Patents by Inventor Harald Giese

Harald Giese 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: 10046331
    Abstract: A method for fragmenting and/or weakening material by high-voltage pulses is provided. The material and a processing fluid are arranged in a processing zone formed between two electrodes such that the entire processing zone is flooded with processing fluid, and high-voltage pulses are applied to the electrodes such that high-voltage breakdowns occur between the two electrodes and/or such that predischarge channels are formed without breakdowns. An electrode with a metallic conductor is chosen for at least one of the two electrodes, the conductor being provided partially or completely with an insulator or insulating coating at the working end of the electrode that is in contact with the processing fluid, the permittivity of the insulator/insulating coating being at least 75% of the permittivity of the processing fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: selFrag AG
    Inventors: Reinhard Müller-Siebert, Fabrice Monti Di Sopra, Harald Giese, Urs Friedli
  • Patent number: 10029262
    Abstract: A method of fragmenting and/or weakening of material is provided that utilizes high voltage discharges. The material is together with a process liquid introduced into a process area, in which two electrodes face each other at a distance, and is arranged therein in such a manner that the area between the two electrodes is filled with the material and process liquid. Between the two electrodes high voltage discharges are generated for fragmenting or weakening of the material. During the fragmenting or weakening, respectively, of the material, process liquid is discharged from the process area and process liquid is fed into the process area. The process liquid which is fed has a lower electrical conductivity than the process liquid which is discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: selFrag AG
    Inventors: Reinhard Muller-Siebert, Heiko Feitkenhauer, Alexander Weh, Fabrice Monti Di Sopra, Peter Hoppe, Josef Singer, Harald Giese, Klaus Leber
  • Patent number: 9604225
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrode arrangement for an electrodynamic fragmentation plant having a passage opening (1) for fragmentation material (3) and having several electrode pairs (4a, 5a; 4a, 5b; 4b, 5c; 4b, 5d; 4c, 5e; 4c, 5f; 4d, 5g; 4d, 5h) by means of which, by charging the electrodes (4a-4d, 5a-5h) thereof with high-voltage pulses, in each case high-voltage discharges can be generated within the passage opening (1), for fragmentation of the fragmentation material (3). The passage opening (1) is formed in such a way and the electrodes (4a-4d, 5a-5h) of the electrode pairs are arranged therein in such a way that for each electrode pair (4a, 5a; 4a, 5b; 4b, 5c; 4b, 5d; 4c, 5e; 4c, 5f; 4d, 5g; 4d, 5h) in the area of a shortest connecting line (L) between the electrodes of the respective electrode pair, a ball (K) can pass through the passage opening (1), the diameter of which is bigger than the length of this respective shortest connecting line (L).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: selFrag AG
    Inventors: Reinhard Muller-Siebert, Fabrice Monti Di Sopra, Bernhard Hasler, Harald Giese
  • Publication number: 20160256874
    Abstract: A method of fragmenting a material by means of high voltage discharges includes feeding the material through a process zone arranged between two electrodes flooded with a process liquid. High voltage discharges are generated between the electrodes and process liquid is fed into and discharged from the process zone. In that state, a degree of turbidity of the process liquid discharged is determined and compared with a reference value. In case a deviation from the reference value is detected, one or more parameters of the generation of high voltage discharges and/or of the feeding of the material through the process zone are changed such that, when after the changing of the parameters the determination of the degree of turbidity and the comparing with the reference value is repeated, the deviation which is detected is reduced or no deviation is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: Harald Giese, Frédéric Von Der Weid, Helena Ahlqvist Jean-neret, Klaas Peter Van Der Wielen, Reinhard Müller-siebert, Alexander Weh
  • Publication number: 20150238972
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for fragmenting and/or weakening material by means of high-voltage pulses, the material and a processing fluid being arranged in a processing zone formed between two electrodes such that the entire processing zone is flooded with processing fluid, and high-voltage pulses being applied to the electrodes such that high-voltage breakdowns occur between the two electrodes and/or such that predischarge channels are formed without breakdowns. An electrode with a metallic conductor is chosen for at least one of the two electrodes, the conductor being provided partially or completely with an insulator or insulating coating at the working end of the electrode that is in contact with the processing fluid, the permittivity of the insulator/insulating coating being at least 75% of the permittivity of the processing fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventors: Reinhard Müller-Siebert, Fabrice Monti Di Sopra, Harald Giese, Urs Friedli
