Patents by Inventor Loïc Pora

Loïc Pora 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: 12687464
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method which comprises the following steps: —measuring a pressure difference at terminals of a metering device (22) supplied with fuel by a pump (20); —calculating a position of a valve (24) regulating the pressure difference; —determining at least one estimated position of the valve from the pressure difference and at least one reference function giving the pressure difference as a function of the position; —calculating at least one value representing a drift of the pump (20) using the calculated position and the estimated position; and —comparing the value with a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2026
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Loïc Pora, Virgile Nicolas Bastien Garnier
  • Publication number: 20250154904
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel control system (4) comprising: a fuel source; a supply conduit; a main circuit comprising: a first centrifugal pump; a connecting conduit; a second centrifugal pump; a discharge conduit; and a secondary circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2023
    Publication date: May 15, 2025
    Applicant: Safran Aircraft Engines
    Inventors: Huguette DE WERGIFOSSE, Loïc PORA
  • Patent number: 12234772
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for supplying fuel to a turbomachine. In some embodiments, a fuel circuit includes a pressurisation valve at an outlet of the system and a pump. The circuit may include a flow rate sensor arranged between the outlet of the pump and the pressurisation valve. In some embodiments, the flow rate sensor may include a sliding drawer, a restoring spring, and a sensor for detecting the position of said drawer in order to indicate the flow passing through the flow rate sensor. The system may include a device arranged to drive the pump with a controllable rotational speed and a control configured to control the device on the basis of a measurement supplied by the flow rate sensor, in such a way as to adapt the rotational speed of the pump shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Loïc Pora, Huguette De Wergifosse
  • Publication number: 20250044194
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method which comprises the following steps: —measuring a pressure difference at terminals of a metering device (22) supplied with fuel by a pump (20); —calculating a position of a valve (24) regulating the pressure difference; —determining at least one estimated position of the valve from the pressure difference and at least one reference function giving the pressure difference as a function of the position; —calculating at least one value representing a drift of the pump (20) using the calculated position and the estimated position; and—comparing the value with a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2022
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Applicant: Safran Aircraft Engines
    Inventors: Loïc PORA, Virgile Nicolas Bastien GARNIER
  • Patent number: 11927141
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for metering fuel in a fuel supply circuit of an aircraft engine, the circuit comprising a metering device for a fuel circuit of an aircraft engine comprising, downstream of a fuel pumping system and upstream of injectors: —a fuel inlet (E), —a metering device (FMV) and a cut-off device (HPSOV) arranged in series, —an adjustment valve (VR) arranged on a fuel recirculation branch, such that any excess fuel supplied by the pumping system is fed back into the fuel circuit, wherein at least one flow-metric sensor (WFM1) is arranged on the recirculation branch, a density value for the metered fuel is determined according to the sensor measurements and the metering device is controlled according to the fuel density value thus determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Arnaud Bernard Clément Thomas Joudareff, Loïc Pora
  • Patent number: 11920606
    Abstract: Fuel pump for an aircraft engine, comprising an inducer and a centrifugal impeller fixed together and having an axis of rotation, an annular space spacing axially the inducer and the impeller, and two contact portions between the inducer and the impeller disposed radially outside the annular space, a first plenum chamber and a second plenum chamber, in which the inducer and the impeller are spaced axially from each other, each being disposed between the two contact portions, the plenum chambers being symmetrical to each other with respect to the axis of rotation and in fluid communication with the annular space, the centrifugal impeller comprising a plurality of axial balancing holes distributed about the axis of rotation and opening out into the annular space at one end, and into a downstream space of the impeller at the other end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Petar Dimitrov Tomov, Loïc Pora, Sébastien Christophe Loval
  • Patent number: 11815034
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for supplying fuel to a turbomachine. In some embodiments, the system includes a pump, a hydromechanical group, a drive device positioned to drive the pump, and a branch comprising actuators for controlling variable geometry. In some embodiments, the system regulates a fuel flow rate based at least in part on a flow rate set point value. In some embodiments, the system may include a flow rate sensor. A flow rate loop may be arranged to determine a pressure set point value at the outlet of the pump according to the flow rate set point value and a measurement supplied by the flow rate sensor. In some embodiments, a pressure sensor may be positioned in the fuel circuit at the outlet of the pump. In further embodiments, a pressure loop may control the speed of the drive device based at least on a difference between a pressure measurement supplied by the pressure sensor and the pressure set point value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Huguette De Wergifosse, Loïc Pora, Eric De Wergifosse
  • Publication number: 20230279867
    Abstract: Fuel pump for an aircraft engine, comprising an inducer and a centrifugal impeller fixed together and having an axis of rotation, an annular space spacing axially the inducer and the impeller, and two contact portions between the inducer and the impeller disposed radially outside the annular space, a first plenum chamber and a second plenum chamber, in which the inducer and the impeller are spaced axially from each other, each being disposed between the two contact portions, the plenum chambers being symmetrical to each other with respect to the axis of rotation and in fluid communication with the annular space, the centrifugal impeller comprising a plurality of axial balancing holes distributed about the axis of rotation and opening out into the annular space at one end, and into a downstream space of the impeller at the other end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Applicant: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Petar Dimitrov TOMOV, Loïc PORA, Sébastien Christophe LOVAL
