Patents by Inventor Pierre Lafuma

Pierre Lafuma 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).

  • Permanently rotating free aerostat mobile in radial translation relative to ambient air
    Patent number: 6382557
    Abstract: The invention concerns a free lighter-than-air aerostat comprising a structure (1, 3, 4, 5) symmetrical relative to a main axis (2), at least one main sealed pressurized chamber (16), one or several particle emitting thrusters (8), adapted to drive the aerostat in rotation in one direction about the main axis (2), one or several moving flaps (9) adapted to be set either in an active state wherein they brake the aerostat rotation, or in an inoperative state wherein they offer no substantial resistance to the aerostat rotation, and on-board control means (19) adapted to control the thrusters (8) and the flaps (9) to drive the aerostat in permanent rotation about the main axis (2), and in translation perpendicular to the main axis (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (C.N.E.S.)
    Inventors: Pierre Lafuma, Andre Vargas, Jean François Joseph Evrard, Flavien Michel François Mercier