Patents by Inventor Reto Schoeb

Reto Schoeb 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: 20170012491
    Abstract: An electromagnetic rotary drive includes a magnetically contactlessly drivable rotor free of coils, and a stator configured as a bearing and drive stator configured to drive the rotor magnetically and contactlessly about an axis of rotation. The rotor is capable of being supported magnetically contactlessly with respect to the stator in an operating state. The stator includes an upper stator part having a plurality of pronounced upper poles configured to carry upper windings and a lower stator part having a plurality of pronounced lower poles configured to carry lower windings. The upper stator part and the lower stator part are arranged spaced apart from one another with respect to an axial direction. A permanent magnet is disposed between the upper stator part and the lower stator part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Reto SCHÖB, Jörg HUGEL, Thomas HOLENSTEIN
  • Publication number: 20140062239
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rotational machine, designed as a bearing free motor, including a stator (2) designed as a bearing and drive stator having a stator winding (3) and a disc-shaped rotor (4) stored magnetically contact free within the stator (2). In this connection an axial height (H) of the rotor (4) is smaller than or equal to a half diameter (D) of the rotor (4) and with the rotor (4) being passively stabilized by reluctance forces with regard to the stator (2) both against a displacement along a rotational axis (A) of the rotor (4) and also against a tilting from an equilibrium position (G), and with the stator (2) including a permanent magnet (6) for the generation of a homopolar magnetic flux (H?). In accordance with the invention the rotor (4) is a ring-like rotor (4) rotatably arranged about a pole piece (5) of the stator (2) and the rotor (4) includes a ferromagnetic material (FM) and no permanent magnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: LEVITRONIX GMBH
    Inventor: Reto Schoeb
  • Publication number: 20130164161
    Abstract: Disclosed is a rotary pump including a magnetic rotor arranged in a pump housing and having a magnetic rotor plane, which rotor is operatively connected to a drive for conveying a fluid. The drive is a bearingless motor having a stator configured as a bearing stator and drive stator and having a magnetic stator plane, wherein the stator bears a drive coil and a bearing coil lying in the stator plane and/or a drive bearing coil. The rotor is magnetically contactlessly journalled within the stator, wherein an axial height (H) of the rotor is smaller than or equal to half a diameter (D) of the rotor so that the rotor is passively magnetically stabilized by reluctance forces with respect to the magnetic stator plane both against axial displacement and against a tilt from an equilibrium position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: LEVITRONIX GMBH
    Inventor: Reto Schöb
  • Publication number: 20130022481
    Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetic rotor (1) for a rotary pump (2), wherein the rotor (1) can be driven and levitated in a magnetically contactless manner in a pump housing (4) within a stator (5) of the rotary pump (2) for conveying a fluid (3) and the rotor (1) is encapsulated by means of an outer encapsulation (6) including a fluorinated hydrocarbon. In accordance with the invention, the rotor (1) includes a permanent magnet (8) sheathed by a metal jacket (7) within the encapsulation (6), with the metal jacket (7) including at least one metal from the group of elements composed of tantalum, niobium, zirconium, titanium, hafnium, gold, platinum, palladium, osmium, iridium, ruthenium and rhodium. The invention further relates to plant components, in particular to a rotary pump (2) having a magnetic rotor (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: Levitronix GmbH
    Inventors: Reto Schöb, Thomas Eberle, Natale Barletta
  • Patent number: 8349172
    Abstract: A filter and pump unit is proposed for the filtering out of particles from a fluid, there being a filter housing (2) which bounds a filter space (3) and has an inlet (21) and also an outlet (22) for the fluid to be filtered as well as a filter element (4) provided in the filter space (3), the filter element demarcating an inlet region (31) from an outlet region (32) of the filter space (3), with the inlet region (31) communicating with the inlet (21) and the outlet region (32) communicating with the outlet (22), there also being an impeller (5) which, as part of a rotary pump, can pump the fluid from the inlet region (31) through the filter element (4) into the outlet region (32), characterized in that a flow connection (6) is provided between the outlet region (32) and the impeller (5) so that at least a part of the fluid can flow back from the outlet region (32) to the impeller (5). Furthermore, a method for the filtering out of the particles from a fluid is proposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Levitronix Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Reto Schoeb
  • Publication number: 20110240220