  • Patent number: 11561147
    Abstract: Device (1) for testing a hydraulic part (10) for a turbomachine, the device comprising a closed loop for circulation of a working fluid, the loop comprising at least one recirculation pump (7) configured to circulate the working fluid in the loop according to a direction of circulation, at least one valve (4) for regulating the flow rate of a working fluid, at least one reservoir (A) configured to store the working fluid, a test section (2) configured to accommodate the hydraulic part (10), the device (1) further comprising a gas injection means (8) configured to inject and dissolve, at atmospheric pressure, a gas in the working fluid stored in the reservoir (A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Loïc Pora, Petar Tomov, Théodore Magne
  • Publication number: 20220268217
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for metering fuel in a fuel supply circuit of an aircraft engine, the circuit comprising a metering device for a fuel circuit of an aircraft engine comprising, downstream of a fuel pumping system and upstream of injectors: —a fuel inlet (E), —a metering device (FMV) and a cut-off device (HPSOV) arranged in series, —an adjustment valve (VR) arranged on a fuel recirculation branch, such that any excess fuel supplied by the pumping system is fed back into the fuel circuit, wherein at least one flow-metric sensor (WFM1) is arranged on the recirculation branch, a density value for the metered fuel is determined according to the sensor measurements and the metering device is controlled according to the fuel density value thus determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2020
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Applicant: Safran Aircraft Engines
    Inventors: Arnaud Bernard Clément Thomas JOUDAREFF, Loïc PORA
  • Publication number: 20200363280
    Abstract: Device (1) for testing a hydraulic part (10) for a turbomachine, the device comprising a closed loop for circulation of a working fluid, the loop comprising at least one recirculation pump (7) configured to circulate the working fluid in the loop according to a direction of circulation, at least one valve (4) for regulating the flow rate of a working fluid, at least one reservoir (A) configured to store the working fluid, a test section (2) configured to accommodate the hydraulic part (10), the device (1) further comprising a gas injection means (8) configured to inject and dissolve, at atmospheric pressure, a gas in the working fluid stored in the reservoir (A).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Applicant: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Loïc PORA, Petar TOMOV, Théodore MAGNE
  • Publication number: 20200003123
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for supplying fuel to a turbomachine. In some embodiments, a fuel circuit includes a pressurisation valve at an outlet of the system and a pump. The circuit may include a flow rate sensor arranged between the outlet of the pump and the pressurisation valve. In some embodiments, the flow rate sensor may include a sliding drawer, a restoring spring, and a sensor for detecting the position of said drawer in order to indicate the flow passing through the flow rate sensor. The system may include a device arranged to drive the pump with a controllable rotational speed and a control configured to control the device on the basis of a measurement supplied by the flow rate sensor, in such a way as to adapt the rotational speed of the pump shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Applicant: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Loïc Pora, Huguette De Wergifosse
  • Publication number: 20190390606
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for supplying fuel to a turbomachine. In some embodiments, the system includes a pump, a hydromechanical group, a drive device positioned to drive the pump, and a branch comprising actuators for controlling variable geometry. In some embodiments, the system regulates a fuel flow rate based at least in part on a flow rate set point value. In some embodiments, the system may include a flow rate sensor. A flow rate loop may be arranged to determine a pressure set point value at the outlet of the pump according to the flow rate set point value and a measurement supplied by the flow rate sensor. In some embodiments, a pressure sensor may be positioned in the fuel circuit at the outlet of the pump. In further embodiments, a pressure loop may control the speed of the drive device based at least on a difference between a pressure measurement supplied by the pressure sensor and the pressure set point value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Applicant: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Huguette De Wergifosse, Loïc Pora, Eric De Wergifosse
  • Patent number: 8991148
    Abstract: A jet pump (14) is inserted between the low-pressure pump and a high-pressure fuel pump (16). A fuel metering unit (20) includes a metering valve (22) which delivers a regulated fuel flow to a feed line (30), and a bypass valve (24) which diverts to a primary intake (14a) of the jet pump the excess fuel flow supplied by the high-pressure pump. An overspeed protection unit (50) includes a control element (54) of the bypass valve (24) which causes said to fully open in the event of an overspeed of the engine. A shutoff and pressurization checkvalve (42) is mounted on the feed line and controlled by a servo-valve (44) having a high-pressure port (44a) brought to the high fuel pressure, a low-pressure port brought to the pressure of the primary intake (14a) of the jet pump and an output setting the pressure in a control chamber (42a) of the shutoff valve (42) to a value between those prevailing at the high pressure and low pressure ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Bastien Dore, Loïc Pora
  • Publication number: 20110253231
    Abstract: A jet pump (14) is inserted between the low-pressure pump and a high-pressure fuel pump (16). A fuel metering unit (20) includes a metering valve (22) which delivers a regulated fuel flow to a feed line (30), and a bypass valve (24) which diverts to a primary intake (14a) of the jet pump the excess fuel flow supplied by the high-pressure pump. An overspeed protection unit (50) includes a control element (54) of the bypass valve (24) which causes said to fully open in the event of an overspeed of the engine. A shutoff and pressurization checkvalve (42) is mounted on the feed line and controlled by a servo-valve (44) having a high-pressure port (44a) brought to the high fuel pressure, a low-pressure port brought to the pressure of the primary intake (14a) of the jet pump and an output setting the pressure in a control chamber (42a) of the shutoff valve (42) to a value between those prevailing at the high pressure and low pressure ports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: SNECMA
    Inventors: Bastien DORE, Loïc Pora