Patents by Inventor Thomas Grabow

Thomas Grabow 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: 11945603
    Abstract: A load carrier for an aircraft cargo hold includes a bottom element with a support surface, the load carrier being movable over a floor surface in a floor plane while the support surface faces the floor surface, the bottom element having a base surface. The support surface has rolling elements rotatable about a rotation axis oriented where a parallel to the axis runs parallel to the floor plane, and the rolling elements being retained on the bottom element where the rotation axis of each of the rolling elements can be rotated about a vertical axis running perpendicularly to the floor plane. A load carrier can include a bottom element, the support surface of which has outlet openings, through which air can exit from the support surface to form an air cushion under the support surface. A load carrier can include a bottom element the support surface of which has slider elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Schliwa, Gunda Hülsen, Uwe Panzram, Hermann Benthien, Lars Uwe Hansen, Paul Adrian Wichtmann, Dirk Meiranke, Thomas Grabow
  • Publication number: 20230234775
    Abstract: A freight carrier configured to be received in an aircraft cargo hold, a system of one or more such freight carriers and a receiving platform, and a platform, are each provided. The freight carrier includes a floor element having a resting surface configured to lie on a floor surface of a cargo hold of an aircraft. The freight carrier is configured such that its resting surface can be moved over a floor surface in a floor plane. The floor element has a base element having a base surface. The base surface is situated on the base element such that the base surface faces away from the resting surface. The resting surface is provided with an arrangement to allow the freight carrier to be slid over the floor surface. The floor element has a cavity which extends toward the base surface between the front portion and the rear portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Ralf SCHLIWA, Thomas GRABOW, Christian SEIBT, Hans-Gerhard GIESA, Jörg CREMERS, Hermann BENTHIEN, Konstantin KALLERGIS, Lars Uwe HANSEN, Gunda HÜLSEN, Dirk MEIRANKE, Paul WICHTMANN
  • Publication number: 20230234776
    Abstract: A freight container configured to fit in an aircraft cargo hold includes a floor element. First and second parallel side walls extend away from first and second opposite edges of the floor element base surface. A top wall, parallel to a floor element resting surface, extends between edges of the first and second side walls, which edges are remote from the first and second edges. A front wall extends between the first and second side walls from a base surface third edge to a top wall front edge. The front wall has a first front wall portion, extending from the base surface third edge at a first angle of at least 90° to the resting surface. The front wall has a second front wall portion, extending from the top wall front edge at a second angle of less than 180° and more than 90° to the top wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Ralf SCHLIWA, Thomas GRABOW, Hermann BENTHIEN, Lars Uwe HANSEN, Dirk MEIRANKE, Lucas GLEIXNER, Paul WICHTMANN
  • Publication number: 20220332418
    Abstract: A load carrier for an aircraft cargo hold includes a bottom element with a support surface, the load carrier being movable over a floor surface in a floor plane while the support surface faces the floor surface, the bottom element having a base surface. The support surface has rolling elements rotatable about a rotation axis oriented where a parallel to the axis runs parallel to the floor plane, and the rolling elements being retained on the bottom element where the rotation axis of each of the rolling elements can be rotated about a vertical axis running perpendicularly to the floor plane. A load carrier can include a bottom element, the support surface of which has outlet openings, through which air can exit from the support surface to form an air cushion under the support surface. A load carrier can include a bottom element the support surface of which has slider elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Ralf Schliwa, Gunda Hülsen, Uwe Panzram, Hermann Benthien, Lars Uwe Hansen, Paul Adrian Wichtmann, Dirk Meiranke, Thomas Grabow
  • Publication number: 20220324574
