Patents by Inventor Kathrin Eckhard

Kathrin Eckhard 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: 11953424
    Abstract: A method for the surface treatment of flat products made of aluminium alloys. The method includes pickling the flat product, in particular for degreasing the flat product. The method includes carrying out a colour measurement on the surface of the flat product to determine at least one measured colour value after pickling the flat product. The method includes generating output information on the basis of the at least one measured colour value. The output information is indicative of compliance with at least one rule for the measured colour value and outputting or triggering the output of the output information. The invention further relates to a device for the surface treatment of flat products made of aluminium alloys and to a use of a colorimeter which is configured to determine at least one measured colour value in a surface treatment of flat products made of aluminium alloys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: SPEIRA GMBH
    Inventors: Dirk Zentzis, Gernot Nitzsche, Kathrin Eckhard
  • Patent number: 11945008
    Abstract: A method for cleaning rollers used for metal strip processing. According to said method, the roller surface is cleaned by an aqueous alkali metal hydroxide or alkaline earth metal hydroxide washing liquid or an acidic washing liquid, the washing liquid is removed and the roller surface is dried. A machine for cleaning rollers includes a washing frame designed for positioning a roller to be cleaned, and at least one means for applying at least one washing solution to the roller surface of the roller to be cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Hydro Aluminum Rolled Products GmbH
    Inventors: Kathrin Eckhard, Olaf Güßgen, Frank Hirschmann
  • Patent number: 11260439
    Abstract: The invention relates to an aluminum alloy strip with improved surface optics, which is fabricated via hot and/or cold rolling, and consists of a type AA 3xxx, AA 5xxx, AA 6xxx or AA 8xxx aluminum alloy. The object of proposing an aluminum alloy strip that is suitable for attractive and precious surface optics despite the elevated percentage of alloy constituents is achieved in that, after degreasing, the finish-rolled aluminum alloy strip exhibits an increase in the luminance value L*(?L) in relation to the rolled-greasy state of more than 5 while measuring the color of the surface in the CIE L*a*b* color space using a standard illuminant D65 and a normal observation angle of 10°, excluding direct reflection in 45°/0° geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Hydro Aluminium Rolled Products GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Bögershausen, Jochen Schwarz, Bernhard Kernig, Kathrin Eckhard, Axel Blecher, Olaf Güßgen
  • Publication number: 20220042904
    Abstract: A method for the surface treatment of flat products made of aluminium alloys. The method includes pickling the flat product, in particular for degreasing the flat product. The method includes carrying out a colour measurement on the surface of the flat product to determine at least one measured colour value after pickling the flat product. The method includes generating output information on the basis of the at least one measured colour value. The output information is indicative of compliance with at least one rule for the measured colour value and outputting or triggering the output of the output information. The invention further relates to a device for the surface treatment of flat products made of aluminium alloys and to a use of a colorimeter which is configured to determine at least one measured colour value in a surface treatment of flat products made of aluminium alloys.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Applicant: Speira GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Zentzis, Gernot Nitzsche, Kathrin Eckhard
  • Patent number: 11131037
    Abstract: The invention relates to a strip or sheet consisting of an aluminium alloy having a unilateral or bilateral surface structure prepared for a forming process, in particular it relates to a strip or sheet for formed motor vehicle components. The object of providing an aluminium alloy strip or sheet having a surface structure prepared for a forming process, which is easy to produce and has improved tribological characteristics in respect of a subsequent forming process, is achieved for a strip or sheet consisting of an aluminium alloy in that the strip or sheet has on one side or on both sides a surface with depressions as lubricant pockets which are produced using an electrochemical graining process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Hydro Aluminium Rolled Products GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Hirschmann, Kathrin Eckhard, Bernhard Kernig, Gernot Nitzsche, Henk-Jan Brinkman