    Abstract: The invention relates to a treatment apparatus (1) for treating a surface (21) of a body (2) with a first treatment medium (31) and a second treatment medium (32). In this respect, the treatment apparatus (1) includes a holding device (5) rotatable about an axis of rotation (4) for receiving and holding the body (2) and a rotary drive (6) rotationally fixedly coupled to the rotatable holding device (5) as well as a supply device (7) for supplying the first treatment medium (31) and the second treatment medium (32) to the surface (21) of the body (2) held in the holding device (5). The treatment apparatus includes a collection container (8) having a separation element (80) which separation element (80) divides the collection container (8) into a first chamber (81) and into a second chamber (82) such that the first treatment medium (31) can be collected in the first chamber (81) and the second treatment medium (32) can be collected separately in the second chamber (82).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: Levitronix GmbH
    Inventor: Reto Schoeb
  • Patent number: 7832922
    Abstract: A mixing apparatus is proposed having a container (2) for the mixing of media which has at least one inlet (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36) for the media to be mixed or at least one outlet (4), with a central cut-out (5) being provided which extends in a longitudinal direction (A) into the container and is bounded relative to the inner space (6) of the container (2) by a wall (51), with a permanently magnetic mixing member (7) being provided in the container (2) adjacent to the cut-out (5) for the mixing of the media, and with a drive unit (8) being provided in the cut-out (5) by which the mixing member (7) can be set into rotation via a magnetic coupling. The drive unit (8) is movably arranged in the cut-out (5) such that the position of the mixing member (7) in the container is variable in a controlled manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Levitronix GmbH
    Inventor: Reto Schoeb
  • Publication number: 20090142827
    Abstract: A mixing apparatus is proposed having a container (2) for the mixing of media which has at least one inlet (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36) for the media to be mixed or at least one outlet (4), with a central cut-out (5) being provided which extends in a longitudinal direction (A) into the container and is bounded relative to the inner space (6) of the container (2) by a wall (51), with a permanently magnetic mixing member (7) being provided in the container (2) adjacent to the cut-out (5) for the mixing of the media, and with a drive unit (8) being provided in the cut-out (5) by which the mixing member (7) can be set into rotation via a magnetic coupling. The drive unit (8) is movably arranged in the cut-out (5) such that the position of the mixing member (7) in the container is variable in a controlled manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: Levitronix GmbH
    Inventor: Reto Schoeb
  • Publication number: 20080286441
    Abstract: An apparatus for the rotational coating of a surface of a substrate with a fluid, in particular the surface of a wafer with a polymer liquid, especially with a photoresist includes a rotary plate (2) for receiving the substrate (11), a drive device (3) for rotating the rotary plate (2), a dispensing nozzle (4) for the application of a predeterminable quantity of fluid onto the surface of the substrate (11) for the purpose of forming a layer (12) and also a pump (5) for conveying the fluid, the pump being connectable, on the one hand, to a source (20) for the fluid and, on the other hand, to the dispensing nozzle (4). A viscosimeter (6) is provided with which the actual viscosity of the fluid can be determined by physical measurement prior to the application of the fluid. Furthermore a corresponding method is proposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Applicant: Levitronix LLC
    Inventors: Woo Sok Chang, Christos Monovoukas, Reto Schoeb
  • Publication number: 20080190870
    Abstract: A filter and pump unit is proposed for the filtering out of particles from a fluid, there being a filter housing (2) which bounds a filter space (3) and has an inlet (21) and also an outlet (22) for the fluid to be filtered as well as a filter element (4) provided in the filter space (3), the filter element demarcating an inlet region (31) from an outlet region (32) of the filter space (3), with the inlet region (31) communicating with the inlet (21) and the outlet region (32) communicating with the outlet (22), there also being an impeller (5) which, as part of a rotary pump, can pump the fluid from the inlet region (31) through the filter element (4) into the outlet region (32), characterized in that a flow connection (6) is provided between the outlet region (32) and the impeller (5) so that at least a part of the fluid can flow back from the outlet region (32) to the impeller (5). Furthermore, a method for the filtering out of the particles from a fluid is proposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: Levitronix, LLC
    Inventor: Reto Schoeb
  • Patent number: 7357858
    Abstract: A filter apparatus is provided for the filtering of substances from a fluid having a filter housing (2) which bounds a filter space (6) and which has an inlet (3) and an outlet (4) for the fluid to be filtered and having a filter element (5) which is provided in the filter space (6) and which is designed and arranged so that the filtering fluid can only flow through the filter element (5) from the inlet (3) to the outlet (4) of the filter housing (2) in operation, wherein a heating device (10) is provided for the heating of the fluid which includes a microwave source (11) in order to act on the fluid by microwaves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Levitronix LLC
    Inventor: Reto Schoeb
  • Patent number: 7055376