  • Publication number: 20150069153
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method of fragmenting and/or weakening of material by means of high voltage discharges. The material is together with a process liquid introduced into a process area, in which two electrodes face each other at a distance, and is arranged therein in such a manner that the area between the two electrodes is filled with material and process liquid. Between the two electrodes high voltage discharges are generated for fragmenting or weakening, respectively, of the material. According to the invention, during the fragmenting or weakening, respectively, of the material, process liquid is discharged from the process area and process liquid is fed into the process area. The process liquid which is fed has a lower electrical conductivity than the process liquid which is discharged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: selFrag AG
    Inventors: Helena Ahlqvist Jeanneret, Reinhard Muller-Siebert, Heiko Feitkenhauer, Alexander Weh, Fabrice Monti Di Sopra, Peter Hoppe, Josef Singer, Harald Giese, Klaus Leber
  • Publication number: 20140042146
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrode arrangement for an electrodynamic fragmentation plant having a passage opening (1) for fragmentation material (3) and having several electrode pairs (4a, 5a; 4a, 5b; 4b, 5c; 4b, 5d; 4c, 5e; 4c, 5f; 4d, 5g; 4d, 5h) by means of which, by charging the electrodes (4a-4d, 5a-5h) thereof with high-voltage pulses, in each case high-voltage discharges can be generated within the passage opening (1), for fragmentation of the fragmentation material (3). The passage opening (1) is formed in such a way and the electrodes (4a-4d, 5a-5h) of the electrode pairs are arranged therein in such a way that for each electrode pair (4a, 5a; 4a, 5b; 4b, 5c; 4b, 5d; 4c, 5e; 4c, 5f; 4d, 5g; 4d, 5h) in the area of a shortest connecting line (L) between the electrodes of the respective electrode pair, a ball (K) can pass through the passage opening (1), the diameter of which is bigger than the length of this respective shortest connecting line (L).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Selfrag AG
    Inventors: Reinhard Muller-Siebert, Fabrice Monti Di Sopra, Bernhard Hasler, Harald Giese
  • Patent number: 8002209
    Abstract: A fragmentation system including a reaction vessel with processing fluid and fragmentation product and a pair of electrodes. Two respective ends of the pair of electrodes are arranged at a distance to each other inside the reaction vessel and can be admitted with pulsed high-voltage to grind the fragmentation product positioned in a reaction zone. The system also including a solid/fluid separation device, a suspension device to keep the fragmentation product continually suspended in the processing fluid, and a transfer device to transfer processing fluid and a first share of the fragmentation product out of the reaction vessel to the solid/fluid separation device. A second share of the fragmentation product returns to the reaction zone. The system includes at least one return-flow line coupled to the solid/fluid separation device and the reaction vessel to empty the processing fluid from the solid/fluid separation device into the reaction vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Frey, Ralf Strässner, Andreas Schormann, Kurt Giron, Harald Giese
  • Patent number: 7677486
    Abstract: The assembly of an electrodynamic fractionating unit, for the fragmentation, milling or suspension of a brittle, mineral process material is disclosed. The energy store including the output switch/spark gap thereof, the electrodes including the supply line and the reaction vessel are each arranged at least within the protection of the electrically necessary insulating separation of regions of differing electrical potential, completely enclosed in a volume of the encapsulation, having electrically-conducting walls. The wall thickness of the encapsulation is at least equivalent to the penetration depth, corresponding to the lowest components of the Fourier spectrum of the pulsed electromagnetic field. The electrode at reference potential is connected to the ground side of the energy store through the encapsulation wall. The electrode at high voltage is connected by the shortest path to the output switch on the energy store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Hoppé, Harald Giese
  • Publication number: 20080283639
