Patents by Inventor Martin Wetzel

Martin Wetzel 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: 10433705
    Abstract: A dishwasher rack for a dish washing appliance. The dishwasher rack may be positionable between a stowed position and a deployed position. A motor may drive the dishwasher rack. The motor may be coupled to the dishwasher rack by a rack and pinion, a worm screw, and/or the like. The dishwasher rack may be in a manual configuration and/or automatic configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mark W. Wilson, Timothy Martin Wetzel
  • Publication number: 20190286171
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a valve device comprising: a valve; a flow channel in the valve; a first sensor configured to record a first signal indicative of local fluid velocity in the flow channel; a second sensor configured to record a second signal indicative of a temperature of a fluid in the flow channel; and a control unit configured to determine a flow rate through the valve based on the first signal the second signal. The second sensor is moveably arranged in the flow channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Martin Wetzel, Mike Schmanau, Sven Oßwald, Steffen Glöckle
  • Patent number: 10368718
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes a modular docking system supporting the docking of one or more spray containers at various locations within a dishwasher. Each spray container includes a container body capable of retaining utensils along with one or more nozzles supplied with fluid by the modular docking system to direct a spray of fluid at utensils retained by the container body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mark W. Wilson, Timothy Martin Wetzel
  • Publication number: 20190226591
    Abstract: A valve may include: a valve body; a valve member in the body, movable between closed and open, comprising a first orifice, a second orifice, a main conduit between them, and a bypass in fluid communication with the main conduit. The bypass includes a first portion with a first cross-section area and a second portion with a second cross-section area different from the first cross-section area. The valve body comprises a compensation chamber having a compensation orifice. The bypass comprises an outer bypass orifice defined by and disposed on the outer surface of the valve member. The valve member comprises an internal orifice situated between the bypass and the main conduit. In the closed position, the inlet is in fluid communication with the compensation chamber via the outer bypass orifice, the bypass, the internal orifice of the valve member, the main conduit, the first orifice, and the compensation orifice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Applicant: Siemens Schweiz
    Inventors: Rolf Kunzmann, Martin Wetzel
  • Patent number: 10342409
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes a drinkware spray container capable of directing a spray of fluid against one or more drinkware articles retained by the spray container. The drinkware spray container may be configured as a cup tree including a vertical member or trunk and a plurality of branches that extend from the trunk and support a drinkware article, with nozzles disposed on the branches to direct a spray of fluid into the supported drinkware articles. The drinkware spray container may also be configured as a drinkware basket including a container body defining one or more compartments along with one or more spray members capable of directing a spray of fluid onto interior surfaces of drinkware article retained within the container body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mark W. Wilson, Timothy Martin Wetzel, Christopher G. Hoppe
  • Patent number: 10299657
    Abstract: A dishwasher rack for a dish washing appliance. The dishwasher rack may be positionable between a variety of height positions. A drive mechanism may assist the dishwasher rack between the vertical positions. A worm screw may be coupled to a motor and may be positioned within the dishwasher tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Midea Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mark W. Wilson, Timothy Martin Wetzel
  • Publication number: 20190117038
    Abstract: A dishwasher rack for a dish washing appliance. The dishwasher rack may be positionable between a stowed position and a deployed position. A motor may drive the dishwasher rack. The motor may be coupled to the dishwasher rack by a rack and pinion, a worm screw, and/or the like. The dishwasher rack may be in a manual configuration and/or automatic configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Mark W. Wilson, Timothy Martin Wetzel
  • Publication number: 20190099054
    Abstract: A method and dishwasher utilize one or more tubular spray elements that are both rotatable about longitudinal axes thereof and discretely directable by one or more tubular spray element drives between a plurality of rotational positions about the longitudinal axes thereof. Thus, through the provision of discretely directable tubular spray elements, fluid such as wash fluid and/or pressurized air may be focused in a wash tub, in many cases providing more efficient resource usage in the dishwasher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Robert M. Digman, Mark W. Wilson, Timothy Martin Wetzel
  • Publication number: 20190017627
    Abstract: An example control unit may include: a processor; an output device; a valve element; an actuator; and a sensor for the position of the valve element. The valve cycles and the processor records a first signal to measure a position of the valve element. The valve cycles and the processor records a second signal to measure a position of the valve element. The processor calculates a degree of wear based on the first value and the second value and the second number of valve cycles. The processor compares the degree of wear to a predefined threshold value and generates an output signal if the degree of wear exceeds the predefined threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellscaft
    Inventors: Armin Wiegand, Martin Wetzel, Rainer Lochschmied, Thomas Gnoss
  • Patent number: 10159398
    Abstract: A dishwasher rack for a dish washing appliance. The dishwasher rack may be positionable between a stowed position and a deployed position. A motor may drive the dishwasher rack. The motor may be coupled to the dishwasher rack by a rack and pinion, a worm screw, and/or the like. The dishwasher rack may be in a manual configuration and/or automatic configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Midea Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mark W. Wilson, Timothy Martin Wetzel
