Patents by Inventor Helmut Pfeiffer
Helmut Pfeiffer 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: 10234324Abstract: Apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable of a medium in a container. The apparatus includes at least one mechanically oscillatable unit, and at least one driving/receiving unit, which excites the mechanically oscillatable unit to execute mechanical oscillations, and which receives the mechanical oscillations of the mechanically oscillatable unit. The mechanically oscillatable unit has at least one membrane, or diaphragm. The membrane, or diaphragm, is connected with a housing. The driving/receiving unit is arranged between the membrane and a holding portion, and the holding portion is secured to the housing. The invention holding portion is embodied in such a manner and secured to the housing in such a manner, that a radial force, which acts essentially in the direction of the normals of the housing, produces a force component and/or a moment, which acts essentially in the direction of a normal of the holding portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2007Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: ENDRESS+HAUSER SE+CO.KGInventors: Jutta Kuhny, Helmut Pfeiffer
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Patent number: 10107670Abstract: An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable of a medium in a container comprising an oscillatable unit for introduction into the container; a housing, wherein the oscillatable unit is connected with the housing such that the oscillatable unit closes the housing terminally; at least one hollow space in the oscillatable unit which is accessible from an inner space formed by the housing; and a driving/receiving unit for exciting the oscillatable unit to execute mechanical oscillations and for receiving the mechanical oscillations and for transducing them into an electrical, received signal. Inventive features including that the driving/receiving unit is present in such a manner in the hollow space and that the hollow space is filled with a potting material in such a manner that the driving/receiving unit is connected via the potting material for force coupling with a wall of the hollow space.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2012Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: ENDRESS+HAUSER SE+CO.KGInventors: Volker Dreyer, Sergej Lopatin, Benjamin Mack, Alexander Muller, Helmut Pfeiffer
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Patent number: 9829367Abstract: A fill-level measuring device having an oscillatory system, which has at least one external, tubular, oscillatory element and an inner oscillatory element. The outer oscillatory element at least sectionally coaxially surrounds the inner oscillatory element. In an inner space of the inner oscillatory element, a compensation apparatus shiftable in the axial direction and having at least a first locking element, a second locking element and a coupling element is arranged. The locking elements and the coupling element are composed of piezoelectric material, wherein the coupling element, the first locking element and the second locking element are connected with one another, and wherein the first locking element and the second locking element in a resting state are each connected by force interlocking, e.g.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2013Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KGInventors: Helmut Pfeiffer, Benjamin Mack
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Patent number: 9473070Abstract: An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable of a medium, comprising: an oscillatable unit, which has a membrane and at least one oscillatable element, wherein the oscillatable element is secured to the membrane at least in a first securement region and in a second securement region. At least one driving/receiving unit, which excites the oscillatable unit to execute mechanical oscillations and which produces a received signal dependent on the oscillations of the oscillatable unit; and a control/evaluation unit, which evaluates the received signal with reference to the process variable. The apparatus is distinguished by features including that the driving/receiving unit is embodied in such a manner and arranged on a rear face of the membrane facing away from the oscillatable element that the oscillatable element executes torsional oscillations.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2012Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KGInventors: Helmut Pfeiffer, Benjamin Mack
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Patent number: 9377343Abstract: An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one fill level of a medium in a container comprising: a capacitive or conductive probe unit having at least one electrode; and a control/evaluation unit. The electrode is a hollow body, that an end region of the electrode protruding into the container is embodied as an oscillatable membrane. On an inner side of the membrane a driving/receiving unit is arranged, which excites the membrane to execute mechanical oscillations and receives mechanical oscillations therefrom and converts such into an electrical, received signal. The control/evaluation unit supplies the electrode at least at times with a voltage and determines the fill level of the medium capacitively or conductively, and/or that the control/evaluation unit supplies the driving/receiving unit at least at times with an exciter signal and determines from the electrical received signal the fill level of the medium.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2011Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KGInventors: Martin Urban, Helmut Pfeiffer, Volker Dreyer
