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).

  • Publication number: 20170349049
    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: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Applicant: CONDUCTIX-WAMPFLER GMBH
    Inventors: Dietmar LANG, Niklas ENDLER, Bernd MAIER, Dieter SEIDEL, Andreas SCHMIEDLE
  • Publication number: 20170326988
    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: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Applicant: Conductix-Wampfler GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd MAIER, Frank KREITER, Joerg SAETTELE, David BRANDER
  • Publication number: 20170217333
    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: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventor: Bernd MAIER
  • Patent number: 9716376
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mounting for a data conductor on a conductor strand of a conductor line. The invention further relates to an energy transmission system for transmitting electrical energy between a conductor line and an electrical consumer that can be moved along the conductor line and has at least one data conductor guided along the conductor line and at least one antenna arranged on the consumer, and to a data transmission system for contactless local data transmission between at least one data conductor guided along a conductor line and at least one antenna arranged on an electrical consumer that can be moved along the conductor line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Conductix-Wampfler GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Maier, Frank Pietschmann
  • Patent number: 9669715
    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: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Conductix-Wampfler GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Maier, Frank Kreiter, Joerg Saettele, David Brander
  • Publication number: 20170122327
    Abstract: A fan arrangement (10) has a first axial fan (20), a second axial fan (40), and a guide apparatus (60). The first axial fan has: a first electric motor (21) having a first external rotor (22) and a first internal stator (23); a first fan wheel (24) connected to the first external rotor and having a first plurality of fan blades (25); a first base part (26) connected to the first internal stator; and a first fan housing (27) that at least partly surrounds the first electric motor. The second axial fan has: a similar structure. The first fan housing defines, together with the first fan wheel, an annular first conduit (32) through which a fluid is deliverable during operation by rotation of the first fan wheel around a first rotation axis (30) of the first external rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Applicant: EBM-PAPST ST. GEORGEN GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Bernd Maier, Gabriel Axtmann
  • Publication number: 20160245306
    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: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Applicant: EBM-Papst St. Georgen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Hansjoerg Berroth, Hans-Peter Krack, Bernd Maier
  • Publication number: 20160137101
    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: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Michael ECKLE, Bernd MAIER
  • Patent number: 8887635
    Abstract: An offset printing press and a method for cleaning inking units in offset printing presses include emptying and subsequently refilling ink fountains of individual inking units of the printing units with ink sequentially one after the other. Immediately after the emptying of a first ink fountain, a washing operation for an associated inking unit is started even before remaining ink fountains have been emptied. After a respective further one of the remaining ink fountains has been emptied, the washing operation for a respective further inking unit is started and refilling of the first ink fountain is started while washing operations for one or more of the further inking units are still running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Stephan Ehrhardt, Bernd Maier
  • Publication number: 20140305760
    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: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: CONDUCTIX-WAMPFLER GMBH
    Inventors: Bernd Maier, Frank Kreiter, Joerg Saettele, David Brander
  • Publication number: 20140159968
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mounting for a data conductor on a conductor strand of a conductor line. The invention further relates to an energy transmission system for transmitting electrical energy between a conductor line and an electrical consumer that can be moved along the conductor line and has at least one data conductor guided along the conductor line and at least one antenna arranged on the consumer, and to a data transmission system for contactless local data transmission between at least one data conductor guided along a conductor line and at least one antenna arranged on an electrical consumer that can be moved along the conductor line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: CONDUCTIX-WAMPFLER GMBH
    Inventors: Bernd Maier, Frank Pietschmann
  • Publication number: 20120279408
    Abstract: An offset printing press and a method for cleaning inking units in offset printing presses include emptying and subsequently refilling ink fountains of individual inking units of the printing units with ink sequentially one after the other. Immediately after the emptying of a first ink fountain, a washing operation for an associated inking unit is started even before remaining ink fountains have been emptied. After a respective further one of the remaining ink fountains has been emptied, the washing operation for a respective further inking unit is started and refilling of the first ink fountain is started while washing operations for one or more of the further inking units are still running.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: HEIDELBERGER DRUCKMASCHINEN AG
    Inventors: STEPHAN EHRHARDT, BERND MAIER
  • Patent number: 8082854
    Abstract: The invention relates to a chassis (1) for a cable or pipeline trolley (2), for traveling along a carrier rail, the chassis including at least one pair of carrier rollers (3) having a horizontal axis of rotation and at least one pair of guide rollers (4) having a vertical axis of rotation. The disadvantage of known chassis of this type is that they jolt at uneven sections of the carrier rail and a significant supply of replacement parts is required for repairs. The aim of the invention is to develop a chassis with improved driving characteristics, whilst at the same time reducing production and inventory costs. To achieve this, the carrier rollers (3) and guide rollers (4) are essentially arranged symmetrically to a vertical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Conductix-Wampfler AG
