Patents by Inventor Frank Klimpel

Frank Klimpel 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: 10435160
    Abstract: An aircraft air conditioning system comprises an ambient air supply line adapted to be flown through with ambient air, an ambient air cooling apparatus, which is connected to the ambient air supply line and is configured to cool the ambient air flowing through the ambient air supply line, an ambient air discharge line, which is connected to the ambient air cooling apparatus and is connectable to an aircraft cabin, in order to conduct ambient air cooled by the ambient air cooling apparatus into the aircraft cabin, a process air supply line adapted to be flown through with compressed process air, a process air cooling apparatus, which is connected to the process air supply line and is configured to cool the compressed process air flowing through the process air supply line, a process air discharge line, which is connected to the process air cooling apparatus and is connectable to the aircraft cabin, in order to conduct process air cooled by the process air cooling apparatus into the aircraft cabin, and a refrig
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventor: Frank Klimpel
  • Patent number: 10392122
    Abstract: An inerting system for an aircraft includes an inert gas generation apparatus, an air supply line, a compressor and an inert gas line. The compressor supplies the inert gas generation apparatus with air from the air supply line at a pressure necessary for operation of the inert gas generation apparatus. The inert gas line carries the inert gas produced by the inert gas generation apparatus on to an inert gas consumer. The air supply line is connected to an exhaust air system of the aircraft. A method for supplying an inert gas in an aircraft includes tapping of air from an exhaust air system of the aircraft, compression of the tapped air, and production of inert gas in an inert gas generation apparatus from the compressed air. An aircraft is disclosed in which such an inerting system is arranged and/or used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Klimpel, Alexander Solntsev
  • Patent number: 10377495
    Abstract: A ram air channel arrangement for ambient air supply into an aircraft comprises a ram air channel which has a ram air inlet channel and a ram air outlet channel arranged downstream of the ram air inlet channel and in fluid communication with the ram air inlet channel. The ram air channel arrangement further comprises a cabin exhaust air line which is adapted to have cabin exhaust air flow therethrough which has been removed from an aircraft cabin and which cabin exhaust air line is connected to the ram air inlet channel and is adapted to lead the cabin exhaust air into the ram air inlet channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Holger Bammann, Alexander Solntsev, Frank Klimpel, Alexandre Broquet
  • Patent number: 10202197
    Abstract: An aircraft air conditioning system comprising an ambient air supply line with a first end connected to an ambient air inlet and a second end connected to a mixing chamber. A first electrically driven ambient air compressor in the ambient air supply line compresses the ambient air flowing therethrough. A first ambient air branch line branches off from the ambient air supply line upstream of the first ambient air compressor and rejoins the supply line downstream of the air compressor. A second ambient air compressor in the first ambient air branch line compresses the ambient air flowing therethrough. A cabin exhaust air line has a first end connected to an air conditioned aircraft area. A cabin exhaust air turbine in the exhaust air line is driven by the exhaust air flowing through the cabin exhaust air line and is coupled to drive the second ambient air compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Holger Bammann, Frank Klimpel, Tim Giese
  • Patent number: 10196148
    Abstract: An aircraft ram air channel assembly having: a first ram air inlet with a deflector protruding from the aircraft outer skin, the deflector guiding an air flow into a first ram air inlet channel; a second ram air inlet having a cross-sectional area flush with the outer skin, the second inlet being coupled to a second ram air inlet channel and arranged proximate to the first inlet upstream of the first inlet; and a flap pivotable about an axis between first and second operating positions. The axis is upstream of the first and second inlets and extends perpendicular to the air flow. The flap in its first position projects into the second inlet channel to control air flow through the second inlet into the second inlet channel, and in its second position projects into the air flow to prevent foreign objects from entering the first and second inlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Schmid, Christian Bartels, Frank Klimpel, Klaus Vehlhaber
  • Publication number: 20190023404
    Abstract: An aircraft ram air channel assembly having: a first ram air inlet with a deflector protruding from the aircraft outer skin, the deflector guiding an air flow into a first ram air inlet channel; a second ram air inlet having a cross-sectional area flush with the outer skin, the second inlet being coupled to a second ram air inlet channel and arranged proximate to the first inlet upstream of the first inlet; and a flap pivotable about an axis between first and second operating positions. The axis is upstream of the first and second inlets and extends perpendicular to the air flow. The flap in its first position projects into the second inlet channel to control air flow through the second inlet into the second inlet channel, and in its second position projects into the air flow to prevent foreign objects from entering the first and second inlets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Martin Schmid, Christian Bartels, Frank Klimpel, Klaus Vehlhaber
  • Patent number: 10059457
