Patents by Inventor Markus Haenni
Markus Haenni 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).
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Patent number: 11920569Abstract: An energy storage and delivery system includes an elevator operable to move blocks from a lower elevation to a higher elevation to store energy and from a higher elevation to a lower elevation to generate electricity. A winch assembly is movably coupled to a cable that is coupled to the elevator. The winch assembly has planetary gear assemblies, brakes that selectively engage at least a portion of the planetary gear assemblies, and a spool coupled to the cable. A drive shaft extends between a motor-generator and the winch assembly. A brake is operable so that the spool rotates to reel-in the cable to raise the elevator to move a block from a lower elevation to a higher elevation to store energy or so that the spool rotates to reel-out the cable to lower the elevator to move a block from a higher elevation to a lower elevation to generate electricity.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2023Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: Energy Vault, Inc.Inventors: Andrea Pedretti, Roland Markus Hänni
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Publication number: 20230151799Abstract: An energy storage and delivery system includes an elevator operable to move blocks from a lower elevation to a higher elevation to store energy and from a higher elevation to a lower elevation to generate electricity. A winch assembly is movably coupled to a cable that is coupled to the elevator. The winch assembly has planetary gear assemblies, brakes that selectively engage at least a portion of the planetary gear assemblies, and a spool coupled to the cable. A drive shaft extends between a motor-generator and the winch assembly. A brake is operable so that the spool rotates to reel-in the cable to raise the elevator to move a block from a lower elevation to a higher elevation to store energy or so that the spool rotates to reel-out the cable to lower the elevator to move a block from a higher elevation to a lower elevation to generate electricity.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2023Publication date: May 18, 2023Inventors: Andrea Pedretti, Roland Markus Hänni
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Patent number: 11555484Abstract: An energy storage and delivery system includes an elevator operable to move blocks from a lower elevation to a higher elevation to store energy and from a higher elevation to a lower elevation to generate electricity. A winch assembly is movably coupled to a cable that is coupled to the elevator. The winch assembly has planetary gear assemblies, brakes that selectively engage at least a portion of the planetary gear assemblies, and a spool coupled to the cable. A drive shaft extends between a motor-generator and the winch assembly. A brake is operable so that the spool rotates to reel-in the cable to raise the elevator to move a block from a lower elevation to a higher elevation to store energy or so that the spool rotates to reel-out the cable to lower the elevator to move a block from a higher elevation to a lower elevation to generate electricity.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2022Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignee: Energy Vault, Inc.Inventors: Andrea Pedretti, Roland Markus Hänni
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Patent number: 11525437Abstract: An energy storage and delivery system includes an elevator operable to move blocks from a lower elevation to a higher elevation to store energy and from a higher elevation to a lower elevation to generate electricity. A winch assembly is movably coupled to a cable that is coupled to the elevator. The winch assembly has planetary gear assemblies, brakes that selectively engage at least a portion of the planetary gear assemblies, and a spool coupled to the cable. A drive shaft extends between a motor-generator and the winch assembly. A brake is operable so that the spool rotates to reel-in the cable to raise the elevator to move a block from a lower elevation to a higher elevation to store energy or so that the spool rotates to reel-out the cable to lower the elevator to move a block from a higher elevation to a lower elevation to generate electricity.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2022Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: Energy Vault, Inc.Inventors: Andrea Pedretti, Roland Markus Hänni
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Publication number: 20220333577Abstract: An energy storage and delivery system includes an elevator operable to move blocks from a lower elevation to a higher elevation to store energy and from a higher elevation to a lower elevation to generate electricity. A winch assembly is movably coupled to a cable that is coupled to the elevator. The winch assembly has planetary gear assemblies, brakes that selectively engage at least a portion of the planetary gear assemblies, and a spool coupled to the cable. A drive shaft extends between a motor-generator and the winch assembly. A brake is operable so that the spool rotates to reel-in the cable to raise the elevator to move a block from a lower elevation to a higher elevation to store energy or so that the spool rotates to reel-out the cable to lower the elevator to move a block from a higher elevation to a lower elevation to generate electricity.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2022Publication date: October 20, 2022Inventors: Andrea Pedretti, Roland Markus Hänni
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Publication number: 20220243701Abstract: An energy storage and delivery system includes an elevator operable to move blocks from a lower elevation to a higher elevation to store energy and from a higher elevation to a lower elevation to generate electricity. A winch assembly is movably coupled to a cable that is coupled to the elevator. The winch assembly has planetary gear assemblies, brakes that selectively engage at least a portion of the planetary gear assemblies, and a spool coupled to the cable. A drive shaft extends between a motor-generator and the winch assembly. A brake is operable so that the spool rotates to reel-in the cable to raise the elevator to move a block from a lower elevation to a higher elevation to store energy or so that the spool rotates to reel-out the cable to lower the elevator to move a block from a higher elevation to a lower elevation to generate electricity.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2022Publication date: August 4, 2022Inventors: Andrea Pedretti, Roland Markus Hänni
