Patents by Inventor Josef Erni

Josef Erni 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).

  • Patent number: 9079293
    Abstract: A mobile collecting device (22) for the high-pressure water jet (26) of a water-jet tool (18), especially for working in confined places with difficult access in turbines or the like, in which a more flexible and safer operation is achieved by a closed collecting chamber (24), which extends over a large area and includes an outlet (30), and in which a rigid first collecting bed (34) formed of a first high-pressure-resistant material is arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Philipp Roth, Josef Erni, Walter Maurer
  • Patent number: 8820850
    Abstract: In a rolling element (10) for the polydirectional travel of a vehicle on a magnetically attractive underlying surface (19), a compact, robust and simple design is made possible in that the rolling element (10) has a spherical element (11) and at least one permanent magnet (14). The spherical element (11) supports the at least one permanent magnet (14) in such a way that the at least one permanent magnet (14) maintains its spatial orientation when the spherical element (11) rolls on the underlying surface (19), and the spherical element (11) is held in contact against the underlying surface (19) by the magnetic interaction of the at least one permanent magnet (14) with the underlying surface (19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Roland Richard Moser, Josef Erni
  • Patent number: 8220345
    Abstract: An apparatus for inspection of a gap between two surfaces, at least one of which is ferromagnetic, for example in a generator, includes a sensor platform (26) for one or more sensors (26a) and an elongated mount (23), which can be moved out, for the sensor platform (26). The mount (23) can be moved in and out of the gap through an access opening, can be moved out over the length of the gap and can be rolled up outside the gap by a drive (24). In its moved-out state, the mount (23) has a curvature in a lateral cross section. In addition, the mount (23) has a plurality of magnets (27) by which the mount (23) is brought into contact with a ferromagnetic surface. The magnets (27) are attached to the side of the mount (23) facing away from the ferromagnetic surface, ensuring that the mount (23) slides along a ferromagnetic surface. The apparatus allows inspection of gaps from a height of 4 mm and is distinguished by a simple and physically small design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Roland Moser, Niklaus Hugi, Bernhard Mark, Philipp Isler, Simon Honold, Josef Erni
  • Publication number: 20120144937
    Abstract: In a rolling element (10) for the polydirectional travel of a vehicle on a magnetically attractive underlying surface (19), a compact, robust and simple design is made possible in that the rolling element (10) has a spherical element (11) and at least one permanent magnet (14). The spherical element (11) supports the at least one permanent magnet (14) in such a way that the at least one permanent magnet (14) maintains its spatial orientation when the spherical element (11) rolls on the underlying surface (19), and the spherical element (11) is held in contact against the underlying surface (19) by the magnetic interaction of the at least one permanent magnet (14) with the underlying surface (19).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventors: Roland Richard Moser, Josef Erni
  • Patent number: 7624827
    Abstract: A drive unit (10) for an inspection vehicle which can be used on ferromagnetic bases (19), especially in generators, which drive unit includes a motor-powered crawler track (18) and also magnetic devices for holding the drive unit (10) on the base (19). An improved insensitivity to uneven spots in the base is achieved by the crawler track (18), in the region where it bears upon the base (19), being guided via inner, spring-mounted running wheels (12), and by the magnetic devices being integrated in the running wheels (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Roland Moser, Bernhard Mark, Reto Kaufmann, Josef Erni
  • Publication number: 20090256584
    Abstract: An apparatus for inspection of a gap between two surfaces, at least one of which is ferromagnetic, for example in a generator, includes a sensor platform (26) for one or more sensors (26a) and an elongated mount (23), which can be moved out, for the sensor platform (26). The mount (23) can be moved in and out of the gap through an access opening, can be moved out over the length of the gap and can be rolled up outside the gap by a drive (24). In its moved-out state, the mount (23) has a curvature in a lateral cross section. In addition, the mount (23) has a plurality of magnets (27) by which the mount (23) is brought into contact with a ferromagnetic surface. The magnets (27) are attached to the side of the mount (23) facing away from the ferromagnetic surface, ensuring that the mount (23) slides along a ferromagnetic surface. The apparatus allows inspection of gaps from a height of 4 mm and is distinguished by a simple and physically small design.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Inventors: Roland Moser, Niklaus Hugi, Bernhard Mark, Philipp Isler, Simon Honold, Josef Erni
  • Publication number: 20090178526
    Abstract: A mobile collecting device (22) for the high-pressure water jet (26) of a water-jet tool (18), especially for working in confined places with difficult access in turbines or the like, in which a more flexible and safer operation is achieved by a closed collecting chamber (24), which extends over a large area and includes an outlet (30), and in which a rigid first collecting bed (34) formed of a first high-pressure-resistant material is arranged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventors: Philipp Roth, Josef Erni, Walter Maurer
  • Publication number: 20080308324
    Abstract: A drive unit (10) for an inspection vehicle which can be used on ferromagnetic bases (19), especially in generators, which drive unit includes a motor-powered crawler track (18) and also magnetic devices for holding the drive unit (10) on the base (19). An improved insensitivity to uneven spots in the base is achieved by the crawler track (18), in the region where it bears upon the base (19), being guided via inner, spring-mounted running wheels (12), and by the magnetic devices being integrated in the running wheels (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventors: Roland Moser, Bernhard Mark, Reto Kaufmann, Josef Erni