    Abstract: A method and a pump apparatus are provided for the generation of an adjustable, substantially constant volume flow of a fluid by means of a pump apparatus, wherein the fluid (5) is forwarded by the pump apparatus (1) from a reservoir (2) into a flow connection (4). A rotary pump (1) is used as the pump apparatus and the rotary pump (1) is operated at an efficiency which is less than half the maximum efficiency (?max) of the rotary pump (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Levitronix LLC
    Inventor: Reto Schoeb
  • Patent number: 6898984
    Abstract: A measuring apparatus (1) for determining the flow (Q) of a fluid (2). The apparatus has a hollow body (3), with an inflow (4) and an outflow (5) for the fluid (2). A magnetic sample (6) is movably arranged in the hollow body (3) and can be acted upon with a working pressure by the fluid (2). The measuring apparatus (1) further has at least one position sensor (7) to determine the position of the magnetic sample (6), an electromagnet (8) to exert a magnetic force on the magnetic sample (6), and a control device (9) for the electromagnet (8) which is connected signal-wise to the position sensor (7). The control device (9) includes regulating means (10) which control the electromagnet (8) with the aid of a signal of the position sensor (7) so that the magnetic sample (6) is held in a position (X) against the working pressure, with the magnetic sample (6) being designed and arranged such that the fluid (2) can flow through the hollow body (3) from the inflow (4) to the outflow (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Levitronix LLC
    Inventor: Reto Schöb
  • Patent number: 6864084
    Abstract: A method for floating at least one substance for growing a tissue part in a bioreactor. The method includes providing at least one substance consisting of one of a tissue part, a scaffold having cells deposited thereon, and a scaffold including a tissue part thereon. The method further includes further acting upon the substance with fluid, wherein the fluid holds the substance in free floatation. The fluid flows in a direction counter to gravity when a density of the substance is greater than a density of the fluid, and in a direction counter to buoyancy when a density of the substance is less than a density of the fluid. The bioreactor for floating at least one substance for growing a tissue part includes a container including a first flow chamber and at least one substance consisting of one of a tissue part, a scaffold having cells deposited thereon, and a scaffold including a tissue part thereon. The substance is acted upon with fluid. The bioreactor further includes an apparatus for conveying the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Levitronix LLC
    Inventor: Reto Schöb
  • Publication number: 20040101415
    Abstract: A method and a pump apparatus are provided for the generation of an adjustable, substantially constant volume flow of a fluid by means of a pump apparatus, wherein the fluid (5) is forwarded by the pump apparatus (1) from a reservoir (2) into a flow connection (4). A rotary pump (1) is used as the pump apparatus and the rotary pump (1) is operated at an efficiency which is less than half the maximum efficiency (&eegr;max) of the rotary pump (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Applicant: Levitronix LLC
    Inventor: Reto Schoeb
  • Patent number: 6733171
    Abstract: The magnetic stirring apparatus (1) comprises an agitator (1a), at least one permanent magnet (1d, 1e) and a float body (1f), which are connected to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Levitronix LLC
    Inventor: Reto Schöb
  • Patent number: 6711943
    Abstract: In a method for the determination of the viscosity (&eegr;) of a liquid, e.g. of blood, which is forwarded by a pump, e.g. a blood pump, said pump having a rotor for the forwarding of the liquid from the inlet of the pump to the outlet, the rotor is used for the determination of the viscosity (&eegr;). For the determination of the viscosity (&eegr;) of the liquid no spatial deflection of the rotor from its operating position takes place, but rather the rotor is left in its operating position and the viscosity (&eegr;) is determined from measurement parameters of the pump or of the rotor respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Levitronix LLC
    Inventor: Reto Schöb
  • Publication number: 20040045368
    Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a measuring apparatus (1) is thus proposed to determine the flow (Q) of a fluid (2), which comprises a hollow body (3), which has an inflow (4) and an outflow (5) for the fluid (2). A magnetic sample (6) is movably arranged in the hollow body (3) and can be acted upon with a working pressure by the fluid (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Applicant: Levitronix LLC
    Inventor: Reto Schoeb
  • Patent number: 6676383
    Abstract: A method and a pump apparatus are provided for the generation of an adjustable, substantially constant volume flow of a fluid by means of a pump apparatus, wherein the fluid (5) is forwarded by the pump apparatus (1) from a reservoir (2) into a flow connection (4). A rotary pump (1) is used as the pump apparatus and the rotary pump (1) is operated at an efficiency which is less than half the maximum efficiency (&eegr;max) of the rotary pump (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Levitronix LLC
    Inventor: Reto Schöb
  • Patent number: 6670169
    Abstract: A bioreactor with a reaction container (1, 1a, 1b, 1c) for a substance (C) to be acted upon with a medium has a pump (5, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d) for conveying the medium. The pump is designed as an expendable pump or, respectively, parts (53d, 54d, 55d) of the pump are designed as expendable parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Levitronix LLC
    Inventors: Reto Schöb, Jörg Hugel