Patents by Inventor VINCENT FRAUX
VINCENT FRAUX 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: 11081775Abstract: A deployable structure includes a plurality of interconnected elongated support members, deployed from a stowed state to an expanded state in which the support members are arranged in a ring. Each support member is provided with a connector (28) for longitudinal movement during deployment with respect to the support member. An actuating support member (27) has a drive member (50) for longitudinal movement with respect to the actuating support member, and an electromagnetic device arranged to drive the drive member in one direction with respect to the actuating support member. The drive member is connected to the connector by a lost motion connector, thus the connector is capable of moving in said one direction even if the drive member is not moved by the electromechanical device.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2018Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: OXFORD SPACE SYSTEMS LIMITEDInventors: Juan Reveles-Wilson, Vincent Fraux, Martin Humphries
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Patent number: 10738498Abstract: A deployable mast structure (100) is disclosed, comprising a body configured to adopt a tubular shape when the mast structure is in a deployed configuration, and a plurality of openings (102) formed in a wall of the body so as to define a plurality of integral tape-spring hinges (103) in the wall of the body, the plurality of openings being configured so as to permit the body to collapse along its longitudinal axis into a stowed configuration when the tape-spring hinges are buckled. In the stowed configuration, the integral tape-spring hinges are configured to exert a force which urges the structure towards the deployed configuration. Since the mast structure collapses along its longitudinal axis, the structure only occupies a small volume in the stowed configuration. A method of fabricating the deployable mast structure from a layered composite material is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2017Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: OXFORD SPACE SYSTEMS LTDInventors: Juan Reveles, Vincent Fraux, Yoshiro Ogi
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Publication number: 20200006838Abstract: A deployable structure includes a plurality of interconnected elongated support members, deployed from a stowed state to an expanded state in which the support members are arranged in a ring. Each support member is provided with a connector (28) for longitudinal movement during deployment with respect to the support member. An actuating support member (27) has a drive member (50) for longitudinal movement with respect to the actuating support member, and an electromagnetic device arranged to drive the drive member in one direction with respect to the actuating support member. The drive member is connected to the connector by a lost motion connector, thus the connector is capable of moving in said one direction even if the drive member is not moved by the electromechanical device.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2018Publication date: January 2, 2020Applicant: Oxford Space Systems LimitedInventors: Juan REVELES-WILSON, Vincent FRAUX, Martin HUMPHRIES
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Publication number: 20190359354Abstract: A deployable wrapped rib assembly is disclosed, comprising a hub, a plurality of ribs each being connected to the hub at a fixed angle such that each rib is inclined with respect to a perimeter of the hub, each one of the plurality of ribs being capable of being wrapped around the hub in a stowed configuration and configured to extend from the perimeter of the hub in a deployed configuration, and sheet material connected between the ribs. In a deployed configuration, the sheet material is held taut between the ribs. The ribs may have a lenticular cross-section, and/or may be attached to the hub at an angle with respect to the outer surface of the hub. A method of fabricating the deployable wrapped rib assembly is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2017Publication date: November 28, 2019Inventors: Yoshiro OGI, Juan REVELES, Vincent FRAUX, Ashley DOVE-JAY
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Publication number: 20190277051Abstract: A deployable mast structure (100) is disclosed, comprising a body configured to adopt a tubular shape when the mast structure is in a deployed configuration, and a plurality of openings (102) formed in a wall of the body so as to define a plurality of integral tape-spring hinges (103) in the wall of the body, the plurality of openings being configured so as to permit the body to collapse along its longitudinal axis into a stowed configuration when the tape-spring hinges are buckled. In the stowed configuration, the integral tape-spring hinges are configured to exert a force which urges the structure towards the deployed configuration. Since the mast structure collapses along its longitudinal axis, the structure only occupies a small volume in the stowed configuration. A method of fabricating the deployable mast structure from a layered composite material is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2017Publication date: September 12, 2019Inventors: Juan REVELES, Vincent FRAUX, Yoshiro OGI
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Publication number: 20180297720Abstract: A hinge (1) attaches between two elements (4) in a deployable structure. The hinge (1) includes support members (2) for attaching to or forming part of the elements (4). The hinge (1) also includes two gears (8) in mesh with each other, each gear (8) attached to a support member (2), with the gears (8) rotating about parallel axes. The hinge also includes a tape spring (16) attached to and extending between the support members (2). The tape spring (16), when extended longitudinally, lies substantially in a plane parallel to the axes of the gears. The tape spring (16) is arranged to actuate the hinge from a folded configuration towards an extended configuration. The hinge (1) also includes a retaining member (18) attached to the gears (8) and/or the support members (2). The retaining member (18) is arranged to restrict the separation of the gears (8) in a direction extending between the axes of the gears.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2016Publication date: October 18, 2018Inventors: Vincent Fraux, Juan Reveles-Wilson
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Patent number: 9989088Abstract: A linear bearing (1) includes a collar (2) arranged to receive a shaft (30) therethrough. The linear bearing (1) also has at least one resiliently sprung member (12) mounted within the collar (2) that contacts the shaft (30) when the shaft (30) is mounted inside the collar (2). The at least one resiliently sprung member (12) is arranged to permit displacement of the collar (2), relative to the shaft (30), in a direction substantially perpendicular to the main axis of the collar (2).Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2015Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: OXFORD SPACE SYSTEMS LIMITEDInventors: Juan Reveles, Vincent Fraux
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Publication number: 20170051787Abstract: A linear bearing (1) includes a collar (2) arranged to receive a shaft (30) therethrough. The linear bearing (1) also has at least one resiliently sprung member (12) mounted within the collar (2) that contacts the shaft (30) when the shaft (30) is mounted inside the collar (2). The at least one resiliently sprung member (12) is arranged to permit displacement of the collar (2), relative to the shaft (30), in a direction substantially perpendicular to the main axis of the collar (2).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2015Publication date: February 23, 2017Inventors: JUAN REVELES, VINCENT FRAUX