Patents by Inventor Armin Merz

Armin Merz 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: 20240084806
    Abstract: The invention relates to a side channel compressor (1) for a fuel cell system (2) for delivering and/or compressing a gaseous medium, in particular hydrogen or a gas containing hydrogen, comprising a housing (3) and an impeller wheel (4) which can be driven by an electric motor and which is accommodated in the housing (3), thus forming at least one side channel (5) disposed axially in relation to the impeller wheel (4), wherein the side channel (5) is connected, via an axial gap (6) remaining between the housing (3) and the impeller wheel (4), to an annular channel (7) which is disposed radially in relation to the impeller wheel (4). According to the invention, the annular channel (7) is connected to an outlet (10) of the side channel compressor (1) via at least one housing bore (8, 9).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Alexander Hero, Armin Merz
  • Patent number: 11894585
    Abstract: Disclosed is a delivery unit (3) for an anode circuit (9) of a fuel cell system (1) for delivering a gaseous medium, in particular hydrogen, from an anode region (38) of a fuel cell (2), said delivery unit (3) comprising at least one jet pump (4) and being at least indirectly fluidically connected to the outlet of the anode region (38) by means of at least one connection line (23, 25) and being fluidically connected to the inlet of the anode region (38) by means of an additional connection line (27). According to the invention, in addition to the jet pump (4), the delivery unit (3) comprises a recirculation fan (8) and a metering valve (6) as other components, and the flow contours of the components (4, 6, 8) for the gaseous medium and/or the components (4, 6, 8) are at least almost entirely arranged in a common housing (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Altermann, Alexander Hero, Armin Merz
  • Patent number: 11817540
    Abstract: Disclosed is a delivery unit (3) for an anode circuit (9) of a fuel cell system (1) for delivering a gaseous medium, in particular hydrogen, from an anode region (38) of a fuel cell (2), said delivery unit (3) comprising at least one recirculation fan (8) and being at least indirectly fluidically connected to the outlet of the anode region (38) by means of at least one connection line (23) and being fluidically connected to the inlet of the anode region (38) by means of an additional connection line (25). According to the invention, in addition to the recirculation fan (8), the delivery unit (3) comprises a jet pump (4), a metering valve (6) and a separator (10) as other components, and the flow contours of the components (4, 6, 8, 10) for the gaseous medium are at least almost entirely arranged in a common housing (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Hero, Armin Merz
  • Publication number: 20230228488
    Abstract: A carrier plate for inserting containers filled with a medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic substance into a freeze dryer, wherein the carrier plate comprises a plurality of receptacles that are configured to each receive a container. Furthermore, the present application relates to a carrier plate arrangement having a plurality of such carrier plates. Furthermore, the present application relates to a loading system for a freeze dryer, wherein the loading system comprises one or more handling devices and one or more such carrier plates or the carrier plate arrangement. Furthermore, the present application relates to a loading system and to a freeze-drying system having such a loading system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Armin MERZ, Roland ENGELHARD
  • Publication number: 20230152036
    Abstract: A loading system for a freeze dryer, wherein the loading system is configured to load and/or unload the freeze dryer with containers filled with a medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic substance. The loading system comprises a handling station and at least one carrier plate, wherein each carrier plate comprises a plurality of receptacles configured to each receive one of the containers, and the handling station comprises at least one handling device configured to handle the carrier plate in the handling station. A freeze-drying system having such a loading system, and a method for handling containers filled with, for example, a medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic substance in such a loading system for a freeze dryer are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Armin MERZ, Roland ENGELHARD, Josef VEILE
  • Patent number: 11629723
    Abstract: The invention relates to a side channel compressor (1) for a fuel cell system for conveying and/or compressing a gas, particularly hydrogen, comprising a housing (3) and a drive (6), wherein the housing (3) has a housing upper part (7) and a housing lower part (8), a compressor chamber (30) which is circulating in the housing (3) about an axis of rotation (4) and has at least one peripheral side channel (19), a compressor wheel (2) located in the housing (3), which is rotatably arranged about an axis of rotation (4) and is driven by the drive (6), said compressor wheel (2) comprising blades (5) arranged on the periphery thereof in the region of the compressor chamber (30), and comprising respectively a gas inlet opening (14) embodied on the housing (3) and a gas outlet opening (16) which are fluidically interconnected via the compressor chamber (30), in particular the at least one side channel (19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Hero, Armin Merz
  • Publication number: 20230002088
    Abstract: An isolator system for filling a container with a liquid, the isolator system comprises a filling module having a filling station for filling the container with the liquid, a stopper placing station for placing a stopper on the filled container, and a plurality of handling devices for handling the container within the filling module; a first transfer station for transferring the container to be filled into the filling module; a second transfer station for transferring the filled container out of the filling module; and a control device. The present application also discloses a transfer station for transferring a container and several methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Armin MERZ, Roland ENGELHARD, Josef VEILE, Jens WEINMANNWEINMANN
