Patents by Inventor Holger Schnell

Holger Schnell 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: 10139222
    Abstract: A method for measuring a wall thickness in hollow valves may include determining a wall thickness in a region of a valve stem using at least one ultrasonic sensor, wherein the one ultrasonic sensor may be oriented with respect to a surface on the valve stem in such a manner that an emitted ultrasound may be introduced into the surface in a perpendicular manner. The method may additionally or alternatively include determining a wall thickness in a region of a chamfer using the at least one ultrasonic sensor, wherein the at least one ultrasonic sensor may be positioned at a location on the chamfer at which an inner tangent in a cavity runs parallel to an outer tangent on the chamfer, and wherein the ultrasonic sensor is oriented with respect to the tangents in such a manner that an emitted ultrasound is introduced into the surface in a perpendicular manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Kroos, Christoph Luven, Holger Schnell, Thomas Strelow, Richard Wlassa
  • Patent number: 10031046
    Abstract: A method for detecting defects in a piston for an internal combustion engine may include providing the piston in a measurement arrangement that includes a measurement probe having a first electrical coil element for generating an electromagnetic alternating field and a second electrical coil element for detecting an electromagnetic alternating field. The method may also include moving the measurement probe over a piston surface of the piston, and providing an electrical alternating current in the first coil element to generate an electromagnetic alternating field that interacts with a material of the piston in the region under the piston surface. The method may further include evaluating an electrical alternating voltage induced in the second coil element by the electromagnetic alternating field after interaction with the material of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Michel Fritz, Gerhard Mook, Ioannis Papadopoulos, Holger Schnell
  • Publication number: 20160349047
    Abstract: A method for measuring a wall thickness in hollow valves may include determining a wall thickness in a region of a valve stem using at least one ultrasonic sensor, wherein the one ultrasonic sensor may be oriented with respect to a surface on the valve stem in such a manner that an emitted ultrasound may be introduced into the surface in a perpendicular manner. The method may additionally or alternatively include determining a wall thickness in a region of a chamfer using the at least one ultrasonic sensor, wherein the at least one ultrasonic sensor may be positioned at a location on the chamfer at which an inner tangent in a cavity runs parallel to an outer tangent on the chamfer, and wherein the ultrasonic sensor is oriented with respect to the tangents in such a manner that an emitted ultrasound is introduced into the surface in a perpendicular manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Peter Kroos, Christoph Luven, Holger Schnell, Thomas Strelow, Richard Wlassa
  • Publication number: 20160245720
    Abstract: A method for detecting defects in a piston for an internal combustion engine may include providing the piston in a measurement arrangement that includes a measurement probe having a first electrical coil element for generating an electromagnetic alternating field and a second electrical coil element for detecting an electromagnetic alternating field. The method may also include moving the measurement probe over a piston surface of the piston, and providing an electrical alternating current in the first coil element to generate an electromagnetic alternating field that interacts with a material of the piston in the region under the piston surface. The method may further include evaluating an electrical alternating voltage induced in the second coil element by the electromagnetic alternating field after interaction with the material of the piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Applicant: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Michel Fritz, Gerhard Mook, Ioannis Papadopoulos, Holger Schnell
  • Patent number: 8897534
    Abstract: In a method and an evaluation device for determining the position of a structure located in an object to be investigated by means of X-ray computer tomography, a cutting data record, which images the object in a cutting plane, is determined from a volume data record of the object. The cutting data record is binarized to form a binary data record, in which the structure voxels imaging the structure and the surface voxels imaging an object surface are determined. To determine the position, a distance data record is produced in such a way that a distance value, which characterizes the smallest distance of the respective distance voxel from the surface voxels, is assigned to each distance voxel of the distance data record. The distance voxels corresponding to the structure voxels are then determined and the associated distance values evaluated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Steven Oeckl, Werner Schön, Holger Schnell, Gustav Müller, Ioannis Papadopoulos
  • Patent number: 8660804
    Abstract: The invention relates to the non-destructive measurement of components, in particular the functional assessment of the bonding of cast-in parts, eg. in pistons for internal combustion engines. With such a measurement or functional assessment, it is a question of assessing the function and completeness of the bonding between the base material and the material cast in or otherwise joined. The quality of the component or its suitability for a specific purpose can thus be assessed and/or quality monitoring of the production process, e.g. in the foundry or during production, can take place. According to the invention, this purpose is served by a multi-stage correction procedure, wherein the measured values ascertained by means of a suitably devised measuring arrangement and method, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventor: Holger Schnell
  • Publication number: 20130223722
    Abstract: In a method and an evaluation device for determining the position of a structure located in an object to be investigated by means of X-ray computer tomography, a cutting data record, which images the object in a cutting plane, is determined from a volume data record of the object. The cutting data record is binarized to form a binary data record, in which the structure voxels imaging the structure and the surface voxels imaging an object surface are determined. To determine the position, a distance data record is produced in such a way that a distance value, which characterizes the smallest distance of the respective distance voxel from the surface voxels, is assigned to each distance voxel of the distance data record. The distance voxels corresponding to the structure voxels are then determined and the associated distance values evaluated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Inventors: Steven Oeckl, Werner Schön, Holger Schnell, Gustav Müller, Ioannis Papadopoulus
  • Publication number: 20100042337
    Abstract: The invention relates to the non-destructive measurement of components, in particular the functional assessment of the bonding of cast-in parts, eg. in pistons for internal combustion engines. With such a measurement or functional assessment, it is a question of assessing the function and completeness of the bonding between the base material and the material cast in or otherwise joined. The quality of the component or its suitability for a specific purpose can thus be assessed and/or quality monitoring of the production process, e.g. in the foundry or during production, can take place. According to the invention, this purpose is served by a multi-stage correction procedure, wherein the measured values ascertained by means of a suitably devised measuring arrangement and method, e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventor: Holger Schnell