Patents by Inventor Frank Wieland
Frank Wieland 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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Publication number: 20230382711Abstract: The invention relates to a quick-change device for a filling adapter for filling vehicles on assembly lines in the automotive industry, on which circuits and containers of the vehicles are filled with operating materials which, starting from a filling system, are fed into the respective circuits and containers via hose assemblies with pneumatic and hydraulic lines and a filling adapter, wherein a separate connection plate is arranged at the separation point of the hose assembly from the filling system, and wherein a connection block is designed as a functional counterpart to the connection plate on the filling system. It is the object of the invention to create such a quick-change device which enables automatic clamping of the connection plate and connection block and which is structurally integrated into one of these two assemblies.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2021Publication date: November 30, 2023Inventor: Frank WIELAND
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Patent number: 10479165Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating a filling adapter for filling refrigerant R744 into vehicle air conditioning systems as well as to a corresponding adapter. The adapter comprises mechanical clamping elements actuated by a pneumatically or mechanically controlled clamping piston. The clamping elements are clamped b the clamping system onto specifically designed sections of the vehicle air conditioning system for the filling process and are kept in the clamping position during the filling process. The clamping piston comprises at least two separate piston surfaces to be subjected to the pressure of two different pressurization media, one piston surface being effectively connected to the control pressure of the filling adapter and the other piston surface being effectively connected to the filling pressure of the refrigerant.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2016Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: DÜRR SOMAC GmbHInventors: Eric Selbmann, Frank Wieland, Felix Köhler
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Patent number: 10343892Abstract: A filling adapter for a container to be filled with media, in particular for the filling of containers on assembly lines for the production of motor vehicles where the filling adapter is equipped with a hose pack, electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic lines. The filling adapter has a barrel and a ball piece and is operatively connected to two media lines in a hose pack, wherein the media are redistributed in the adapter head, in which a filling valve and a vacuum valve are arranged, which are each connected to the barrel, and wherein an aeration line branches off from a vacuum line in the hose pack by means of a check valve and is connected to the ball piece.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2015Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: DÜRR SOMAC GmbHInventors: Thomas Achatz, Eric Selbmann, Frank Wieland
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Patent number: 10328767Abstract: A device for filling air conditioning systems with a refrigerant during final vehicle assembly, wherein the air conditioning system comprises a connection valve on its low and high pressure sides, via which the air conditioning system can be pressure tested, evacuated, and filled, which facilitates maintenance operations in the life cycle of the system, wherein said connection valves have different geometrical contours between the high and low pressure side and to ensure that only the respective approved refrigerant is filled into the air conditioning system, and wherein the filling is performed using a filling system brought via adapters into an operative connection with the connection valves on the low and high pressure sides. The device is designed to allow filling with two different refrigerants using just two adapters and still ensures that a proper refrigerant is filled into the respective air conditioning system.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2015Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: DÜRR SOMAC GmbHInventors: Carsten Wöhner, Frank Wieland, Daniel Wappler
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Patent number: 10329136Abstract: A filling adapter for a container to be filled with media, in particular for the filling of containers on assembly lines for the production of motor vehicles where the filling adapter is equipped with a hose pack, electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic lines. The filling adapter is equipped with a clamping drive housing with a stationary part and a receiving part for clamping claws. The receiving part can be operatively connected with a union nut such that, after loosening the union nut, the position of the clamping claws can be rotationally adjusted, allowing rotation of the filling adapter with respect to the container to be filled. A clamping drive housing includes a toothing, with which the receiving part for the clamping claws engages by way of a locking pin.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2015Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: DÜRR SOMAC GmbHInventors: Thomas Achatz, Eric Selbmann, Frank Wieland
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Patent number: 10167185Abstract: A filling adapter for a container to be filled with media, in particular for the filling of containers on assembly lines for the production of motor vehicles where the filling adapter is equipped with a hose packet, electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic lines. A filling adapter according to the disclosure achieves better fluid flow properties while reducing the overall size, production costs, and weight of the filling adapter. The filling adapter is equipped with a coaxial valve in the region of the adapter head of the filling adapter, which coaxial valve, starting from the inlet cross section, is initially provided with a flow contour extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the valve, which in the further flow course transitions into a flow contour extending at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the valve to the outlet cross section.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2015Date of Patent: January 1, 2019Assignee: DÜRR SOMAC GmbHInventors: Thomas Achatz, Eric Selbmann, Frank Wieland
