Patents by Inventor Ralf Muller

Ralf Muller 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: 20180329619
    Abstract: An agricultural machine, such as a tractor, includes a control or regulating system for controlling and regulating a working assembly in order to perform an agricultural work order. The control and regulating system includes at least one control unit with a control program. The control program is configurable and/or loadable as a function of any one, any combination or all of: the agricultural work order; the attachable working assembly; or operator input relating to an agricultural work order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Applicant: CLAAS Tractor SAS
    Inventors: Jan Carsten Wieckhorst, Ralf Müller, Christian Ehlert, Claus Mörsch, Robin Schütte
  • Patent number: 9895481
    Abstract: A device and a method are provided for blood treatment in a single-needle operating mode. The blood treatment device has an extracorporeal blood circuit comprising a blood supply line leading to the inlet of a blood treatment unit and a blood return line leading away from the outlet of the blood treatment unit. A blood collecting container is provided in the blood return line, and is connected to an air reservoir by a flow line. The flow connection comprises two line branches, one branch being used to transfer gas from the air reservoir into the blood collecting container and the other branch being used to transfer gas from the blood collecting container into the air reservoir. The connection branch for transferring gas from the air store into the blood collecting container can contain a compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Götz Günther, Michael Herrenbauer, Martin Lauer, Ralf Müller
  • Patent number: 9779218
    Abstract: In a method for a model-based determination of a temperature distribution of an exhaust gas post-treatment unit, a differentiation is made between steady operating states and non-steady operating states by taking into account the axial and the radial temperature distribution, and, on the basis of virtual segmentation of the post-treatment unit, in particular the radial heat transfer to the surroundings is taken into account in the model-based determination for steady operating states, and for non-steady operating states the heat transfer from the exhaust gas which flows axially through the post-treatment unit to the segments is taken into account by a heat transfer coefficient k.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH
    Inventors: Marc Hehle, Ralf Müller, Jens Niemeyer, Jörg Remele, Guido Schäffner, Holger Sinzenich, Tim Späder
  • Publication number: 20170246373
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating a medical fluid is provided which includes a treatment machine having a coupling surface, with a cassette made of a hard part having liquid-conducting passages which are covered by a flexible film being able to be coupled to the coupling surface of the treatment machine. A corresponding medical cassette is also provided. An air-free coupling of the flexible film of the cassette to the treatment machine is ensured in that air can be sucked out areally along a plane between the flexible film and the coupling surface during the coupling process and/or with a coupled cassette. A method for coupling the cassette and a method for checking the leaktightness of the cassette via the vacuum control of the air suction is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Applicant: FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Götz GÜNTHER, Jürgen HÄCKER, Markus KÖHLER, Martin LAUER, Ralf MÜLLER, Hans-Peter SCHNEIDER, Tobias WEBER, Manfred WEIS
  • Patent number: 9669145
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating a medical fluid is provided which includes a treatment machine having a coupling surface, with a cassette made of a hard part having liquid-conducting passages which are covered by a flexible film being able to be coupled to the coupling surface of the treatment machine. A corresponding medical cassette is also provided. An air-free coupling of the flexible film of the cassette to the treatment machine is ensured in that air can be sucked out areally along a plane between the flexible film and the coupling surface during the coupling process and/or with a coupled cassette. A method for coupling the cassette and a method for checking the leaktightness of the cassette via the vacuum control of the air suction is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Götz Günther, Jürgen Häcker, Markus Köhler, Martin Lauer, Ralf Müller, Hans-Peter Schneider, Tobias Weber, Manfred Weis
  • Publication number: 20170131528
    Abstract: An imaging optical unit serves within a metrology system for examining a lithography mask. The lithography mask can be arranged in an object field of the imaging optical unit. The object field is defined by two mutually perpendicular object field coordinates. The imaging optical unit has an aperture stop of which the aspect ratio in the direction of the two object field coordinates differs from 1. This results in an imaging optical unit which can be used for the examination of lithography masks that are designed for projection exposure with an anamorphic projection optical unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Johannes Ruoff, Ralf Müller, Susanne Beder, Ulrich Matejka, Hans-Jürgen Mann, Jens Timo Neumann
  • Publication number: 20170101916
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine with an exhaust gas after treatment system, which includes at least one particulate filter. The method is characterized by a parameter-controlled partial regeneration of the particulate filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventors: Philipp KLAAS, Daniel CHATTERJEE, Marc HEHLE, Norbert MARKERT, Ralf MÜLLER
  • Publication number: 20170087292
    Abstract: A device and a method are provided for blood treatment in a single-needle operating mode. The blood treatment device has an extracorporeal blood circuit comprising a blood supply line leading to the inlet of a blood treatment unit and a blood return line leading away from the outlet of the blood treatment unit. A blood collecting container is provided in the blood return line, and is connected to an air reservoir by a flow line. The flow connection comprises two line branches, one branch being used to transfer gas from the air reservoir into the blood collecting container and the other branch being used to transfer gas from the blood collecting container into the air reservoir. The connection branch for transferring gas from the air store into the blood collecting container can contain a compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Götz Günther, Michael Herrenbauer, Martin Lauer, Ralf Müller
