Patents by Inventor Martin Eckhard

Martin 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: 9815263
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a thin film structural system including a thin film structure includes depositing a reinforcing material in a liquid form in a predefined pattern on a thin film membrane, and transforming the reinforcing material in the predefined pattern to form a reinforcing element connected to the thin film membrane. The reinforcing material may be deposited in a melted form and solidified by cooling, may be transformed by a light or laser induced chemical reaction, or may be deposited and solidified such that the reinforcing element is at least partially embedded in the thin film membrane. The predefined pattern may redistribute loads around a damaged portion of the thin film structure, or define a hinge, a folding line, a stiffening feature. The reinforcing element may be electrically, optically or thermally conductive, to communicate with a device included in the system. The system may be a space structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF NASA
    Inventors: Wendell Keith Belvin, David W. Sleight, John W. Connell, Thomas J. Burns, Nancy M. H. Holloway, Frank L. Palmieri, Gary A. Wainwright, Robert C. Andrews, Martin Eckhard Zander
  • Publication number: 20120177892
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a thin film structural system including a thin film structure includes depositing a reinforcing material in a liquid form in a predefined pattern on a thin film membrane, and transforming the reinforcing material in the predefined pattern to form a reinforcing element connected to the thin film membrane. The reinforcing material may be deposited in a melted form and solidified by cooling, may be transformed by a light or laser induced chemical reaction, or may be deposited and solidified such that the reinforcing element is at least partially embedded in the thin film membrane. The predefined pattern may redistribute loads around a damaged portion of the thin film structure, or define a hinge, a folding line, a stiffening feature. The reinforcing element may be electrically, optically or thermally conductive, to communicate with a device included in the system. The system may be a space structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: U.S.A. as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Wendell Keith Belvin, David W. Sleight, John W. Connell, Thomas J. Burns, Nancy M.H. Holloway, Frank L. Palmieri, Gary A. Wainwright, Robert C. Andrews, Martin Eckhard Zander
  • Patent number: 4930437
    Abstract: Formed on the doctor element, between a chamber mouth and the paper web respectively the backing roll supporting it, is an application space which relative to the doctor element, that is, on the entrance side of the paper web, is defined by a baffle plate and kept at a pressure which exceeds atmospheric pressure. Between the baffle plate, this application space 2 is subdivided toward the doctor element (coating blade) 1, creating between the end of the vane 2 and the coating blade 1 a gap whose width ranges between 4 mm and 10 mm. This makes it possible to produce a flawless coating application also in the case of very light basis application weights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1990
    Assignee: J.M. Voith GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Eckhard