Patents by Inventor Alexander KERLER
Alexander KERLER 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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Publication number: 20230121862Abstract: An actuator arrangement for an electromagnetically actuatable valve comprises a housing having a first wall, and a second wall situated opposite the first wall, a solenoid armature, with first and second axial armature end surfaces facing toward the first and second housing walls respectively, movable along an axis between a first position, where the first end surface makes contact with the first wall, and a second position, where the first end surface is away from the first wall. A damping element of an elastomer material extends from the second end surface toward the second wall and contacts the second wall in the first and second positions of the solenoid armature, A stop element of an elastomer material extends from the second end surface toward the second wall and, in the first position, is away from the second wall and, in the second position, contacts the second wall.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2021Publication date: April 20, 2023Applicant: Conti Temic microelectronic GmbHInventors: Michael Beuschel, Stefan Bauer, Holger Fernengel, Jürgen Wedell, Alexander Kerler
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Patent number: 11236839Abstract: A pneumatic valve, including a valve housing with an air chamber with one or more air ports. A respective air port of at least one of the air ports can be opened and closed by a movable valve flap which is mechanically coupled to a shape memory alloy. The SMA element deforms as a result of supplying electrical heating current and effects a predefined movement of the valve flap for opening or closing the respective air port. The deformation of the SMA element is reversed when the supply of the electrical heating current ends. The valve flap has a leaf spring. The leaf spring is held rotationally fixedly relative to the valve housing. The leaf spring interacts with the SMA element such that a stroke of the SMA element caused by the deformation is converted into a stroke of the valve flap by elastic bending of the leaf spring.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2017Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Inventors: Michael Beuschel, Alexander Kerler, Johann Steinberger
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Patent number: 10989323Abstract: A pneumatic solenoid valve, comprising an electromagnetic actuator and an air chamber with multiple air connections configured to be connected with the interposition of the air chamber via multiple switching positions of the magnetic actuator is disclosed. The actuator is configured to assume three different switching positions by energizing the actuator in a unipolar manner with three different current intensities and to move first and second sealing element via an actuation mechanism when switching between the switching positions. In a first position, a first sealing element closes a first air connection, and a second sealing element releases a second air connection. In a second switching position, the first sealing element closes the first air connection, and the second sealing element closes the second air connection. In a third switching position, the first sealing element releases the first air connection, and the second sealing element closes the second air connection.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2016Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: Conti Temic microelectronic GmbHInventors: Michael Beuschel, Stefan Bauer, Holger Fernengel, Alexander Kerler, Martin Kolbinger
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Publication number: 20210018109Abstract: A pneumatic valve, including a valve housing with an air chamber with one or more air ports. A respective air port of at least one of the air ports can be opened and closed by a movable valve flap which is mechanically coupled to a shape memory alloy. The SMA element deforms as a result of supplying electrical heating current and effects a predefined movement of the valve flap for opening or closing the respective air port. The deformation of the SMA element is reversed when the supply of the electrical heating current ends. The valve flap has a leaf spring. The leaf spring is held rotationally fixedly relative to the valve housing. The leaf spring interacts with the SMA element such that a stroke of the SMA element caused by the deformation is converted into a stroke of the valve flap by elastic bending of the leaf spring.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2017Publication date: January 21, 2021Inventors: Michael Beuschel, Alexander Kerler, Johann Steinberger
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Patent number: 10753494Abstract: A pneumatic valve, includes an air chamber with a supply port to supply compressed air into the air chamber and one or more discharge ports for discharging compressed air from the air chamber. An actuator with a movable closing element and a shape memory alloy SMA element are provided in the valve. The SMA element deforms in response to a supply of electrical heating current and effects an activation of the actuator by movement of the closing element. When the actuator is in an activated state, the closing element blocks the supply of compressed air via the supply port is blocked. When the actuator is in a deactivated state, the closing element enables the supply of compressed air via the supply port. Upon deactivation of the actuator, the closing element is moved by a restoring force into the free setting. The valve includes a check valve with an elastic element.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2018Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbHInventors: Michael Beuschel, Stefan Bauer, Norbert Seltner, Alexander Kerler
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Patent number: 10711911Abstract: The disclosure relates to a pressure distributor for a motor vehicle, in particular for pneumatic actuators in seats, wherein a pressure generator and a plurality of pneumatic actuators can be connected to the pressure distributor, wherein each actuator is assigned at least one electrically controllable valve which forwards a pressure which is generated by the pressure generator in a targeted manner via a respective outlet to the actuator which is assigned to it, wherein the plurality of valves are supplied with compressed air by the pressure generator during operation of the pressure distributor via a respective inlet of a common air inlet line. The common air inlet line is connected as a separate component via a releasable connection to the plurality of valves.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2016Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: Conti Temic microelectronic GmbHInventors: Michael Beuschel, Gerhard Berghoff, Alexander Kerler
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Patent number: 10522278Abstract: Disclosed is a pneumatic solenoid valve comprising an air chamber with multiple air connections which can be connected via multiple switching positions of the valve by interconnecting the air chamber. The valve comprises a magnetic coil, a yoke arranged on the coil, and an armature arranged about the yoke and able to move relative to the yoke, all within the air chamber. When the coil is energized, the magnetic force generated rotates the armature about a single axis of rotation against a restoring force, until the magnetic force corresponds to the restoring force. When the armature rotates, the size of at least one overlapping region between the yoke and the armature changes, wherein an air gap is formed between the yoke and the armature. The distance of the air gap between the yoke and the armature remains substantially constant in the direction of rotation of the armature.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2016Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: Conti Temic microelectronic GmbHInventors: Michael Beuschel, Markus Ziegelmeier, Stefan Bauer, Alexander Kerler, Martin Kolbinger, Holger Fernengel