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Patent number: 8997556Abstract: An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable of a medium. The apparatus includes: at least one mechanically oscillatable unit, which comes in contact at least partially with the medium; at least one transducer unit, which excites the mechanically oscillatable unit to execute mechanical oscillations and which receives mechanical oscillations from the mechanically oscillatable unit; and at least one housing. At least one limiting element is provided. The limiting element is embodied and arranged in such a manner that the limiting element at least partially surrounds the mechanically oscillatable unit and the therefrom resulting reduction of volume surrounding the mechanically oscillatable unit increases the measuring sensitivity of the apparatus. Furthermore, the invention relates to a limiting element.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2009Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KGInventors: Martin Urban, Serguej Lopatin, Helmut Pfeiffer
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Publication number: 20150068300Abstract: fill-level measuring device having an oscillatory system, which has at least one external, tubular, oscillatory element and an inner oscillatory element. The outer oscillatory element at least sectionally coaxially surrounds the inner oscillatory element. In an inner space of the inner oscillatory element, a compensation apparatus shiftable in the axial direction and having at least a first locking element, a second locking element and a coupling element is arranged. The locking elements and the coupling element are composed of piezoelectric material, wherein the coupling element, the first locking element and the second locking element are connected with one another, and wherein the first locking element and the second locking element in a resting state are each connected by force interlocking, e.g.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2013Publication date: March 12, 2015Inventors: Helmut Pfeiffer, Benjamin Mack
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Patent number: 8919192Abstract: A multivariable sensor for determining and/or monitoring a predetermined fill level and density and/or viscosity of a liquid in a container. The sensor comprises a measuring tube provided in the container. The measuring tube has at least a first oscillatable segment and a second oscillatable segment, wherein the oscillatable segments have a cross sectional area deviating from a circularly round shape and at least one straight side, wherein on an inner wall of the oscillatable segments, driver/receiving units are placed, which cause the oscillatable segments to execute resonant oscillations. At least one control/evaluation unit is provided, which evaluates frequency and/or phase and/or amplitude of the oscillations and determines therefrom reaching of the predetermined fill level and density and/or viscosity of the liquid.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2010Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KGInventors: Helmut Pfeiffer, Alexander Muller, Volker Dryer, Sergej Lopatin
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Publication number: 20140352427Abstract: An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable of a medium in a container and comprises an oscillatable unit for introduction into the container, a housing, wherein the oscillatable unit is connected with the housing in such a manner that the oscillatable unit closes the housing terminally, and wherein present in the oscillatable unit is at least one hollow space, which is accessible from an inner space formed by the housing, a driving/receiving unit for exciting the oscillatable unit to execute mechanical oscillations and for receiving the mechanical oscillations and for transducing them into an electrical, received signal. The invention is distinguished by features including that the driving/receiving unit is present in such a manner in the hollow space and the hollow space is filled with a potting material in such a manner that the driving/receiving unit is connected via the potting material for force coupling with a wall of the hollow space.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2012Publication date: December 4, 2014Inventors: Volker Dreyer, Sergej Lopatin, Benjamin Mack, Alexander Mueller, Helmut Pfeiffer
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Publication number: 20140320224Abstract: An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable of a medium, comprising: an oscillatable unit, which has a membrane and at least one oscillatable element, wherein the oscillatable element is secured to the membrane at least in a first securement region and in a second securement region. At least one driving/receiving unit, which excites the oscillatable unit to execute mechanical oscillations and which produces a received signal dependent on the oscillations of the oscillatable unit; and a control/evaluation unit, which evaluates the received signal with reference to the process variable. The apparatus is distinguished by features including that the driving/receiving unit is embodied in such a manner and arranged on a rear face of the membrane facing away from the oscillatable element that the oscillatable element executes torsional oscillations.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2012Publication date: October 30, 2014Applicant: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KGInventors: Helmut Pfeiffer, Benjamin Mack