  • Publication number: 20170080139
    Abstract: The invention relates to a check valve assembly (100) having an inlet (205) and an outlet for medical fluids, comprising a valve body (101), wherein the check valve assembly (100) in an initial state allows a flow of a working fluid and/or a sterilization fluid through the check valve assembly (100) in both directions of flow, that is from the inlet (205) to the outlet and vice versa, and wherein the check valve assembly (100) in an operating state allows only one direction of flow of the working fluid, wherein the check valve assembly (100) comprises a pin-pin-reception connection, which is embodied so that the check valve assembly (100) can be transferred from the initial state into the operating state by applying force on the pin-pin-reception connection and/or by an impression of path on the pin-pin-reception connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Stephan GÖSSMANN, Jürgen HÄCKER, Ralf MÜLLER
  • Publication number: 20170074146
    Abstract: A method for determining the aging of an oxidation catalyst in an exhaust gas aftertreatment system of an internal combustion engine, having the following steps: ascertaining a soot burn rate of a particle filter of the exhaust gas aftertreatment system; adapting a function having at least one adaptation parameter to the soot burn rate dependent on at least one variable, a value of the adaptation parameter depending on an aging of the oxidation catalyst; and determining the aging of the oxidation catalyst using the adaptation parameter value ascertained by adapting the function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Applicant: MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH
    Inventors: Boban MALETIC, Gerald FAST, Jens NIEMEYER, Tim SPÄDER, Ralf MÜLLER
  • Publication number: 20170067384
    Abstract: A method for regenerating a particle filter during the operation of an internal combustion engine, having the following steps: detecting at least one loading parameter which is characteristic of a present loading of the particle filter, wherein an active regeneration measure can be carried out recurrently in a manner dependent on the loading parameter; determining a time window for a regeneration of the particle filter; and determining a prediction for an operating state of the internal combustion engine expected within the time window, wherein the active regeneration measure at a time indicated for it by the loading parameter is skipped if the prediction predicts that, within the time window, an operating state of the internal combustion engine will arise in which a regeneration of the particle filter takes place without an active regeneration measure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Applicant: MTU FRIEDRICHSHAFEN GMBH
    Inventor: Ralf MÜLLER
  • Patent number: 9567968
    Abstract: Described is a method for detecting a glow plug replacement of an engine, wherein a first value of a temperature-dependent variable is measured at a first glow plug of the engine and, simultaneously, a second value of the temperature-dependent variable is measured at a second glow plug of the engine. The first value of the temperature-dependent variable is compared with a stored reference value of the first glow plug and a glow plug replacement is detected if the difference of the first value from the reference value exceeds a threshold value. According to this disclosure, it is provided that the reference value is a value which, in an earlier measurement, was measured at the first glow plug simultaneously with the measurement of a value at the second glow plug which corresponds to the second value within a predefined tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: BorgWarner Ludwigsburg GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Bleil, Michael Eberhardt, Ralf Müller, Clemens Rinkert, Dirk Wollin, Markus Pados
  • Patent number: 9511181
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and a method for blood treatment in a single-needle operating mode. The blood treatment device has an extracorporeal blood circuit comprising a blood supply line leading to the inlet of a blood treatment unit and a blood return line leading away from the outlet of the blood treatment unit. Blood collecting means, for example a blood collecting container, is provided in the blood return line, said means being connected to means for storing gas, for example an air reservoir, by a flow line. The flow connection comprises two line branches, one branch being used to transfer gas from the air reservoir into the blood collecting container and the other branch being used to transfer gas from the blood collecting container into the air reservoir. The connection branch for transferring gas from the air store into the blood collecting container contains means for compressing air, for example a compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Goetz Günther, Andrea Günther, Richard Robert Bernd Günther, Gesa Dagmar Günther, Michael Herrenbauer, Martin Lauer, Ralf Müller
  • Patent number: 9488153
    Abstract: A method for operating a glow plug by means of pulse-width-modulated voltage pulses which are generated by controlling a load transistor, wherein a heating current flowing through the glow plug is measured and the duty cycle of the pulse-width-modulated voltage pulses is changed in accordance with values of the heating current. The heating current can be measured by means of a current measurement circuit, through which a sense current flows parallel to the load transistor, and the value of the heating current is calculated by multiplying a measured value of the sense current by a kILIS factor, wherein the temperature of the current measurement circuit is measured and the kILIS factor is defined in accordance with the measured circuit temperature. A glow plug control device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: BorgWarner Ludwigsburg GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Bleil, Yasar Güncar, Markus Pados, Ralf Müller, Clemens Rinkert
