Patents by Inventor Ludger Tacke

Ludger Tacke 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).

  • Publication number: 20230126017
    Abstract: Producing welded connections between inner tubes and tube support plates of a tube bundle for a product-to-product shell-and-tube heat exchanger by means of an auxiliary device is described. A production method includes pressing the end face of a tube support plate against the end face of the inner tubes in the direction of the inner tube longitudinal axes during welding operations with a first form fit, which is effective both radially and axially, immovably fixing the number of inner tubes corresponding to the tube layout pattern to each other by a second, detachable form fit of the auxiliary device, making a circumferential round weld orbitally, starting from the plate inner bore and the tube inner bore, in a single pass and continuously from radially inside to radially outside, and detaching and removing the auxiliary device from the welded tube bundle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Kevin Winking, Carsten Isferding, Wolfgang Jäckering, Ralf Speemann, Andreas Schmied, Ludger Tacke
  • Publication number: 20220378057
    Abstract: Directly heating a protein-enriched milk product occurs by introducing steam, the direct heating taking the form of an infusion or injection method. The described technique significantly extends service time, ensuring a content of non-denatured whey proteins in the treated protein-enriched milk product greater than that obtained in the prior art. The milk product, which is preheated and kept at temperature is indirectly cooled before direct heating by a recuperative cooling step from the preheating temperature to a cool-down temperature with a temperature difference ranging from 5 K to 10 K. The direct heating from the cool-down temperature to the high pasteurization temperature is controlled by direct heating setting parameters which are known per se. Finally, the milk product is cooled by flash cooling from the high pasteurization temperature to a necessarily required exit temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Dennis Glinke, Ulrich Rolle, Jurgen Gehling, Ludger Tacke, Hubert Assing
  • Publication number: 20220258069
    Abstract: The industrial production of an extract by means of solid-liquid extraction improves the exchange of substances during extraction and allows enhanced dehumidification of a raffinate with residual moisture. The extraction is enhanced during a first dwell time by at least partially flooding a vessel in the form of at least one flow discharged with a secondary solvent or the obtained extract, swirling and keeping in suspension the primary mixture within the vessel by supplying the secondary solvent or the obtained extract via a foot area of the vessel, and/or moving the vessel relative to the extraction container within the obtained extract. The secondary solvent or the extract circulates in the extraction container by a circulation guide incorporating the extraction container from top to bottom relative to the extraction container, and the extract freed from raffinate with residual moisture obtained by dehumidification is supplied to the separated or to be separated extract.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Colman O'Gorman, Ulrich Rolle, Maria Carmen Leal Carcia, Ludger Tacke, Franz-Joseph Helms
  • Publication number: 20220184524
    Abstract: Controlling the production of an extract using solid-liquid extraction that improves the exchange of material during the extraction process and allows a controlled dehumidification of a raffinate with residual moisture in order to obtain additional valuable extract is described. The steps include providing a first mass in an extraction container, supplying a second mass to the first mass without spatial constraints and distributing and mixing the second mass into and with the first mass, discharging a mixture of the extract and the raffinate from the extraction container, separating the discharged mixture into the raffinate with residual moisture and extracts released from the raffinate with residual moisture, and further treating the raffinate with residual moisture at least such that the residual moisture consisting of the extract is at least partly removed from the raffinate with residual moisture by dehumidification and is supplied to the already separated extract.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Colman O'Gorman, Ulrich Rolle, Maria Carmen Leal Carcia, Ludger Tacke, Franz-Joseph Helms
  • Patent number: 11191284
