Patents by Inventor Claus Hoffjann

Claus Hoffjann 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: 8556211
    Abstract: A floor segment for a transportation system, in particular for an aircraft, for the spatial separation of an interior space of the into a lower space and into an upper space. The floor segment has an upper partition and a lower partition, which together with the upper partition encloses a hollow space, which is equipped for accommodating system component of the aircraft. Preferably, the floor segments are of a modular design so that within a floor individual floor segments can be exchanged for other floor segments that comprise identical or compatible dimensions and connections for the system components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Hoffjann, Markus Maibach, Wolfgang Zierold
  • Publication number: 20130048128
    Abstract: A water-transporting line includes an integrated heater system for protection against frost and the appropriate connection, attachment and control elements. A self-heating water conduit segment is provided that has an integrated heating device, which device encloses the outer surface of the water conduit segment. The various segments may be connected mechanically and electrically using corresponding connecting elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Karsten Roederer, Wilhelm Lutzer, Claus Hoffjann
  • Patent number: 8372554
    Abstract: A cooling system for cooling a fuel-cell system on board an aircraft, in one example, includes a hydrogen accumulator, a connecting device coupling the hydrogen accumulator, with an external cooling system for dissipating heat arising upon charging of the hydrogen accumulator. The hydrogen accumulator cools down upon removal of hydrogen, because of which cooling of a condenser occurs. The cooling system need not utilize a secondary cooling loop for condenser cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland
    Inventors: Claus Hoffjann, Hansgeorg Schuldzig
  • Patent number: 8341773
    Abstract: A system for flushing a vacuum toilet contains a flushing water reservoir container, which may be filled with flushing water, a toilet bowl, which is connectable using a vacuum wastewater line and via a flushing valve to a vacuum system, and a spray device, situated in the toilet bowl, which is connected via a Venturi nozzle to the flushing water reservoir container. A partial vacuum is generated in the vacuum wastewater line when the flushing valve is open, which generates an airflow, by which flushing water contained in the flushing water reservoir container is suctioned, sprayed via the spray device into the toilet bowl, and suctioned into the vacuum wastewater line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Hoffjann, Joachim Höhne, Marc Scheel
  • Publication number: 20120292058
    Abstract: A fire protection system for reducing the danger of fire, which has a fuel cell for producing a nitrogen-enriched cathode exhaust air. The fuel cell is supplied with air and a fuel. Within the fuel cell, the air is then reduced to a determined oxygen content. The exhaust air is supplied to the room to be protected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Julika Bleil, Lars Frahm, Andreas Westenberger, Claus Hoffjann
  • Patent number: 8256524
    Abstract: A fire protection system for reducing the danger of fire, which has a fuel cell for producing a nitrogen-enriched cathode exhaust air. The fuel cell is supplied with air and a fuel. Within the fuel cell, the air is then reduced to a determined oxygen content. The exhaust air is supplied to the room to be protected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Julika Bleil, Lars Frahm, Andreas Westenberger, Claus Hoffjann
  • Publication number: 20120210747
    Abstract: A system for the drying of exhaust gases from a fuel cell system comprises two heat exchangers alternately exposed to exhaust gas, which ice and accumulate water vapour from the exhaust gas by means of a coolant. A valve arrangement with a number of valves is adapted in such a manner that it operates one of the heat exchangers in an icing phase and the other heat exchanger in a regeneration phase, in which the accumulated ice melts and is extracted. This system is especially suitable in aircraft for drying an oxygen-depleted exhaust gas from a fuel cell system for inerting a tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Hoffjann, Johannes Lauckner
  • Patent number: 8141185
    Abstract: A sanitary device for autonomous operation for a conveyance. The sanitary device has a sanitary module and a supply system. The sanitary module is set up replaceably in a cabin area of the conveyance. The supply system is set up in the sanitary module to supply it. The sanitary module is autonomously operable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Hoffjann, Hansgeorg Schuldzig, Heinz-Detlef Naeve, Juergen Friedrich Haastert
  • Patent number: 8034495
    Abstract: A system for generating energy for a consumer element in an aircraft includes the consumer element with a fuel cell element and a rechargeable metal hydride storage cell. The rechargeable metal hydride storage cell is designed for supplying the fuel cell element with hydrogen such that energy can be generated for the consumer element. The rechargeable metal hydride storage cell is furthermore designed in such a way that it can be charged with hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Hoffjann, Hansgeorg Schuldzig
  • Patent number: 8019464
    Abstract: A sorting device and a method for sorting goods in transit for an aircraft are disclosed. The sorting device includes a sorting region with a sorting unit and a storage region. The sorting region is adapted such that goods in transit are capable of being provided to the sorting region in an undetermined first arrangement. The sorting region includes a longitudinal axis, where a sorting unit may be moved along the longitudinal axis of the sorting region. The sorting unit is capable of sorting the goods in transit from an undetermined first arrangement to a predetermined second arrangement, where the goods in transit may be provided in the predetermined second arrangement in the storage region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Hoffjann, Hansgeorg Schuldzig
  • Patent number: 7980513
