assembly including a turbojet, a turbojet attachment pylon, and a nacelle mounted on the attachment pylon and surrounding the turbojet. The nacelle includes at least one mobile nacelle portion forming a single piece envelope all around a section of the turbojet, this mobile nacelle portion being mounted free to slide on the attachment pylon so that it can be moved from the forward position in the aft direction, and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (Societe par Actions Simplifiee)
    Inventors: Frederic Journade, Laurent Lafont
  • Publication number: 20120175462
    Abstract: An engine is suspended from a main linear portion of a structure mounted on a fuselage or a wing surface of an aircraft. A connection includes flat symmetrical wings at an angle to one another, to support an attaching flange on which the engine is mounted, directly or through a mounting element. The flat shape of the wings makes them easy to manufacture, and enables them to resist the forces satisfactorily. The intermediate element resists overhang forces of the mounting satisfactorily. Flexible connections filter the engine's vibrations and prevent irregular forces being transmitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: Frederic Journade, Laurent Lafont, Laurent Agostini, Eric Renaud, Delphine Jalbert
  • Publication number: 20120168558
    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: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS (S.A.S)
    Inventors: Frederic Journade, Laurent Lafont, Laurent Agostini, Eric Renaud, Delphine Jalbert
  • Publication number: 20120121417
    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: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS (inc as a Societe par Act Simpl)
    Inventor: Laurent Lafont
  • Publication number: 20120111995
    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: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: Airbus Operations (inc. as a Soc. par Act. Simpl.)
    Inventor: Laurent Lafont
  • Publication number: 20120111996
    Abstract: An assembly for an aircraft including: a mechanism attaching a primary structure of an attachment strut to a wing, forming an isostatic system; an attachment housed in a leading edge of the wing and configured to only take up forces exerted along the transverse and longitudinal directions; and an attachment including a connecting rod extending rearwardly, of which one end is connected to the primary structure and the other end is connected to the wing element, the connecting rod being offset along the vertical direction of the attachment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS (inc. as Soc. par act. Simpl.)
    Inventor: Laurent Lafont
  • Publication number: 20120080555
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a take-up device for thrust forces (14) for an aircraft engine attachment pylon (4), comprising a first fitting (194) attached to a rigid structure (108) of the attachment pylon, and two lateral connecting rods (14a) for take-up of thrust forces. It also comprises an axis system (190) bearing three first ball joint organs (192a, 196a) arranged along the latter and belonging respectively to a primary ball joint (192) and two secondary ball joints (196) arranged on either side of the primary ball joint, the first fitting (194) integrating a second ball joint organ (192b) cooperating with the first organ (192a) of the primary ball joint (192), and an end of each of the two connecting rods (14a) integrating a second ball joint organ (196b) cooperating respectively with the first organs (196a) of the two secondary ball joints (196).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: Airbus Operations (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: Laurent LAFONT, Stéphane COMBES, Stéphane LEVERT
  • Publication number: 20120080554
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an aircraft assembly (200) comprising a wing (2) and an engine attachment pylon (4) fixed to the wing by means of attachment means comprising a first and a second front wing system cleat (109, 109) connecting a rigid structure (108) of the attachment pylon and a front longeron (201) of the wing. The first front wing system cleat (109) comprises a first shearing pin (202) oriented in the transversal direction (Y) to ensure take-up of forces exerted in the longitudinal (X) and vertical (Z) directions of the pylon, and the second front wing system cleat (109) comprises a second shearing pin (208) oriented in the longitudinal direction (X) to ensure take-up of forces exerted in the transversal (Y) and vertical (Z) directions of the pylon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: Airbus Operations (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: Laurent LAFONT, Frédéric Journade, Eric Renaud
  • Publication number: 20120070287
    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: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: Airbus Operations (Societe Par Actions Simplifiee)
    Inventors: Laurent Lafont, Damien Prat, Lionel Diochon
  • Publication number: 20120006937
    Abstract: A rear part of an aircraft including two connecting rods positioned symmetrically on either side of a median vertical plane, wherein each connecting rod has an end mounted on a support structure of the engines and another end mounted on the fuselage, wherein this part is configured to allow, by rotation of the connecting rods around their axes of rotation, an oscillating movement of limited amplitude of the assembly formed by the support structure and the engines, relative to the fuselage, through the first and second fuselage openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS (INC AS A SOCIETE PAR ACT SIMPL)
    Inventors: Laurent Lafont, Jean-Michel Saucray, Esteban Quiroz-Hernandez, Jerome Antypas, Mathieu Bonnet, Frederic Journade