Patents by Inventor Xavier Blanchard

Xavier Blanchard 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).

  • Publication number: 20230028328
    Abstract: The unit includes a lower support cap, an upper bearing cap, and at least one bearing disposed between the caps. The unit further includes at least one stiffening insert provided with a plurality of axial through-holes, through which connecting sections of a plastics cap are accommodated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Xavier Blanchard, Bruno Montboeuf, Guillaume Jouanno, Desire Vidot
  • Patent number: 11491839
    Abstract: A suspension thrust bearing device for use with a suspension spring in an automotive suspension strut of a vehicle. The device includes an upper annular bearing member and a lower annular bearing member in relative rotation. The lower annular bearing member having a body provided with an embedded stiffening insert. The device further provides a damping element made of resilient material and interposed between the lower annular bearing member and the suspension spring. A radial flange of the damping element prevents separation from the lower side of the radial flange of the lower cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Xavier Blanchard, Guillaume Jouanno, Bruno Montboeuf, Desire Vidot
  • Patent number: 11396908
    Abstract: A suspension thrust bearing device for use with a suspension spring in an automotive suspension strut of a vehicle. The device includes a bearing having upper and lower annular bearing members in relative rotation, the lower annular bearing member, and a damping element. An axial stiffening insert in a hub of lower annular bearing member provides a lower end curved towards the interior of the device. Lower annular bearing member has at least one slender groove opening radially outwards and having a bottom end opening axially downwards, the damping element providing a portion fitted within the slender groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Xavier Blanchard, Guillaume Jouanno, Bruno Montboeuf, Desire Vidot
  • Patent number: 11370260
    Abstract: A suspension thrust bearing device for use with a suspension spring in an automotive suspension strut of a vehicle. The device provides a bearing having upper and lower annular bearing members in relative rotation, lower bearing member having a lower cup having at least one protruding indexation element. The device also provides a damping element made of resilient material and interposed between the lower cup and the suspension spring. The indexation element is made of a different material than that of the lower cup, the lower cup being made of a rigid plastic material and the indexation element being made of a resilient material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Inventors: Xavier Blanchard, Guillaume Jouanno, Bruno Montboeuf, Desire Vidot
  • Patent number: 11285770
    Abstract: A suspension thrust bearing device for use with a suspension spring in an automotive suspension strut of a vehicle. The device includes a bearing having an upper annular bearing member and a lower annular bearing member in relative rotation, and a damping element made of resilient material and interposed between the lower annular bearing member and the suspension spring. The lower annular bearing member provides an outwardly radially-extending flange, the flange being embedded within the damping element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Xavier Blanchard, Thomas Lepine, Bruno Montboeuf, Desire Vidot
  • Patent number: 11167613
    Abstract: A suspension thrust bearing device for use with a suspension spring in an automotive suspension strut of a vehicle. The device provides a bearing having upper and lower annular bearing members in relative rotation, and a damping element made of resilient material and interposed between the lower annular bearing member and the suspension spring. The damping element including at least one deflecting flange for reducing any ingress of water and other pollutants between the upper and lower annular bearing members. The damping element is provided with an annular groove open axially towards the suspension spring, the annular groove radially defining a spring support surface on an inner side, and the deflecting flange on an outer side. The deflecting flange has a frustoconical shape directed axially towards the suspension spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Xavier Blanchard, Thomas Lepine, Bruno Montboeuf, Jordan Renaudon
  • Publication number: 20210222733
    Abstract: A suspension thrust bearing device that provides a lower support cap, an upper bearing cap and at least one bearing arranged between the caps. The upper bearing cap includes an outer skirt radially surrounding the lower support cap. The lower support cap ha at least one annular flange extending towards the outer skirt of the upper bearing cap while remaining radially spaced apart from the outer skirt. The upper bearing cap further includes at least one annular rib extending axially towards an upper surface of the flange of the lower support cap while remaining axially spaced apart from the lower support cap. The annular rib is radially located between the outer skirt of the upper bearing cap and the bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Xavier Blanchard, Thomas Lepine, Julien Maffucci, Desire Vidot
  • Publication number: 20210222732
