Patents by Inventor Thomas LEPAGE
Thomas LEPAGE 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).
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Patent number: 10676179Abstract: The invention relates to an electromechanical braking method for an aircraft having at least one electromechanical brake 2 fitted to at least one braked wheel 1 of the aircraft, the brake 2 having friction members 3 and a plurality of electromechanical actuators 4, each actuator 4 comprising a pusher 5 suitable for being moved by means of an electric motor 6 to selectively apply a pressing force on the friction members 3. According to the invention, for a given braking operation, a total braking force to be applied against the friction members 3 of the brake is distributed in non-uniform manner amongst the actuators 4 of the brake, such that at least two actuators 4 apply respective different forces.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2013Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTYInventors: Marion Laur, Thomas LePage, Jean-Frederic Diebold, Philippe Chico
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Patent number: 9988158Abstract: A DC electrical generation system for an aircraft propelled by a turbine engine, such as a turbojet, includes at least one electrical energy storage capacity, at least one generator driven mechanically by a rotation shaft of the turbine engine and electrical connections between the electrical energy storage capacity, the generator and the aircraft equipment for powering the above-mentioned equipment with DC current, also including at least one alternative for supplying DC current to the equipment, which are autonomous in relation to any mechanical driving by a rotation shaft of the turbine engine, and a device that can cut-off power to the generator(s) and simultaneously activate the alternative current supply. The power cut-off device for triggering power cut-off and activating the alternative current supply is controlled by a control or operating parameter of the turbine engine. The alternative current supply is preferably formed by one or more supercapacitors.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2014Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: SNECMAInventors: Arnaud Lebrun, Thomas Lepage, Darragh McGrath
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Patent number: 9821736Abstract: A device for ventilating and electrically powering a computer of an engine of an aircraft, the device including a feed mechanism feeding air to a proximity of the computer and a fan connected to a drive mechanism and configured to generate a stream of air for ventilating the computer. The fan is mounted in the air feed mechanism, and the drive mechanism includes an electrical machine configured to operate as a motor for driving the fan, and as a generator for powering the computer, a rotor of the machine when operating as a generator being driven by the fan, which is itself driven by a stream of air flowing in or leaving the air feed mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2013Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: SNECMAInventors: Thomas Lepage, Bruno Robert Gaully
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Patent number: 9815447Abstract: A method for monitoring at least two aircraft wheel electromechanical braking actuators. For each electromechanical actuator, the method includes first determining a current value representative of the power supply current of the electromechanical actuator and determining a reference current value estimated from the power supply currents of at least one other electromechanical actuator. Then, the representative current value and the reference current value are compared. Any abnormal operation of the electromechanical actuator is detected when the difference between the representative current value and the reference current value is above a predetermined threshold.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2015Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTYInventors: Philippe Chico, Frédéric Ragot, François Bonigen, Thomas Lepage
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Patent number: 9574633Abstract: A method for monitoring a blocking member (12) of an electromechanical actuator (1). The monitoring method comprising the steps of: determining a value representative of a power supply current of a motor (11) during an off-load operating phase of the electromechanical actuator (1); comparing the value representative of the power supply current with a predetermined current threshold defined from nominal off-load operating characteristics of the electromechanical actuator (1); and detecting an accidental locking of the blocking member (12) when the value representative of the power supply current is above or equal to the predetermined current threshold. There also is an electromechanical actuator (1) comprising a blocking member (12) monitored by such a method.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2015Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTYInventors: Thomas Lepage, Philippe Chico, Francois Bonigen, Frederic Ragot
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Publication number: 20170022906Abstract: A supply system for supplying fluid to a turbomachine including a fluid tank, a downstream portion located downstream from the tank, and a cutoff valve located between the tank and the downstream portion. The cutoff valve is configured to be at least partially open when a rotational speed of a shaft of the turbomachine is higher than a first threshold and in the absence of a fire detected in the turbomachine. The cutoff valve is closed when the two following conditions are satisfied: the rotational speed of the shaft is higher than the first threshold, and the rotational speed of the shaft was lower than the first threshold when a fire was detected in the turbomachine during the flight.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2015Publication date: January 26, 2017Applicant: SNECMAInventors: Thomas LEPAGE, Antoine LAIGLE, Matthieu ATTALLI
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Patent number: 9422054Abstract: An aircraft electromechanical braking system comprising a braking control unit 10 and at least one electromechanical brake 1, the brake 1 being fitted with at least one electromechanical actuator 4 having a pusher 6 suitable for being moved by means of an electric motor 7. The actuator 4 also has a blocking member 8 for blocking the pusher 6 in position. The control unit 10 is adapted to cause the braking system to operate in an additional braking mode referred to as “combined” mode, in which the motor 7 is activated to bring the pusher 6 into a position in which it exerts a given holding force, and then the blocking member 8 is activated, while activation of the motor 7 is maintained.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2013Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTYInventors: Dominique Onfroy, Thomas Lepage, Franck Selles, Frédéeric Ragot
