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: 7739947
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for preparing meals, which is suitable in particular for use on board a commercial aircraft, includes a meal preparation unit (12) and a supply unit (14). The supply unit (12) includes a fuel cell system (16) having a fuel cell (18) and is equipped to supply the meal preparation unit (12) with water produced by the fuel cell (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Hoffjann, Andreas Westenberger
  • Patent number: 7731126
    Abstract: A passenger seat has autonomous electric power generated by a fuel cell system and humidification provided by the fuel cell system. The fuel cell system may include replaceable fuel cartridges and may power electronics such as in flight entertainment, lighting, comfort features, seat adjustments, communications and other features autonomously or under control of the seat occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Hoffjann, Hansgeorg Schuldzig
  • Patent number: 7731127
    Abstract: A drain-mast connector, for use in transportation vehicles such as aircraft, includes an interface pipe which extends through an outer skin of a fuselage of an aircraft via a nipple-like connector. Such a connector allows for simple plug connection of the drain mast pipe and allows less contamination of the fuselage due to grey water disposal. Such a plug-like connection does not require a complicated mounting process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Hoffjann, Holger Czopka, Harald Gruendel
  • Publication number: 20100127123
    Abstract: This application describes a floor segment (11, 13) for a means of locomotion, in particular for an aircraft, for the spatial separation of an interior space of the means of locomotion into a lower space (70) and into an upper space (60). The floor segment (11, 13) comprises an upper partition (81) and a lower partition (82), which together with the upper partition encloses a hollow space (30), which is equipped for accommodating system components (20-29, 32-35) of the means of locomotion. Preferably the floor segments are of a modular design so that within a floor (80) individual floor segments (11, 13) can be exchanged for other floor segments (11, 13) that comprise identical or compatible dimensions and connections for the system components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Hoffjann, Markus Maibach, Wolfgang Zierold
  • Publication number: 20100116935
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vacuum toilet system for transporting toilet waste water and for collecting the waste water in an aircraft. The vacuum toilet system comprises a waste water transport tank and a waste water collection tank that is always subjected to a cabin pressure. In this case, the vacuum toilet system is designed in such a way that the transport of the waste water through the waste water transport tank takes place in combination with a pressure difference between the toilet and an outboard ventilation. The waste water is collected in a waste water collection tank. In this case, the waste water collection tank may be realized in the form of a conform, unpressurized waste water collection tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Ulrich Rieger, Claus Hoffjann
  • Patent number: 7659015
    Abstract: A fuel cell system comprises a combination of a first fuel cell of a first type and a second fuel cell of a second type, arranged downstream of the first fuel cell. The anode side of the first fuel cell is coupled with a cathode side of the second fuel cell; allowing the purge gas emanating from the first fuel cell to be fed to the cathode side of the second fuel chamber, rather than to outside air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Hoffjann, Hansgeorg Schuldzig
  • Publication number: 20100024438
    Abstract: A cooling assembly for cooling a thermal body for an aircraft. The cooling assembly has a Peltier element with a hot side and a cold side. Furthermore, the cooling assembly has a thermal body. The thermal body is arranged in heat-conductive contact with the cold side of the Peltier element. The hot side of the Peltier element is adapted to dissipate thermal energy to an aircraft structure, such that the thermal body may be cooled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Hoffjann, Hansgeorg Schuldzig
  • Publication number: 20100028741
    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: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Hoffjann, Hansgeorg Schuldzig
  • Publication number: 20100018723
    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: November 9, 2006
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: AIRBUS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Julika Bleil, Lars Frahm, Andreas Westenberger, Claus Hoffjann
  • Publication number: 20100019088
    Abstract: A tank module for an aircraft is designed for being fitted into the aircraft fuselage from outside. The tank module comprises at least one receptacle and a shell section that forms an outer end of the tank module and is connected to the receptacle. The shell section can be fitted into a fuselage opening in such a way that the receptacle is positioned in the interior of the aircraft fuselage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: Claus Hoffjann, Wolfgang Zierold
  • Publication number: 20100012782
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a module carrier for accommodating a plurality of module elements in which in each case at least one system element is integrated. The module elements and system elements are networked among each other such that a desired aircraft model is implemented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Hoffjann, Hans-Georg Schuldzig