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Publication number: 20130118254Abstract: An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one fill level of a medium in a container comprising: a capacitive or conductive probe unit having at least one electrode; and a control/evaluation unit. The electrode is a hollow body, that an end region of the electrode protruding into the container is embodied as an oscillatable membrane. On an inner side of the membrane a driving/receiving unit is arranged, which excites the membrane to execute mechanical oscillations and receives mechanical oscillations therefrom and converts such into an electrical, received signal. The control/evaluation unit supplies the electrode at least at times with a voltage and determines the fill level of the medium capacitively or conductively, and/or that the control/evaluation unit supplies the driving/receiving unit at least at times with an exciter signal and determines from the electrical received signal the fill level of the medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2011Publication date: May 16, 2013Applicant: ENDRESS + HAUSER GMBH + CO KGInventors: Martin Urban, Helmut Pfeiffer, Volker Dreyer
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Patent number: 8261615Abstract: An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable of a medium, including: at least one mechanically oscillatable membrane, which has a plurality of natural eigenmodes; and at least one driving/receiving unit, which excites the membrane to execute mechanical oscillations and/or which receives mechanical oscillations from the membrane. The driving/receiving unit and the membrane are embodied and matched to one another in such a manner, that the membrane executes only mechanical oscillations, which correspond to modes, which lie above the fundamental mode of the membrane.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2007Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KGInventors: Sergej Lopatin, Helmut Pfeiffer, Sascha D'Angelico
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Publication number: 20120144901Abstract: A multivariable sensor for determining and/or monitoring a predetermined fill level and density and/or viscosity of a liquid in a container. The sensor comprises a measuring tube provided in the container. The measuring tube has at least a first oscillatable segment and a second oscillatable segment, wherein the oscillatable segments have a cross sectional area deviating from a circularly round shape and at least one straight side, wherein on an inner wall of the oscillatable segments, driver/receiving units are placed, which cause the oscillatable segments to execute resonant oscillations. At least one control/evaluation unit is provided, which evaluates frequency and/or phase and/or amplitude of the oscillations and determines therefrom reaching of the predetermined fill level and density and/or viscosity of the liquid.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2010Publication date: June 14, 2012Applicant: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KGInventors: Helmut Pfeiffer, Alexander Muller, Volker Dryer, Sergej Lopatin
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Publication number: 20120103088Abstract: An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable of a medium. The apparatus includes: at least one mechanically oscillatable unit, which comes in contact at least partially with the medium; at least one transducer unit, which excites the mechanically oscillatable unit to execute mechanical oscillations and which receives mechanical oscillations from the mechanically oscillatable unit; and at least one housing. At least one limiting element is provided. The limiting element is embodied and arranged in such a manner that the limiting element at least partially surrounds the mechanically oscillatable unit and the therefrom resulting reduction of volume surrounding the mechanically oscillatable unit increases the measuring sensitivity of the apparatus. Furthermore, the invention relates to a limiting element.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2008Publication date: May 3, 2012Applicant: Endress + Hauser GmbH + KGInventors: Martin Urban, Serguej Lopatin, Helmut Pfeiffer
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Patent number: 7886602Abstract: An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one physical or chemical, process variable of medium having at least one oscillatable unit, which produces, and/or receives, mechanical oscillations. Included is at least one tuning unit, whose stiffness is changeable and which is embodied in such a manner and connected in such a manner with the oscillatable unit, or is a part of the oscillatable unit in such a manner, that at least the resonance frequency of the oscillatable unit is changeable via the tuning unit. A corresponding method is also noted.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2005Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KGInventors: Sergej Lopatin, Helmut Pfeiffer