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Publication number: 20220209537Abstract: An energy storage and delivery system includes an elevator, where the elevator is operable to move one or more blocks from a lower elevation to a higher elevation to store energy (e.g., via the potential energy of the block in the higher elevation) and operable to move one or more blocks from a higher elevation to a lower elevation (e.g., by gravity) to generate electricity (e.g., via the kinetic energy of the block when moved to the lower elevation). The energy storage system can, for example, store electricity generated from solar power as potential energy in the stacked blocks during daytime hours when solar power is available, and can convert the potential energy in the stacked blocks into electricity during nighttime hours when solar energy is not available, and deliver the converted electricity to the electrical grid.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2021Publication date: June 30, 2022Inventors: Andrea Pedretti, Roland Markus Hänni
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Patent number: 9888930Abstract: The invention relates to an aiming device (15) for the placement of Kirschner-wires in orthopedics/traumatology. The aiming device (15) comprises an adjustable aiming block (10) which is displaceably attached to a forceps (20). The fixation of the aiming device at the bone (30) can be varied by clamping the forceps (20) more or less strongly. The aiming block (10) can be displaced to the periost (31) and be fixed. The aiming device (15) according to the invention allows the alignment of the guidance (2) of the Kirschner-wire (1) about an axis of rotation (12). Before the Kirschner-wire (1) is inserted in the bone (30) its position and direction can be intraoperatively represented and aligned in at least two non-parallel planes of projection (P1, P2) by means of fluoroscopy and/or navigation. Repeated drilling and mistaken positioning of the Kirschner-wire (1) can so be avoided. Thus, allowing to reduce the time of operation and the exposure of the patient to radiation.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2017Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: DEPUY SYNTHES PRODUCTS, INC.Inventors: Markus Hänni, Peter Toggwiler, Norbert Suhm
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Publication number: 20170258479Abstract: The invention relates to an aiming device (15) for the placement of Kirschner-wires in orthopaedics/traumatology. The aiming device (15) comprises an adjustable aiming block (10) which is displaceably attached to a forceps (20). The fixation of the aiming device at the bone (30) can be varied by clamping the forceps (20) more or less strongly. The aiming block (10) can be displaced to the periost (31) and be fixed. The aiming device (15) according to the invention allows the alignment of the guidance (2) of the Kirschner-wire (1) about an axis of rotation (12). Before the Kirschner-wire (1) is inserted in the bone (30) its position and direction can be intraoperatively represented and aligned in at least two non-parallel planes of projection (P1, P2) by means of fluoroscopy and/or navigation. Repeated drilling and mistaken positioning of the Kirschner-wire (1) can so be avoided. Thus, allowing to reduce the time of operation and the exposure of the patient to radiation.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2017Publication date: September 14, 2017Inventors: Markus HÄNNI, Peter TOGGWILER, Norbert SUHM
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Patent number: 9687258Abstract: An aiming device for insertion of a Kirschner-wire to treat a target bone, comprises an aiming block permitting placement of a Kirschner-wire against the target bone and a forceps connected to the aiming block, the forceps being configured to clamp to the target bone.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2006Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: DEPUY SYNTHES PRODUCTS, INC.Inventors: Markus Hänni, Peter Toggwiler, Norbert Suhm
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Patent number: 8051720Abstract: Method and device for determining the local mechanical resistance inside of a porous body having a variable density and/or porosity, in particular inside of a porous bone structure comprising the following steps: selecting a site of said porous body destined to receive a fixation element, in particular a screw or a bone implant; drilling a hole into said porous body; and measuring a mechanical parameter of the porous structure surrounding said drilled hole by inserting a suitable tool (1) into said drill hole.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2006Date of Patent: November 8, 2011Assignee: AO Technology AGInventors: Ronald Schwyn, Markus Haenni, Norbert Suhm
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Publication number: 20090299416Abstract: An aiming device for insertion of a Kirschner-wire to treat a target bone, comprises an aiming block permitting placement of a Kirschner-wire against the target bone and a forceps connected to the aiming block, the forceps being configured to clamp to the target bone.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2006Publication date: December 3, 2009Inventors: Markus Hänni, Peter Toggwiler, Norbert Suhm
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Publication number: 20080300510Abstract: Method and device for determining the local mechanical resistance inside of a porous body having a variable density and/or porosity, in particular inside of a porous bone structure comprising the following steps: selecting a site of said porous body destined to receive a fixation element, in particular a screw or a bone implant; drilling a hole into said porous body; and measuring a mechanical parameter of the porous structure surrounding said drilled hole by inserting a suitable tool (1) into said drill hole.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2006Publication date: December 4, 2008Applicant: AO TECHNOLOGY AGInventors: Ronald Schwyn, Markus Haenni, Norbert Suhm