    Abstract: A system includes a freight carrier, front catch element and rear catch element, the front edge of the base element of the freight carrier having front engagement elements, and the rear edge has rear engagement elements. The front catch element has front floor engagement devices to engage locking elements so movement of the front catch element in the floor surface plane and perpendicular thereto is prevented. The front catch element has front engagement devices to engage the front engagement elements. The rear catch element has rear floor engagement devices to engage locking elements in rails so movement of the rear catch element in the floor surface plane and perpendicularly thereto is prevented. The rear catch element has rear engagement devices to engage the rear engagement elements so movement of the rear catch element relative to the base element parallel to the plane of the supporting surface and perpendicular to the plane towards the supporting surface is prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Ralf Schliwa, Dirk Meiranke, Thomas Grabow, Fred Schettel, Hermann Benthien, Carsten Petzholtz, Andreas Poppe
  • Publication number: 20220194585
    Abstract: A freight carrier for a freight region of an aircraft, having a base element with a support side and roller elements. Each of the roller elements is retained on a retention member to be rotatable about a rotation axis, wherein each of the retention members is displaceable between a deployed position and a retracted position, wherein the spacing of the roller elements from the base face is greater in the deployed position. The rotation axes of the roller elements are in a common rotation axis plane when the retention members are in the deployed position, the roller elements retained on the base element so the rotation axis of each of the roller elements is rotatable about a vertical axis, wherein the vertical axis extends parallel with and with spacing from an axis which extends through the rotation axis of the roller element and perpendicularly to the rotation axis plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas Grabow, Dirk Meiranke, Andreas Poppe, Hermann Benthien, Ralf Schliwa
  • Patent number: 8840065
    Abstract: A multifunctional cargo hold system for an aircraft includes a cargo hold floor; a retainer rail fitted to the cargo hold floor, suitable for the assembly of units for rolling and/or fixing of loaded elements. The units have a variable assembly with regard to the longitudinal direction of the retainer rail. The cargo hold system has a number of cargo positions, suitable for accommodating elements of the group, including a net for partitioning the cargo hold, a standard container, a palette, a telescopic system, an underfloor catering container, an underfloor rest space, a conveyor of fixed length and a conveyor of variable length, wherein each load position can accommodate at least four of the elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Panzram, Hans-Joachim Schoen, Manfred Malarczuk, Thomas Grabow
  • Publication number: 20110215198
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention, relates to a multifunctional cargo hold system for an aircraft with a cargo hold floor; a retainer rail fitted to the cargo hold floor, suitable for the assembly of means for rolling and/or fixing of loaded elements, wherein the means has a variable assembly with regard to the longitudinal direction of the retainer rail, wherein the cargo hold system has a number of cargo positions, suitable for accommodating elements of the group, including a net for partitioning the cargo hold, a standard container, a palette, a telescopic system, an underfloor catering container, an underfloor rest space, a conveyor of fixed length and a conveyor of variable length, wherein each load position can accommodate at least four of the elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Uwe Panzram, Hans-Joachim Schoen, Manfred Malarczuk, Thomas Grabow
  • Patent number: 6676081
    Abstract: A system for extinguishing and suppressing a fire in an enclosed space includes a Halon storage container and a nitrogen generator that are both connected by a duct system to extinguishing nozzles arranged in the enclosed space. Halon is supplied as a first extinguishing agent from the container to achieve a rapid initial extinguishing of the fire. Nitrogen enriched air is supplied as a second extinguishing agent from the nitrogen generator to achieve a continuous long-term fire suppression, commencing simultaneously with or after the introduction of the Halon. The nitrogen generator may include a molecular sieve to continuously generate the nitrogen enriched air from an inlet flow of environmental air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Grabow, Alexander Scheidt, Konstantin Kallergis
  • Patent number: 6619404
    Abstract: A fire fighting system is installed below deck in a passenger aircraft for protecting freight and baggage loading areas. The system has a fire extinguishing medium storage container connected through a pipe line to one or more medium discharge nozzles. A compartment such as a passenger and/or crew rest compartment installed below deck is linked to the system by a pipe line extension (10, 12, 13) connected to at least one additional fire extinguishing medium discharge nozzles in the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Grabow
