Patents by Inventor Luis Hoffmann

Luis Hoffmann 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).

  • Woven fiber structure maintenance during thermoplastic polymer dissolution
    Patent number: 12612504
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to composite recycling and provide a novel and non-obvious dissolution tank, recycling system and recycling process adapted for the separation of fibers during composite dissolution. In an embodiment of the invention, a dissolution tank adapted for composite dissolution and fiber separation includes a tank, a pair of opposing perforated structures disposed within the tank, an actuator coupled to the perforated structures and configured to drive the pair of structures towards one another, and a control system programmed to direct the actuator to drive the structures towards one another responsive to a determination that a composite part disposed between the structures is transforming from a rigid state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2026
    Assignee: FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FÖRDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V.
    Inventors: Martin Schlummer, Luis Hoffmann
  • WOVEN FIBER STRUCTURE MAINTENANCE DURING THERMOPLASTIC POLYMER DISSOLUTION
    Publication number: 20230257547
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to composite recycling and provide a novel and non-obvious dissolution tank, recycling system and recycling process adapted for the separation of fibers during composite dissolution. In an embodiment of the invention, a dissolution tank adapted for composite dissolution and fiber separation includes a tank, a pair of opposing perforated structures disposed within the tank, an actuator coupled to the perforated structures and configured to drive the pair of structures towards one another, and a control system programmed to direct the actuator to drive the structures towards one another responsive to a determination that a composite part disposed between the structures is transforming from a rigid state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
    Inventors: Martin Schlummer, Luis Hoffmann