  • Publication number: 20220379500
    Abstract: A method for transferring at least one filling needle of a number of filling needles into an isolator which has a transfer lock, the method having the following steps: providing a first needle carrier within the transfer lock, said needle carrier carrying the number of filling needles; providing a second needle carrier in a first position within the isolator; robot-assisted transferring of the at least one filling needle of the number of filling needles from the first needle carrier to the second needle carrier; and robot-assisted placing of the at least one filling needle of the number of filling needles in the second needle carrier, wherein the at least one filling needle of the number of filling needles is held directly during the robot-assisted placing. A transfer system, in which such a method can be conducted, is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Armin MERZ, Roland ENGELHARD, Jens WEINMANN
  • Publication number: 20220380710
    Abstract: A method for automated microbial monitoring in an isolator having a transfer lock, the method comprising the steps: first providing at least one nutrient medium carrier holder at, in each case, a first position within the isolator; second providing at least one nutrient medium carrier within the transfer lock; first robot-assisted transferring of an individual nutrient medium carrier from the transfer lock to a free nutrient medium carrier holder; and first robot-assisted placing of the transferred nutrient medium carrier in the free nutrient medium carrier holder. Further, a system for automated microbial monitoring in an isolator and a computer program are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Armin MERZ, Roland ENGELHARD
  • Publication number: 20220371205
    Abstract: An end effector for handling objects in an isolator. The end effector comprises a first receptacle for a first object, a second receptacle for a second object, and a displacement member, wherein the receptacles are arranged on opposite sides of the end effector in a longitudinal direction. Each receptacle is displaced between a receiving position, in which the respective object can be received, and a gripping position, in which the respective object can be gripped. Each receptacle has a first gripping portion, wherein the first gripping portion of the first receptacle is located at a first end of the displacement member and the first gripping portion of the second receptacle is located at an opposite second end of the displacement member. The displacement member is displaceable such that the first and second receptacles can each be displaced between the receiving and gripping positions. A robot, a system and a method are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Armin MERZ, Roland ENGELHARD, Jens POMMERT
  • Publication number: 20220102742
    Abstract: Disclosed is a delivery unit (3) for an anode circuit (9) of a fuel cell system (1) for delivering a gaseous medium, in particular hydrogen, from an anode region (38) of a fuel cell (2), said delivery unit (3) comprising at least one recirculation fan (8) and being at least indirectly fluidically connected to the outlet of the anode region (38) by means of at least one connection line (23) and being fluidically connected to the inlet of the anode region (38) by means of an additional connection line (25). According to the invention, in addition to the recirculation fan (8), the delivery unit (3) comprises a jet pump (4), a metering valve (6) and a separator (10) as other components, and the flow contours of the components (4, 6, 8, 10) for the gaseous medium are at least almost entirely arranged in a common housing (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Alexander Hero, Armin Merz
  • Publication number: 20220093943
    Abstract: Disclosed is a delivery unit (3) for an anode circuit (9) of a fuel cell system (1) for delivering a gaseous medium, in particular hydrogen, from an anode region (38) of a fuel cell (2), said delivery unit (3) comprising at least one jet pump (4) and being at least indirectly fluidically connected to the outlet of the anode region (38) by means of at least one connection line (23, 25) and being fluidically connected to the inlet of the anode region (38) by means of an additional connection line (27). According to the invention, in addition to the jet pump (4), the delivery unit (3) comprises a recirculation fan (8) and a metering valve (6) as other components, and the flow contours of the components (4, 6, 8) for the gaseous medium and/or the components (4, 6, 8) are at least almost entirely arranged in a common housing (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Peter Altermann, Alexander Hero, Armin Merz
  • Patent number: 11067092
    Abstract: Side-channel compressor (1) for a fuel cell system (37) for conveying and/or compressing a gas, in particular hydrogen, having a housing (3), wherein the housing (3) has a housing upper part (7) and a housing lower part (8), having a compressor chamber (30) which is situated in the housing (3) and which has at least one encircling side channel (19), having a compressor wheel (2) which is situated in the housing (3) and which is disposed so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis (4), wherein the compressor wheel (2) on the circumference thereof has blades (5) which are disposed in the region of the compressor chamber (30), and having a gas inlet opening (14) and a gas outlet opening (16) which are in each case configured on the housing (3) and which by way of the compressor chamber (30), in particular the at least one side channel (19), are fluidically connected to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Hero, Armin Merz
  • Publication number: 20210140438