  • Patent number: 10048160
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for diagnosing a valve assembly having valve members serially arranged along a flow channel of the valve assembly connecting at least one inlet and at least one outlet of the valve assembly. All of the serially arranged valve members of the valve assembly are opended to allow fluid to flow through the flow channel. The flow of fluid through the flow channel is measured by at least one sensor. At least one of the valve members is openend, and at least one sensor checks for fluid leakage caused by at least one faulted valve member. The at least one sensor may include a flow sensor, e.g., a mass flow sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Thomas Gnoss, Michael Heger, Rainer Lochschmied, Anton Pallek, Mike Schmanau, Bernd Schmiederer, Martin Wetzel, Armin Wiegand
  • Publication number: 20180177378
    Abstract: A dishwasher rack for a dish washing appliance. The dishwasher rack may be positionable between a variety of height positions. A drive mechanism may assist the dishwasher rack between the vertical positions. A worm screw may be coupled to a motor and may be positioned within the dishwasher tub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Mark W. Wilson, Timothy Martin Wetzel
  • Publication number: 20180177380
    Abstract: A dishwasher rack for a dish washing appliance. The dishwasher rack may be positionable between a stowed position and a deployed position. A motor may drive the dishwasher rack. The motor may be coupled to the dishwasher rack by a rack and pinion, a worm screw, and/or the like. The dishwasher rack may be in a manual configuration and/or automatic configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Mark W. WIlson, Timothy Martin Wetzel
  • Publication number: 20180168428
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes a modular docking system supporting the docking of one or more spray containers at various locations within a dishwasher. Each spray container includes a container body capable of retaining utensils along with one or more nozzles supplied with fluid by the modular docking system to direct a spray of fluid at utensils retained by the container body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Mark W. Wilson, Timothy Martin Wetzel
  • Publication number: 20180168430
    Abstract: A dishwasher and silverware basket therefor include an interior sprayer integrated into the silverware basket and capable of directing a spray of fluid within one or more compartments of the silverware basket to assist in cleaning utensils such as silverware, cutlery, etc. housed within the silverware basket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Mark W. Wilson, Timothy Martin Wetzel
  • Publication number: 20180168425
    Abstract: A method and a dishwasher utilize a dock detection system to determine when a connector of a spray device is docked to a docking port provided on a manifold of the dishwasher. A dock detector is coupled to the docking port and is electrically coupled to a controller of the dishwasher through electrical conductors that extend along the manifold, thereby enabling a dishwasher controller to detect when spray devices are coupled to the manifold, e.g., to optimize a wash cycle to use a particular spray device docked to the docking port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Mark W. Wilson, Timothy Martin Wetzel
  • Publication number: 20180168426
    Abstract: A method and dishwasher utilize a spray basket that includes a container body that defines a compartment for retaining utensils as well as multiple sets of nozzles, a portion of which are configured to direct a spray of fluid into the compartment, and another portion of which are configured to direct a spray of fluid external from the container body. The spray of fluid directed external from the container body may be used, for example, to provide a power wash zone adjacent to the spray basket to assist in cleaning other utensils in a dishwasher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Mark W. Wilson, Timothy Martin Wetzel, Scott A. Stinebruner
  • Publication number: 20180168427
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes a drinkware spray container capable of directing a spray of fluid against one or more drinkware articles retained by the spray container. The drinkware spray container may be configured as a cup tree including a vertical member or trunk and a plurality of branches that extend from the trunk and support a drinkware article, with nozzles disposed on the branches to direct a spray of fluid into the supported drinkware articles. The drinkware spray container may also be configured as a drinkware basket including a container body defining one or more compartments along with one or more spray members capable of directing a spray of fluid onto interior surfaces of drinkware article retained within the container body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Mark W. Wilson, Timothy Martin Wetzel, Christopher G. Hoppe
  • Patent number: 9895046
    Abstract: A dishwasher rack for a dish washing appliance. The dishwasher rack may be positionable between a variety of height positions. A drive mechanism may assist the dishwasher rack between the vertical positions. A worm screw may be coupled to a motor and may be positioned within the dishwasher tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Midea Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mark W. Wilson, Timothy Martin Wetzel
  • Publication number: 20160377145
    Abstract: The invention relates to shaft (1) with adjustable stiffness, wherein at least one torsion bar (2), which is surrounded by a tubular sleeve (3), is arranged between a first shaft attachment (8) and a second shaft attachment (15), wherein at least one shaft attachment (8) is arranged at a first end (2a) of the torsion bar (2), and wherein preferably at least one first damping element (4a, 4b, 4c) is arranged between the tubular sleeve (3) and the torsion bar (2), wherein the tubular sleeve (3) can be connected in a rotationally fixed and releasable manner at at least one end (11, 16) to the torsion (2) bar by means of at least one connection element (10, 20, 30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Applicant: AVL LIST GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Wetzel, Joachim Schmidt