Patents by Inventor Ludolf Gerdau

Ludolf Gerdau 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: 20200264066
    Abstract: A device for measuring the pressure at the test gas inlet of a mass-spectrometric leak detector, wherein a mass spectrometer is connected to the inlet of a high vacuum pump, having its outlet connected to the inlet of a pre-vacuum pump, wherein the inlet of the pre-vacuum pump is connected to the test gas inlet, and wherein the inlet of the pre-vacuum pump and at least one intermediate inlet of the high vacuum pump are connected to each other by a connection line comprising a flow throttle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Hjalmar Bruhns, Ludolf Gerdau, Norbert Moser, Günter Schmitz, Daniel Wetzig
  • Patent number: 10732067
    Abstract: A method for detecting fluctuations in the amount of test gas detected by a sniffer probe of a leak detector in the gas flow from around a test piece pressurized with an oxygen-free test gas containing at least an amount of CO2, wherein an amount of oxygen in the ambient air is measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: INFICON GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Wetzig, Ludolf Gerdau
  • Publication number: 20180328809
    Abstract: A device for measuring the pressure at the test gas inlet of a mass-spectrometric leak detector, wherein a mass spectrometer is connected to the inlet of a high vacuum pump having its outlet connected to the inlet of a pre-vacuum pump, wherein the inlet of the pre-vacuum pump is connected to the test gas inlet and wherein the inlet of the pre-vacuum pump and at least one intermediate inlet of the high vacuum pump are connected to each other by a connection line comprising a flow throttle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Applicant: INFICON GmbH
    Inventors: Hjalmar Bruhns, Ludolf Gerdau, Norbert Moser, Günter Schmitz, Daniel Wetzig
  • Publication number: 20180275010
    Abstract: A method for detecting fluctuations in the amount of test gas detected by a sniffer probe of a leak detector in the gas flow from around a test piece pressurized with an oxygen-free test gas containing at least an amount of CO2, wherein an amount of oxygen in the ambient air is measured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel Wetzig, Ludolf Gerdau
  • Publication number: 20180252613
    Abstract: Method for detecting a leak in a specimen contained in a test chamber, the method comprising the following steps: positioning the specimen in the test chamber, evacuating the test chamber, measuring the partial pressure in the test chamber as a measuring signal M during the evacuation of the test chamber, forming a difference D from the progress of the signal M(t) over time t and a fitting function F(t) including the term t?n, where n is a positive rational number, and judging the presence of a leak in the specimen based on the differential signal D.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Applicant: INFICON GMBH
    Inventors: Jochen Puchalla-König, Ludolf Gerdau
  • Patent number: 9632001
    Abstract: A testing device includes a test gas container, which is provided with a test leak for producing a test gas flow at a predefined leakage rate. The test leak includes at least one capillary tube, which connects the interior of the test gas container to the outer surroundings of the test gas container in a gas-conducting manner. The test gas container is at least partially made of a flexible material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: INFICON GmbH
    Inventors: Silvio Decker, Ludolf Gerdau
  • Publication number: 20160091386
    Abstract: A sniffing leak detector for sucking in and analyzing gas, including a sniffing probe for sucking in the gas, a gas-conveying pump connected to the sniffing probe, and a mass spectrometer connected to a vacuum pump for analyzing the sucked-in gas in a high vacuum. The gas flow through the sniffing probe is conducted along a membrane having gas-permeable pores. The membrane allows part of the gas to flow into the prevacuum of the vacuum pump for the mass spectrometric analysis of the gas in a high vacuum. The diameter of the pores is less than or equal to the free path of air at atmospheric pressure and room temperature in order to improve the detection limit of the sniffing leak detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventor: Ludolf Gerdau
  • Publication number: 20150192489
    Abstract: A testing device, includes a test gas container, which is provided with a test leak for producing a test gas flow at a predefined leakage rate. The test leak includes at least one capillary tube, which connects the interior of the test gas container to the outer surroundings of the test gas container in a gas-conducting manner. The test gas container is at least partially made of a flexible material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventors: Silvio Decker, Ludolf Gerdau
  • Patent number: 8528386
    Abstract: A sniffing leak detector comprises a handle with a sniffing tip. Located at the sniffing tip is a measurement gas suction opening and a reference gas suction opening. The reference gas suction opening is intended for suctioning ambient gas. The reference gas suction opening is aligned substantially the same as the measurement gas suction opening such that both suction openings are sensitive in the same direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Inficon GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Grosse-Bley, Ludolf Gerdau, Gerhard Küster, Ulrich Döbler
