Patents by Inventor Thomas MERTENS
Thomas MERTENS 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).
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Patent number: 11988457Abstract: A coaxial tube arrangement for a heat exchanger may include a coaxial tube and a closing cover. The coaxial tube may include an inner core channel and an outer annular channel. The closing cover may close the coaxial tube at a longitudinal end side. The closing cover may have a base region and a circumferential edge. The base region may be aligned transversely to a flow direction through the coaxial tube. The circumferential edge may be aligned with the flow direction and may face the coaxial tube. The circumferential edge may have a thickness, which is defined transversely to the flow direction, that is equal to or greater than a height of the annular channel, which is defined transversely to the flow direction. The circumferential edge may cover the annular channel transversely to the flow direction and may separate the annular channel from the core channel in a fluid-tight manner.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2022Date of Patent: May 21, 2024Assignee: Mahle International GmbHInventors: Andreas Draenkow, Timo Feldkeller, Thomas Merten
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Publication number: 20240161648Abstract: Methods and systems for generating customized learning programs include performing the operations of: receiving learning materials for a target platform; selecting a first set of learning materials based at least in part upon a first role; generating a first customized learning program which includes one or more first learning steps using the first set of learning materials; selecting a second set of learning materials based at least in part upon a second role, the second role being different from the first role, the second set of learning materials being different from the first set of learning materials; generating a second customized learning program which includes one or more second learning steps using the second set of learning materials; and deploying customized learning programs which include the first customized learning program and the second customized learning program.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2023Publication date: May 16, 2024Inventors: Anna Davies, Benjamin Ahnert, Bo Chen, Cameron Douglas, Cathleen Jia, Daniel Davies, Dominic Hillier, Isobel Lynch, Jason Lipowicz, James Lowenthal, Marvin Christopher Bornstein, Mahmoud Ghanem, Ranec Highet, Thomas Ayles, Tamar Gomez, Theo Merten-Mancer
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Publication number: 20230258410Abstract: The invention relates to a heat exchanger, in particular for the refrigerant circuit of a motor vehicle. The heat exchanger is formed of interconnected rectangular plates. Channels are formed between the plates. Two heat exchanging media flow alternately through the channels formed in this way via at least one inflow opening and at least one outflow opening. The plates have profiles. Contact points are formed between the plates. The plates are connected to each other at said contact points. Flow paths of the two media from the corresponding inflow port to the corresponding outflow port are formed in this way. The flow has a main flow direction. The profiles of the plates as well as their contact points are shown such that the profiles run essentially along the main flow direction of the flow formed between the plates.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2023Publication date: August 17, 2023Inventors: Andreas DRÄNKOW, Thomas MERTEN
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Patent number: 11652247Abstract: An electric stored energy source for a motor vehicle has a housing that defines an inner chamber in which electrochemical components of an energy storage cell are accommodated, and a line extending through the inner chamber and via which a coolant or a heating medium can be guided through the inner chamber.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2019Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AktiengesellschaftInventor: Thomas Mertens
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Publication number: 20230064641Abstract: A coaxial tube arrangement for a heat exchanger may include a coaxial tube and a closing cover. The coaxial tube may include an inner core channel and an outer annular channel. The closing cover may close the coaxial tube at a longitudinal end side. The closing cover may have a base region and a circumferential edge. The base region may be aligned transversely to a flow direction through the coaxial tube. The circumferential edge may be aligned with the flow direction and may face the coaxial tube. The circumferential edge may have a thickness, which is defined transversely to the flow direction, that is equal to or greater than a height of the annular channel, which is defined transversely to the flow direction. The circumferential edge may cover the annular channel transversely to the flow direction and may separate the annular channel from the core channel in a fluid-tight manner.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2022Publication date: March 2, 2023Inventors: Andreas Draenkow, Timo Feldkeller, Thomas Merten
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Patent number: 11162718Abstract: A stacked plate heat exchanger for a motor vehicle may include a plurality of elongated plates stacked on one another between which a plurality of cavities are disposed alternately for two media. The plurality of cavities may be respectively delimited by a respective plate of the plurality of plates zonally by a plate surface and a surrounding wall. The respective plate may include two flow openings, two passage openings, and two domes respectively arranged around one of the two passage openings. At least of one of the plurality of plates may further include an elongated separation shaping arranged on the plate surface, projecting into the respective cavity, and extending from the first short side between the two flow openings in a direction of the second short side. The separation shaping may adjoin the first short side at an angle ? of 45° to 90°.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2019Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Inventors: Andreas Draenkow, Timo Feldkeller, Thomas Merten
