Patents by Inventor Bernd Winderlich

Bernd Winderlich 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).

  • Metallic aircraft component
    Patent number: 8039115
    Abstract: The invention relates to metallic aircraft components which can preferably be used for aircraft structures in the fuselage region. A damage-tolerant design is usual for aircraft components in the fuselage region. It is the object of the invention to provide metallic components in which metal sheets are connected to one another by weld seams which have an improved damage tolerance behavior and fatigue crack propagation behavior. In an aircraft component in accordance with the invention, at least two metal sheets are welded to one another as butt joints. The centerline of the join line of the weld seam is predetermined by the outer edge contour of the metal sheets connected to one another. In this connection, it is formed deviant from a continuously straight line shape such that the total length of the weld seam is increased by changes in direction periodically occurring at the edge contours engaging into one another in a complementary manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Jens Hackius, Dirk Dittrich, Bernd Winderlich, Berndt Brenner, Jens Standfuss
  • Metallic aircraft component
    Publication number: 20090134275
    Abstract: The invention relates to metallic aircraft components which can preferably be used for aircraft structures in the fuselage region. A damage-tolerant design is usual for aircraft components in the fuselage region. It is the object of the invention to provide metallic components in which metal sheets are connected to one another by weld seams which have an improved damage tolerance behavior and fatigue crack propagation behavior. In an aircraft component in accordance with the invention, at least two metal sheets are welded to one another as butt joints. The centerline of the join line of the weld seam is predetermined by the outer edge contour of the metal sheets connected to one another. In this connection, it is formed deviant from a continuously straight line shape such that the total length of the weld seam is increased by changes in direction periodically occurring at the edge contours engaging into one another in a complementary manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicants: Airbus Deutschland GmbH, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur Forderung Der Angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Jens Hackius, Dirk Dittrich, Bernd Winderlich, Berndt Brenner, Jens Standfuss
  • Lightweight structural component in particular for aircraft and method for its production
    Patent number: 7494092
    Abstract: Lightweight structural component including at least one panel and at least one stiffening element oriented one of lengthwise and crosswise. The at least one stiffening element includes two side pieces. Each of the two side pieces is at least partially connected to the panel in a material-locking manner. The two side pieces are connected to the panel at two separate joint zones. A method of producing the lightweight structural component includes milling the at least one panel to form at least one thickened region and joining the two side pieces to the at least one panel at the two separate joint zones. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignees: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V., Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Berndt Brenner, Bernd Winderlich, Jens Standfuβ, Jörg Schumacher, Hartmut Brenneis, Walter Zink
  • LIGHTWEIGHT STRUCTURAL COMPONENT IN PARTICULAR FOR AIRCRAFT AND METHOD FOR ITS PRODUCTION
    Publication number: 20080296433
    Abstract: Lightweight structural component including at least one panel and at least one stiffening element oriented one of lengthwise and crosswise. The at least one stiffening element includes two side pieces. Each of the two side pieces is at least partially connected to the panel in a material-locking manner. The two side pieces are connected to the panel at two separate joint zones. A method of producing the lightweight structural component includes milling the at least one panel to form at least one thickened region and joining the two side pieces to the at least one panel at the two separate joint zones. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicants: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zuer Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V., Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Berndt Brenner, Bernd Winderlich, Jens Standfub, Jorg Schumacher, Hartmut Brenneis, Walter Zink
  • Lightweight structural component in particular for aircraft and method for its production
    Publication number: 20050077427
    Abstract: Lightweight structural component including at least one panel and at least one stiffening element oriented one of lengthwise and crosswise. The at least one stiffening element includes two side pieces. Each of the two side pieces is at least partially connected to the panel in a material-locking manner. The two side pieces are connected to the panel at two separate joint zones. A method of producing the lightweight structural component includes milling the at least one panel to form at least one thickened region and joining the two side pieces to the at least one panel at the two separate joint zones. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Publication date: April 14, 2005
    Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Berndt Brenner, Bernd Winderlich, Jens Standfuss, Jorg Schumacher, Hartmut Brenneis, Walter Zink