    Abstract: An aircraft air conditioning system comprising an ambient air supply line allowing a flow of ambient air therethrough, an ambient air cooling device to cool the air flowing through the ambient air supply line, and a discharge line connected to the ambient air cooling device and an aircraft cabin. A compressed air supply line allows a flow of compressed air therethrough, a compressed air cooling device is connected to the compressed air supply line to cool the air flowing through the compressed air supply line, and a discharge line is connected to the compressed air cooling device and to the aircraft cabin. A refrigerant circuit allows the flow of a two-phase refrigerant therethrough and converts the two-phase refrigerant from the liquid state into the gaseous state of aggregation and thereafter back again. The refrigerant circuit supplies cooling energy to the ambient air cooling device and the compressed air cooling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Klimpel, Enrico Klausner, Uwe Gampe, Steffen Golle, Mario Raddatz, Ullrich Hesse
  • Patent number: 10035601
    Abstract: An aircraft ram air channel assembly having: a first ram air inlet with a deflector protruding from the aircraft outer skin, the deflector guiding an air flow into a first ram air inlet channel; a second ram air inlet having a cross-sectional area flush with the outer skin, the second inlet being coupled to a second ram air inlet channel and arranged proximate to the first inlet upstream of the first inlet; and a flap pivotable about an axis between first and second operating positions. The axis is upstream of the first and second inlets and extends perpendicular to the air flow. The flap in its first position projects into the second inlet channel to control air flow through the second inlet into the second inlet channel, and in its second position projects into the air flow to prevent foreign objects from entering the first and second inlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Schmid, Christian Bartels, Frank Klimpel, Klaus Vehlhaber
  • Publication number: 20180057174
    Abstract: An aircraft air conditioning system comprises an ambient air line configured to have ambient air flow therethrough and being connected to a mixer of the air conditioning system to feed ambient air to the mixer, and a recirculation air line configured to have recirculation air flow therethrough and being connected to the mixer to feed to the mixer recirculation air discharged from an aircraft area to be air conditioned. A refrigerating machine of the air conditioning system comprises a refrigerant circuit configured to have a refrigerant flow therethrough and being thermally coupled to the ambient air line and to the recirculation air line to transmit heat from the ambient air flowing through the ambient air line and from the recirculation air flowing through the recirculation air line to the refrigerant circulating in the refrigerant circuit, before the ambient air and the recirculation air are fed into the mixer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Frank KLIMPEL, Hans BRUNSWIG, Steffen GOLLE, Ullrich HESSE, Enrico KLAUSNER, Mario RADDATZ
  • Publication number: 20180057175
    Abstract: An aircraft air conditioning system comprises an ambient air line which is configured have ambient air flow therethrough and is connected to a mixer of the aircraft air conditioning system to supply ambient air to the mixer, and a refrigerating machine which comprises a refrigerant circuit configured to have a refrigerant flow therethrough, the refrigerant circuit being thermally coupled to the ambient air line to transfer heat, from the ambient air flowing through the ambient air line, to the refrigerant circulating in the refrigerant circuit, before the ambient air is supplied into the mixer. A control device is configured to control the ambient air flow through the ambient air line such that the ambient air is selectively conducted through different sections of the ambient air line or different bypass lines running parallel to the sections of the ambient air line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Frank KLIMPEL, Hans BRUNSWIG, Steffen GOLLE, Ullrich HESSE, Enrico KLAUSNER, Mario RADDATZ
  • Patent number: 9821914
    Abstract: An aircraft air conditioning system comprises a process air source and an air conditioning unit being connected to the process air source via a process air line and being adapted to cool and expand process air supplied to the air conditioning unit from the process air source so as to provide conditioned air. A mixing chamber of the aircraft air conditioning system is connected to the air conditioning unit via a conditioned air line and is adapted to mix conditioned air supplied to the mixing chamber from the air conditioning unit with recirculation air recirculated from an aircraft region to be air conditioned to the mixing chamber via a recirculation air line so as to provide mixed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Klimpel, Thomas Scherer, Markus Piesker
  • Patent number: 9809314
    Abstract: An aircraft air conditioning system comprises a process air line configured to supply compressed process air provided by a process air source to an air conditioning unit of the aircraft air conditioning system and a trim air line branching off from the process air line upstream of the air conditioning unit and being configured such that trim air flows through the trim air line, the trim air having been branched off from the compressed process air flowing through the process air line. A compressor is arranged in the trim air line and is configured to compress the trim air flowing through the trim air line. A turbine of the aircraft air conditioning system is configured to drive the compressor. A cabin exhaust air line is configured to supply cabin exhaust air discharged from an aircraft cabin to the turbine for driving the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignees: Airbus Operations S.L., Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Bammann, Frank Klimpel, Dariusz Krakowski, Anton Mendez-Diaz
  • Publication number: 20170275004
    Abstract: An aircraft air conditioning system comprising an ambient air supply line with a first end connected to an ambient air inlet and a second end connected to a mixing chamber. A first electrically driven ambient air compressor in the ambient air supply line compresses the ambient air flowing therethrough. A first ambient air branch line branches off from the ambient air supply line upstream of the first ambient air compressor and rejoins the supply line downstream of the air compressor. A second ambient air compressor in the first ambient air branch line compresses the ambient air flowing therethrough. A cabin exhaust air line has a first end connected to an air conditioned aircraft area. A cabin exhaust air turbine in the exhaust air line is driven by the exhaust air flowing through the cabin exhaust air line and is coupled to drive the second ambient air compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Holger Bammann, Frank Klimpel, Tim Giese
