Patents by Inventor Alexander Hoffmann

Alexander Hoffmann 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: 11916583
    Abstract: A supply system for at least one orthopedic technology component, which has at least one electronic and/or electrical device and has a supply connection and/or a radio device for receiving data and/or electrical energy. The supply system also includes a holder for the orthopedic technology component, which has a supply device, and which is compatible with the supply connection and/or the radio device, for supplying the orthopedic technology component with data and/or energy. The invention further relates to a system consisting of a supply system and an orthopedic technology device, and to a method for supplying the system with data and/or energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: OTTO BOCK HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS GMBH
    Inventors: Alexander Pappe, Andreas Weigl-Pollack, Erik Albrecht-Laatsch, Michael Nolte, Robert Hoffmann, Robert Kaitan, Luis Sagmeister, Thomas Pauser, Andreas Schramel
  • Patent number: 11879429
    Abstract: A steel tower ring segment for a wind turbine tower section, to a wind turbine tower section, to a wind turbine tower and to a wind turbine, and also to methods for producing a steel tower ring segment and a wind turbine tower section. A steel tower ring segment for a wind turbine tower section, comprising a first casing segment with a segment height, a segment length in the segment circumferential direction, a first segment thickness, and a first horizontal joint side, wherein the first casing segment has a first thickening region in a region adjoining the first horizontal joint side, wherein the first thickening region has a first thickening thickness, and the first thickening thickness is larger than the first segment thickness, wherein the first thickening region has a first cutout, wherein the first cutout is arranged spaced apart from the first horizontal joint side, and wherein a first passage opening leads from the first cutout to the first horizontal joint side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Hoffmann, Harro Harms, Rene Mertens, Daniel Haase
  • Publication number: 20230408493
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes experimental and analytical methods for the quantification of Response Specificity of immune sentinel cells such as macrophages or monocytes in response to various immune threats or stimuli. The Response Specificity is used as a gauge for the health of the innate immune cells and for guiding therapeutic interventions. The Response Specificity provides a clinical measure for the health of the innate immune system for healthy persons or patients with infectious diseases, autoimmunity, or cancer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Alexander HOFFMANN, Katherine May SHEU
  • Patent number: 11802541
    Abstract: A method for producing a split rotor blade, a method for connecting a split rotor blade, a rotor blade, a rotor blade segment, a rotor, a wind power plant, and a production device for producing rotor blades. A method for producing a split rotor blade, comprising: providing a rotor blade having a spar cap and an extension in the longitudinal direction from a blade root region to a blade tip; making at least one groove in the spar cap, the groove being arranged in a first connection region of the rotor blade, and a portion of the main extension direction of the groove being oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction; splitting the rotor blade, in the first connection region, into a rotor blade section facing the blade root and a rotor blade section facing away from the blade root, a first groove section being arranged in the rotor blade section facing the blade root and a second groove section being arranged in the rotor blade section facing away from the blade root.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Hoffmann, Harro Harms, Albrecht Brenner
  • Patent number: 11655797
    Abstract: A rotor blade for a wind turbine having an aerodynamic profile which extends from a blade root up to a blade tip and has a leading edge and a trailing edge. An adjustable aerodynamic flap, which can be adjusted between a retracted and a deployed position by means of a flap drive, is provided on the rotor blade. The flap drive comprises a passive control system which controls a flap position depending on rotation speed. The passive control system of the flap drive is low-maintenance and does not interfere with the safety concept of a wind turbine. In comparison with a reference rotor blade without a flap, the rotor blade has increased lift at low wind speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbH
    Inventor: Alexander Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20230133759
    Abstract: A steel tower ring segment for a wind turbine tower section, to a wind turbine tower section, to a wind turbine tower and to a wind turbine, and also to methods for producing a steel tower ring segment and a wind turbine tower section. A steel tower ring segment for a wind turbine tower section, comprising a first casing segment with a segment height, a segment length in the segment circumferential direction, a first segment thickness, and a first horizontal joint side, wherein the first casing segment has a first thickening region in a region adjoining the first horizontal joint side, wherein the first thickening region has a first thickening thickness, and the first thickening thickness is larger than the first segment thickness, wherein the first thickening region has a first cutout, wherein the first cutout is arranged spaced apart from the first horizontal joint side, and wherein a first passage opening leads from the first cutout to the first horizontal joint side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Alexander HOFFMANN, Harro HARMS, Rene MERTENS, Daniel HAASE
  • Patent number: 11480148
