Patents by Inventor Frank Blum

Frank Blum 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: 11162409
    Abstract: An apparatus for regulating the coolant flow for internal combustion engines in motor vehicles has a valve body which can be moved in a valve apparatus (8) for opening or closing or partially opening. The valve body can be arranged in a throughflow opening to be connected to a brake system (1, 2, 3, 4; 11, 12, 13, 14; 21, 22, 23, 24, 25) to regulate the volume of the coolant flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas Geffert, Frank Blum
  • Patent number: 10519986
    Abstract: An actuator, such as a pressure actuator or a vacuum actuator, has a housing and a plunger that is guided through the housing. A diaphragm is connected to the housing and to the plunger and forms a gas-tight pressure chamber with the housing. A pressure medium connector is provided on the housing and communicates with the pressure chamber to pressurize the pressure chamber. A braking element is provided on the plunger and enables a braking force can be exerted on the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Geffert, Frank Blum
  • Patent number: 10385984
    Abstract: A rotary fluid regulator (1, 300) has a housing (2) with at least one inlet opening (3, 4) and at least one outlet opening (5). A valve element (7, 100) is received rotatably in the housing (2) and is a hollow fluid duct (8). A drive element (19, 301, 401, 501) is provided to rotate the valve element (7, 100) so that a fluidic connection between the at least one inlet opening (3, 4) and the at least one outlet opening (5) can be adjusted or blocked. A brake element is provided for influencing or blocking the movement of the valve element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Dr. Ing h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Geffert, Frank Blum
  • Patent number: 10048704
    Abstract: A thermostatic valve with a valve housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, with an actuator which is accommodated in the valve housing and has a housing, and with a switching element which is operatively connected to the actuator in order to control a fluid connection between fluid inlet and fluid outlet, wherein a plunger protrudes out of the housing, the plunger being connected in an axially fixed manner to the valve housing, and the housing being accommodated in an axially shiftable manner in the valve housing, wherein the housing is mounted in the region of its opposite end regions in the valve housing by plain bearings, wherein the switching element is arranged in an axially displaceable manner relative to the housing of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Geffert, Frank Blum
  • Publication number: 20180112683
    Abstract: An actuator, such as a pressure actuator or a vacuum actuator, has a housing and a plunger that is guided through the housing. A diaphragm is connected to the housing and to the plunger and forms a gas-tight pressure chamber with the housing. A pressure medium connector is provided on the housing and communicates with the pressure chamber to pressurize the pressure chamber. A braking element is provided on the plunger and enables a braking force can be exerted on the plunger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas Geffert, Frank Blum
  • Patent number: 9939079
    Abstract: A rotary fluid regulator (1) has a housing (2) with an intake opening (3), at least one outlet opening (4), and a hollow valve element (5) that is received rotatably in the housing (2) forming a fluid duct (6). An electromotive drive element (13) is provided and rotates the valve element (5). Rotation of the valve element (5) enables a fluidic connection between the intake opening (3) and at least one outlet opening (4) to be adjusted or blocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Thomas Geffert, Frank Blum
  • Publication number: 20180010509
    Abstract: An apparatus for regulating the coolant flow for internal combustion engines in motor vehicles has a valve body which can be moved in a valve apparatus (8) for opening or closing or partially opening. The valve body can be arranged in a throughflow opening to be connected to a brake system (1, 2, 3, 4; 11, 12, 13, 14; 21, 22, 23, 24, 25) to regulate the volume of the coolant flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas Geffert, Frank Blum
  • Publication number: 20160319950
    Abstract: A rotary fluid regulator (1, 300) has a housing (2) with at least one inlet opening (3, 4) and at least one outlet opening (5). A valve element (7, 100) is received rotatably in the housing (2) and is a hollow fluid duct (8). A drive element (19, 301, 401, 501) is provided to rotate the valve element (7, 100) so that a fluidic connection between the at least one inlet opening (3, 4) and the at least one outlet opening (5) can be adjusted or blocked. A brake element is provided for influencing or blocking the movement of the valve element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas Geffert, Frank Blum
  • Publication number: 20160319952
    Abstract: A rotary fluid regulator (1) has a housing (2) with an intake opening (3), at least one outlet opening (4), and a hollow valve element (5) that is received rotatably in the housing (2) forming a fluid duct (6). An electromotive drive element (13) is provided and rotates the valve element (5). Rotation of the valve element (5) enables a fluidic connection between the intake opening (3) and at least one outlet opening (4) to be adjusted or blocked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas Geffert, Frank Blum
  • Publication number: 20150108231
    Abstract: A thermostatic valve with a valve housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, with an actuator which is accommodated in the valve housing and has a housing, and with a switching element which is operatively connected to the actuator in order to control a fluid connection between fluid inlet and fluid outlet, wherein a plunger protrudes out of the housing, the plunger being connected in an axially fixed manner to the valve housing, and the housing being accommodated in an axially shiftable manner in the valve housing, wherein the housing is mounted in the region of its opposite end regions in the valve housing by plain bearings, wherein the switching element is arranged in an axially displaceable manner relative to the housing of the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas Geffert, Frank Blum
  • Patent number: 6813982
    Abstract: A computerized positioning and cutting apparatus and method for automatically cutting structures to predetermined lengths with a minimum amount of scrap for a given project. The apparatus includes a frame and a positioning trough supported by the frame. A magazine is mounted to the frame, which is sized to receive uncut lengths of structure to be selectively fed to the positioning trough. A drive system is mounted to the frame and connected to a positioning system for positioning the uncut structures in the trough. A cutter is mounted on the frame to cut the structures as the positioning system feeds the structures through the trough. A controller having an associated computer system is in electrical communication with the drive system and the cutter. The computer system calculates the optimum number of cuts per a predetermined uncut length of structure to produce a minimum amount of waste structure for the project.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Met-Coil Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Ashok Shah, Richard Frank Blum