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an electrodynamic fragmentation system. The fragmentation product arranged in the process fluid is permanently suspended and forms a suspension with the process fluid. The portion of the processed fragmentation product which attains the target particle size or smaller is discharged from the reaction vessel and the fragmentation product exceeding the target particle size is supplied to the reaction area. The fragmentation system comprises a chargeable electric energy store, a pair of electrodes connected thereto, and both ends thereof are arranged at a distance from each other in the process fluid contained in the reaction vessel. The fragmented product is separated in a solid and liquid manner in a separator in the electrode intermediate chamber until it reaches the target particle size and is smaller than the target particle size and the prepared process fluid is guided back into the reaction vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Applicant: Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Frey, Ralf Strassner, Andreas Schormann, Kurt Giron, Harald Giese
  • Publication number: 20070187539
    Abstract: The assembly of an electrodynamic fractionating unit, for the fragmentation, milling or suspension of a brittle, mineral process material is disclosed. The energy store including the output switch/spark gap thereof, the electrodes including the supply line and the reaction vessel are each arranged at least within the protection of the electrically necessary insulating separation of regions of differing electrical potential, completely enclosed in a volume of the encapsulation, having electrically-conducting walls. The wall thickness of the encapsulation is at least equivalent to the penetration depth, corresponding to the lowest components of the Fourier spectrum of the pulsed electromagnetic field. The electrode at reference potential is connected to the ground side of the energy store through the encapsulation wall. The electrode at high voltage is connected by the shortest path to the output switch on the energy store.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2004
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Hoppe, Harald Giese
  • Patent number: 7246761
    Abstract: In a process reactor and a method for the electro-dynamic fragmentation of lumpy mineral materials by pulsed high voltage discharges, including a reaction chamber with a funnel-like bottom having a central outlet, an axially movable high-voltage electrode extending from the top into the reaction chamber and having a front end disposed opposite the central outlet where another electrode which is at an electric reference potential is disposed, the outlet converges into a tailback tube below which a transport unit for the controlled removal of the processed fragmented material sinking down through the tailback tube is disposed, a material supply arrangement extends to an opening in the wall of the reaction chamber and a material flow blocking structure is disposed in the reaction in front of the material inlet opening for controlling the material admission to, and the fill level in, the reaction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe
    Inventors: Peter Hoppe, Josef Singer, Harald Giese, Peter Stemmermann, Uwe Schweike, Wolfram Edinger
  • Publication number: 20060163392
    Abstract: In a process reactor and a method for the electro-dynamic fragmentation of lumpy mineral materials by pulsed high voltage discharges, including a reaction chamber with a funnel-like bottom having a central outlet, an axially movable high-voltage electrode extending from the top into the reaction chamber and having a front end disposed opposite the central outlet where another electrode which is at an electric reference potential is disposed, the outlet converges into a tailback tube below which a transport unit for the controlled removal of the processed fragmented material sinking down through the tailback tube is disposed, a material supply arrangement extends to an opening in the wall of the reaction chamber and a material flow blocking structure is disposed in the reaction in front of the material inlet opening for controlling the material admission to, and the fill level in, the reaction chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Inventors: Peter Hoppe, Josef Singer, Harald Giese, Peter Stemmermann, Uwe Schweike, Wolfram Edinger
  • Patent number: 5841235
    Abstract: In a source for the generation of large-area pulsed ion or electron beams from an anode discharge electrode which has openings receiving discharge electrodes forming a vacuum arc plasma source, the discharge is safely triggered by a load which determines the total current and which consists of a parallel circuit including an ohmic resistor and a capacitor wherein the load output is adapted to the internal resistance of the pulse voltage generator. With a dimensioning of the electrical components taking into consideration given limits, a homogeneous beam of charged particles is obtained wherein the particle composition can be all the same or a homogeneous mixture of different particles depending on the choice of electrode materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH
    Inventors: Vladimir Engelko, Harald Giese, Georg Muller, Sven Schalk, Christoph Schultheiss, Hermann Wurz