Patents by Inventor Frank Alber

Frank Alber 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: 20240158100
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for servicing an aircraft by a ground service unit. The method comprises reading a wireless parameter signal from a transponder at the aircraft, decoding the wireless parameter signal to derive at least one aircraft parameter of a water supply system and/or a waste system of the aircraft, moving a servicing equipment interface to a service panel of the aircraft, connecting the servicing equipment interface to a coupling at the service panel, servicing the aircraft via the servicing equipment interface corresponding to the at least one aircraft parameter, and writing a service parameter into the transponder at the aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2023
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Inventors: Frank SCHNEIDER, Hannes MÜLLER, Michael REMPE, Tim LÜBBERT, Frederik ALBERS
  • Publication number: 20240141630
    Abstract: A water supply system for a plurality of water consumer units in an aircraft. The system includes a main tank configured to store a main supply of water, a main water pipe connected to an outlet of the main tank, and a plurality of water networks, each configured to conduct water from the main tank to at least one of the plurality of water consumer units. The plurality of water consumer units is partitioned in a first group of water consumer units and at least a second group of water consumer units. Each of the plurality of water networks includes a conveying device configured to convey water to each water consumer unit of one of the groups. The water supply system further includes a cross-feed valve configured to fluidically connect or separate the plurality of water networks downstream of the conveying devices in the plurality of water networks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Frederik ALBERS, Frank SCHNEIDER, Hannes MÜLLER, Axel SCHREINER, Tim LÜBBERT, Michael REMPE
  • Patent number: 11946668
    Abstract: A system for heating up water for a consumer unit in an aircraft, having a water reservoir and a control unit. The water reservoir has a heating device to heat water held in the water reservoir to a consumer temperature. The control unit controls the heating device so water in the water reservoir is automatically heated to or above a disinfection temperature at which germ formation in the water reservoir is eliminated or suppressed, and a temperature of the water in the water reservoir is maintained at or above the disinfection temperature for a disinfection period, the heating to the disinfection temperature being effected only during flight phases or portions of flight phases of the aircraft during which use of the consumer unit by a user is not to be expected. A corresponding method and an aircraft having such a system are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Rempe, Frederik Albers, Frank Schneider, Axel Schreiner, Tim Lübbert
  • Publication number: 20240101243
    Abstract: A line assembly for installation in an aircraft fuselage includes a first line section having a first diameter, a second line section having a second diameter, a set of first line brackets, and a set of second line brackets. The first line brackets include a first receiving space configured to hold the first line section and a first support portion for attaching the first line brackets to a fuselage structural part. The second line brackets include a second receiving space configured to hold the second line section and a second support portion for attaching the second line brackets to the first line section. The second line section includes a higher flexibility than the first line section. The second line section is attached to the first line section through a plurality of second line brackets arranged at a distance to and independent from the first line brackets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Frank SCHNEIDER, Frederik ALBERS, Sonja PAWELLEK
  • Publication number: 20240083770
    Abstract: A method for operating an on-board water supply and distribution system of an aircraft for supplying water includes a central tank, consumer assemblies with a supply device and a buffer tank, pump operable in a supply mode and reverse mode, filter device, and high-pressure conduit system. The central tank connects to the pump's upstream side. The conduit system connects the downstream side and consumer assemblies. The pump in supply mode delivers water from the downstream side to the buffer tank. In reverse mode, the pump can convey water from the downstream side to the upstream side. The method includes operating the pump in supply mode so water from the central tank goes to a consumer assembly in a first time interval to fill the buffer tank, and operating the pump in reverse mode in a second time interval so water from the buffer tank passes through the filter device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Frank Schneider, Hannes Müller, Axel Schreiner, Tim Lübbert, Frederik Albers, Michael Rempe
