Patents by Inventor Achim Hofmann

Achim Hofmann 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: 20150107301
    Abstract: The production of a quartz glass grit comprises the granulation of pyrogenetically produced silicic acid, and the formation of a SiO2 granulate and the vitrification of the SiO2 granulate using a treatment gas, which contains at least 30% by volume of helium and/or hydrogen. Said process is time consuming and cost intensive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Walter Lehmann, Achim Hofmann, Thomas Kayser, Martin Arndt
  • Publication number: 20150052948
    Abstract: In a known method for producing a mold body from synthetic quartz glass, quartz glass granules (15) are heated in an electrically heated melt container (31) to form a softened quartz glass mass (57), and the softened quartz glass mass (57) is formed to the mold body. In order to achieve an advantageous melting behavior also in continuous melting processes, it is proposed according to the invention that synthetically produced quartz glass granules (15) of granular particles are used in which helium is enclosed, wherein said quartz glass granules (15) are produced by granulating pyrogenically produced silicic acid with the formation of a SiO2 granulate (9) and subsequent vitrification of the SiO2 granulate in a rotary kiln (1), which has a rotary tube (6) which is at least partially made of a ceramic material, and under a treatment gas that contains at least 30% by volume of helium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: Heraeus Quarzglas GmbH & Co KG
    Inventors: Walter Lehmann, Thomas Kayser, Martin Arndt, Achim Hofmann
  • Publication number: 20140360491
    Abstract: Common solar radiation receivers are equipped with a chamber for transmission of an operating gas which is directed along to an absorber for solar radiation for thermal absorption. The absorber has a dome-shaped entry window made of quartz glass, wherein the inner side facing the absorber assumes a nominal interior temperature Ti of at least 950° C. during proper use, preferably at least 1000° C., whereas the outer side facing away from the absorber is exposed to the environment and subject to risk of devitrification. The invention relates to modifying the known solar radiation receiver so that a high absorber temperature can be set and thus a high efficiency of the solar thermal heating is enabled, without increasing the risk of devitrification in the region of the outer side of the entry window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: Heraeus Quarzglas GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Klaus Becker, Achim Hofmann, Michael Hünermann, Christian Schenk
  • Publication number: 20140245919
    Abstract: A vehicle safety system includes a module including an airbag and an inflator. The inflator includes a housing (12) in which a combustion chamber (16) containing a pyrotechnic propellant is arranged in which hot gas is generated and which housing includes at least one escape orifice (22) toward the environment of the inflator (10), as well as a coolant reservoir (24) arranged in the housing (12) in which coolant is accommodated prior to activation of the inflator (10) and which has at least one coolant outlet orifice (28?). The coolant outlet orifice (28) is arranged in direct vicinity of the outlet orifice (22). Upon activation of the inflator (10) coolant flows out of the inflator into the protection system and wets an adjacent wall (32) of the protection system against which also the hot gas is flowing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: TRW Airbag Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Biebl, Michael Gabler, Achim Hofmann, Dieter Leier, Ning Wei
  • Patent number: 8794665
    Abstract: A vehicle safety system includes a module including an airbag and an inflator. The inflator includes a housing (12) in which a combustion chamber (16) containing a pyrotechnic propellant is arranged in which hot gas is generated and which housing includes at least one escape orifice (22) toward the environment of the inflator (10), as well as a coolant reservoir (24) arranged in the housing (12) in which coolant is accommodated prior to activation of the inflator (10) and which has at least one coolant outlet orifice (28?). The coolant outlet orifice (28) is arranged in direct vicinity of the outlet orifice (22). Upon activation of the inflator (10) coolant flows out of the inflator into the protection system and wets an adjacent wall (32) of the protection system against which also the hot gas is flowing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: TRW Airbag Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Biebl, Michael Gabler, Achim Hofmann, Dieter Leier, Ning Wei
  • Patent number: 8756815
    Abstract: Monolithic metal bodies (e.g., hard aluminum alloys) comprising a continuous microcavity contained within the body are disclosed. The ratio of the cross-sectional area of the metal body to the cross-sectional area of the microcavity may be not greater than 10. The produced metal bodies may be used in structural applications (e.g., aerospace vehicles) to monitor or test the integrity of the metal body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Hasso Weiland, Markus Heinimann, Robert C. Pahl, Achim Hofmann, John Liu
  • Publication number: 20140037528