  • Patent number: 6601653
    Abstract: A system for suppressing fire in an enclosed space, e.g. an aircraft cabin or freight compartment, includes nitrogen tanks and/or generators to rapidly supply a limited quantity of nitrogen with-a high flow rate, and a membrane system to supply an essentially unlimited quantity of nitrogen at a lower supply rate for a long duration. The membrane system includes a selectively permeable membrane that separates nitrogen gas from ambient environmental air that is supplied into the membrane system. Once a fire is detected, nitrogen is supplied from the nitrogen gas tanks and/or generators at a high rate to rapidly increase the nitrogen concentration and establish a reduced oxygen concentration (e.g. 12 vol. %) in the enclosed space. Then, nitrogen is supplied from the membrane system at a reduced rate for a long duration to maintain the reduced oxygen concentration in the enclosed space until the fire is extinguished by oxygen starvation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Grabow, Konstantin Kallergis
  • Publication number: 20030136879
    Abstract: A system for extinguishing and suppressing a fire in an enclosed space includes a Halon storage container and a nitrogen generator that are both connected by a duct system to extinguishing nozzles arranged in the enclosed space. Halon is supplied as a first extinguishing agent from the container to achieve a rapid initial extinguishing of the fire. Nitrogen enriched air is supplied as a second extinguishing agent from the nitrogen generator to achieve a continuous long-term fire suppression, commencing simultaneously with or after the introduction of the Halon. The nitrogen generator may include a molecular sieve to continuously generate the nitrogen enriched air from an inlet flow of environmental air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas Grabow, Alexander Scheidt, Konstantin Kallergis
  • Publication number: 20020070035
    Abstract: A system for suppressing fire in an enclosed space, e.g. an aircraft cabin or freight compartment, includes nitrogen tanks and/or generators to rapidly supply a limited quantity of nitrogen with a high flow rate, and a membrane system to supply an essentially unlimited quantity of nitrogen at a lower supply rate for a long duration. The membrane system includes a selectively permeable membrane that separates nitrogen gas from ambient environmental air that is supplied into the membrane system. Once a fire is detected, nitrogen is supplied from the nitrogen gas tanks and/or generators at a high rate to rapidly increase the nitrogen concentration and establish a reduced oxygen concentration (e.g. 12 vol. %) in the enclosed space. Then, nitrogen is supplied from the membrane system at a reduced rate for a long duration to maintain the reduced oxygen concentration in the enclosed space until the fire is extinguished by oxygen starvation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventors: Thomas Grabow, Konstantin Kallergis
  • Publication number: 20020007954
    Abstract: A fire fighting system is installed below deck in a passenger aircraft for protecting freight and baggage loading areas. The system has a fire extinguishing medium storage container connected through a pipe line to one or more medium discharge nozzles. A compartment such as a passenger and/or crew rest compartment installed below deck is linked to the system by a pipe line extension (10, 12, 13) connected to at least one additional fire extinguishing medium discharge nozzles in the compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Inventor: Thomas Grabow
  • Patent number: 5469147
    Abstract: A smoke detector device for signalling a smoke detection in a space in an aircraft such as a cabin, a toilet, or a cargo hold of an aircraft, is mounted in a recessed position in a hole in a wall or ceiling of the aircraft. The device has at least one smoke detector enclosed in a housing (3) that also holds a smoke guide ring forming a funnel collar (7) for guiding smoke from a smoke collecting entrance (9) into a detector inlet opening (11) facing toward the space. The funnel collar (7) has a bottom (10) extending essentially on one level with the smoke inlet opening (11) of the smoke detector. The funnel collar tapers from the smoke collecting entrance (9) of the smoke guide rim to the smoke detector inlet opening (11) to form a smoke trap wherein a smoke stream toward the smoke detector is guided and accelerated. The smoke guide rim itself may function as a mounting for one or more smoke detectors, whereby a separate housing is obviated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Deutsche Aerospace Airbus GmbH
    Inventors: Heiko Trey, Thomas Grabow, Eckhard Steinbrink