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Publication number: 20160083106Abstract: A DC electrical generation system for an aircraft propelled by a turbine engine, such as a turbojet, includes at least one electrical energy storage capacity, at least one generator driven mechanically by a rotation shaft of the turbine engine and electrical connections between the electrical energy storage capacity, the generator and the aircraft equipment for powering the above-mentioned equipment with DC current, also including at least one alternative for supplying DC current to the equipment, which are autonomous in relation to any mechanical driving by a rotation shaft of the turbine engine, and a device that can cut-off power to the generator(s) and simultaneously activate the alternative current supply. The power cut-off device for triggering power cut-off and activating the alternative current supply is controlled by a control or operating parameter of the turbine engine. The alternative current supply is preferably formed by one or more supercapacitors.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2014Publication date: March 24, 2016Applicant: SNECMAInventors: Arnaud LEBRUN, Thomas LEPAGE, Darragh MCGRATH
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Publication number: 20150217748Abstract: A method for monitoring at least two aircraft wheel electromechanical braking actuators. For each electromechanical actuator, the method includes first determining a current value representative of the power supply current of the electromechanical actuator and determining a reference current value estimated from the power supply currents of at least one other electromechanical actuator. Then, the representative current value and the reference current value are compared. Any abnormal operation of the electromechanical actuator is detected when the difference between the representative current value and the reference current value is above a predetermined threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2015Publication date: August 6, 2015Applicant: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTYInventors: Philippe CHICO, Frédéric RAGOT, François BONIGEN, Thomas LEPAGE
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Publication number: 20150198209Abstract: A method for monitoring a blocking member (12) of an electromechanical actuator (1). The monitoring method comprising the steps of: determining a value representative of a power supply current of a motor (11) during an off-load operating phase of the electromechanical actuator (1); comparing the value representative of the power supply current with a predetermined current threshold defined from nominal off-load operating characteristics of the electromechanical actuator (1); and detecting an accidental locking of the blocking member (12) when the value representative of the power supply current is above or equal to the predetermined current threshold. There also is an electromechanical actuator (1) comprising a blocking member (12) monitored by such a method.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2015Publication date: July 16, 2015Applicant: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTYInventors: Thomas LEPAGE, Philippe CHICO, Francois BONIGEN, Frederic RAGOT
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Publication number: 20150183387Abstract: A device for ventilating and electrically powering a computer of an engine of an aircraft, the device including a feed mechanism feeding air to a proximity of the computer and a fan connected to a drive mechanism and configured to generate a stream of air for ventilating the computer. The fan is mounted in the air feed mechanism, and the drive mechanism includes an electrical machine configured to operate as a motor for driving the fan, and as a generator for powering the computer, a rotor of the machine when operating as a generator being driven by the fan, which is itself driven by a stream of air flowing in or leaving the air feed mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2013Publication date: July 2, 2015Applicant: SNECMAInventors: Thomas Lepage, Bruno Robert Gaully
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Publication number: 20140116821Abstract: An aircraft electromechanical braking system comprising a braking control unit 10 and at least one electromechanical brake 1, the brake 1 being fitted with at least one electromechanical actuator 4 having a pusher 6 suitable for being moved by means of an electric motor 7. The actuator 4 also has a blocking member 8 for blocking the pusher 6 in position. The control unit 10 is adapted to cause the braking system to operate in an additional braking mode referred to as “combined” mode, in which the motor 7 is activated to bring the pusher 6 into a position in which it exerts a given holding force, and then the blocking member 8 is activated, while activation of the motor 7 is maintained.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2013Publication date: May 1, 2014Applicant: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTYInventors: Dominique ONFROY, Thomas LEPAGE, Franck SELLES, Frédéric RAGOT
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Publication number: 20140116814Abstract: The invention relates to an electromechanical braking method for an aircraft having at least one electromechanical brake 2 fitted to at least one braked wheel 1 of the aircraft, the brake 2 having friction members 3 and a plurality of electromechanical actuators 4, each actuator 4 comprising a pusher 5 suitable for being moved by means of an electric motor 6 to selectively apply a pressing force on the friction members 3. According to the invention, for a given braking operation, a total braking force to be applied against the friction members 3 of the brake is distributed in non-uniform manner amongst the actuators 4 of the brake, such that at least two actuators 4 apply respective different forces.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2013Publication date: May 1, 2014Applicant: Messier-Bugatti-DowtyInventors: Marion LAUR, Thomas LEPAGE, Jean-Frederic DIEBOLD, Philippe CHICO
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Patent number: 3984041Abstract: Plier-like grommet-setting tool has integral pyramidal punch and annular fabric cutter on one jaw and turntable on opposite jaw. Turntable presents two zones, one for cutting a hole in the fabric with the use of the cutter, and the other for setting the grommet eyelet with the use of the punch. Turntable may be readily shifted to present the proper zone under the punch. The tool is especially adapted for setting heavy-duty eyelets and grommets.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 1975Date of Patent: October 5, 1976Assignee: Scovill Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Gerard Thomas LePage, Douglas Edward Sweeney