    Abstract: Build-up granulation and compaction granulation methods are generally known for producing granules from porous inorganic material. In order to allow a cost-efficient yet also reproducible production of porous granules having a more pronounced hierarchical pore structure, the invention relates to a method comprising the following steps: (a) supplying a feedstock flow to a reaction zone in which the feedstock is converted to material particles by means of pyrolysis or hydrolysis, (b) depositing the material particles on a deposition surface (1a) forming a soot layer (5), (c) thermally hardening the soot layer (5) to form a porous soot plate (5a), and (d) comminuting the soot plate (5a) to form porous granules (13).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: HERAEUS QUARZGLAS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Christian Neumann, Jörg Becker, Achim Hofmann
  • Publication number: 20130333548
    Abstract: The invention relates to an unlocking device (10), especially for a vehicle protection device, comprising a locking bar (16) which in a locked position establishes a connection positive at least in portions between a first component (12) to be unlocked and a second component (14) and permits relative motion of the two components (12, 14) in an open position. The unlocking device (10) further comprises a pyrotechnical actuator (18) including a pyrotechnical element (20) having a propelling charge and a piston-cylinder unit (22) having a piston (24) and a cylinder (26), wherein motion of the piston (24) or the cylinder (26) can be generated due to activation of the propelling charge upon ignition thereof and wherein the piston-cylinder unit (22) is connected to the locking bar (16) without redirection so that upon motion of the piston (24) or the cylinder (26) the locking bar is movable from its locked position into its open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Ernst Enzmann, Achim Hofmann, Rolf Ruckdeschel, Johann Seidl
  • Patent number: 8596179
    Abstract: A pyrotechnic drive unit includes a cylinder tube (12) having an axial end (28), a piston (14) guided in the cylinder tube (12), a pyrotechnic igniter (16) which is adjacent to the piston (14) and constitutes the pyrotechnic drive, and a plastic part (18). The plastic part (18) is injection-molded to the igniter (16) and to the axial end (28) of the cylinder tube (12) so that it fastens the igniter (16) to the cylinder tube (12) and tightly closes the axial end (28) of the cylinder tube (12), the plastic part (18) engaging the piston (14) in an initial position of the drive unit (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: TRW Airbag Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Ernst Enzmann, Silvia Michl, Achim Hofmann, Rolf Ruckdeschl, Peter Roemer, Andreas Zehentmeier
  • Publication number: 20130233636
    Abstract: The invention relates to gas generating compositions for use in safety devices for vehicles. In particular, the invention relates to said compositions based on guanidine nitrate used in pedestrian protection devices. The composition substantially comprises 75 to 98% by weight of guanidine nitrate as fuel and 2 to 25% by weight of a burn accelerator selected from the group of the transition metal compounds, the metal nitrates, metal chlorates, metal perchlorates, ammonium perchlorate and mixtures thereof, wherein the transition metal compounds are selected from the compounds of the transition metals Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Zr and Mo and wherein the gas generating composition exhibits a burn rate of from 3 to 17 mm/s at 20 MPa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: TRW Airbag Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Jorg Friedrich, Achim Hofmann, Karl-Heinz Rodig, Siegfried Zeuner
  • Publication number: 20130200600
    Abstract: An inflator, especially for a protective device in a vehicle, includes a diffuser (10) which preferably forms a substantially rotation-symmetric external housing of the inflator with a closing member (12). The diffuser (10) includes more than 12, preferably more than 14, further preferably 23 discharge orifices (78) arranged in a row. Moreover, the inflator exhibits a plurality of further peculiarities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: TRW Airbag Systems Gmbh
    Inventors: Sebastian Bierwirth, Achim Hofmann, Hans-Peter Neumayer, Dieter Spitzenberger, Hannes Nuiding, Thomas Schober, Josef Bommer, Tobias Breddermann, Dietmar Schwebel
  • Publication number: 20130087065
    Abstract: A vehicle safety system includes a module including an airbag and an inflator. The inflator includes a housing (12) in which a combustion chamber (16) containing a pyrotechnic propellant is arranged in which hot gas is generated and which housing includes at least one escape orifice (22) toward the environment of the inflator (10), as well as a coolant reservoir (24) arranged in the housing (12) in which coolant is accommodated prior to activation of the inflator (10) and which has at least one coolant outlet orifice (28?). The coolant outlet orifice (28) is arranged in direct vicinity of the outlet orifice (22). Upon activation of the inflator (10) coolant flows out of the inflator into the protection system and wets an adjacent wall (32) of the protection system against which also the hot gas is flowing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Inventors: Manfred Biebl, Michael Gabler, Achim Hofmann, Dieter Leier, Ning Wei
  • Patent number: 8347650