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Patent number: 10118815Abstract: A filling adapter for a container to be filled with media, in particular for the filling of containers on assembly lines for the production of motor vehicles where the filling adapter is equipped with a hose pack, electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic lines. An electronic assembly (ID chip) for a maintenance check is integrated in the adapter head of the filling adapter, which assembly detects the number of use cycles of the filling adapter and compares said number with parameters which can be set in advance in such a way that when said parameters are approached, at least one prior warning is triggered, and when said parameters are reached, an associated controller is informed about the maintenance which is now due.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2015Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: DÜRR SOMAC GmbHInventors: Thomas Achatz, Eric Selbmann, Frank Wieland, André Grimm
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Patent number: 10053357Abstract: A filling adapter for a container to be filled with media, in particular for the filling of containers on assembly lines for the production of motor vehicles where the filling adapter is equipped with a hose pack, electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic lines. An interface is configured for coupling a gripping element designed as a separate assembly on the filling adapter in the region of the adapter head, wherein the interface has mechanical and electrical connecting elements which are disposed in a common plane and can be coupled to mechanical and electrical connecting elements of the gripping element which are congruent therewith.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2015Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: DÜRR SOMAC GmbHInventors: Thomas Achatz, Eric Selbmann, Frank Wieland
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Publication number: 20180162194Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating a filling adapter for filling refrigerant R744 into vehicle air conditioning systems as well as to a corresponding adapter. The adapter comprises mechanical clamping elements actuated by a pneumatically or mechanically controlled clamping piston. The clamping elements are clamped b the clamping system onto specifically designed sections of the vehicle air conditioning system for the filling process and are kept in the clamping position during the filling process. The clamping piston comprises at least two separate piston surfaces to be subjected to the pressure of two different pressurization media, one piston surface being effectively connected to the control pressure of the filling adapter and the other piston surface being effectively connected to the filling pressure of the refrigerant.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2016Publication date: June 14, 2018Applicant: DÜRR SOMAC GmbHInventors: Eric SELBMANN, Frank WIELAND, Felix KÖHLER
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Patent number: 9835392Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preventing and detecting coolant discharges from complex hydraulic systems. The aim of the invention is to configure such a method in such a way that this method in particular meets requirements for preventing/limiting the development of explosive atmospheres in working areas and for reducing measures from previously otherwise typical requirements for Ex zones. This aim is achieved in that a circuit carrying coolant is divided into small volumes that have stop valves and a relief valve, wherein a leak detection diagnosis can be carried out by means of a pressure sensor that can be integrated.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2013Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: Dürr Somac GmbHInventors: Dieter Neubert, Dany Dietel, Olaf Ulbricht, Andre Grimm, Thomas Achatz, Frank Wieland
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Publication number: 20170217754Abstract: A filling adapter for a container to be filled with media, in particular for the filling of containers on assembly lines for the production of motor vehicles where the filling adapter is equipped with a hose pack, electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic lines. An electronic assembly (ID chip) for a maintenance check is integrated in the adapter head of the filling adapter, which assembly detects the number of use cycles of the filling adapter and compares said number with parameters which can be set in advance in such a way that when said parameters are approached, at least one prior warning is triggered, and when said parameters are reached, an associated controller is informed about the maintenance which is now due.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2015Publication date: August 3, 2017Applicant: DÜRR SOMAC GmbHInventors: Thomas ACHATZ, Eric SELBMANN, Frank WIELAND, André GRIMM
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Publication number: 20170210199Abstract: A device for filling air conditioning systems with a refrigerant during final vehicle assembly, wherein the air conditioning system comprises a connection valve on its low and high pressure sides, via which the air conditioning system can be pressure tested, evacuated, and filled, which facilitates maintenance operations in the life cycle of the system, wherein said connection valves have different geometrical contours between the high and low pressure side and to ensure that only the respective approved refrigerant is filled into the air conditioning system, and wherein the filling is performed using a filling system brought via adapters into an operative connection with the connection valves on the low and high pressure sides. The device is designed to allow filling with two different refrigerants using just two adapters and still ensures that a proper refrigerant is filled into the respective air conditioning system.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2015Publication date: July 27, 2017Applicant: DÜRR SOMAC GmbHInventors: Carsten WÖHNER, Frank WIELAND, Daniel WAPPLER
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Publication number: 20170137280Abstract: A filling adapter for a container to be filled with media, in particular for the filling of containers on assembly lines for the production of motor vehicles where the filling adapter is equipped with a hose pack, electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic lines. An interface is configured for coupling a gripping element designed as a separate assembly on the filling adapter in the region of the adapter head, wherein the interface has mechanical and electrical connecting elements which are disposed in a common plane and can be coupled to mechanical and electrical connecting elements of the gripping element which are congruent therewith.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2015Publication date: May 18, 2017Applicant: DÜRR SOMAC GmbHInventors: Thomas ACHATZ, Eric SELBMANN, Frank WIELAND
