Patents by Inventor Hans Duerolf

Hans Duerolf 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: 8347652
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for homogenizing a glass melt in a melt receptacle, wherein at least one stirring device is disposed in a melt receptacle, which comprises a stirrer shaft and a plurality of stirrer blades, and wherein a gap (16) is formed between a wall region of the melt receptacle and the stirrer blades. According to the invention, the respective stirring device causes an axial feed action in an inner stirring region between the stirrer shaft and the stirrer blades in order to feed the melt in the stirring region along the stirrer shaft. A melt flow brought about by the axial feed action seals the gap against direct passage of the melt. According to the invention, a very high gap width can be achieved, thus preventing the abrasion of materials in the region of the marginal gap. This also reduces the complexity required for adjusting the device. According to the invention, a high level of homogenization can be achieved regardless of the entry point of the inhomogeneities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Schott AG
    Inventors: Christoph Berndhaeuser, Frank-Thomas Lentes, Karin Naumann, Hans Duerolf, Holger Hunnius
  • Patent number: 8347653
    Abstract: The device for homogenizing a glass melt has a melt receptacle and at least one stirring device arranged in the melt receptacle. Each stirring device consists of a stirrer shaft and stirrer blades extending toward an inside wall of the receptacle, which are configured to produce an axial feed of the glass melt in an inner stirring region between the stirrer shaft and front ends of the stirrer blades. The melt receptacle and the stirring device are configured so that a melt flow caused by the axial feed, which is opposite to the axial feed, seals a gap formed between the inside wall and the front ends of the stirrer blades, so that the glass melt cannot flow directly through the gap to a lower axial end of the inner stirring region. The invention also encompasses a method of homogenizing a glass melt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Schott AG
    Inventors: Christoph Berndhaeuser, Frank-Thomas Lentes, Karin Naumann, Hans Duerolf, Holger Hunnius
  • Publication number: 20110083474
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device for homogenizing a glass melt in a melt receptacle, wherein at least one stirring device (10, 11) is disposed in the melt receptacle, which comprises a stirrer shaft (10) and a plurality of stirrer blades (11), and wherein a gap (16) is formed between a wall region of the melt receptacle (2) and the stirrer blades (11). According to the invention, the respective stirring device causes an axial feed action in an inner stirring region (12) between the stirrer shaft (10) and the stirrer blades (11) in order to feed the melt in the stirring region along the stirrer shaft (10). A melt flow brought about by the axial feed action seals the gap (16) against direct passage of the melt. According to the invention, a very high gap width can be achieved, thus preventing the abrasion of materials in the region of the marginal gap. This also reduces the complexity required for adjusting the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Inventors: Christoph Berndhaeuser, Frank-Thomas Lentes, Karin Naumann, Hans Duerolf, Holger Hunnius
  • Publication number: 20080148780
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device for homogenizing a glass melt in a melt receptacle, wherein at least one stirring device (10, 11) is disposed in the melt receptacle, which comprises a stirrer shaft (10) and a plurality of stirrer blades (11), and wherein a gap (16) is formed between a wall region of the melt receptacle (2) and the stirrer blades (11). According to the invention, the respective stirring device causes an axial feed action in an inner stirring region (12) between the stirrer shaft (10) and the stirrer blades (11) in order to feed the melt in the stirring region along the stirrer shaft (10). A melt flow brought about by the axial feed action seals the gap (16) against direct passage of the melt. According to the invention, a very high gap width can be achieved, thus preventing the abrasion of materials in the region of the marginal gap. This also reduces the complexity required for adjusting the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Christoph Berndhaeuser, Frank-Thomas Lentes, Karin Naumann, Hans Duerolf, Holger Hunnius