Patents by Inventor Bernd Maier

Bernd Maier 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: 11970100
    Abstract: A table device for an interior of a vehicle includes a table element that is positionable from a non-use position into a use position. The table element, secured to a pivot arm in the non-use position, forms a trim element of a center console of the vehicle. The pivot arm is secured to a frame element and the frame element is guided by a guide element through a predefined movement path. The frame element is liftable by a first drive unit through the predefined movement path such that the table element pivots out in part, through a predefined angle, from a housing formed by the center console. The table element is liftable by a second drive unit into the use position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Valentin Maier, Christoph Menzel, Bernd Plocher, Benno Stamp
  • Patent number: 11472675
    Abstract: A connecting arrangement by which an electric load, which can be displaced in at least one direction of travel in relation to a feeder device, is supplied, by a cable, with electrical energy and/or data. The feeder device has at least one connection member for connecting to a corresponding connecting element of a cable carried by the electric load. An energy-supply system supplies the electric load. A simplified automatic connection of the cable to the feeder device by a connecting arrangement has a manipulator for connecting the connecting element to the connection member. A related energy-supply system has such a connecting arrangement and a related method has the following steps: a) positioning the connecting element in relation to the feeder device, b) using a manipulator to grip the connecting element and/or the cable, and c) using the manipulator to connect the connecting element to the connection member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Conductix-Wampfler GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Maier, Frank Kreiter, Martin Nöltner, Dietmar Lang
  • Patent number: 11441630
    Abstract: A stop buffer for absorbing kinetic energy in a collision between two objects, includes a first spring body made of an elastic material. The first spring body is connected to a carrier body, and includes at least one electrical sensor, which has a triggering element that can be mechanically actuated. The sensor outputs a signal when the triggering element is actuated. The sensor is arranged relative to the carrier body in such a way that the triggering element is actuated by a detachment of the first spring body from the carrier body, or an actuation mechanism is provided, by which the triggering element of the sensor is actuated by a force acting on the carrier body in a collision when the force exceeds a predefined magnitude that indicates a failure of the first spring body because of wear or, if the first spring body is intact, indicates excessive collision energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Conductix-Wampfler GmbH
    Inventors: Niklas Endler, Bernd Maier, Nicholas Winter
  • Patent number: 11390495
    Abstract: A line cable comprises one or more conductors for transmitting electrical power and/or data and an elongate supporting element. A related power supply system for supplying electrical power and/or data to a movable electrical load via cables comprises at least one feed device and a connecting element, which can be connected to the feed device, of a line cable of the load. The line cable can be output or retrieved from a reservoir, which is carried along by the load, in accordance with a distance between the reservoir and the feed device. A connecting element for connection to a connection of a feed device for electrical power and/or data is arranged at one end of the line cable. The supporting element can be connected to the connecting element in a force-fitting and/or interlocking manner for the purpose of transmitting longitudinal tensile forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Conductix-Wampfler GmbH
    Inventors: Dietmar Lang, Martin Nöltner, Bernd Maier, Frank Kreiter
  • Publication number: 20220209388
    Abstract: In a communications system for communication between a vehicle guided along a predetermined movement path and a stationary station using a slotted waveguide which extends parallel to the movement path and into which an antenna connected to a transmitting and receiving unit of the stationary station and a vehicle antenna project. The vehicle antenna is moved in the longitudinal direction of the slotted waveguide with a movement of the vehicle. On the stationary station and on the vehicle, either at least two separate transmitting and receiving units are provided for each respective transmission channel and are provided with a respective antenna connection, or at least one transmitting and receiving unit is provided for at least two transmission channels and is provided with two respective antenna connections. The antenna connections of the transmitting and receiving units are connected to a common antenna via a coupler. The signals of all transmission channels are emitted and received via the common antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Applicant: Conductix-Wampfler GmbH
    Inventors: Nicholas WINTER, Michael ECKLE, Bernd MAIER
  • Publication number: 20210394619
    Abstract: A current collector has a sliding contact for making electrical contact with a conductor profile of a conductor line and an antenna for insertion into a longitudinal slot, running in a longitudinal direction of the conductor line. The sliding contact and the antenna can be moved jointly towards the conductor profile in a feed direction by a feed device of the current collector. A conductor line has a conductor profile running in a longitudinal direction, having an elongate cavity and a longitudinal slot adjoining the cavity and running in the longitudinal direction. The conductor profile has at least one sliding contact groove for the sliding contact of the current collector. The antenna is mounted on the current collector so as to be moveable with respect to the sliding contact in the feed direction, and the conductor profile has at least one spacer slide surface running in the longitudinal direction, for a spacer slide of the current collector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Applicant: Conductix-Wampfler GmbH
    Inventors: Niklas Endler, Bernd Maier, Nicholas Winter
  • Patent number: 11189999