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Publication number: 20170137279Abstract: A filling adapter for a container to be filled with media, in particular for the filling of containers on assembly lines for the production of motor vehicles where the filling adapter is equipped with a hose packet, electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic lines. A filling adapter according to the disclosure achieves better fluid flow properties while reducing the overall size, production costs, and weight of the filling adapter. The filling adapter is equipped with a coaxial valve in the region of the adapter head of the filling adapter, which coaxial valve, starting from the inlet cross section, is initially provided with a flow contour extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the valve, which in the further flow course transitions into a flow contour extending at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the valve to the outlet cross section.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2015Publication date: May 18, 2017Applicant: DÜRR SOMAC GmbHInventors: Thomas ACHATZ, Eric SELBMANN, Frank WIELAND
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Publication number: 20170137276Abstract: A filling adapter for a container to be filled with media, in particular for the filling of containers on assembly lines for the production of motor vehicles where the filling adapter is equipped with a hose pack, electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic lines. The filling adapter is equipped with a clamping drive housing with a stationary part and a receiving part for clamping claws. The receiving part can be operatively connected with a union nut such that, after loosening the union nut, the position of the clamping claws can be rotationally adjusted, allowing rotation of the filling adapter with respect to the container to be filled. A clamping drive housing includes a toothing, with which the receiving part for the clamping claws engages by way of a locking pin.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2015Publication date: May 18, 2017Applicant: DÜRR SOMAC GmbHInventors: Thomas ACHATZ, Eric SELBMANN, Frank WIELAND
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Publication number: 20170129765Abstract: A filling adapter for a container to be filled with media, in particular for the filling of containers on assembly lines for the production of motor vehicles where the filling adapter is equipped with a hose pack, electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic lines. The filling adapter has a barrel and a ball piece and is operatively connected to two media lines in a hose pack, wherein the media are redistributed in the adapter head, in which a filling valve and a vacuum valve are arranged, which are each connected to the barrel, and wherein an aeration line branches off from a vacuum line in the hose pack by means of a check valve and is connected to the ball piece.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2015Publication date: May 11, 2017Applicant: DÜRR SOMAC GMBHInventors: Thomas ACHATZ, Eric SELBMANN, Frank WIELAND
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Publication number: 20150083359Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preventing and detecting coolant discharges from complex hydraulic systems. The aim of the invention is to configure such a method in such a way that this method in particular meets requirements for preventing/limiting the development of explosive atmospheres in working areas and for reducing measures from previously otherwise typical requirements for Ex zones. This aim is achieved in that a circuit carrying coolant is divided into small volumes that have stop valves and a relief valve, wherein a leak detection diagnosis can be carried out by means of a pressure sensor that can be integrated.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2013Publication date: March 26, 2015Applicant: DÜRR SOMAC GmbHInventors: Dieter Neubert, Dany Dietel, Olaf Ulbricht, Andre Grimm, Thomas Achatz, Frank Wieland
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Publication number: 20080231852Abstract: A broadband light source with a sufficiently long coherence length is impinged on the optical cavity. The broadband laser light reflects from the first and second surfaces of the cavity. The two light beams, either reflected or transmitted, are phase shifted from one another by an amount proportional to the optical path length of the cavity and inversely proportional to the wavelength of the light (4?nd/?) The two light beams interfere with each other and form a modulated light beam that has a spectrum approximately like the laser's broadband spectrum multiplied by a cosine with a frequency 4?nd/?. The modulated light beam is coupled to a spectrometer that measures the intensity of the light as a function of wavelength over a range of wavelengths. The Fourier transform of the spectrum contains a peak that is related to the OPL and is located at 2*n*d where n*d is the OPL.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2007Publication date: September 25, 2008Applicant: Board of Regents, The University of Texas SystemInventors: Chih-Kang Shih, Christopher Frank Wieland, Edward Bradstreet Flagg
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Patent number: 6285098Abstract: A linear drive which is particularly suitable for drive axles of parallel structures such a hexapod arrays, comprises a carrier housing (5) and a carrier (4) that can be moved lengthwise in relation to said carrier housing, both the carrier housing and the carrier having provided thereon drive elements (11, 6) such as electrical coils or magnets. In order to achieve a highly dynamic drive performance, the carrier takes the form of a lightweight profiled body with an open cross-sectional profile. The drive elements (6, 11) on the carrier side and on the housing side, respectively, are preferably provided within the open areas of the cross-sectional profile.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2000Date of Patent: September 4, 2001Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der angewandten Forderung e.V.Inventors: Rainer Nestler, Jan Konvicka, Frank Wieland
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Patent number: 6241437Abstract: A hexapodal machining center comprising a fixed frame (1) and a support (2) which are interconnected via six struts (3) of an adjustable length. The connecting points (T1, T2, T3) of three struts on the support form a first working plane, whereas a further working plane is formed by the connecting points (T4, T5, T6) of the three further struts on the support. The frame connection points (G1, G2, G3, G4, G5, G6) of the struts are also arranged in two separate working planes. The connecting points of the two working planes of the support are superimposed such that the connecting lines of the superimposed pairs of connecting points (T1, T4; T2, T5; T3, T6) extend in parallel with each other. This allows a high degree of movability of the support in all of the six degrees of freedom. In particular, the movability in the three rotational degrees of freedom and the force receiving capacity of the support are optimized.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2000Date of Patent: June 5, 2001Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.Inventor: Frank Wieland