Patents by Inventor Frank Hegner
Frank Hegner 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).
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Patent number: 9136662Abstract: A method for manufacturing a connection between two ceramic parts comprises: providing a first ceramic part and a second ceramic part; providing an active hard solder, or active braze, on at least one surface section of at least one of the ceramic parts; and heating the active hard solder, or active braze, in a vacuum soldering, brazing process. The entire active hard solder, or active braze, for connecting the first and second ceramic parts is provided in such a manner that at least one surface section of at least one of the ceramic parts, preferably both ceramic parts, is coated by means of gas phase deposition of the alloy of the active hard solder, or active braze.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2011Date of Patent: September 15, 2015Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KGInventors: Andreas Rossberg, Michael Philipps, Frank Hegner, Ulfert Drewes, Jorg Muller, Marco Doms
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Publication number: 20130213138Abstract: A method for manufacturing a connection between two ceramic parts comprises: providing a first ceramic part and a second ceramic part; providing an active hard solder, or active braze, on at least one surface section of at least one of the ceramic parts; and heating the active hard solder, or active braze, in a vacuum soldering, brazing process. The entire active hard solder, or active braze, for connecting the first and second ceramic parts is provided in such a manner that at least one surface section of at least one of the ceramic parts, preferably both ceramic parts, is coated by means of gas phase deposition of the alloy of the active hard solder, or active braze.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2011Publication date: August 22, 2013Applicant: Endress + HauserInventors: Andreas Rossberg, Michael Philipps, Frank Hegner, Ulfert Drewes, Jorg Muller, Marco Doms
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Patent number: 8485042Abstract: A method for manufacturing an elastic deformation body made of an Al2O3 ceramic according to which a highly pure alumina having at most 2000 ppm MgO, at most 200 ppm inorganic impurities, a specific surface of at least 10 m2/g, an average grain size of at most 0.3 ?m is applied. With the alumina and additives, there is produced via aqueous processing a homogeneous mixture, from which a pressable spray granulate is produced, which is formed by means of a uniaxial pressing method to a homogeneous, green body, which is subjected to a sinter process. The resulting elastic deformation body has a bending fracture stress ?c, whose distribution F(?c) is given by the Weibull parameters ?0?800 MPa and m?24, with an average grain size of the sintered material of no more than 2 ?m, and wherein the sintered material of the deformation body has a density of not less than 3.98 g/cm3.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2009Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KGInventors: Frank Hegner, Andreas Roβberg, Frank Kastner, Henry Ludwig, Uta Oberbach
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Patent number: 8176791Abstract: An elastic ceramic body and a pressure sensor. The elastic ceramic body comprises: a base body of an elastic ceramic material; and a cover layer, which covers at least one section of a surface of the base body, wherein the cover layer is of a material other than that of the base body, and the cover layer comprises microcrystalline Al2O3 (corundum). The cover layer is preferably prepared in a sol gel process. The pressure sensor, comprises: a disk-shaped measuring membrane, which is embodied as an elastic ceramic body according to the above definition; and at least one membrane support body, on which the measuring membrane is connected at its edge region along an encircling joint to form a pressure-tight measuring chamber between the membrane support body and the measuring membrane.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2007Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KGInventors: Frank Hegner, Andreas Rossberg
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Patent number: 8104353Abstract: A pressure sensor includes a platform and an elastic measuring membrane, which is joined with a surface of the platform to form a measuring chamber sealed closed at the edge, wherein the platform and/or the measuring membrane comprise ceramic, glass or a single crystal material, the measuring membrane has at least a first electrode, which faces the surface of the platform, the surface of the platform has at least a second electrode, which faces that of the measuring membrane. The capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode is a measure for the pressure to be measured; wherein additionally at least one of the first and second electrodes comprises a conductive layer, which contains metal and glass, and wherein the metal comprises at least two noble metal elements.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2008Date of Patent: January 31, 2012Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KGInventors: Ulfert Drewes, Frank Hegner, Andreas Rossberg, Elke Schmidt, Sabine Stolle, Christel Kretschmar, Melanie Hentsche