    Abstract: Currently, the wastewater collection tank and the freshwater tanks comprise separate containers which are each mounted individually in the pressurized area of the cabin on the structure. In the present application a water-wastewater module is described which has two tanks for disposing of feces and wastewater and a water generation unit in the form of the fuel-cell module as integral components. The module and the fuselage may advantageously be manufactured separately from one another and first have to be combined during the final mounting of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Hoffjann, Wolfgang Zierold, Andreas Westenberger
  • Patent number: 7954753
    Abstract: A supply system for the energy supply in an aircraft comprising an engine for propelling an aircraft, a fuel cell for supplying an aircraft with electric energy, a first fuel reservoir for supplying the engine with engine fuel and a second fuel reservoir for supplying the fuel cell with fuel cell fuel. The first fuel reservoir is arranged separately of the second fuel reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Hoffjann, Hansgeorg Schuldzig, Torge Pfafferott, Lars Frahm, Lars Nickel
  • Patent number: 7947164
    Abstract: A grey-water utilisation system for an aircraft for treating grey water from the lavatory basins to become odourless clear water used for flushing the toilets. Freight compartment drainage can be by way of drainage valves embedded in the fuselage, or alternatively, by way of removal by suction into a waste-water collection tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Hoffjann, Andreas Tutass, Hans-Juergen Heinrich
  • Patent number: 7935447
    Abstract: A water generation system for the generation of water on board an aircraft comprises a fuel cell device having an exhaust for an exhaust gas, a condenser and an outflow valve for discharging cabin air, which is drawn off through the condenser due to the pressure difference between the cabin pressure and ambient pressure without extensive cooling circuits or pumps, for example. The condenser may be coupled to the exhaust such that the exhaust gas is cooled by cabin air, and the outflow valve is connected to the condenser and to the environment of the aircraft, such that, when the aircraft is at cruising altitude, the cabin air is drawn through the condenser and is discharged into the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Wolff, Markus Maibach, Claus Hoffjann
  • Patent number: 7926505
    Abstract: In present-day aircraft a drain mast is used on the underside of the fuselage in order to discharge grey water to the external environment. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention there is no need to provide such a drain mast in that a transfer unit is used as a connection unit, and buffer storage spaces are used between the wash basins and the vacuum waste-water system. The transfer unit comprises a self-opening valve with a floating body for automatic discharge. This purely mechanical function and the simple design result in low susceptibility to malfunction and in a long service life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Hoffjann, Harald Gruendel
  • Publication number: 20110048026
    Abstract: A system (10) for reducing harmful substances in engine exhaust gases comprises a fuel cell (12), which is adapted to generate electrical energy and a steam-containing fuel cell exhaust gas during operation. A fuel tank (38) serves to store fuel which is to be supplied to an engine (44) during operation. A condensing device (32) is connected to an exhaust gas outlet (16) of the fuel cell (12) so that steam-containing fuel cell exhaust gas is supplyable to the condensing device (32). The condensing device (32) is adapted to convert the steam contained in the fuel cell exhaust gas into the liquid state of aggregation by means of condensation and to introduce the water obtained as a result of the condensing process into the fuel in order to form a water/fuel mixture. A water/fuel mixture line (96) is connected to the engine (44) so that a water/fuel mixture is supplyable to the engine (44).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Claus Hoffjann, Hansgeorg Schuldzig, Ralf-Henning Stolte
  • Patent number: 7807315
    Abstract: For operation, PEMFCs require among other things a compressor for the cathode air, and a system for removing the water which is generated on the cathode side as a result of the electrochemical reaction. According to an embodiment of the present invention the removal of water is supported in that the fuel cell is made to rotate by way of an electric motor so that the water contained in the cathodes of the fuel cell can be extracted by centrifugal force. To this effect the air channels on the cathode side are arranged so as to extend radially or in a spiral shape from the inside towards the outside. In this way the efficiency of the fuel cell can be significantly improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Hoffjann, Hansgeorg Schuldzig, Hans-Juergen Heinrich
  • Publication number: 20100221642
    Abstract: A fuel cell system for an aircraft is stated, which fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell unit and a suction module. The suction module is used to draw oxygen through the fuel cell unit. No vacuum generators are used during cruising flight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Lars Frahm, Ulrich Rieger, Claus Hoffjann, Hansgeorg Schuldzig
  • Patent number: 7767359
    Abstract: A device for producing water on board an aircraft includes at least one high temperature fuel cell entirely or partially integrated into a combustion chamber arrangement of a gas turbine aircraft engine. The combination of at least one fuel cell and a gas turbine engine is adapted to operate exclusively with hydrogen and atmospheric oxygen, and is embodied in an aircraft propulsion engine and/or an auxiliary power unit used for producing compressed air for a cabin and a power supply of the aircraft. The at least one high temperature fuel cell is fed with pure hydrogen on an anode side and with air on a cathode side. The combustion chambers of the turbine engine are fed with an air-hydrogen mixture, whereby at least the hydrogen supply can be regulated or completely shut off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Hoffjann, Hans-Juergen Heinrich
  • Patent number: 7759011
    Abstract: A safety system for reducing the explosion risk of a fuel tank comprises a protective gas generating device and a delivery device for delivering the protective gas generated by the protective gas generating device into the fuel tank. The protective gas generating device (24) comprises a fuel cell system (26) having a fuel cell (28) and is configured so as to provide the delivery device (14) with a protective gas generated by the fuel cell (28) during operation of the fuel cell system (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Hoffjann, Andreas Westenberger