  • Publication number: 20210008605
    Abstract: A method for cleaning rollers used for metal strip processing. According to said method, the roller surface is cleaned by an aqueous alkali metal hydroxide or alkaline earth metal hydroxide washing liquid or an acidic washing liquid, the washing liquid is removed and the roller surface is dried. A machine for cleaning rollers includes a washing frame designed for positioning a roller to be cleaned, and at least one means for applying at least one washing solution to the roller surface of the roller to be cleaned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Applicant: Hydro Aluminium Rolled Products GmbH
    Inventors: Kathrin Eckhard, Olaf Güßgen, Frank Hirschmann
  • Patent number: 10889912
    Abstract: The invention relates to a strip consisting of an aluminium alloy for providing adhesive connections. In addition, the invention relates to a method for producing a strip having a one or two-sided surface structure which consists of an aluminium alloy, at least provided in certain areas and prepared for an adhesive connection, and also relates to a corresponding adhesive connection. The object of providing an aluminium alloy strip optimised for adhesive connections, which has optimised surface properties for ageing-resistant adhesive connections, on the one hand, and which can be cost-effectively produced in a way which is reliable in terms of the process, on the other hand, is achieved for a strip consisting of an aluminium alloy for providing adhesive connections by the strip at least in areas having a surface structure prepared for adhesive connections, wherein the surface structure has depressions which were produced using an electrochemical graining process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Hydro Aluminium Rolled Products GmbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Kernig, Henk-Jan Brinkman, Kathrin Eckhard, Gernot Nitzsche, Frank Hirschmann
  • Publication number: 20200308713
    Abstract: In a method for cleaning a non-machined aluminum alloy product involving alkaline degreasing and treatment thereof after alkaline pickling with an acidic solution, the aluminum alloy product undergoes (a) initial acid cleaning before alkaline degreasing or (b) alkaline degreasing, followed by a subsequent acid rinse, alkaline treatment anew and an additional acid rinse thereafter. The aluminum alloy product may be a rolled aluminum alloy strip, a rolled aluminum alloy sheet and an aluminum alloy profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: Hydro Aluminium Rolled Products GmbH
    Inventors: Kathrin Eckhard, Olaf Güßgen, Oliver Bauer
  • Patent number: 10773325
    Abstract: Use of an aluminium composite material in a thermal joining method, said material consisting of at least one aluminium core alloy and at least one external brazing layer consisting of an aluminium brazing alloy provided on one or both sides of the aluminium core alloy, wherein the aluminium brazing layer has a pickled surface. Reduced costs and a lower environmental impact is achieved by using an aluminium composite material in which the pickled surface of the aluminium brazing layer had been pickled by pickling with an acid, aqueous pickling solution containing at least one mineral acid and at least one complex-forming agent or a complexing mineral acid, wherein the removal of material in the pickling is between 0.05 g/m2 and 6 g/m2, the aluminium composite material is used in a flux-free, thermal joining method, and the joining method is carried out in the presence of a protective gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Hydro Aluminium Rolled Products GmbH
    Inventors: Kathrin Eckhard, Olaf Güßgen, Hartmut Janssen
  • Publication number: 20180347067
    Abstract: The invention relates to a strip consisting of an aluminium alloy for providing adhesive connections. In addition, the invention relates to a method for producing a strip having a one or two-sided surface structure which consists of an aluminium alloy, at least provided in certain areas and prepared for an adhesive connection, and also relates to a corresponding adhesive connection. The object of providing an aluminium alloy strip optimised for adhesive connections, which has optimised surface properties for ageing-resistant adhesive connections, on the one hand, and which can be cost-effectively produced in a way which is reliable in terms of the process, on the other hand, is achieved for a strip consisting of an aluminium alloy for providing adhesive connections by the strip at least in areas having a surface structure prepared for adhesive connections, wherein the surface structure has depressions which were produced using an electrochemical graining process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Applicant: Hydro Aluminium Rolled Products GmbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Kernig, Henk-Jan Brinkman, Kathrin Eckhard, Gernot Nitzsche, Frank Hirschmann