  • Patent number: 7648628
    Abstract: Water represents an important resource in an aircraft. In modern aircraft, sufficient water reserves are carried along in designated tanks that are regularly refilled by ground personnel. One embodiment relates to a water treatment system for aircraft that may make it possible to treat a gray water/black water mixture accumulated on board of an aircraft during its operation in sufficient quantity and quality for use in a downstream reformer. This means that the water circuit within the aircraft is closed and costly water tanks are eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Hoffjann, Holger Brilsky, Hans-Juergen Heinrich
  • Publication number: 20090321090
    Abstract: A fire fighting system for extinguishing a 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 fire source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Julika Bleil, Lars Frahm, Andreas Westenberger, Claus Hoffjann
  • Publication number: 20090300834
    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: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Hoffjann, Joachim Höhne, Marc Scheel
  • Patent number: 7629068
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a supply system with an electrochemical reactor for generating energy, hydrogen, oxygen and clear water from grey water, a hydrocarbon containing fuel and air, so that the up to now separated systems for supply of clear water, generation of energy and generation of oxygen are combined to a combined system. The necessary redundancies may thereby secured by two or more systems of the same kind, which may be operated completely independently of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Hoffjann, Hans-Georg Schuldzig, Harald Gruendel, Hans-Juergen Heinrich
  • Publication number: 20090293494
    Abstract: A drive device for an aircraft comprises a gas turbine apparatus for generating a first drive energy and electric motor for generating a second drive energy. The gas turbine apparatus and the electric motor are set up in such a way that the drive unit may be provided with at least one of the first drive energy and the second drive energy. The drive unit is set up to generate propulsion using at least one of the first drive energy and the second drive energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Hoffjann, Hansgeorg Schuldzig, Andreas Westenberger
  • Patent number: 7592084
    Abstract: A drink dispenser which is particularly suitable for use on board a passenger plane, comprises a drink preparation unit and a supply unit. The supply unit has a fuel cell system with a fuel cell and is configured to supply the drink preparation unit with water, electric energy, and thermal energy produced by the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Hoffjann, Andreas Westenberger
  • Publication number: 20090214900
    Abstract: A fuel cell system for aircraft with a passenger cabin comprises a fuel cell. The fuel cell comprises a first inlet connection, a first outlet connection, a cathode side and an anode side, wherein the first inlet connection is formed as the inlet connection of the cathode side and wherein the first outlet connection is formed as the outlet connection of the cathode side. In addition, the fuel cell system is designed in such a way that at the first inlet connection, a gas with a pressure is applied, which corresponds to an air pressure in the passenger machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: AIRBUS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Claus Hoffjann, Harald Gründel, Hans-Georg Schuldzig, Hans-Jürgen Heinrich
  • Patent number: 7550218
    Abstract: Water is generated onboard of a craft such as an aircraft or in a self-contained stationary system by partially or completely integrating a water generating unit into a power plant of the craft or system. The water generating unit includes one or more high temperature fuel cells which partially or completely replace the combustion chamber or chambers of the power plant. A reformer process is integrated into the high temperature fuel cell which is arranged between, on the one hand, a fan (30) and power plant compressor stages (31, 32) and, on the other hand, power plant turbine stages (33, 34). These power plant stages may be provided in such redundant numbers that safety and redundancy requirements are satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Hoffjann, Hans-Juergen Heinrich
  • Patent number: 7546981
    Abstract: Drain masts of commercial aircraft need to be heated in order to prevent freezing caused by the low outside temperatures when the aircraft travels at a corresponding altitude. An exemplary embodiment described in the application pertains to a drain system for an aircraft that can be used for draining liquids or gases from the aircraft or for drawing air into the aircraft. In this case, the liquids or gases are heated by means of a coolant that receives its thermal energy from a thermal or electrochemical process being carried out on board the aircraft. Consequently, the waste heat produced by the thermal or electrochemical process being carried out on board the aircraft, for example, a fuel cell process, can be carried off outboard via the drain system. In addition, the coolant can be advantageously utilized for cooling the thermal or electrochemical process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Hoffjann, Hansgeorg Schuldzig, Harald Gruendel, Hans-Juergen Heinrich