Patents by Inventor Michael A. Zielinski

Michael A. Zielinski 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: 9784120
    Abstract: A turbomachine stage, in particular a turbine stage or compressor stage of a gas turbine, is disclosed. The turbomachine stage has a, in particular conical, housing in which a rotor blade arrangement having a plurality of rotor blades is disposed which have an outer shroud having at least one radial sealing flange. The sealing flange has a recess arrangement having at least one radial recess in which a radial projection is disposed, in particular centrally. A sensor arrangement having at least one capacitive sensor for detecting a radial distance from a circumferential surface of the sealing flange is disposed on the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines AG
    Inventors: Michael Zielinski, Andreas Zeisberger, Rene Schneider
  • Patent number: 9259995
    Abstract: An energy absorber for improving passenger safety in a vehicle during an impact to the vehicle, the energy absorber comprising a hollow body having a base defining a proximal end of the body, the base being configured to affix the body to a portion of the vehicle, the body further including a sidewall extending from the base and terminating in a distal end of the body, the sidewall having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface including a portion defining an interior step transition, the exterior surface including a portion defining an exterior step transition, the interior and exterior step transitions being provided at locations axially offset from each other along the sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Steinbrecher, Michael G. Morrison, Michael Zielinski
  • Publication number: 20150123426
    Abstract: An energy absorber for improving passenger safety in a vehicle during an impact to the vehicle, the energy absorber comprising a hollow body having a base defining a proximal end of the body, the base being configured to affix the body to a portion of the vehicle, the body further including a sidewall extending from the base and terminating in a distal end of the body, the sidewall having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface including a portion defining an interior step transition, the exterior surface including a portion defining an exterior step transition, the interior and exterior step transitions being provided at locations axially offset from each other along the sidewall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Steinbrecher, Michael G. Morrison, Michael Zielinski
  • Publication number: 20140348632
    Abstract: A turbomachine stage, in particular a turbine stage or compressor stage of a gas turbine, is disclosed. The turbomachine stage has a, in particular conical, housing in which a rotor blade arrangement having a plurality of rotor blades is disposed which have an outer shroud having at least one radial sealing flange. The sealing flange has a recess arrangement having at least one radial recess in which a radial projection is disposed, in particular centrally. A sensor arrangement having at least one capacitive sensor for detecting a radial distance from a circumferential surface of the sealing flange is disposed on the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: MTU Aero Engines AG
    Inventors: Michael Zielinski, Andreas Zeisberger, Rene Schneider
  • Publication number: 20140288951
    Abstract: An example Internet-based system involves a database and search capabilities for connecting patients with healthcare providers, and further enables such providers to reach patients with whom they may not otherwise come into contact. A patient may access the healthcare provider information through a search conducted using a search engine. Alternatively, a patient may access the company website's predetermined web page that provides search capabilities on its database. A patient may research a healthcare provider based on criteria specified by the patient. Information provided to the patient may be in the form of a report or profile, including healthcare provider verified information, information verified by an independent third party, and patient provided information. The patient provided information may be in the form of endorsements from former patients that identify skill areas that are areas of strength for the healthcare providers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventor: Michael A. Zielinski
  • Patent number: 8608220
    Abstract: Disclosed is a separating panel assembly for a vehicle with a rear trunk. An opening is defined in a portion of a separating panel and an access chute is located adjacent to the opening and leads into the trunk. A trunk release handle is located relative to the access chute such that the access chute guides a hand inserted from the passenger compartment through the opening to the trunk release handle. The opening is further located behind a foldable armrest when the armrest is folded up. A movable cover may be provided to cover the opening and reduce air flow between the trunk and the passenger compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory T. Donovan, Michael A. Zielinski, Shotaro Tani, Charles P. Patterson
  • Patent number: 8560266
    Abstract: The invention relates to a turbomachine having a rotor (10) comprising rotor blades (12), having a rotor housing (16) which surrounds at least sections of the rotor (10) or the rotor blade (12) so as to form a rotor gap (d), and having a gap-measuring system (18) which is coupled to a capacitive sensor device (20) having an electrode and a counterelectrode for determining measured capacitance values (C) which characterize the rotor gap (d), wherein the rotor (10) or the rotor blades (12) is/are connected as the electrode of the sensor device (20), wherein at least part (22) of the rotor housing (16) is connected as the counterelectrode. The invention also relates to a gap-measuring system (18) and to a method for determining a rotor gap (d) between a rotor (10) comprising rotor blades (12) and a rotor housing (16) of a turbomachine, which rotor housing surrounds at least sections of the rotor (10) or the rotor blades (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines AG