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Publication number: 20100154546Abstract: An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable of a medium, including: at least one mechanically oscillatable membrane, which has a plurality of natural eigenmodes; and at least one driving/receiving unit, which excites the membrane to execute mechanical oscillations and/or which receives mechanical oscillations from the membrane. The driving/receiving unit and the membrane are embodied and matched to one another in such a manner, that the membrane executes only mechanical oscillations, which correspond to modes, which lie above the fundamental mode of the membrane.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2007Publication date: June 24, 2010Inventors: Sascha D'Angelico, Serjeg Lopatin, Helmut Pfeiffer
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Patent number: 7681445Abstract: An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable of a medium and includes: A mechanically oscillatable unit, which executes mechanical oscillations in a direction and which is secured at a seating. Included is an exciting/receiving unit, which excites the mechanically oscillatable unit to mechanical oscillations and which receives the mechanical oscillations of the mechanically oscillatable unit; and a control/evaluation unit, which controls the mechanical oscillations of the mechanically oscillatable unit and which determines and/or monitors the process variable. At least one compensating mass is provided, which is mechanically coupled with the mechanically oscillatable unit and which is embodied and/or secured in such a manner that it executes mechanical oscillations in a direction, wherein the direction of the oscillations of the compensating mass are essentially perpendicular to the direction of the oscillations of the mechanically oscillatable unit.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2005Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KGInventor: Helmut Pfeiffer
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Publication number: 20100030486Abstract: A method for determining and/or monitoring at least one measured variable of an at least partially gaseous medium with at least one mechanically oscillatable unit, which is excited to execute mechanical oscillations, and whose mechanical oscillations are received and evaluated. At least one characteristic curve is stored, which describes for at least one gas or a gas mixture at least the dependence of at least one characteristic variable of the mechanical oscillations of the mechanically oscillatable unit on pressure; at least the characteristic variable of the mechanical oscillations of the mechanically oscillatable unit is determined; the determined characteristic variable is compared with the stored characteristic curve; and, starting from the comparison of the determined characteristic variable with the stored characteristic curve, the measured variable of the medium is determined. Further, an apparatus for determining and/or monitoring the measured variable is envisioned.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2006Publication date: February 4, 2010Applicant: Endress + Hauser GmbH +Co. KGInventors: Sergej Lopatin, Helmut Pfeiffer
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Publication number: 20090126480Abstract: Apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable of a medium in a container. The apparatus includes at least one mechanically oscillatable unit, and at least one driving/receiving unit, which excites the mechanically oscillatable unit to execute mechanical oscillations, and which receives the mechanical oscillations of the mechanically oscillatable unit. The mechanically oscillatable unit has at least one membrane, or diaphragm. The membrane, or diaphragm, is connected with a housing. The driving/receiving unit is arranged between the membrane and a holding unit, and the holding unit is secured to the housing. The invention holding unit is embodied in such a manner and secured to the housing in such a manner, that a radial force, which acts essentially in the direction of the normals of the housing, produces a force component and/or a moment, which acts essentially in the direction of a normal of the holding unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2007Publication date: May 21, 2009Applicant: Endress + Hauser GmH + Co. KGInventors: Jutta Kuhny, Helmut Pfeiffer
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Patent number: 7530268Abstract: An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one physical or chemical, process variable of a medium and includes at least one mechanically oscillatable unit and at least one driving/receiving unit. The mechanically oscillatable unit includes a tube and an internal oscillator. The tube is connected to a securement unit with an end turned away from the process and the end of the tube turned toward the process is embodied as a free end. The tube surrounds the internal oscillator and the internal oscillator is secured to the end of the tube turned toward the process with an end turned toward the process. The driving/receiving unit excites the mechanically oscillatable unit to oscillate, respectively it receives the oscillations of the mechanically oscillatable unit. The internal oscillator has at least one groove/neck, which determines at least the oscillation frequency of the mechanically oscillatable unit.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2004Date of Patent: May 12, 2009Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KGInventors: Sergej Lopatin, Helmut Pfeiffer