  • Publication number: 20180340268
    Abstract: The invention relates to a strip or sheet consisting of an aluminium alloy having a unilateral or bilateral surface structure prepared for a forming process, in particular it relates to a strip or sheet for formed motor vehicle components. The object of providing an aluminium alloy strip or sheet having a surface structure prepared for a forming process, which is easy to produce and has improved tribological characteristics in respect of a subsequent forming process, is achieved for a strip or sheet consisting of an aluminium alloy in that the strip or sheet has on one side or on both sides a surface with depressions as lubricant pockets which are produced using an electrochemical graining process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Applicant: Hydro Aluminium Rolled Products GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Hirschmann, Kathrin Eckhard, Bernhard Kernig, Gernot Nitzsche, Henk-Jan Brinkman
  • Publication number: 20180221994
    Abstract: Provided herein are embodiments of an aluminium composite material for use in thermal flux-free joining methods. The composite material includes at least one core layer having an aluminium core alloy and at least one outer solder layer of an aluminium solder alloy. The aluminium solder alloy has the following composition in wt %: 6.5%?Si?13%, Fe?1%, 90 ppm?Mg?300 ppm, Bi?500 ppm, Mn?0.15%, Cu?0.3%, Zn?3%, and Ti?0.3% with the remainder Al and unavoidable impurities individually at most 0.05%, in total at most 0.15%. The aluminium solder layer has an alkaline pickled or acid pickled surface. Embodiments also relate to a method for producing an aluminium composite material, a method for the thermal joining of components, and a thermally joined construction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: Hydro Aluminium Rolled Products GmbH
    Inventors: Kathrin Eckhard, Olaf Güssgen, Thorsten Richter, Hartmut Janssen, Nico Eigen
  • Publication number: 20180222151
    Abstract: Provided are embodiments of an aluminium composite material for use in thermal flux-free joining methods. The composite material has at least one core layer of an aluminium core alloy and at least one outer solder layer of an aluminium solder alloy. The aluminium solder alloy has the following composition in wt %: 6.5%?Si?13%, Fe?1%, 230 ppm?Mg?450 ppm, Bi?500 ppm, Mn?0.15%, Cu?0.3%, Zn?3%, and Ti?0.30% with the remainder Al and unavoidable impurities individually at most 0.05%, in total at most 0.15% and the aluminium solder layer has an alkaline pickled or acid pickled surface. The invention further relates to a method for producing an aluminium composite material, a method for the thermal joining of components, and a thermally joined construction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: Hydro Aluminium Rolled Products GmbH
    Inventors: Kathrin Eckhard, Olaf Güssgen, Thorsten Richter, Hartmut Janssen, Nico Eigen
  • Patent number: 9887044
    Abstract: The invention relates to a current collector foil for batteries, accumulators or capacitors, comprising a carrier material and at least one electrically conductive layer made from a metal. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for producing a corresponding current collector foil as well as to the advantageous use thereof. The object of providing a current collector foil for batteries, accumulators or capacitors, which is optimized in relation to the contact surface and the adhesive properties and which results in an improved service life, is achieved as a result of the fact that the at least one electrically conductive layer is produced at least partially by electrodepositing a metal and has a texture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Hydro Aluminium Rolled Products GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Hampel, Kathrin Eckhard, Simon Jupp, Andreas Siemen
  • Publication number: 20160325367
    Abstract: Use of an aluminium composite material in a thermal joining method, said material consisting of at least one aluminium core alloy and at least one external brazing layer consisting of an aluminium brazing alloy provided on one or both sides of the aluminium core alloy, wherein the aluminium brazing layer has a pickled surface. Reduced costs and a lower environmental impact is achieved by using an aluminium composite material in which the pickled surface of the aluminium brazing layer had been pickled by pickling with an acid, aqueous pickling solution containing at least one mineral acid and at least one complex-forming agent or a complexing mineral acid, wherein the removal of material in the pickling is between 0.05 g/m2 and 6 g/m2, the aluminium composite material is used in a flux-free, thermal joining method, and the joining method is carried out in the presence of a protective gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Applicant: Hydro Aluminium Rolled Products GmbH