  • Publication number: 20240076120
    Abstract: A water tank for operation in an aircraft includes a rigid tank shell, and a pressure compensation mechanism to equalize a pressure inside of the rigid tank shell with an environment. The pressure compensation mechanism includes a shutoff member to move between a closed position, a first open position allowing air to enter the rigid tank shell and a second open position allowing air to leave the rigid tank shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Frank Schneider, Frederik Albers
  • Publication number: 20240068206
    Abstract: A method for operating an on-board water supply and distribution system of an aircraft for supplying water includes a central water tank, first consumer assemblies with buffer tanks each including a heater to heat up water in the buffer tank to a disinfection temperature, pump having upstream and downstream sides to operate in supply and reverse modes, and high-pressure conduit system. The central water tank connects to the pump's upstream side. The conduit system connects the downstream side with a first consumer assembly. The method includes operating the pump in supply mode where water from the central tank goes to a first consumer assembly to fill a buffer tank, operating a buffer tank heater so water heats to a predetermined disinfection temperature, and operating the pump in reverse mode so heated water passes through a part of the conduit system and the upstream side of the pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Frank Schneider, Hannes Müller, Axel Schreiner, Tim Lübbert, Frederik Albers, Michael Rempe
  • Patent number: 11135569
    Abstract: The subject matter of the invention is a method for producing composites, comprising mixed oxides of aluminum oxide and cerium/zirconium, hereinafter referred to briefly as Al/Ce/Zr oxide composite(s), using boehmite and soluble cerium/zirconium salts. Al/Ce/Zr oxide composites produced in this way have an increased thermal stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignees: TREIBACHER INDUSTRIE AG, SASOL GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Karl Schermanz, Amod Sagar, Marcos Schöneborn, Reiner Glöckler, Kai Dallman, Frank Alber, Sonke Rolfs
  • Publication number: 20180147559
    Abstract: A process for the preparation of a calcined mixed oxide comprising Al-, Ce- and Zr-oxides, comprising the steps of providing an aqueous slurry comprising hydroxides of cerium and zirconium, contacting the hydroxides of cerium and zirconium with an alumina precursor to obtain an aqueous suspension of solids, isolating the solids from the aqueous suspension and drying to obtain a solid composition, calcining the solid composition of step (c) at a temperature from 450° C. to 1200° C. for at least 1 hour to obtain a calcined mixed oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: Karl Schermanz, Amod Sagar, Marcos Schöneborn, Reiner Glöckler, Kai Dallman, Frank Alber, Sonke Rolfs
  • Patent number: 9889428
    Abstract: A process for the preparation of a calcined mixed oxide comprising Al-, Ce- and Zr-oxides, comprising the steps of providing an aqueous slurry comprising hydroxides of cerium and zirconium, contacting the hydroxides of cerium and zirconium with an alumina precursor to obtain an aqueous suspension of solids, isolating the solids from the aqueous suspension and drying to obtain a solid composition, calcining the solid composition of step (c) at a temperature from 450° C. to 1200° C. for at least 1 hour to obtain a calcined mixed oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignees: TREIBACHER INDUSTRIE AG, SASOL GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Karl Schermanz, Amod Sagar, Marcos Schöneborn, Reiner Glöckler, Kai Dallmann, Frank Alber, Sönke Rolfs
  • Publication number: 20130017947
    Abstract: A process for the preparation of a calcined mixed oxide comprising Al-, Ce- and Zr-oxides, comprising the steps of providing an aqueous slurry comprising hydroxides of cerium and zirconium, contacting the hydroxides of cerium and zirconium with an alumina precursor to obtain an aqueous suspension of solids, isolating the solids from the aqueous suspension and drying to obtain a solid composition, calcining the solid composition of step (c) at a temperature from 450° C. to 1200° C. for at least 1 hour to obtain a calcined mixed oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicants: Sasol Germany GmbH, Treibacher Industries AG
    Inventors: Karl Schermanz, Amod Sagar, Marcos Schöneborn, Reiner Glöckler, Kai Dallmann, Frank Alber, Sönke Rolfs