    Abstract: A feed device for supplying electrical power and/or data to an electrical load, which is movable in at least one travel direction relative to the feed device, via cables. An electrical line cable carried along by the electrical load can be connected or is connected to the feed device, and to a power supply system for supplying the movable electrical load. The line cable can be output or retrieved from a reservoir, which is carried along by the load, in accordance with a distance between the reservoir and the feed device. The feed device has at least one connection part, which is rotatable about at least one pivot axis, for the line cable. This feed device, as well as a power supply system having such a feed device, provides protective guidance and storage of the line cable, reducing the risk of kinking or excessive bending of the line cable when moving the electrical load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: CONDUCTIX-WAMPFLER GMBH
    Inventors: Bernd Maier, Frank Kreiter, Martin Nöltner, Dietmar Lang
  • Patent number: 11125250
    Abstract: A fan device including an electric motor assembly (24, 26) designed to drive at least one blade wheel (34, 36) in a flow channel (18) provided axial to the blade wheel, an electronic assembly (38, 40), which forms commutator and/or ballast electronics for the electric motor assembly, is arranged in series with the electric motor assembly, and is produced on a circuit carrier, and a carrier unit (14) formed axially on or in the flow channel for retaining the electric motor assembly, wherein the carrier unit, which forms an inner circumference of the flow channel at least in sections, is made from a thermally conductive material, wherein the carrier unit has, on an outer segment (16) radially opposite to the flow channel, a mounting and cooling surface for interacting with the circuit carrier and/or power electronics components provided thereon in a heat-dissipating manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: EBM-Papst St. Georgen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Hansjoerg Berroth, Hans-Peter Krack, Bernd Maier
  • Patent number: 10717359
    Abstract: A current collector system for a vehicle movable along a busbar arrangement, with at least one current collector trolley and current collector contacts arranged thereon that can be connected to a busbar of the busbar arrangement and with a vertical delivery unit for moving the current collector trolley in a vertical delivery direction, or with a horizontal delivery unit with at least one delivery element movable in a horizontal delivery direction for moving the current collector trolley in the horizontal delivery direction, as well as a corresponding crane system. The current collector trolley can be moved by a belt drive with an elastic and/or flexible belt in the vertical delivery direction, or in that the delivery element can be moved via a belt drive with an elastic and/or flexible belt in the horizontal direction, and with a crane system equipped with the above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: CONDUCTIX-WAMPFLER GMBH
    Inventors: Bernd Maier, Frank Kreiter, Joerg Saettele, David Brander
  • Patent number: 10583742
    Abstract: A current collector for an electrical load that can be moved along a conductor line in a travel direction. The current collector has at least one contact piece, which is supported on a rocking arm to be rotatable about an axis of rotation extending perpendicularly to the travel direction. To bring the contact piece into contact with an electrically conductive conductor strand of the conductor line, the contact piece can be moved toward the conductor strand by the rocking arm. The current collector also includes a connection cable, which connects the contact piece to a connection terminal for the electrical loads in an electrically conductive manner. A conductor line system includes a conductor line and at least one electrical load that can be moved on the conductor line in the longitudinal direction of the conductor line. The conductor line has at least one electrically conductive conductor strand for bringing into sliding contact with at least one contact piece of a current collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: CONDUCTIX-WAMPFLER GMBH
    Inventors: Dietmar Lang, Niklas Endler, Bernd Maier, Dieter Seidel, Andreas Schmiedle
  • Publication number: 20200052476
    Abstract: A feed device for supplying electrical power and/or data to an electrical load, which is movable in at least one travel direction relative to the feed device, via cables. An electrical line cable carried along by the electrical load can be connected or is connected to the feed device, and to a power supply system for supplying the movable electrical load. The line cable can be output or retrieved from a reservoir, which is carried along by the load, in accordance with a distance between the reservoir and the feed device. The feed device has at least one connection part, which is rotatable about at least one pivot axis, for the line cable. This feed device, as well as a power supply system having such a feed device, provides protective guidance and storage of the line cable, reducing the risk of kinking or excessive bending of the line cable when moving the electrical load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Applicant: Conductix-Wampfler GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd MAIER, Frank KREITER, Martin NÖLTNER, Dietmar LANG
  • Publication number: 20190367334
    Abstract: A cable guide apparatus has an oscillating link rotatable about an axis and a cable guide for the line cable. The line cable is fed from and into a reservoir based on the distance between the reservoir and the feed device and is guided by the cable guide. A simplified automatic connection of a line cable to a feed device is achieved and provides protective guidance and storage of the line cable by a cable guide apparatus in which the oscillating link can be moved linearly relative to the oscillation axis. A power supply system includes this cable guide apparatus. The related method comprises: a) retracting a connecting element, which is arranged on the line cable, into the cable guide apparatus and before, at the same time or afterwards b) moving the oscillating link from an extended to a retracted position relative to the oscillation axis in a linear manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: Conductix-Wampfler GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd MAIER, Dietmar LANG, Martin NÖLTNER, Frank KREITER
  • Publication number: 20190359454
    Abstract: A line cable comprises one or more conductors for transmitting electrical power and/or data and an elongate supporting element. A related power supply system for supplying electrical power and/or data to a movable electrical load via cables comprises at least one feed device and a connecting element, which can be connected to the feed device, of a line cable of the load. The line cable can be output or retrieved from a reservoir, which is carried along by the load, in accordance with a distance between the reservoir and the feed device. A connecting element for connection to a connection of a feed device for electrical power and/or data is arranged at one end of the line cable. The supporting element can be connected to the connecting element in a force-fitting and/or interlocking manner for the purpose of transmitting longitudinal tensile forces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Applicant: Conductix-Wampfler GmbH