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Publication number: 20210239411Abstract: A heat exchanger plate for a heat exchanger may include a plate bottom having at least one through opening. The at least one through opening may be arranged in a bottom plane. An opening edge may extend around the at least one through opening. The opening edge may be formed by and protrude laterally away from the plate bottom. The at least one through opening may extend along a normal direction perpendicular to the bottom plane. The opening edge may be structured such that (i) a diameter of the at least one through opening increases away from the bottom plane along the normal direction at least in some sections and (ii) the diameter of the at least one through opening is larger at at least one distance from the bottom plane, which is predetermined with respect to the normal direction, than at the bottom plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2021Publication date: August 5, 2021Inventors: Andreas Draenkow, Thomas Merten
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Patent number: 11034102Abstract: A process arrangement and a process for the production of a fiber-reinforced plastics component made of at least one continuous-fiber-reinforced semifinished textile fiber product with reactive thermoplastic matrix material, where during the manufacture of the semifinished fiber product trimming residues (mR, mA) arise, composed of a composite made of fibers and of the reactive thermoplastic matrix material, and during finishing of the finished plastics component final-trimming residues (mE) arise, composed of a composite of fibers and of polymerized thermoplastic matrix material, and are further processed in a recycling unit to give a recyclate. The trimming residues arising during the manufacture of the semifinished fiber product are polymerized in a preparatory unit and then are delivered in the invention to the recycling unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2016Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: Volkswagen AktiengesellschaftInventors: Thomas Mertens, Max Ehleben, Christine Kunze, Olaf Täger, Maurice Bitterlich, Katja Zeuner, Philippe Desbois, Andreas Wollny
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Patent number: 10919284Abstract: In order to optimize a method for stiffening a metal component by pressing a fiber-reinforced plastic insert onto the metal component in such a way that the method can be integrated into the serial production of the car body, it is proposed that the fiber-reinforced plastic insert be picked up by means of a robot-controlled application head and pressed onto the metal component.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2018Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Robert Thomas, Max Ehleben, Thomas Mertens, Anselm Tobias Bochtler, Fabian Fischer
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Patent number: 10876802Abstract: A stacked plate heat exchanger may include a plurality of stacked plates stacked on top of one another, between which a plurality of hollow spaces for two media may be alternately defined. The plurality of stacked plates may include at least two first stacked plates and at least one second stacked plate. The plurality of stacked plates may respectively include at least one first passage opening surrounded by a dome and at least one second passage opening. The at least one second passage opening of the at least one second stacked plate may be surrounded by an annular bead. The at least one second stacked plate may be arranged between the at least two first stacked plates such that the dome of a lower first stacked plate, the dome of an upper first stacked plate, and the annular bead are connected to one another and define an immersion tube.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2019Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Inventors: Axel Dolderer, Andreas Draenkow, Timo Feldkeller, Thomas Mager, Thomas Merten, Markus Wesner
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Publication number: 20200248967Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a stacked plate for a stacked-plate heat exchanger, e.g., for a motor vehicle. The stacked plate includes an inlet, an outlet, and a U-shaped flow path extending between the inlet and the outlet. A raised separating web is disposed along a longitudinal centre of the stacked plate, and extends between the inlet and the outlet and provide a U-shaped extent of the U-shaped flow path. The separating web includes at least one U-shaped protrusion and at least one separating web portion projecting from the separating web.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2020Publication date: August 6, 2020Inventors: Andreas Draenkow, Thomas Merten
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Patent number: 10695991Abstract: A process arrangement for producing a fiber-reinforced plastic component comprises a stacking station in which pre-impregnated textile semi-finished products can be stacked, and an assembly station in which the semi-finished products can be further processed to form the layered packet. The forming of the fiber-reinforced plastic component is subsequently carried out in the press. According to the invention, the stacking station is assigned at least one transport and/or storage container in which the semi-finished products can be stored air-tight, light-proof, and/or moisture-tight shielding and can be transported to the assembly station.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2015Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Maurice Bitterlich, Max Ehleben, Katja Zeuner, Thomas Mertens
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Publication number: 20200171762Abstract: A method for producing a fiber-reinforced plastic component includes providing an at least two or more-layered textile structure made of a carrier layer onto which a short-fiber layer, in which short fibers are saturated with a not yet polymerized starting component of a reactive thermoplastic matrix material, is applied, making up or producing the textile structure into a fiber-reinforced textile semi-finished fiber product, and pressing/deep drawing the fiber-reinforced textile semi-finished fiber product into a mold for the fiber-reinforced plastic component to be produced, while at the same time heating the fiber-reinforced textile semi-finished fiber product to a temperature above the polymerization starting temperature. A process arrangement for producing a fiber-reinforced plastic component and a fiber-reinforced plastic component are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2017Publication date: June 4, 2020Inventors: ALINE KUBISCH, MAX EHLEBEN, THOMAS MERTENS, FABIAN FISCHER, MAURICE BITTERLICH, PHILIPPE DESBOIS