    Abstract: A method of producing a quartz glass crucible for pulling a single crystal comprising: providing a melting mold comprising a wall having passages between outside and inside; providing an outer layer granulation consisting of first coarser SiO2 particles and forming an outer granulation layer from the outer layer granulation on the inside of the melting mold wall; providing a barrier layer granulation consisting of second finer SiO2 particles and forming a barrier granulation layer from the barrier layer granulation on the outer granulation layer; applying a negative pressure to the outside of the melting mold wall; and heating the barrier granulation layer and the outer granulation layer with formation of a quartz glass crucible with transparent inner layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Heraeus Quarzglas GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Walter Lehmann, Achim Hofmann, Thomas Kayser
  • Publication number: 20130000123
    Abstract: Monolithic metal bodies (e.g., hard aluminum alloys) comprising a continuous microcavity contained within the body are disclosed. The ratio of the cross-sectional area of the metal body to the cross-sectional area of the microcavity may be not greater than 10. The produced metal bodies may be used in structural applications (e.g., aerospace vehicles) to monitor or test the integrity of the metal body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Hasso Weiland, Markus Heinimann, Robert C. Pahl, Achim Hofmann, John Liu
  • Patent number: 8298682
    Abstract: Monolithic metal bodies (e.g., hard aluminum alloys) comprising a continuous microcavity contained within the body are disclosed. The ratio of the cross-sectional area of the metal body to the cross-sectional area of the microcavity may be not greater than 10. The produced metal bodies may be used in structural applications (e.g., aerospace vehicles) to monitor or test the integrity of the metal body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Hasso Weiland, Markus Heinimann, Robert C. Pahl, Achim Hofmann, John Liu
  • Publication number: 20120021212
    Abstract: A process for forming shaped three-dimensional products is described made from a composition containing at least one filler and an aromatic liquid crystal polymer. In one embodiment, the process includes forming a substrate such as a film, a sheet or a tube, through an extrusion process. Once the substrate is formed, the substrate is then heated and fed to a shaping process. The shaping process may comprise a thermal forming process or a blow molding process. In order to form the three-dimensional products, the aromatic liquid crystal polymer has a high heat of crystallization, a high melt temperature and/or a high melt viscosity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: TICONA GMBH
    Inventors: ACHIM HOFMANN, PAUL C. YUNG
  • Publication number: 20120006699
    Abstract: The invention relates to a modular container for the preparation of foods, in particular baked goods, by cooking, comprising a self-supporting base plate (1) having an extension in one plane, and limiting elements (4, 5, 6) which project from the plane and which are detachably connected to the base plate (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: TICONA GMBH
    Inventors: Achim Hofmann, Julia Jebsen
  • Patent number: 8017536
    Abstract: The invention starts from a known component of quartz glass for use in semiconductor manufacture, which component at least in a near-surface region shows a co-doping of a first dopant and of a second oxidic dopant, said second dopant containing one or more rare-earth metals in a concentration of 0.1-3% by wt. each (based on the total mass of SiO2 and dopant). Starting from this, to provide a quartz glass component for use in semiconductor manufacture in an environment with etching action, which component is distinguished by both high purity and high resistance to dry etching and avoids known drawbacks caused by co-doping with aluminum oxide, it is suggested according to the invention that the first dopant should be nitrogen and that the mean content of metastable hydroxyl groups of the quartz glass is less than 30 wtppm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignees: Heraeus Quarzglas GmbH & Co. KG, Shin-Etsu Quartz Products Co.
    Inventors: Juergen Weber, Tatsuhiro Sato, Ralf Schneider, Achim Hofmann, Christian Gebauer
  • Publication number: 20110101651
    Abstract: An inflator as well as a method of manufacturing an inflator, a module including an inflator and an airbag module. In an inflator, especially for a protective device in a vehicle, comprising plural components a sealant is applied in the area of abutting components, especially a sealant which adheres to both abutting components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventors: Sebastian Bierwirth, Achim Hofmann, Hans-Peter Neumayer, Dieter Spitzenberger, Franz Fuerstenberger, Hannes Nuiding, Dieter Leier, Georg Schoenhuber, Joerg Friedrich
  • Patent number: 7793592
    Abstract: A component of a safety system in motor vehicles comprises a core which has end and side faces and is made of an explosive material. The component further comprises a jacket made of a solid semiconductor material that surrounds the explosive material on the side faces of the core, and an ignition element situated between electric contact surfaces on one of the end faces of the core. The ignition element initiates an ignition of the explosive material when current flows through it. The explosive material consists of a porous fuel and of an oxidizer incorporated into the porous fuel. The porous fuel and the solid semiconductor are made of the same material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: TRW Airbag Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Achim Hofmann, Horst Laucht