    Abstract: A suspension thrust bearing device providing a lower support cap, an upper bearing cap and at least one bearing arranged between the caps. The upper bearing cap includes an outer skirt radially surrounding the lower support cap. The lower support cap having at least one annular deflector flange extending towards the outer skirt of the upper bearing cap while remaining radially spaced apart from the outer skirt, the deflector flange having a lower inclined surface extending obliquely downwards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Xavier Blanchard, Thomas Lepine, Julien Maffucci, Desire Vidot
  • Publication number: 20210107327
    Abstract: A suspension thrust bearing device for use with a suspension spring in an automotive suspension strut of a vehicle. The device provides a bearing having upper and lower annular bearing members in relative rotation, and a damping element made of resilient material and interposed between the lower annular bearing member and the suspension spring. The damping element including at least one deflecting flange for reducing any ingress of water and other pollutants between the upper and lower annular bearing members. The damping element is provided with an annular groove open axially towards the suspension spring, the annular groove radially defining a spring support surface on an inner side, and the deflecting flange on an outer side. The deflecting flange has a frustoconical shape directed axially towards the suspension spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Xavier Blanchard, Thomas Lepine, Bruno Montboeuf, Jordan Renaudon
  • Publication number: 20200384820
    Abstract: A suspension thrust bearing device for use with a suspension spring in an automotive suspension strut of a vehicle. The device provides a bearing having upper and lower annular bearing members in relative rotation, lower bearing member having a lower cup having at least one protruding indexation element. The device also provides a damping element made of resilient material and interposed between the lower cup and the suspension spring. The indexation element is made of a different material than that of the lower cup, the lower cup being made of a rigid plastic material and the indexation element being made of a resilient material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Xavier Blanchard, Guillaume Jouanno, Bruno Montboeuf, Desire Vidot
  • Patent number: 10753389
    Abstract: A suspension thrust bearing for use with a suspension spring in an automotive suspension strut of a vehicle. The suspension thrust bearing provides a bearing having upper and lower annular bearing members in relative rotation to each other, and having upper and lower bearing surfaces, respectively, disposed in confronting alignment with each other. The lower bearing surface has a contour shaped to axially receive an upper end of the suspension spring. The upper bearing surface is shaped to be axially received by a support block attached to a body of the vehicle. The suspension thrust bearing includes an upper isolator made of resilient material and fixed to the upper bearing surface such that the upper isolator fits between the upper annular bearing member and support block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Xavier Blanchard, Francois De Lemps, Julien Maffucci, Bruno Montboeuf
  • Publication number: 20200240465
    Abstract: A suspension thrust bearing device for use with a suspension spring in an automotive suspension strut of a vehicle. The device includes a bearing having upper and lower annular bearing members in relative rotation, the lower annular bearing member, and a damping element. An axial stiffening insert in a hub of lower annular bearing member provides a lower end curved towards the interior of the device. Lower annular bearing member has at least one slender groove opening radially outwards and having a bottom end opening axially downwards, the damping element providing a portion fitted within the slender groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Xavier Blanchard, Guillaume Jouanno, Bruno Montboeuf, Desire Vidot
  • Publication number: 20200238779
    Abstract: A suspension thrust bearing device for use with a suspension spring in an automotive suspension strut of a vehicle. The device includes an upper annular bearing member and a lower annular bearing member in relative rotation. The lower annular bearing member having a body provided with an embedded stiffening insert. The device further provides a damping element made of resilient material and interposed between the lower annular bearing member and the suspension spring. A radial flange of the damping element prevents separation from the lower side of the radial flange of the lower cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Xavier Blanchard, Guillaume Jouanno, Bruno Montboeuf, Desire Vidot
  • Publication number: 20200231015
    Abstract: A suspension thrust bearing device for use with a suspension spring in an automotive suspension strut of a vehicle. The device includes a bearing having and upper annular bearing member and a lower annular bearing member in relative rotation, and a damping element made of resilient material and interposed between the lower annular bearing member and the suspension spring. The lower annular bearing member provides an outwardly radially-extending flange. The flange being embedded within the damping element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Xavier Blanchard, Thomas Lepine, Bruno Montboeuf, Desire Vidot
  • Publication number: 20200116196