    Abstract: Controlling and/or treating heat-sensitive liquid food products ensures improved control of a filling level in an infuser container. Therefore, a constant dwell time of the product to be heated is reached in the event of product-fouling in the centrifugal pump. The pump is designed such that one part of a volume flow of the product, transported by an impeller wheel, regularly rinses the impeller wheel and the areas of a pump chamber that are directly adjacent to the impeller wheel. A reduction in the volume flow of the centrifugal pump is then counteracted by increasing the initial rotational speed if the reduction is simultaneously associated with a drop in temperature of the product. The increase of the initial rotational speed is carried according to the drop in temperature of the product and/or an increase in the temperature of the steam to constantly maintain at least the temperature of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: GEA TDS GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Schwenzow, Ludger Tacke, Hubert Assing, Helmut Buss, Ludger Leiwering
  • Patent number: 11191283
    Abstract: A method for treating liquid food products after direct heating comprises a first cooling of the liquid food product occurring on a floor of the infuser vessel up to an outlet opening. A second cooling of the liquid food product occurs in a tubular section connecting directly to the outlet opening. A third cooling of the liquid food product occurs in a housing cover of a pump housing of a centrifugal pump. At least one flushing operation of the pump housing and of an impeller via a rear impeller gap is performed, wherein the at least flushing operation occurs via a front impeller gap located between the housing cover and the impeller. Volume flows of the at least one flushing operation are greater than equalization flows within the pump housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: GEA TDS GmbH
    Inventors: Hubert Assing, Helmut Buss, Uwe Schwenzow, Roland Stange, Ludger Tacke, Dietrich Zimmermann
  • Publication number: 20200146305
    Abstract: Controlling and/or treating heat-sensitive liquid food products ensures improved control of a filling level in an infuser container. Therefore, a constant dwell time of the product to be heated is reached in the event of product-fouling in the centrifugal pump. The pump is designed such that one part of a volume flow of the product, transported by an impeller wheel, regularly rinses the impeller wheel and the areas of a pump chamber that are directly adjacent to the impeller wheel. A reduction in the volume flow of the centrifugal pump is then counteracted by increasing the initial rotational speed if the reduction is simultaneously associated with a drop in temperature of the product. The increase of the initial rotational speed is carried according to the drop in temperature of the product and/or an increase in the temperature of the steam to constantly maintain at least the temperature of the product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Uwe Schwenzow, Ludger Tacke, Hubert Assing, Helmut Buss, Ludger Leiwering
  • Publication number: 20190350232
    Abstract: A method for treating liquid food products after direct heating comprises a first cooling of the liquid food product occurring on a floor of the infuser vessel up to an outlet opening. A second cooling of the liquid food product occurs in a tubular section connecting directly to the outlet opening. A third cooling of the liquid food product occurs in a housing cover of a pump housing of a centrifugal pump. At least one flushing operation of the pump housing and of an impeller via a rear impeller gap is performed, wherein the at least flushing operation occurs via a front impeller gap located between the housing cover and the impeller. Volume flows of the at least one flushing operation are greater than equalization flows within the pump housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Applicant: GEA TDS GmbH
    Inventors: Hubert Assing, Helmut Buss, Uwe Schwenzow, Roland Stange, Ludger Tacke, Dietrich Zimmermann
  • Publication number: 20190327988
    Abstract: A device for heating a concentrate comprises a drying tower comprises a plurality of pressurized spray nozzles, a feed tank fluidly connected with an inlet of a low-pressure heat, a feed pump, and a high-pressure piston pump connected on an inlet side with the outlet of the low-pressure heat exchanger. A first high-pressure line section of the high-pressure line is configured to connect the outlet of the high-pressure piston pump with the inlet of the additional high-pressure heat exchanger. A second high-pressure line section of the high-pressure line is configured to connect the outlet of the additional high-pressure heat exchanger with the pressurized spray nozzles. A means for defined shear loading of the concentrate is located in an outlet-side channel and comprises an annular-shaped space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Applicant: GEA TDS GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Schwenzow, Ulrich Rolle, Hubert Assing, Ludger Tacke, Andreas Schmied
  • Publication number: 20190329148