  • Patent number: 8302454
    Abstract: Usually, a sniffing leak detector must be calibrated for each tracing gas. The calibration comprises ranging of the spectral positions into the mass spectrum and the amplitude height. At least one mass line is determined with a calibrating gas. The mass lines lying between two mass lines and/or between a zero point and a line are determined by interpolation and/or extrapolation. In this manner, a sniffing leak detector can be used for such tracing gases which have not previously been used for calibration purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Inficon GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Rolff, Randolf Paul Rolff, Ludolf Gerdau
  • Publication number: 20110100097
    Abstract: A leak detector having a pre-vacuum feed pump, a gas detector and a flow sensor. The detector also includes a buffer volume and a restrictor to be arranged between the feed pump and the flow sensor. This protects the flow sensor against pressure surges generated by the feed pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventors: Ludolf Gerdau, Randolf Paul Rolff, Norbert Rolff, Daniel Wetzig
  • Publication number: 20100326169
    Abstract: A sniffing leak detector comprises a handle with a sniffing tip. Located at the sniffing tip is a measurement gas suction opening and a reference gas suction opening. The reference gas suction opening is intended for suctioning ambient gas. The reference gas suction opening is aligned substantially the same as the measurement gas suction opening such that both suction openings are sensitive in the same direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventors: Werner Grosse-Bley, Ludolf Gerdau, Gerhard Küster, Ulrich Döbler
  • Patent number: 7795876
    Abstract: A cold cathode pressure sensor has gastight housing, an anode and a cathode arranged in the housing, and a radiation source directed to the cathode for igniting a cold cathode discharge. The housing has a test gas inlet and is at least partly made of glass. The radiation source is arranged outside the housing and irradiates the cathode through the housing glass. The radiation source substantially emits a radiation of a wavelength of more than 400 nm and less than 1,400 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Inficon GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Wetzig, Ludolf Gerdau
  • Publication number: 20090314052
    Abstract: Usually, a sniffing leak detector must be calibrated for each tracing gas. The calibration comprises ranging of the spectral positions into the mass spectrum and the amplitude height. At least one mass line is determined with a calibrating gas. The mass lines lying between two mass lines and/or between a zero point and a line are determined by interpolation and/or extrapolation. In this manner, a sniffing leak detector can be used for such tracing gases which have not previously been used for calibration purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventors: Norbert Rolff, Randolf Paul Rolff, Ludolf Gerdau
  • Publication number: 20080142710
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cold cathode pressure sensor comprising a gastight housing having a test gas inlet, an anode and a cathode arranged in said housing, and a radiation source directed to said cathode for igniting a cold cathode discharge. Said housing is at least partly made of glass. Said radiation source is arranged outside said housing and irradiates said cathode through the housing glass. Said radiation source substantially emits a radiation of a wavelength of more than 350 nm and less than 1,400 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: Inficon GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Wetzig, Ludolf Gerdau
  • Patent number: 7331216
    Abstract: A leak rate measuring device contains a strip spectrometer in which the ion path of the respective gas is influenced by at least one variable influencing quantity. When a gas having a predetermined mass is detected, and leakages of a gas having other predetermined masses interfere with this detection due to lack of selectivity of the spectrometer, the influencing quantity is modulated in a sinusoidal manner, and the wanted signal is subsequently selected in a lock-in amplifier. This modulation enables, for example, the elimination of the interfering influence of underground water during the leak rate measurement while using helium as a test gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Inficon GmbH
    Inventors: Ludolf Gerdau, Randolf Rolff, Ralf Kilian
  • Publication number: 20060283235
    Abstract: A leak rate measuring device contains a strip spectrometer in which the ion path of the respective gas is influenced by at least one variable influencing quantity. When a gas having a predetermined mass is detected, and leakages of a gas having other predetermined masses interfere with this detection due to lack of selectivity of the spectrometer, the influencing quantity is modulated in a sinusoidal manner, and the wanted signal is subsequently selected in a lock-in amplifier. This modulation enables, for example, the elimination of the interfering influence of underground water during the leak rate measurement while using helium as a test gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Publication date: December 21, 2006
    Inventors: Ludolf Gerdau, Randolf Rolff, Ralf Killian