    Abstract: A rotor blade for a wind turbine, to a rotor for a wind turbine, to a wind turbine, to a method for producing a rotor blade, to a method for connecting a rotor blade to a rotor hub and to a method for repairing a rotor of a wind turbine. The rotor blade has a connection interface, the connection interface having at least one cutout for receiving a tension element for connecting the rotor blade to a further element of a wind turbine, an outer circumferential surface of the cutout being formed of a connection material and having an internal thread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbH
    Inventors: Ingo Hesse, Alexander Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20220280990
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for producing a tower segment, a tower portion and a tower section for a tower, in particular for a tower of a wind power installation. A tower segment, a tower portion and a tower section for a tower, in particular for a tower of a wind power installation, to a tower, and to a wind power installation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Albrecht BRENNER, Bernd BOETTCHER, Alexander HOFFMANN, Harro HARMS
  • Publication number: 20220252040
    Abstract: A wind turbine comprising at least one rotor blade hub and at least one wind turbine rotor blade, wherein the wind turbine rotor blade is at least of a three-part configuration and has a rotor blade root region, a central region and a rotor blade tip region. In addition an end of the rotor blade root region is non-rotatably fixed to the rotor blade hub and a first pitch bearing is provided between a second end of the rotor blade root region and a first end of the central region. In addition there is provided a second pitch bearing between a second end of the central region and a first end of the rotor blade tip region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventor: Alexander HOFFMANN
  • Publication number: 20220228614
    Abstract: A metal corner connector contains at least two connection regions which are arranged on a lateral surface of the metal corner connector. At least one connection region is configured to be mechanically stably connected via welding to a metal pipe extending along a main extension plane of the metal corner connector. The connection region contains at least one protrusion with a groove, which is configured for receiving a welding material. The connection region has an outer surface which is adjacent to the protrusion and is configured as a contact surface for an end face of the metal pipe. A method produces a device having such a metal corner connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventors: Johannes Blisse, Alexander Hoffmann, Peter Dornberger
  • Patent number: 11333239
    Abstract: A method for actuating a hydraulic system of a transmission comprising a variable displacement hydraulic pump and a pilot-controllable system pressure valve, the method including, in order to determine a pump characteristic curve of the hydraulic pump, initially transferring the hydraulic system into a defined operating condition range in which the volumetric output flow, routed via the system pressure valve and applied at the system pressure valve by the hydraulic pump, is greater or less than a hydraulic fluid flow out of the hydraulic system. The method further includes pilot-controlling the system pressure valve to set a defined pressure level of the system pressure. The method additionally includes reducing or increasing the volumetric output flow while monitoring the system pressure, and determining a volumetric output flow corresponding to the hydraulic fluid flow of the hydraulic system with a certain deviation of a current system pressure from the defined system pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Markus Terwart, Rainer Novak, Frank Riever, Alexander Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20220145849
    Abstract: Provided is a wind turbine component for a wind turbine, in particular for a wind turbine tower and/or a rotor blade, to a wind turbine tower, to a rotor blade, to a wind turbine and to a method for producing a wind turbine component. Provided is a wind turbine component for a wind turbine, in particular for a wind turbine tower and/or a rotor blade, comprising a first wall element with a first inner surface and a first outer surface arranged opposite the latter, a corrugated structural element, wherein the structural element is arranged on the first inner surface or on the first outer surface, wherein the first wall element is connected to the structural element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Alexander HOFFMANN, Albrecht BRENNER
  • Publication number: 20220068046
    Abstract: A system and to a method for determining tolerances of components or assemblies includes at least periodically monitoring the components or assemblies of motor vehicles (5.1-5.6) of the same type during a driving operation and, in the process, metrologically gathering condition data (10) characteristic for tolerances at the components or assemblies, transiting the condition data (10) via existing, wireless communication paths to a central computer (1) or a cloud (2), storing the condition data (10) in the central computer (1) or the cloud (2) with a specific identifier for the individual motor vehicle (5.1-5.6), analyzing the stored condition data in a data processing unit (3), computing actual values of the tolerances existing at the detected motor vehicles (5.1-5.6) from the stored condition data, and determining generally valid variables of the component or assembly sizing on the basis of the actual values for the particular vehicle type (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Joachim Straub, Alexander Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 11220994
    Abstract: There is provided a wind turbine rotor blade having a blade outer side, a wall with a laminate, a blade inner side and at least a first and a second rotor blade part. The at least one first and second rotor blade parts are fixed together by means of at least one connecting unit in a separation plane. The connecting unit has at least one cable with a first end with cable fibers which are fixed in or at the laminate of the wall. The connecting unit has at least one projection at the first and second rotor blade parts respectively. The projections are respectively fixedly connected to the wall of rotor blade. The at least one cable is connected at at least one projection. The connecting unit has at least one tensioning element, by means of which the projections on the first and second rotor blade parts can be braced with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbH