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Publication number: 20110132097Abstract: A method for manufacturing an elastic deformation body made of an Al2O3 ceramic, according to which a highly pure alumina having at most 2000 ppm MgO, at most 200 ppm inorganic impurities, a specific surface of at least 10 m2/g, an average grain size of at most 0.3 ?m is applied. With the alumina and additives, there is produced via aqueous processing a homogeneous mixture, from which a pressable spray granulate is produced, which is formed by means of a uniaxial pressing method to a homogeneous, green body, which is subjected to a sinter process. The resulting elastic deformation body has a bending fracture stress ?c, whose distribution F(?c) is given by the Weibull parameters ?0?800 MPa and m?24, with an average grain size of the sintered material of no more than 2 ?m, and wherein the sintered material of the deformation body has a density of not less than 3.98 g/cm3.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2009Publication date: June 9, 2011Applicant: Endress +Hauser Gmbh + Co. KGInventors: Frank Hegner, Andreas Roßberg, Frank Kastner, Henry Ludwig, Uta Oberbach
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Publication number: 20110041618Abstract: An elastic ceramic body and a pressure sensor. The elastic ceramic body comprises: a base body of an elastic ceramic material; and a cover layer, which covers at least one section of a surface of the base body, wherein the cover layer is of a material other than that of the base body, and the cover layer comprises microcrystalline A12O3 (corundum). The cover layer is preferably prepared in a sol gel process. The pressure sensor, comprises: a disk-shaped measuring membrane, which is embodied as an elastic ceramic body according to the above definition; and at least one membrane support body, on which the measuring membrane is connected at its edge region along an encircling joint to form a pressure-tight measuring chamber between the membrane support body and the measuring membrane.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2007Publication date: February 24, 2011Applicant: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KGInventors: Frank Hegner, Andreas Rossberg
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Patent number: 7861598Abstract: A pressure transducer, including a housing having a housing axis and a measuring cell chamber defined in the housing. The measuring cell chamber is exposable to a pressure via an opening. The opening is surrounded by an annular, first sealing surface. A pressure measuring cell having a second sealing surface facing towards the opening, and a support surface facing away from the sealing surface sealing ring; and a clamping apparatus, which engages the housing are provided. The pressure measuring cell and the sealing ring are clamped by means of an axial clamping force in such a manner between the clamping apparatus and the first sealing surface, that the sealing ring is arranged pressure-tightly between the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface. The pressure transducer further includes a misalignment accommodating arrangement, which includes a first transmission body, which faces toward the opening, and a second transmission body, which is facing away from the opening.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2005Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KGInventors: Ulfert Drewes, Frank Hegner
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Publication number: 20100199778Abstract: A pressure sensor includes a platform 1 and an elastic measuring membrane 2, which is joined with a surface of the platform 1 to form a measuring chamber 3 sealed closed at the edge, wherein the platform 1 and/or the measuring membrane 2 comprise ceramic, glass or a single crystal material, the measuring membrane has at least a first electrode 6, which faces the surface of the platform 2, the surface of the platform 1 has at least a second electrode 5, which faces that of the measuring membrane 2, wherein the capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode is a measure for the pressure to be measured; wherein additionally at least one of the first and second electrodes comprises a conductive layer, which contains metal and glass, and wherein the metal comprises at least two noble metal elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2008Publication date: August 12, 2010Applicant: ENDRESS + HAUSER GMBH + CO. KGInventors: Frank Hegner, Andreas Rossberg, Ulfert Drewes, Elke Schmidt, Sabine Stolle, Christel Kretschmar, Melanie Hentsche
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Publication number: 20090211363Abstract: A pressure transducer, including a housing having a housing axis and a measuring cell chamber defined in the housing. The measuring cell chamber is exposable to a pressure via an opening. The opening is surrounded by an annular, first sealing surface. A pressure measuring cell having a second sealing surface facing towards the opening, and a support surface facing away from the sealing surface, sealing ring; and a clamping apparatus, which engages the housing are provided. The pressure measuring cell and the sealing ring are clamped by means of an axial claimping force in such a manner between the clamping apparatus and the first sealing surface, that the sealing ring is arranged pressure-tightly between the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface. The pressure transducer further includes a misalignment accommodating arrangement, which includes a first transmission body, which faces toward the opening, and a second transmission body, which is facing away from the opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2005Publication date: August 27, 2009Applicant: ENDRESS & HAUSER GMBH & CO., KGInventors: Ulfert Drewes, Frank Hegner
