Patents by Inventor Kurt-Henry Mindermann

Kurt-Henry Mindermann 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: 8618493
    Abstract: Apparatus for detecting the presence of a flame using a UV tube which can be supplied with a DC voltage via an operating resistor, at least two UV tubes which are arranged in this manner and have substantially the same field of vision being provided, and the two UV tubes being able to be switched on and off in succession with a gap of a predefined time within a predetermined interval of time via a controller, with the result that the UV tubes are switched on for a predeterminable period of time, the number of pulses obtained from each UV tube being able to be recorded and compared with one another, the anode of the respective UV tube being able to be connected to earth potential between the operations of switching the UV tubes off and on in order to draw ionization in the discharge area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: BFI Automation Dipl-Ing. Kurt-Henry Mindermann GmbH
    Inventors: Kurt-Henry Mindermann, Jens Michael Mindermann
  • Publication number: 20120138809
    Abstract: Apparatus for detecting the presence of a flame using a UV tube which can be supplied with a DC voltage via an operating resistor, at least two UV tubes which are arranged in this manner and have substantially the same field of vision being provided, and the two UV tubes being able to be switched on and off in succession with a gap of a predefined time within a predetermined interval of time via a controller, with the result that the UV tubes are switched on for a predeterminable period of time, the number of pulses obtained from each UV tube being able to be recorded and compared with one another, the anode of the respective UV tube being able to be connected to earth potential between the operations of switching the UV tubes off and on in order to draw ionization in the discharge area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Kurt-Henry Mindermann, Jens Michael Mindermann
  • Patent number: 6700495
    Abstract: The invention relates to a flame monitor for an oil- or gas-operated burner, having a photosensor which detects the optical flame radiation and an evaluation circuit which is connected downstream of said photosensor and ascertains whether the radiation received by the photosensor corresponds to that of a burning flame and, in the event of a negative result, generates a switch-off signal for the fuel supply, wherein the evaluation circuit determines the number of zero crossings of the processed signal of the photosensor within a predetermined unit of time and compares it with a predetermined limit value, a switch-off signal for the fuel supply being generated when said limit value is undershot, the signal of the photosensor, freed from the DC voltage component and noise, being processed by corresponding amplification to form square-wave pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: BFI Automation
    Inventors: Kurt-Henry Mindermann, Mirko Loncaric
  • Publication number: 20020081545
    Abstract: The invention relates to a flame monitor for an oil- or gas-operated burner, having a photosensor which detects the optical flame radiation and an evaluation circuit which is connected downstream of said photosensor and ascertains whether the radiation received by the photosensor corresponds to that of a burning flame and, in the event of a negative result, generates a switch-off signal for the fuel supply, wherein the evaluation circuit determines the number of zero crossings of the processed signal of the photosensor within a predetermined unit of time and compares it with a predetermined limit value, a switch-off signal for the fuel supply being generated when said limit value is undershot, the signal of the photosensor, freed from the DC voltage component and noise, being processed by corresponding amplification to form square-wave pulses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventors: Kurt-Henry Mindermann, Mirko Loncaric
  • Patent number: 6168419
    Abstract: The invention relates to a flame monitor for blue-burning flames having a photosensor whose output signal is evaluated in such a manner that the fuel supply is switched off not only when the flame is extinguished but also when its color moves too far into the yellow band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Giersch GmbH
    Inventor: Kurt-Henry Mindermann
  • Patent number: 5551780
    Abstract: A method for determining characteristic features of processes forming radicals by sensing the temperature and/or the concentration of radicals with detectors in zones that are monitored by at least 2 detectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: RWE Entsorgung
    Inventors: Franz Wintrich, Dieter Kaiser, Holger Eisenloher, Kurt-Henry Mindermann
  • Patent number: 5209355
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for sorting particulate solids material. The material is subjected to a microwave field and absorbs energy to an extent depending upon the dielectric properties of the individual particles. The absorbed energy heats the particles, and pyrodetectors detect the heat radiation. Detector output signals control pressurized air jets to remove particles from the waste material which are detected to be colder than the remainder of the bulk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Inventor: Kurt-Henry Mindermann
  • Patent number: 4984524
    Abstract: The combustion of fuel having a highly fluctuating thermal value is controlled to permit optimization of air supply and reduction of waste gas impurities. The fuel passes through a combustion chamber having a degassing and evaporation zone, a primary combustion zone, and a secondary combustion zone. Measurements are taken in the evaporation and degassification zone to determine the thermal value of the fuel. This is done by detecting the intensity of H.sub.2 O and/or CO.sub.2 spectra emanating from the fuel. The measurement results are utilized to optimize the combustion parameters. Such measurements are also made in the following zones in order to provide further control of the combustion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1991
    Inventors: Kurt-Henry Mindermann, Franz Wintrich
  • Patent number: 4895082
    Abstract: The combustion of fuel having a highly fluctuating thermal value is controlled to permit optimization of air supply and reduction of waste gas impurities. The fuel passes through a combustion chamber having a degassing and evaporation zone, a primary combustion zone, and a secondary combustion zone. Measurements are taken in the evaporation and degassification zone to determine the thermal value of the fuel. This is done by detecting the intensity of H.sub.2 O and/or CO.sub.2 spectra emanating from the fuel. The measurement results are utilized to optimize the combustion parameters. Such measurements are also made in the following zones in order to provide further control of the combustion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1990
    Inventors: Kurt-Henry Mindermann, Franz Wintrich