    Inventors: Falko Bürkner, Alexander Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20210363975
    Abstract: There is provided a method of detecting lightning strikes in a wind turbine rotor blade. The wind turbine rotor blade has a lightning protection system. A digital camera or an optical-digital heat sensor is provided in the region of a rotor blade root, in a hub of the wind turbine or in or on a tower of the wind turbine in such a way that the digital camera at least partially optically detects a part of the lightning protection system. The part of the lightning protection system is optically detected by the camera to carry out optical temperature detection. An increase in temperature of the part of the lightning protection system is detected based on the optical detection by the camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventor: Alexander HOFFMANN
  • Publication number: 20210316526
    Abstract: A fiber-reinforced composite blank for a fiber-reinforced composite component, in particular for a fiber-reinforced composite component of a wind turbine, comprising a layered construction with a form core consisting of or comprising a form core material, and a fiber layer adjoining the form core, said fiber layer consisting of or comprising a fiber layer material, and a plurality of reinforcing rods introduced into the form core and consisting of or comprising a reinforcing material, wherein the reinforcing material has a higher stiffness than the form core material. In this arrangement, the plurality of reinforcing rods is introduced into the form core at an angle to a form core plane. Furthermore, at least one reinforcing rod of the plurality of reinforcing rods is introduced into the form core at an angle to a direction orthogonal to the form core plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Alexander HOFFMANN, Sara NGANGA
  • Publication number: 20210270232
    Abstract: Provided is a wind power plant rotor blade, with a rotor blade root area, a rotor blade tip area, a rotor blade leading edge, a rotor blade trailing edge, a rotor blade longitudinal axis, a rotor blade inner section, a rotor blade outer section, as well as a dividing plane between the rotor blade outer section and the rotor blade inner section. The rotor blade can be split along the dividing plane. The rotor blade further has a respective reinforcement area in the rotor blade inner section and the rotor blade outer section, which each are arranged next to the dividing plane. The rotor blade is given a multi-part design by splitting it along the dividing plane. After splitting the rotor blade along the dividing plane, the reinforcement area on the rotor blade inner section can be fastened to the reinforcement area of the rotor blade outer section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Applicant: Wobben Properties GmbH
    Inventor: Alexander HOFFMANN
  • Patent number: 11073207
    Abstract: A method for operating a parking lock device (21) with a hydraulic system (1), the method including, when there is a demand to engage the parking lock device (21) originating from a disengaged operating condition of the parking lock device (21), applying a pilot pressure (p_EDS4) at the parking lock valve (PSV) and applying the main pressure (p_sys) at the parking lock valve (PSV), if necessary, via the positioning valve (POSV). The pilot pressure (p_EDS4) and the main pressure (p_sys) are each guided to defined pressure levels at which the parking lock valve (PSV) is transferrable into the further operating condition range of the parking lock valve (PSV) by the active actuating force against the pilot pressure (p_EDS4) and against the pressure between the parking lock valve (PSV) and the parking lock cylinder (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Rainer Novak, Markus Terwart, Andreas Roedler, Alexander Hoffmann, Andreas Feiner, Tobias Pfleger
  • Publication number: 20210180561
    Abstract: There is provided a wind turbine rotor blade having a blade outer side, a wall with a laminate, a blade inner side and at least a first and a second rotor blade part. The at least one first and second rotor blade parts are fixed together by means of at least one connecting unit in a separation plane. The connecting unit has at least one cable with a first end with cable fibers which are fixed in or at the laminate of the wall. The connecting unit has at least one projection at the first and second rotor blade parts respectively. The projections are respectively fixedly connected to the wall of rotor blade. The at least one cable is connected at at least one projection. The connecting unit has at least one tensioning element, by means of which the projections on the first and second rotor blade parts can be braced with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Falko BÜRKNER, Alexander HOFFMANN
  • Patent number: 10968885
    Abstract: A rotor blade having a suction side and a pressure side for a wind power installation, comprising: a rotor blade root of a hub region for the attachment of the rotor blade to a rotor hub, and a rotor blade tip arranged toward that side of a tip region which is averted from the rotor blade root. In the region of the hub region, the rotor blade has, at least in part, a thickness profile which has a thorn-like extension at its trailing edge, wherein, in the region of the hub region, the thickness profile has, at least in part, a first thorn-like extension at the trailing edge at the suction side, and a second thorn-like extension at the trailing edge at the pressure side, and, in the region of the hub region, the thickness profile has, at least in part, a flow stabilizer and/or a vortex generator on the suction and/or pressure side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbH
    Inventor: Alexander Hoffmann