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Patent number: 7448274Abstract: A pressure sensor including: A pressure measuring cell having an end face loadable with the medium; a housing having a media opening and a ring-shaped, axial bearing surface, which surrounds the media opening; a clamping apparatus; and a ring-shaped sealing arrangement. The pressure measuring cell is positioned in the housing and the sealing arrangement is positioned between the bearing surface and the end face, and the sealing arrangement, as well as the pressure measuring cell, are axially clamped between the bearing surface and the clamping apparatus. The sealing arrangement includes, a decoupling ring, as well as a first and a second, ring-shaped sealing element. The first sealing element lies against the end face, the second sealing element lies against the bearing surface, and the decoupling ring is axially clamped between the first and the second sealing elements.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2004Date of Patent: November 11, 2008Assignee: Endress + Hauser Conducta Gesellschaft fur Mess- u. Regeltechnik mbH + Co. KGInventors: Ulfert Drewes, Karl Floegel, Frank Hegner, Thomas Uehlin, Rainer Martin
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Patent number: 7360428Abstract: The invention relates to a pressure measuring cell comprising a base body, a membrane that is connected to the base body, thus forming a measuring chamber. During operation, the membrane is subjected to a deflection which is dependent on a pressure that is to be measured. The cell also comprises a membrane bed, formed by a surface of the base body that faces the membrane, at least one electrode being mounted on said bed. Said electrode, together with a counter-electrode that is mounted on the membrane, forms a capacitor, whose capacitance represents a measurement for the deflection of the membrane. The measuring cell is characterized in that the electrode is electrically connected through the base body and that the measuring chamber has a smooth surface in the contact zone, said surface having a contact pin that is guided in a bore through the base body.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2001Date of Patent: April 22, 2008Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KGInventors: Karl-Heinz Banholzer, Karl Flögel, Frank Hegner, Bernd Rosskopf
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Patent number: 7249515Abstract: For minimizing the span error of a pressure sensor having an essentially cylindrical platform and a measuring membrane joined to an end face of the platform, with the pressure measuring cell being axially clamped between an elastic sealing ring, which bears against the membrane-bearing end face of the pressure measuring cell, and a support ring, which bears against the rear face of the pressure measuring cell, the dimensions of the support ring are coordinated with the dimensions of the sealing ring and pressure measuring cell such that a radial deformation of the membrane-bearing end face caused by the axial clamping of the pressure measuring cell is sufficiently small that the span error of the pressure sensor arising from a reduction of the axial clamping force by at least 10% amounts to not more than about 0.02%. Additionally, arranged between the support ring and a clamping ring is a stiff decoupling element, which minimizes the temperature hysteresis of the span.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2003Date of Patent: July 31, 2007Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KGInventors: Frank Hegner, Igor Getman, Ulfert Drewes
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Patent number: 7181974Abstract: A pressure sensor includes: a measuring cell having a base plate and a measuring membrane connected along its edge with the base plate, and means for generating an electrical quantity dependent on deformation of the measuring membrane; a circuit for registering the electrical quantity; and a capsule having a capsule body and a sealing element, with which the capsule is hermetically sealed along a joint. The capsule encloses the circuit, in order to protect such from influences of moisture; and the joint of the capsule is mechanically decoupled from the base plate. The mechanical decoupling of the joint means, for example, that at least the axial support of the pressure measuring cell in a housing is not allowed to be transferred through the joint. Despite arranging of the capsule on the base plate, pressure-related and temperature-related distortions of the base plate are not permitted to have any effects on the joint of the capsule.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2004Date of Patent: February 27, 2007Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KGInventors: Frank Hegner, Andreas Rossberg, Thomas Uehlin
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Publication number: 20070028696Abstract: A pressure sensor including: A pressure measuring cell having an end face loadable with the medium; a housing having a media opening and a ring-shaped, axial bearing surface, which surrounds the media opening; a clamping apparatus; and a ring-shaped sealing arrangement. The pressure measuring cell is positioned in the housing and the sealing arrangement is positioned between the bearing surface and the end face, and the sealing arrangement, as well as the pressure measuring cell, are axially clamped between the bearing surface and the clamping apparatus. The sealing arrangement includes, a decoupling ring, as well as a first and a second, ring-shaped sealing element. The first sealing element lies against the end face, the second sealing element lies against the bearing surface, and the decoupling ring is axially clamped between the first and the second sealing elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2004Publication date: February 8, 2007Applicant: Endress + Hauser GmbH+Co. KGInventors: Ulfert Drewes, Karl Floegel, Frank Hegner, Thomas Uehlin, Rainer Martin