    Abstract: A method for heating a concentrate in an installation for spray drying comprises increasing a pressure of the concentrate from a low pressure level at a flow temperature to a high pressure level. The concentrate is heated at a high pressure level to a spraying temperature using a high-pressure heat exchanger. The concentrate is shear loaded using a shearing device and immediately transferring the concentrate to a location of pressurized spraying, wherein a transfer time for the immediate transfer is determined by a fluidic effective distance between the shearing device and the location of the pressurized spraying.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Applicant: GEA TDS GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Schwenzow, Ulrich Rolle, Hubert Assing, Ludger Tacke, Andreas Schmied
  • Patent number: 10182588
    Abstract: The invention relates to a UHT system for heat treating temperature-sensitive food products, in particular desserts or dessert-like products, comprising a pre-heating zone and a subsequent high-heating zone. The aim of the invention is to achieve accurate and fast temperature adjustment of the food product leaving the pre-heating zone to the temperature conditions at the inlet of the high-heating zone in a UHT system of the generic type, and at the same time, with an equal dwell time for all partial amounts of the food product, to ensure that the food product is treated in a particularly thermally gentle manner and to keep the mechanical loading of the food product as low as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: GEA TDS GMBH
    Inventors: Ludger Tacke, Norbert Busch, Deitrich Zimmermann, Hubert Assing, Uwe Schwenzow, Brigitte Schlag
  • Patent number: 9513062
    Abstract: A device for influencing the flow in the area of a pipe manifold plate of a tube bundle heat exchanger with an outer channel encased by an outer sheath for a heat carrier medium, with a number of inner tubes extending axially parallel to the outer sheath through the outer channel, together forming an inner channel, each supported on the end side in the pipe manifold plate, with an inlet or outlet common for all inner tubes designed in a exchanger flange and a common outlet or respectively inlet designed in a connection piece for a product with at least one displacement body. A guide ring forms radially inside with its inner contour the required and proven flow environment for the displacement body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: GEA TDS GMBH
    Inventors: Juergen Gehling, Gottfried Kowalik, Ludger Tacke, Uwe Schwenzow, Franz Tasler
  • Publication number: 20160143343
    Abstract: A method for introducing a vaporous heat carrier into a liquid product, in particular a food product or beverage, and more particularly viscous products, for example desserts, sauces or concentrates, includes using the carrier to heat the product to form a germ-free product. An injector for carrying out the method is also described. A reduction in the heat transfer capacity of the injector is prevented over the entire production time. This is achieved in that three physical measurement variables which can be detected during operation of the injector are used as indicators of the formation of product deposits. At least one of said three physical measurement variables is detected, and depending on these variables, an automatically controlled axial movement of the displacement body is carried out such that the heat transfer capacity from the vaporous heat carrier into the liquid product remains the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2014
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Andreas Schmied, Jürgen Gehling, Stephan Stockhorst, Uwe Schwenzow, Ludger Tacke
  • Publication number: 20160106139
    Abstract: The invention relates to a UHT system for heat treating temperature-sensitive food products, in particular desserts or dessert-like products, comprising a pre-heating zone and a subsequent high-heating zone. The aim of the invention is to achieve accurate and fast temperature adjustment of the food product leaving the pre-heating zone to the temperature conditions at the inlet of the high-heating zone in a UHT system of the generic type, and at the same time, with an equal dwell time for all partial amounts of the food product, to ensure that the food product is treated in a particularly thermally gentle manner and to keep the mechanical loading of the food product as low as possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventors: Ludger Tacke, Norbert Busch, Deitrich Zimmermann, Hubert Assing, Uwe Schwenzow, Brigitte Schlag
  • Patent number: 9253999
    Abstract: The invention relates to a UHT system for heat treating temperature-sensitive food products, in particular desserts or dessert-like products, comprising a pre-heating zone and a subsequent high-heating zone. The aim of the invention is to achieve accurate and fast temperature adjustment of the food product leaving the pre-heating zone to the temperature conditions at the inlet of the high-heating zone in a UHT system of the generic type, and at the same time, with an equal dwell time for all partial amounts of the food product, to ensure that the food product is treated in a particularly thermally gentle manner and to keep the mechanical loading of the food product as low as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: GEA TDS GmbH
    Inventors: Ludger Tacke, Norbert Busch, Deitrich Zimmermann, Hubert Assing, Uwe Schwenzow, Brigitte Schlag