    Inventors: Kathrin Eckhard, Olaf Güßgen, Hartmut Janssen
  • Patent number: 9160006
    Abstract: The invention relates to a current collector foil made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, to the use of the current collector foil for batteries or accumulators, in particular lithium-ion accumulators, and to a method for producing the current collector foil. The object of providing a current collector foil, which has very good properties with regard to conductivity and tensile strength, and which can also be produced economically, is achieved in that the current collector foil has an acid-pickled or alkali-pickled surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Hydro Aluminium Rolled Products GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Hampel, Volker Denkmann, Andreas Siemen, Kathrin Eckhard, Wilhelm Schenkel, Sandra Eberhard, Dieter Bögershausen
  • Publication number: 20150053751
    Abstract: Use of an aluminium composite material consisting of at least one aluminium core alloy and at least one outer brazing layer consisting of an aluminium brazing alloy provided on one or both sides of the aluminium core alloy. Based on this prior art the object of the present invention is to provide a thermal joining process for an aluminium composite material, so that the use of fluxes can be dispensed with, this object being achieved in that the aluminium brazing layer of the aluminium composite material has a pickled surface and the aluminium composite material is used in a fluxless thermal joining process and the joining process is carried out in the presence of a protective gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: HYDRO ALUMINIUM ROLLED PRODUCTS GMBH
    Inventors: Kathrin Eckhard, Jochen Schwarz, Olaf Güßgen, Raimund Sicking, Hartmut Janssen
  • Publication number: 20150050558
    Abstract: The invention relates to a current collector foil for batteries, accumulators or capacitors, comprising a carrier material and at least one electrically conductive layer made from a metal. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for producing a corresponding current collector foil as well as to the advantageous use thereof. The object of providing a current collector foil for batteries, accumulators or capacitors, which is optimised in relation to the contact surface and the adhesive properties and which results in an improved service life, is achieved as a result of the fact that the at least one electrically conductive layer is produced at least partially by electrodepositing a metal and has a texture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: HYDRO ALUMINIUM ROLLED PRODUCTS GMBH
    Inventors: Ulrich Hampel, Kathrin Eckhard, Simon Jupp, Andreas Siemen
  • Publication number: 20140341678
    Abstract: The invention relates to an aluminum alloy strip with improved surface optics, which is fabricated via hot and/or cold rolling, and consists of a type AA 3xxx, AA 5xxx, AA 6xxx or AA 8xxx aluminum alloy. The object of proposing an aluminum alloy strip that is suitable for attractive and precious surface optics despite the elevated percentage of alloy constituents is achieved in that, after degreasing, the finish-rolled aluminum alloy strip exhibits an increase in the luminance value L*(?L) in relation to the rolled-greasy state of more than 5 while measuring the color of the surface in the CIE L*a*b* color space using a standard illuminant D65 and a normal observation angle of 10°, excluding direct reflection in 45°/0° geometry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: Hydro Aluminium Rolled Products GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Bögershausen, Jochen Schwarz, Bernhard Kernig, Kathrin Eckhard, Axel Blecher, Olaf Güßgen
  • Publication number: 20140096375
    Abstract: The invention relates to a current collector foil made of aluminium or an aluminium alloy, to the use of the current collector foil for batteries or accumulators, in particular lithium-ion accumulators, and to a method for producing the current collector foil. The object of providing a current collector foil, which has very good properties with regard to conductivity and tensile strength, and which can also be produced economically, is achieved in that the current collector foil has an acid-pickled or alkali-pickled surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Hydro Aluminium Rolled Products GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Hampel, Volker Denkmann, Andreas Siemen, Kathrin Eckhard, Wilhelm Schenkel, Sandra Eberhard, Dieter Bögershausen