    Inventors: Dietmar LANG, Martin NÖLTNER, Bernd MAIER, Frank KREITER
  • Publication number: 20190316647
    Abstract: A stop buffer for absorbing kinetic energy in a collision between two objects, includes a first spring body made of an elastic material. The first spring body is connected to a carrier body, and includes at least one electrical sensor, which has a triggering element that can be mechanically actuated. The sensor outputs a signal when the triggering element is actuated. The sensor is arranged relative to the carrier body in such a way that the triggering element is actuated by a distance of the first spring body from the carrier body, or an actuation mechanism is provided, by which the triggering element of the sensor is actuated by a force acting on the carrier body in a collision when the force exceeds a predefined magnitude that indicates a failure of the first spring body because of wear or, if the first spring body is intact, indicates excessive collision energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Applicant: Conductix-Wampfler GmbH
    Inventors: Niklas ENDLER, Bernd MAIER, Nicholas WINTER
  • Patent number: 10408147
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a gear change in the case of a non-synchronized dog-shift transmission having at least one shift fork controllable by way of a selector drum, wherein, by way of a position sensor on the selector drum, the rotational position of the selector drum is sensed and is transmitted to an electronic control unit for controlling a drive motor. By use of the sensed rotational position, the control unit detects whether the/a shift fork is in an intermediate position, in which none of the two possible gears associated with the shift fork is engaged. If the shift fork is in the intermediate position, the rotational speed of the drive motor is controlled to a middle value between the target rotational speeds of the two possible gears if in addition the clutch between the drive motor and the dog-shift transmission is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Bernd Maier
  • Publication number: 20190263636
    Abstract: A connecting arrangement by which an electric load, which can be displaced in at least one direction of travel in relation to a feeder device, is supplied, by a cable, with electrical energy and/or data. The feeder device has at least one connection member for connecting to a corresponding connecting element of a cable carried by the electric load. An energy-supply system supplies the electric load. A simplified automatic connection of the cable to the feeder device by a connecting arrangement has a manipulator for connecting the connecting element to the connection member. A related energy-supply system has such a connecting arrangement and a related method has the following steps: a) positioning the connecting element in relation to the feeder device, b) using a manipulator to grip the connecting element and/or the cable, and c) using the manipulator to connect the connecting element to the connection member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Applicant: Conductix-Wampfler GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd MAIER, Frank KREITER, Martin NÖLTNER, Dietmar LANG
  • Patent number: 10137801
    Abstract: A conductor line for supplying at least one electric load which can be moved on the conductor line in the longitudinal direction of the conductor line includes at least one conductor strand which runs in the longitudinal direction and which has an electrically conductive profiled conductor section for contacting a sliding contact of the load, and at least one signal transmission device which runs in the longitudinal direction. A current collector for the load has at least one sliding contact for contacting the profiled conductor section of the conductor strand of the conductor line and at least one antenna for transmitting data to a conductor line signal transmission device, which moves in the longitudinal direction. A conductor line system includes such a conductor line and current collector. An aim is to allow a compact and material-saving design as well as a good fault-tolerant transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: CONDUCTIX-WAMPFLER GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Eckle, Bernd Maier
  • Publication number: 20180266498
    Abstract: A clutch device for a powertrain of a motor vehicle, in particular a motorcycle, is provided. The clutch device includes a clutch with at least one clutch element that can be moved between at least one engaged position in which a drive assembly of the powertrain is rotationally fixed to at least one additional component of the powertrain, and at least one disengaged position in which the drive assembly is decoupled from the additional component. At least one analog sensor detects at least one measurement variable associated with the movement of the clutch element. The motor vehicle power train may be operated based on the detected at least one measurement variable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventor: Bernd MAIER
  • Publication number: 20180266554
    Abstract: An apparatus for arresting a controller cylinder of a sequential transmission is provided. The apparatus includes an actuator which can be transitioned into an activated state by a control device to directly or indirectly engage the controller cylinder such that the controller cylinder is held in an intermediate position between two gears or between one gear and an idle position of the transmission. A related method for arresting a controller cylinder of a sequential transmission by such a device is provided, in which the controller cylinder of the transmission is rotated from a stable position into an intermediate position before the next stable position, and the actuator arrests the controller cylinder in the intermediate position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventor: Bernd MAIER
  • Patent number: 9987948
    Abstract: A conductor line for supplying an electric load movable on the conductor line in the longitudinal direction of the conductor line, includes at least one conductor strand which runs in the longitudinal direction and has an electrically conductive profiled conductor section for contacting a sliding contact of a current collector of the load and at least one elongated slotted waveguide, which runs in the longitudinal direction, with a longitudinal slot for receiving an antenna which can be moved together with the load. A related current collector and a conductor line system are also provided. The aim is to allow a compact and material-saving design with good fault-tolerant transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: CONDUCTIX-WAMPFLER GMBH
    Inventor: Bernd Maier