  • Patent number: 9011953
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process for the treatment of heat-sensative fluid food products (P) in a UHT system (1), particularly dairy such as milk, cream, milk protein concentrate. The invention has the task, in a UHT system whose basic structure using an infusion chamber is described in [4], of ensuring an equal and constant dwell time as well as an equal and constant temperature trend for the entire treated food product downstream of an outlet of a mechanism in which the food product is subjected to direct heating by the introduction of steam, and to minimize fouling during heat maintenance of the food product in this area. This is achieved using process technology in that: The heated food product (P*) upstream of its heat main undergoes a predetermined pressure increase (?p) at a predetermined, unchanging location, and The pressure level upstream of the location before the relief lies above the pressure upstream of the location before the pressure increase (?p) (FIG. 1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: GEA TDS GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Kowalik, Ludger Tacke, Ludger Leiwering, Uwe Schwenzow, Dietrich Zimmermann
  • Publication number: 20120321771
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process for the treatment of heat-sensitive fluid food products (P) in a UHT system (1), particularly dairy products such as milk, cream, milk protein concentrate, according to the preamble of Claim 1. The invention has the task, in a UHT system whose basic structure using an infusion chamber is described in [4], of ensuring an equal and constant dwell time as well as an equal and constant temperature trend for the entire treated food product downstream of an outlet of a mechanism in which the food product is subjected to direct heating by the introduction of steam, and to minimize fouling during heat maintenance of the food product in this area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Manfred Kowalik, Ludger Tacke, Ludger Leiwering, Uwe Schwenzow, Dietrich Zimmermann
  • Publication number: 20120276266
    Abstract: The invention relates to a UHT system for heat treating temperature-sensitive food products, in particular desserts or dessert-like products, comprising a pre-heating zone and a subsequent high-heating zone. The aim of the invention is to achieve accurate and fast temperature adjustment of the food product leaving the pre-heating zone to the temperature conditions at the inlet of the high-heating zone in a UHT system of the generic type, and at the same time, with an equal dwell time for all partial amounts of the food product, to ensure that the food product is treated in a particularly thermally gentle manner and to keep the mechanical loading of the food product as low as possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2010
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: GEA TDS GMBH
    Inventors: Ludger Tacke, Norbert Busch, Deitrich Zimmermann, Hubert Assing, Uwe Schwenzow, Brigitte Schlag
  • Publication number: 20120138265
    Abstract: A device for influencing the flow in the area of a pipe manifold plate of a tube bundle heat exchanger with an outer channel encased by an outer sheath for a heat carrier medium, with a number of inner tubes extending axially parallel to the outer sheath through the outer channel, together forming an inner channel, each supported on the end side in the pipe manifold plate, with an inlet or outlet common for all inner tubes designed in a exchanger flange and a common outlet or respectively inlet designed in a connection piece for a product with at least one displacement body. A guide ring forms radially inside with its inner contour the required and proven flow environment for the displacement body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: GEA TDS GMBH
    Inventors: Juergen Gehling, Gottfried Kowalik, Ludger Tacke, Uwe Schwenzow, Franz Tasler
  • Publication number: 20120027901
    Abstract: Infusion system for a liquid food product to be heated, including an infusion chamber limited by an infusion tank with a downward tapering bottom, said infusion chamber having a product inlet and a product outlet, said infusion system having a steam inlet, wherein the steam inlet is designed in the form of two steam inlets separated from each other spatially and fluidically; the first steam inlet is connected for passing fluid to a second channel, the product inlet is connected for passing fluid to a first channel which encompasses the second channel in a ring shape and also opens into an infusion chamber, and the second steam inlet is connected for passing fluid to a plurality of inlet openings disposed in a ring shape and radially encompassing the first channel on the exterior and also opening into the infusion chamber in the upper area and from above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: GEA TDS GMBH
    Inventors: Henrik Kjerbye, Gottfried Kowalik, Ludger Tacke, Uwe Schwenzow, Reinhold Dreckmann