  • Patent number: 9074870
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for sintering objects by means of time-resolved detection of two- or three-dimensional surface profiles and, optionally, by means of temperature measurement in a high temperature furnace on the basis of optical measurement methods. During sintering, each surface point on an object can be measured for its position and, optionally, its temperature, and a change can be determined by successive measurements. The measured change additionally permits control of the sintering regime. The method comprises the steps of: placing an object 4 into a high temperature furnace 5; heating the furnace 5; generating a two- or three-dimensional surface profile at least of a subregion of the object 4 by: irradiating the object 4 with light from a light source 2a; detecting the light scattered by the object 4 with the aid of a detector 2b; determining the geometric surface profile from the detected light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignees: BAM Bundesanstalt Fuer Materialforschung und- Pruefung, Nokra Optische Prueftechnik und Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Marzok, Ralf Müller, Reinhard Schadrack, Michael Krauhausen
  • Publication number: 20150042344
    Abstract: Described is a method for detecting a glow plug replacement of an engine, wherein a first value of a temperature-dependent variable is measured at a first glow plug of the engine and, simultaneously, a second value of the temperature-dependent variable is measured at a second glow plug of the engine. The first value of the temperature-dependent variable is compared with a stored reference value of the first glow plug and a glow plug replacement is detected if the difference of the first value from the reference value exceeds a threshold value. According to this disclosure, it is provided that the reference value is a value which, in an earlier measurement, was measured at the first glow plug simultaneously with the measurement of a value at the second glow plug which corresponds to the second value within a predefined tolerance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Andreas Bleil, Michael Eberhardt, Ralf Müller, Clemens Rinkert, Dirk Wollin, Markus Pados
  • Publication number: 20140251978
    Abstract: A method for operating a glow plug by means of pulse-width-modulated voltage pulses which are generated by controlling a load transistor, wherein a heating current flowing through the glow plug is measured and the duty cycle of the pulse-width-modulated voltage pulses is changed in accordance with values of the heating current. The heating current can be measured by means of a current measurement circuit, through which a sense current flows parallel to the load transistor, and the value of the heating current is calculated by multiplying a measured value of the sense current by a kILIS factor, wherein the temperature of the current measurement circuit is measured and the kILIS factor is defined in accordance with the measured circuit temperature. A glow plug control device is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventors: Andreas Bleil, Yasar Güncar, Markus Pados, Ralf Müller, Clemens Rinkert
  • Patent number: 8800351
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating a medical liquid includes a treatment machine having a coupling surface and a flexible mat arranged on the coupling surface, with a cassette made of a hard part having liquid-conducting passages therein which are covered by a flexible film that is couplable to the coupling surface of the treatment machine via the flexible mat. The apparatus includes an element for monitoring a fault-free coupling to the cassette at the coupling surface by determining a difference of the pressure between the cassette and the flexible mat and the pressure between the flexible mat and the coupling surface. A method for checking the leak tightness of the fault-free coupling employs the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Müller, Peter Scheunert, Daniel Gerlach, Andrea Günther, Gesa Günther, Richard Günther
  • Patent number: 8792092
    Abstract: An optoelectronic inclination sensor determines the inclination of a reference plane relative to the horizontal. A sensor body has a liquid layer, the free surface of which represents a horizon that can be inclined relative to the reference plane, forming an optical boundary to the adjacent medium. A light source disposed below the liquid layer emits a light beam onto the boundary. An optical sensor surface below the liquid layer detects the light beam reflected by the boundary. An analysis unit determines the inclination of the reference plane as a function of the amount of light received by the sensor surface. A deflecting element for deflecting or initially totally reflecting the beam is disposed between the source and the liquid layer. The beam is inclined as a result of said deflection or initial total reflection. A second total reflection occurs at the boundary in both the inclined and non-inclined orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Sartorius Lab Instruments GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ralf Müller
  • Patent number: 8727718
    Abstract: A turbine rotor (1) for a gas turbine with a one-piece compressor housing (11) or a compressor housing (11) which is divided in a first plane, a one-piece turbine housing (12) connected to the compressor housing (11) or a turbine housing (12) which is divided in a second plane different from the first plane comprises a compressor area which includes at least two compressor disks (2.1-2.5) and a turbine area which includes at least one turbine disk (13.1, 13.2). The compressor disks and turbine disks are clamped together by a tie rod arrangement which includes at least one tie rod (6) which has a first fastening area, a second fastening area for clamping at least two compressor disks between the first fastening area and the second fastening area, and a third fastening area for clamping at least one turbine disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: MAN Diesel & Turbo SE
    Inventors: Emil Aschenbruck, Ralf Müller, Michael Blaswich