    Inventor: Bernd Maier
  • Patent number: 8056483
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cable or pipeline trolley (2) for travelling along a carrier rail, comprising at least one chassis (1) and a carrier device (10) for cables or pipelines, in addition to a central plate (9) that connects the carrier device (10) to the chassis (1). Known cable or pipeline trolleys of this type are sensitive to high winds and are frequently derailed from the guides as a result of the large wind-exposure area. The aim of the invention is to develop a cable or pipeline trolley so that it is more operationally secure and the chassis can run more reliably along the carrier rail even when exposed to high winds or other stress. To achieve this, at least two rectangular cavities and two triangular cavities (6, 7) are positioned within the outer boundary of the central plate (9), said cavities being symmetrical in relation to the central axis of the central plate and being separated by a strut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Conductix-Wampfler AG
    Inventor: Bernd Maier
  • Patent number: 7998275
    Abstract: A method for cleaning a circumferential surface of a cylinder of a printing press provides for improved cleaning to be achieved during a short time. In order to clean the circumferential surface, a cleaning fluid is first applied to the circumferential surface. In order then to remove contaminants, the contaminants a broken up mechanically after the cleaning fluid is applied and before a cleaning apparatus acting on the circumferential surface is set into operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Jörg Frey, Jörg Heuschkel, Bernd Maier
  • Patent number: 7677372
    Abstract: A conductor clamp (4) for a trailing line (5) which is secured to crabs (7) which can be moved along a carrier rail (1) comprises a support (8) for the trailing line, a clamping device (9) for securing the trailing line to the support and a shock absorber (10) for absorbing an impact of the first crab on the conductor clamp. The shock absorber has at least two spring bodies (20, 22) which have different characteristics and which are arranged one behind the other in the anticipated direction of action of the shock absorber. In this context, the most resilient spring body (20) is arranged closest to the end of the shock absorber which is provided for the application of an impact force. The shock absorber also has a lifting rod (16) which can be displaced under the effective impact force in the anticipated direction of action of the shock absorber. At the two ends of the lifting rod, spring bodies with different characteristics are arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Conductix-Wampfler AG
    Inventor: Bernd Maier
  • Patent number: 7656066
    Abstract: An easy-to-assemble electric motor (21) features an internal stator (50), an external rotor (22) having a shaft (34), which external rotor is configured as a rotor cup or bell (24) having an outer side and an inner side (25), a bearing tube (70) for receiving a bearing arrangement (60) journaling the shaft (34), which bearing tube (70) has a first end portion (71) facing toward the inner side (25) of the external rotor (22) and being formed with an inwardly protruding stop (73), the bearing tube having a second end portion (75) facing away from the first end portion (71) and being joined to a plastic part (80) that likewise forms an inwardly protruding stop (77) adjacent a second end portion (75), the bearing arrangement (60) being located in the bearing tube (70) in a chamber defined between said two inwardly protruding stops (73, 77).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: EBM-PAPST St. Georgen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Boris Serowy, Bernd Maier
  • Publication number: 20090301341
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cable or pipeline trolley (2) for travelling along a carrier rail, comprising at least one chassis (1) and a carrier device (10) for cables or pipelines, in addition to a central plate (9) that connects the carrier device (10) to the chassis (1). Known cable or pipeline trolleys of this type are sensitive to high winds and are frequently derailed from the guides as a result of the large wind-exposure area. The aim of the invention is to develop a cable or pipeline trolley so that it is more operationally secure and the chassis can run more reliably along the carrier rail even when exposed to high winds or other stress. To achieve this, at least two rectangular cavities and two triangular cavities (6, 7) are positioned within the outer boundary of the central plate (9), said cavities being symmetrical in relation to the central axis of the central plate and being separated by a strut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2006
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventor: Bernd Maier
  • Publication number: 20090211599
    Abstract: A method for cleaning a circumferential surface of a cylinder of a printing press provides for improved cleaning to be achieved during a short time. In order to clean the circumferential surface, a cleaning fluid is first applied to the circumferential surface. In order then to remove contaminants, the contaminants a broken up mechanically after the cleaning fluid is applied and before a cleaning apparatus acting on the circumferential surface is set into operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: HEIDELBERGER DRUCKMASCHINEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Jõrg Frey, Jõrg Heuschkel, Bernd Maier
  • Publication number: 20090173710
    Abstract: The invention relates to a chassis (1) for a cable or pipeline trolley (2), for travelling along a carrier rail, said chassis comprising at least one pair of carrier rollers (3) with a horizontal rotational axis and at least one pair of guide rollers (4) with a vertical rotational axis. The disadvantage of known chassis of this type is that they jolt at uneven sections of the carrier rail and a significant supply of replacement parts is required for repairs. The aim of the invention is to develop a chassis with improved driving characteristics, whilst at the same time reducing production and inventory costs. To achieve this, the carrier rollers (3) and guide rollers (4) are essentially arranged asymmetrically to a vertical axis (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2006
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventor: Bernd Maier