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Patent number: 10315548Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the pneumatic adjustment of a seat in a means of transport, in particular in a motor vehicle, comprising one or more cushions (3) which can be filled with air and which are connected via one or more valves (1) to a compressed-air supply (2), and a control device for the actuation of the one or more valves (1) for the purposes of changing the filling state of the one or more cushions (3). The device according to the invention is characterized in that a respective valve (1) of at least some of the valves (1) comprises one or more actuation elements (4) composed of electroactive polymer, to which an electrical voltage can be applied. By application of the electrical voltage, a respective actuation element (4) is deformed, and in this way, one or more passage openings (6, 6?) via which an exchange of compressed air with at least one cushion (3) takes place is or are opened up or shut off.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2016Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: Conti Temic microelectronic GmbHInventors: Alexander Kerler, Johann Steinberger, Wolfgang Thiel
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Publication number: 20190118690Abstract: The invention relates to a pressure distributor (100) for a motor vehicle, in particular for pneumatic actuators in seats, wherein a pressure generator and a plurality of pneumatic actuators can be connected to the pressure distributor, wherein each actuator is assigned at least one electrically controllable valve (110-n) which forwards a pressure which is generated by the pressure generator in a targeted manner via a respective outlet (111-n) to the actuator which is assigned to it, wherein the plurality of valves (110-n) are supplied with compressed air by the pressure generator during operation of the pressure distributor via a respective inlet (112-n) of a common air inlet line (120). The common air inlet line (120) is connected as a separate component via a releasable connection to the plurality of valves (110-n).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2016Publication date: April 25, 2019Inventors: Michael BEUSCHEL, Gerhard BERGHOFF, Alexander KERLER
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Publication number: 20190049026Abstract: A pneumatic valve, includes an air chamber with a supply port to supply compressed air into the air chamber and one or more discharge ports for discharging compressed air from the air chamber. An actuator with a movable closing element and a shape memory alloy SMA element are provided in the valve. The SMA element deforms in response to a supply of electrical heating current and effects an activation of the actuator by movement of the closing element. When the actuator is in an activated state, the closing element blocks the supply of compressed air via the supply port is blocked. When the actuator is in a deactivated state, the closing element enables the supply of compressed air via the supply port. Upon deactivation of the actuator, the closing element is moved by a restoring force into the free setting. The valve includes a check valve with an elastic element.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2018Publication date: February 14, 2019Inventors: Michael Beuschel, Stafan Bauer, Norbert Seltner, Alexander Kerler
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Publication number: 20180301264Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic solenoid valve comprising an air chamber (1), on which multiple air connections (2, 3, 5) are provided which can be connected via multiple switching positions of the solenoid valve by interconnecting the air chamber (1). The solenoid valve comprises a magnetic coil (6), a yoke (8) which is arranged on the magnetic coil (6) and made of soft magnetic material, and an armature (9) which can move relative to the yoke (8) and is made of soft magnetic material. The magnetic coil (6), the yoke (8) and the armature (9) are arranged within the air chamber (1). The armature (9) is arranged with respect to the yoke (8) such that, when the magnetic coil (6) is fed with current, said armature rotates about a single axis of rotation (A), by means of the magnetic force generated as a result, against a restoring force until the magnetic force corresponds to the restoring force.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2016Publication date: October 18, 2018Inventors: Michael BEUSCHEL, Markus ZIEGELMEIER, Stefan BAUER, Alexander KERLER, Martin KOLBINGER, Holger FERNENGEL
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Publication number: 20180292019Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic solenoid valve, comprising an electromagnetic actuator (6) and an air chamber (1) which is provided with multiple air connections (2, 3, 5) that can be connected with the interposition of the air chamber (1) via multiple switching positions of the magnetic actuator. The electromagnetic actuator can assume three different switching positions by energizing the actuator in a unipolar manner with three different current intensities. In a first switching position, a first sealing element (26) closes a first air connection (3), and a second sealing element (27) releases a second air connection (4). In a second switching position, the first sealing element (26) closes the first air connection (3), and the second sealing element (27) closes the second air connection (4). In a third switching position, the first sealing element (26) releases the first air connection (3), and the second sealing element (27) closes the second air connection (4).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2016Publication date: October 11, 2018Applicant: Conti Temic microelectronic GmbHInventors: Michael BEUSCHEL, Stefan BAUER, Holger FERNENGEL, Alexander KERLER, Martin KOLBINGER
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Publication number: 20180222370Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the pneumatic adjustment of a seat in a means of transport, in particular in a motor vehicle, comprising one or more cushions (3) which can be filled with air and which are connected via one or more valves (1) to a compressed-air supply (2), and a control device for the actuation of the one or more valves (1) for the purposes of changing the filling state of the one or more cushions (3). The device according to the invention is characterized in that a respective valve (1) of at least some of the valves (1) comprises one or more actuation elements (4) composed of electroactive polymer, to which an electrical voltage can be applied. By application of the electrical voltage, a respective actuation element (4) is deformed, and in this way, one or more passage openings (6, 6?) via which an exchange of compressed air with at least one cushion (3) takes place is or are opened up or shut off.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2016Publication date: August 9, 2018Inventors: Alexander KERLER, Johann STEINBERGER, Wolfgang THIEL