  • Publication number: 20170152050
    Abstract: An aircraft air conditioning system comprises an ambient air supply line adapted to be flown through with ambient air, an ambient air cooling apparatus, which is connected to the ambient air supply line and is configured to cool the ambient air flowing through the ambient air supply line, an ambient air discharge line, which is connected to the ambient air cooling apparatus and is connectable to an aircraft cabin, in order to conduct ambient air cooled by the ambient air cooling apparatus into the aircraft cabin, a process air supply line adapted to be flown through with compressed process air, a process air cooling apparatus, which is connected to the process air supply line and is configured to cool the compressed process air flowing through the process air supply line, a process air discharge line, which is connected to the process air cooling apparatus and is connectable to the aircraft cabin, in order to conduct process air cooled by the process air cooling apparatus into the aircraft cabin, and a refrig
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventor: Frank Klimpel
  • Publication number: 20170129614
    Abstract: An aircraft air conditioning system comprising an ambient air line, for ambient air to flow through, connected to supply ambient air to a mixer of the aircraft air conditioning system. An ambient air compressor is arranged in the ambient air line for compressing the ambient air flowing there through. A refrigerating apparatus comprises a refrigerant circuit for a refrigerant to flow through, including a refrigerant compressor arranged in the refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant circuit is coupled thermally to the ambient air line to transfer heat from the ambient air to the refrigerant before the ambient air is supplied to the mixer. A cabin exhaust air turbine is connected to a cabin exhaust air line, is coupled to the ambient air compressor arranged in the ambient air line, and is configured to expand the cabin exhaust air flowing through the cabin exhaust air line and to drive the ambient air compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Holger Bammann, Frank Klimpel
  • Publication number: 20170096227
    Abstract: A device for controlling an opening forming an air inlet or air outlet in an outer skin of a vehicle. The device comprises a multiple-member inlet ramp, which is configured to vary at least one of a degree of opening of the opening and a cross section of an air duct connected to the opening; an actuator, which is coupled to the multiple-member inlet ramp and is configured to move the multiple-member inlet ramp into a shape related to at least one of a certain degree of opening and a certain cross section; and a movement control device, which is configured to control a movement of the multiple-member inlet ramp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventor: Frank KLIMPEL
  • Publication number: 20170081031
    Abstract: A ram air channel arrangement for ambient air supply into an aircraft comprises a ram air channel which has a ram air inlet channel and a ram air outlet channel arranged downstream of the ram air inlet channel and in fluid communication with the ram air inlet channel The ram air channel arrangement further comprises a cabin exhaust air line which is adapted to have cabin exhaust air flow therethrough which has been removed from an aircraft cabin and which cabin exhaust air line is connected to the ram air inlet channel and is adapted to lead the cabin exhaust air into the ram air inlet channel
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Holger Bammann, Alexander Solntsev, Frank Klimpel, Alexandre Broquet
  • Publication number: 20170057642
    Abstract: An aircraft air conditioning system includes an air conditioning unit for the production of air conditioning air, which unit is connected to a pack air line, a recirculation air line adapted to be flown through with recirculation air and a mixing chamber, which is connected to the pack air line and the recirculation air line. An inlet line is connected to a connection on the aircraft for an aircraft-external air production unit and opens into the pack air line connecting the air conditioning unit to the mixing chamber. An air conditioning air line branches off from the pack air line between an opening point of the inlet line into the pack air line and the mixing chamber and is connectable to an aircraft area to be cooled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Frank KLIMPEL
  • Patent number: 9500213
    Abstract: A retaining device for a component of an aircraft or spacecraft. The retaining device comprises a fuselage cell portion and a component portion, which portions are interconnected via at least one fastener. A gap is formed between the fastener and the component portion, of such a type that the fuselage cell portion and the component portion are movable relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Frank Klimpel
  • Patent number: 9487300
    Abstract: An air-conditioning system for an aircraft includes a compressed air branch for conveying externally supplied and pressurized air, preferably bleed air. Furthermore, a cooling circuit for conveying preferably liquid refrigerant is provided and extends through a ram air duct. The system also includes a first heat exchanger for the heat transfer between the compressed air branch and the cooling circuit, a compressed air turbine arranged in the compressed air branch and a cooling circuit compressor arranged in the cooling circuit and mechanically coupled to the compressed air turbine. The system can have a modular design and be positioned at optimal locations in the aircraft due to the separation of the compressed air branch and the cooling circuit. In this way, the length of hot compressed air ducts can be shortened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Klimpel, Stephan-Anton Schmidt, Jens Beier