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Patent number: 10661482Abstract: A process for the production of fiber-reinforced components or semifinished products is provided, where fibers are saturated with monomer. The process includes at least one of adding flakes including fibers and adding individual fibers. For this, the fibers, the monomer, and the flakes including fibers and/or the individual fibers are added to an injection-molding machine and forced into an injection mold, whereupon polymerization of the monomer is completed in the injection mold. Alternatively a fiber structure on a conveyor belt is saturated with a solution including a monomer, optionally including an activator, and optionally including a catalyst. In a following step, individual fibers and/or flakes including fibers are distributed on the saturated fiber structure, the fiber structure is passed through a roll pair in which pressure is exerted onto the fiber structure, and finally the saturated fiber structure is cooled so that the monomer solidifies.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2016Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AGInventors: Philippe Desbois, Andreas Wollny, Max Ehleben, Maurice Bitterlich, Katja Zeuner, Thomas Mertens, Olaf Taeger-Ing
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Publication number: 20200058969Abstract: An electric stored energy source for a motor vehicle has a housing that defines an inner chamber in which electrochemical components of an energy storage cell are accommodated, and a line extending through the inner chamber and via which a coolant or a heating medium can be guided through the inner chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2019Publication date: February 20, 2020Inventor: Thomas MERTENS
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Patent number: 10543648Abstract: A process arrangement and a process for the production of a fiber-reinforced plastics component made of at least one continuous-fiber-reinforced semifinished textile fiber product with reactive thermoplastic matrix material, where during the manufacture of the semifinished fiber product trimming residues arise, composed of a composite made of fibers and of the reactive thermoplastic matrix material. The trimming residues obtained during the manufacture of the semifinished fiber product are supplied to a recycling unit for the provision of a recyclate as reactive, as yet unpolymerized starting material for the production of a further component.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2016Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, BASF SEInventors: Thomas Mertens, Max Ehleben, Christine Kunze, Olaf Täger, Maurice Bitterlich, Katja Zeuner, Philippe Desbois, Andreas Wollny
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Publication number: 20190331436Abstract: A stacked plate heat exchanger may include a plurality of stacked plates stacked on top of one another, between which a plurality of hollow spaces for two media may be alternately defined. The plurality of stacked plates may include at least two first stacked plates and at least one second stacked plate. The plurality of stacked plates may respectively include at least one first passage opening surrounded by a dome and at least one second passage opening. The at least one second passage opening of the at least one second stacked plate may be surrounded by an annular bead. The at least one second stacked plate may be arranged between the at least two first stacked plates such that the dome of a lower first stacked plate, the dome of an upper first stacked plate, and the annular bead are connected to one another and define an immersion tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2019Publication date: October 31, 2019Inventors: Axel Dolderer, Andreas Draenkow, Timo Feldkeller, Thomas Mager, Thomas Merten, Markus Wesner
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Patent number: 10371465Abstract: A heat exchanger may include input-side and output-side tube plates and tubes supported therein, forming a first flow duct for a first medium. A housing may surround the tube plates and the tubes, forming a second flow duct for a second medium running between the tubes in the housing. The heat exchanger may further include at least one turbulence-generating insert arranged in the second flow duct between the tubes, the insert having ducts with permeable side walls for the second medium, and at least one dividing wall duct having closed side walls and being spaced apart at least at one longitudinal end from the housing. The at least one dividing wall duct may be designed to be open at both longitudinal ends, may be produced by a compression process, and may have a rising first flank and a second flank engaging below the second flank.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2015Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: Mahle International GmbHInventors: Jens Richter, Bjoern Haller, Johannes Kaelber, Thomas Merten, Tobias Isermeyer
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Publication number: 20190219313Abstract: A stacked plate heat exchanger for a motor vehicle may include a plurality of elongated plates stacked on one another between which a plurality of cavities are disposed alternately for two media. The plurality of cavities may be respectively delimited by a respective plate of the plurality of plates zonally by a plate surface and a surrounding wall. The respective plate may include two flow openings, two passage openings, and two domes respectively arranged around one of the two passage openings. At least of one of the plurality of plates may further include an elongated separation shaping arranged on the plate surface, projecting into the respective cavity, and extending from the first short side between the two flow openings in a direction of the second short side. The separation shaping may adjoin the first short side at an angle ? of 45° to 90°.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2019Publication date: July 18, 2019Inventors: Andreas Draenkow, Timo Feldkeller, Thomas Merten
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Publication number: 20180297733Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for emptying moist powder from a container (2), said device comprising a breaking ring (3) that is provided with one or more outward-extending breaking ribs (4), a cross-shaped stabilizing structure (4), and a breaking spike (6). The invention further relates to a method for emptying moist powder from a container using said device (1).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2016Publication date: October 18, 2018Inventors: George Arntz, Markus Haeusler, Karlheinz Kühn, Thomas Mertens, Christof Speer