Patents by Inventor Bertram Willberg

Bertram Willberg 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: 8033508
    Abstract: In a space shuttle with a device for docking to a satellite, especially a communication or navigation satellite, at least two spreading elements in the form of lever spreaders are pivotally disposed at a retaining part of the docking device, which is concentric to a linkage. The lever spreaders have their proximal ends—relative to the space shuttle—provided with inward projections projecting inward towards the linkage, which inward projections engage in a recess formed in the linkage when the lever spreaders, spread apart to a defined opening angle by the cone of the linkage. When the linkage is retracted further, a pressure spring is compressed. At the same time, the lever spreader caught in the recess are retracted so far that the ends of the lever spreaders, spread apart in a defined manner, positively abut the inner wall of the nozzle neck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.
    Inventors: Andreas Baumann, Bertram Willberg
  • Publication number: 20100301169
    Abstract: In a space shuttle with a device for docking to a satellite, especially a communication or navigation satellite, at least two spreading elements in the form of lever spreaders (4) are pivotally disposed at a retaining part (3) of the docking device, which is concentric to a linkage (2). The lever spreaders (4) have their proximal ends—relative to the space shuttle—provided with noses (41) projecting inward towards the linkage (2), which noses engage in a recess (22) formed in the linkage (2) when the lever spreaders (4), spread apart to a defined opening angle by the cone (21) of the linkage (2), are retracted. When the linkage (2) is retracted further, a pressure spring (5) is compressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2007
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Andreas Baumann, Bertram Willberg
  • Patent number: 6871552
    Abstract: The force moment sensor is a monolithic disk-shaped mounting part (20) including a flat surface. The mounting part includes a first middle portion (21) of high rigidity with first force application locations (25), at least three second portions (221 to 223) of medium rigidity configured circumferentially, each including two second force application locations (26) in the transition portion between juxtaposed second portions, strain relief portions (23) of low rigidity and at least three radially oriented connecting webs (24) and comprising a medium rigidity by a recess (27) of U-shaped cross-section being configured in the medium portions thereof. Mounted on the flat surface of the second portions (22) and of the connecting webs (24) are strain gauges (28) circuited in accordance with the principle of a Wheatstone bridge. From the measured values obtained thereby three forces (Fx, Fy, Fz) and three moments (Mx, My, Mz) can be defined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.
    Inventors: Hong Liu, Bertram Willberg, Peter Meusel
  • Publication number: 20040045372
    Abstract: The force moment sensor is a monolithic disk-shaped mounting part (20) including a flat surface. The mounting part includes a first middle portion (21) of high rigidity with first force application locations (25), at least three second portions (221 to 223) of medium rigidity configured circumferentially, each including two second force application locations (26) in the transition portion between juxtaposed second portions, strain relief portions (23) of low rigidity and at least three radially oriented connecting webs (24) and comprising a medium rigidity by a recess (27) of U-shaped cross-section being configured in the medium portions thereof. Mounted on the flat surface of the second portions (22) and of the connecting webs (24) are strain gauges (28) circuited in accordance with the principle of a Wheatstone bridge. From the measured values obtained thereby three forces (Fx, Fy, Fz) and three moments (Mx, My, Mz) can be defined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Hong Liu, Bertram Willberg, Peter Meusel
  • Patent number: 6343671
    Abstract: To create an additional steering angle for a vehicle, an actuator having a microprocessor-controlled electric motor functioning as the drive and a gear driven by said electric motor, is used to apply to the wheels the additional steering angle at the vehicle axle. The gear is a known constant-pitch planetary rolling-contact threaded-spindle gear (constant-pitch PRCTS gear) (12), consisting of a spindle rod (16), a spindle nut (14) surrounding the former, and a number of interposed rollers or rolling elements (18) with a groove profile (19) matching the thread (17) of the spindle rod (16). The rollers or rolling elements (18) are run on a number of guide rings (20) and interposed bearings (20), and placed at a fixed predetermined distance relative to the spindle nut (14) and to one another. The spindle rod (16) concurrently functions as the axis of the electric motor and is placed inside an electric motor rotor (9′).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft-und Raumfahrt E.V.
    Inventors: Jürgen Ackermann, Tilmann Bünte, Johannes Dietrich, Bernd Gombert, Bertram Willberg
  • Patent number: 6327925
    Abstract: A linear drive unit has a threaded rod, and in combing engagement with same a threaded nut (2), from the outer circumference of which a number of equally spaced cogs (3) project in a radial direction. Furthermore, connecting links (4, 5), which extend parallel to the axis of the threaded rod inside a housing, are driven via hydraulically or pneumatically actuated pistons, causing the connecting links (4, 5) to move in an axial direction. During this oscillating movement the connecting links act upon cogs (3) that project from the threaded nut (2). The force exerted via the cogs (3) located on the outer circumference of the threaded nut (2) causes the threaded nut (2) to be put into an incremental rotation, which, in turn, causes an incremental linear shifting of the threaded rod (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft-und Raumfahrt E.V.
    Inventors: Bernd Gombert, Bertram Willberg
  • Patent number: 5731640
    Abstract: A device (1) for converting rotary movement into axial movement has a spindle (8), a spindle nut (5) surrounding the spindle (8), and a plurality of interposed rollers (7). Each of the rollers has a groove profile (72) corresponding to a thread (81) on the spindle (8), and roller grooves (71) corresponding to spindle grooves (51) formed on the interior of the spindle nut (5). The converter device is driven by a drive unit such as an electric motor (4), either via the elements spindle nut (5) and spindle (8) or, with an interposed connection element, via the rolling elements or rollers (7). The converter device has a reset device with a mechanical energy accumulator (21) and an energy delimiter (22). Energy transfer takes place from the electric motor (4) via the energy delimiter (22) to the energy accumulator (21) connected to a casing (3) or vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Deutsche Forschungsanstalt fur Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.
    Inventors: Johannes Dietrich, Bernd Gombert, Bertram Willberg