    Abstract: The invention relates to a side channel compressor (1) for a fuel cell system for conveying and/or compressing a gas, particularly hydrogen, comprising a housing (3) and a drive (6), wherein the housing (3) has a housing upper part (7) and a housing lower part (8), a compressor chamber (30) which is circulating in the housing (3) about an axis of rotation (4) and has at least one peripheral side channel (19), a compressor wheel (2) located in the housing (3), which is rotatably arranged about an axis of rotation (4) and is driven by the drive (6), said compressor wheel (2) comprising blades (5) arranged on the periphery thereof in the region of the compressor chamber (30), and comprising respectively a gas inlet opening (14) embodied on the housing (3) and a gas outlet opening (16) which are fluidically interconnected via the compressor chamber (30), in particular the at least one side channel (19).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander HERO, Armin MERZ
  • Publication number: 20200277963
    Abstract: Side-channel compressor (1) for a fuel cell system (37) for conveying and/or compressing a gas, in particular hydrogen, having a housing (3), wherein the housing (3) has a housing upper part (7) and a housing lower part (8), having a compressor chamber (30) which is situated in the housing (3) and which has at least one encircling side channel (19), having a compressor wheel (2) which is situated in the housing (3) and which is disposed so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis (4), wherein the compressor wheel (2) on the circumference thereof has blades (5) which are disposed in the region of the compressor chamber (30), and having a gas inlet opening (14) and a gas outlet opening (16) which are in each case configured on the housing (3) and which by way of the compressor chamber (30), in particular the at least one side channel (19), are fluidically connected to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Inventors: Alexander HERO, Armin MERZ
  • Patent number: 10465668
    Abstract: An axial piston machine for at least one of a pump and a motor operation includes a housing, connection plate, piston drum, and working piston. The connection plate is connected to the housing. The piston drum is arranged on a rotatable drive shaft in the housing interior and defines at least one cylinder bore. The working piston is arranged in a longitudinally displaceable manner in the cylinder bore. The cylinder bore delimits a cylinder space having a changeable volume. The cylinder space is configured to connect to at least one pre-compression space via at least one hydraulic connection. The at least one pre-compression space is defined by a cavity within the connection plate. The cavity is defined by the connection plate and a closing element. The closing element is arranged between the connection plate and the housing interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Armin Merz, Eberhard Maier, Dirk Vahle, Francois Brusset
  • Publication number: 20180100944
    Abstract: A method for determining a relative dielectric constant of a ground to be searched for mines using a detector including at least one detection coil and a ground penetrating radar including at least one transmitter antenna and at least one receiver antenna and a detection method for detecting metal and non-metal objects in a ground using a mine detector including a metal detector and a ground penetrating radar, wherein the metal detector includes at least one detection coil with a coil plane which is moved parallel to the ground during detecting, and wherein the ground penetrating radar includes an antenna arrangement including at least one transmitter antenna and at least one receiver antenna. The method according to the invention for determining a relative dielectric constant enables a user to calibrate the detector quickly and in a known manner with respect to ground properties of the ground to be searched.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Jan Fahlbusch, Armin Merz
  • Publication number: 20170321668
    Abstract: An axial piston machine for at least one of a pump and a motor operation includes a housing, connection plate, piston drum, and working piston. The connection plate is connected to the housing. The piston drum is arranged on a rotatable drive shaft in the housing interior and defines at least one cylinder bore. The working piston is arranged in a longitudinally displaceable manner in the cylinder bore. The cylinder bore delimits a cylinder space having a changeable volume. The cylinder space is configured to connect to at least one pre-compression space via at least one hydraulic connection. The at least one pre-compression space is defined by a cavity within the connection plate. The cavity is defined by the connection plate and a closing element. The closing element is arranged between the connection plate and the housing interior.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Armin Merz, Eberhard Maier, Dirk Vahle, Francois Brusset
  • Patent number: 8261719
    Abstract: A fuel pump according to the invention includes a housing and a part, which is a moving part during operation and which bears on a housing region at least indirectly. It is proposed that the fuel pump includes a coating which is applied to the housing region on a side of the housing region which faces towards the moving part, and that the coating is composed of a plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Langenbach, Manfred Fink, Armin Merz, Josef Guentert, Jan Grebe, Robert Reitsam
  • Patent number: 7775193
    Abstract: A high-pressure pump having a housing containing at least one pump element that has a pump piston driven by a drive shaft; the piston is guided so that it can slide in a cylinder bore of a housing part and delimits a pumping chamber therein. A support element supports the pump piston against the drive shaft; and a prestressed return spring acts on both the pump piston and the support element in the direction toward the drive shaft. The support element is guided so that it can slide in a receptacle, which is contained in the housing part that also contains the cylinder bore, in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the pump piston, but cannot rotate around the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Armin Merz, Gerhard Meier