    Abstract: A suspension thrust bearing for use with a suspension spring in an automotive suspension strut of a vehicle. The suspension thrust bearing provides a bearing having upper and lower annular bearing members in relative rotation to each other, and having upper and lower bearing surfaces, respectively, disposed in confronting alignment with each other. The lower bearing surface has a contour shaped to axially receive an upper end of the suspension spring. The upper bearing surface is shaped to be axially received by a support block attached to a body of the vehicle. The suspension thrust bearing includes an upper isolator made of resilient material and fixed to the upper bearing surface such that the upper isolator fits between the upper annular bearing member and support block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Xavier Blanchard, Francois De Lemps, Julien Maffucci, Bruno Montboeuf
  • Patent number: 10428869
    Abstract: A suspension thrust bearing device for use with a suspension spring in an automotive suspension strut, and having a bearing with an upper annular part and a lower annular part. The lower annular part includes an axial hub and an outwardly projected radial flange extending from the axial hub, and the lower part has an exterior support surface that axially supports an upper end of a suspension spring by the intermediate of a damping device. The damping device provides an axial portion secured to an axial hub, and a radial portion secured to a radial flange. The axial hub of the lower annular part has a plurality of radially through recesses that are axially open on an axial lower end of the axial hub. The axial portion of the damping device includes a plurality of pins that radially inwardly protrude from the axial portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Stephane Gaultier, Xavier Blanchard, Bruno Montboeuf, Desire Vidot
  • Patent number: 10384694
    Abstract: The invention concerns a bearing unit for an axlebox of a railway vehicle. The bearing unit being centered on a central axis and having a bearing configured to support an axle of a wheelset. The bearing unit also includes an annular sleeve provided with an outer periphery configured for mounting in an annular bore of a housing of the axlebox and an inner periphery configured for receiving the bearing; and a plurality of anti-rotation means distributed at the outer periphery of the annular sleeve, for preventing rotation of the annular sleeve in the housing of the axlebox. The invention also concerns a railway vehicle having such an axlebox and a maintenance process for such an axlebox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Xavier Blanchard, Thierry Le Moigne
  • Publication number: 20180372152
    Abstract: A suspension thrust bearing device for use with a suspension spring in an automotive suspension strut, and having a bearing with an upper annular part and a lower annular part. The lower annular part includes an axial hub and an outwardly projected radial flange extending from the axial hub, and the lower part has an exterior support surface that axially supports an upper end of a suspension spring by the intermediate of a damping device. The damping device provides an axial portion secured to an axial hub, and a radial portion secured to a radial flange. The axial hub of the lower annular part has a plurality of radially through recesses that are axially open on an axial lower end of the axial hub. The axial portion of the damping device includes a plurality of pins that radially inwardly protrude from the axial portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Stephane Gaultier, Xavier Blanchard, Bruno Montboeuf, Desire Vidot
  • Patent number: 9964145
    Abstract: A suspension thrust bearing provides a bearing with annular upper part and annular lower part. The lower part provides an axial hub, an outwardly projected radial flange extending from the axial hub, and a curved connecting portion between the axial hub and radial flange. The lower part provides an exterior support surface that axially supports an upper end of a suspension spring by a damping device made from resilient material. The exterior support surface provides at least one longitudinal groove, the damping device including an interior surface contacting the exterior support surface and including a complementary shape to mate with the groove. The groove extends along the connecting portion, disposed in a recessed portion between two longitudinal side walls, a first groove end on or directed towards the hub, and a second groove end on or directed towards the flange, the second groove end being a transverse wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Thomas Lepine, Xavier Blanchard, Bruno Montboeuf, Desire Vidot
  • Publication number: 20170261032
    Abstract: A suspension thrust bearing provides a bearing with annular upper part and annular lower part. The lower part provides an axial hub, an outwardly projected radial flange extending from the axial hub, and a curved connecting portion between the axial hub and radial flange. The lower part provides an exterior support surface that axially supports an upper end of a suspension spring by a damping device made from resilient material. The exterior support surface provides at least one longitudinal groove, the damping device including an interior surface contacting the exterior support surface and including a complementary shape to mate with the groove. The groove extends along the connecting portion, disposed in a recessed portion between two longitudinal side walls, a first groove end on or directed towards the hub, and a second groove end on or directed towards the flange, the second groove end being a transverse wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas Lepine, Xavier Blanchard, Bruno Montboeuf, Desire Vidot