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Patent number: 7150197Abstract: For minimizing the span error of a pressure sensor having an essentially cylindrical platform and a measuring membrane joined to an end face of the platform, wherein the pressure measuring cell is axially clamped between an elastic sealing ring, which bears against the membrane-containing, end face of the pressure measuring cell, and a support ring, which supports the measuring cell on the rear side thereof, the dimensions of the support ring are matched to the dimensions of the sealing ring and the pressure measuring cell in such a way that a radial deformation of the membrane-containing end face resulting from the axial clamping of the pressure measuring cell is sufficiently small that the span error of the pressure sensor because of a reduction of the axial clamping force by a least 10% amounts to not more than 0.02%. The geometry of the support ring is determined iteratively by means of the FEM.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2003Date of Patent: December 19, 2006Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KGInventors: Frank Hegner, Ulfert Drewes, Igor Getman
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Publication number: 20060254363Abstract: A pressure sensor includes: a measuring cell having a base plate and a measuring membrane connected along its edge with the base plate, and means for generating an electrical quantity dependent on deformation of the measuring membrane; a circuit for registering the electrical quantity; and a capsule having a capsule body and a sealing element, with which the capsule is hermetically sealed along a joint. The capsule encloses the circuit, in order to protect such from influences of moisture; and the joint of the capsule is mechanically decoupled from the base plate. The mechanical decoupling of the joint means, for example, that at least the axial support of the pressure measuring cell in a housing is not allowed to be transferred through the joint. Despite arranging of the capsule on the base plate, pressure-related and temperature-related distortions of the base plate are not permitted to have any effects on the joint of the capsule.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2004Publication date: November 16, 2006Applicant: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KGInventors: Frank Hegner, Andreas Rossberg, Thomas Uehlin
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Publication number: 20060243053Abstract: The invention relates to a pressure measuring cell comprising a base body, a membrane that is connected to the base body, thus forming a measuring chamber. During operation, the membrane is subjected to a deflection which is dependent on a pressure that is to be measured. The cell also comprises a membrane bed, formed by a surface of the base body that faces the membrane, at least one electrode being mounted on said bed. Said electrode, together with a counter-electrode that is mounted on the membrane, forms a capacitor, whose capacitance represents a measurement for the deflection of the membrane. The measuring cell is characterized in that the electrode is electrically connected through the base body and that the measuring chamber has a smooth surface in the contact zone, said surface having a contact pin that is guided in a bore through the base body.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2001Publication date: November 2, 2006Inventors: Karl-Heinz Banholzer, Karl Flogel, Frank Hegner, Bernd Rosskopf
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Publication number: 20060185435Abstract: For minimizing the span error of a pressure sensor having an essentially cylindrical platform and a measuring membrane joined to an end face of the platform, with the pressure measuring cell being axially clamped between an elastic sealing ring, which bears against the membrane-bearing end face of the pressure measuring cell, and a support ring, which bears against the rear face of the pressure measuring cell, the dimensions of the support ring are coordinated with the dimensions of the sealing ring and pressure measuring cell such that a radial deformation of the membrane-bearing end face caused by the axial clamping of the pressure measuring cell is sufficiently small that the span error of the pressure sensor arising from a reduction of the axial clamping force by at least 10% amounts to not more than about 0.02%. Additionally, arranged between the support ring and a clamping ring is a stiff decoupling element, which minimizes the temperature hysteresis of the span.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2003Publication date: August 24, 2006Inventors: Frank Hegner, Igor Getman, Ulfert Drewes
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Publication number: 20060096381Abstract: For minimizing the span error of a pressure sensor having an essentially cylindrical platform and a measuring membrane joined to an end face of the platform, wherein the pressure measuring cell is axially clamped between an elastic sealing ring, which bears against the membrane-containing, end face of the pressure measuring cell, and a support ring, which supports the measuring cell on the rear side thereof, the dimensions of the support ring are matched to the dimensions of the sealing ring and the pressure measuring cell in such a way that a radial deformation of the membrane-containing end face resulting from the axial clamping of the pressure measuring cell is sufficiently small that the span error of the pressure sensor because of a reduction of the axial clamping force by a least 10% amounts to not more than 0.02%. The geometry of the support ring is determined iteratively by means of the FEM.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2003Publication date: May 11, 2006Inventors: Frank Hegner, Ulfert Drewes, Igor Getman