    Inventor: Michael Zielinski
  • Publication number: 20130257079
    Abstract: Disclosed is a separating panel assembly for a vehicle with a rear trunk. An opening is defined in a portion of a separating panel and an access chute is located adjacent to the opening and leads into the trunk. A trunk release handle is located relative to the access chute such that the access chute guides a hand inserted from the passenger compartment through the opening to the trunk release handle. The opening is further located behind a foldable armrest when the armrest is folded up. A movable cover may be provided to cover the opening and reduce air flow between the trunk and the passenger compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: Gregory T. Donovan, Michael A. Zielinski, Shotaro Tani, Charles P. Patterson
  • Patent number: 8225671
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for non-contact blade vibration measurement is disclosed. The apparatus and method includes sensors which are arranged around the circumference of a rotor which is formed with rotor blades, a signal detection unit, and an evaluation unit. Devices are provided to determine the rotor position and/or the housing deformation. This avoids the technical problems of the prior art, and provides an improved apparatus and an improved method for non-contact blade vibration measurement. In particular, the attainment according to the invention eliminates the effect of rotor radial movements and housing deformations, i.e., oval deformations, on the measurement data, thereby ensuring high amplitude resolution for the vibration analysis under all conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Zielinski, Gerhard Ziller
  • Patent number: 8138753
    Abstract: A measurement system for detecting a rotary movement of a rotor that is situated in particular in rotatable fashion in a compressor housing of a jet engine, includes the rotor having vane elements that are preferably situated equidistant from one another on its periphery, and in addition at least one sensor being provided, and at least one material measure being fashioned on the rotor that can be periodically detected by the sensor due to the rotational movement, the material measure is formed by at least one modified vane element that is truncated in the area of the vane tip, the sensor outputting an identical measurement signal in each case when the vane elements travel past, and outputting a modified measurement signal when the modified vane element travels past.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Eberl, Michael Zielinski, Gerhard Ziller
  • Publication number: 20110213569
    Abstract: A detection device for detecting cracks in compressor blades, having non-contacting sensors distributed in several planes and disposed in the vicinity of the rotor detects cycle times of blades at the sensors and/or relative and absolute changes in a gap width between a blade and the compressor housing. The captured data are compared to corresponding reference data in a memory device and analyzed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: MTU AERO ENGINES GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Zielinski, Gerhard Ziller
  • Publication number: 20100268509
    Abstract: The invention relates to a turbomachine having a rotor (10) comprising rotor blades (12), having a rotor housing (16) which surrounds at least sections of the rotor (10) or the rotor blade (12) so as to form a rotor gap (d), and having a gap-measuring system (18) which is coupled to a capacitive sensor device (20) having an electrode and a counterelectrode for determining measured capacitance values (C) which characterize the rotor gap (d), wherein the rotor (10) or the rotor blades (12) is/are connected as the electrode of the sensor device (20), wherein at least part (22) of the rotor housing (16) is connected as the counterelectrode. The invention also relates to a gap-measuring system (18) and to a method for determining a rotor gap (d) between a rotor (10) comprising rotor blades (12) and a rotor housing (16) of a turbomachine, which rotor housing surrounds at least sections of the rotor (10) or the rotor blades (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventor: Michael Zielinski
  • Patent number: 7792419
    Abstract: A plurality of LED's, or electro luminescent strips, are disposed to project illumination to and thru, or towards, a diffuser; resulting in at least a portion of generated diffuse illumination being directed towards and upon the cylindrical surface of an article or part when disposed at an article illumination location. The article illumination location is established so that a centerline through the article is co-linear with a center line of the diffuse illumination projecting from, or reflected from, the diffusers. A housing may be provided for the LED's, electro luminescent strips and diffusers; or they may be otherwise arranged to coact to provide diffuse illumination directed towards the cylindrical surface of the part or other article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Microscan Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Sheila Bergeron Dunn, Joseph Marcel La Flamme, Michael C. Messina, Michael Zielinski
  • Publication number: 20100089166
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for non-contact blade vibration measurement is disclosed. The apparatus and method includes sensors which are arranged around the circumference of a rotor which is formed with rotor blades, a signal detection unit, and an evaluation unit. Devices are provided to determine the rotor position and/or the housing deformation. This avoids the technical problems of the prior art, and provides an improved apparatus and an improved method for non-contact blade vibration measurement. In particular, the attainment according to the invention eliminates the effect of rotor radial movements and housing deformations, i.e., oval deformations, on the measurement data, thereby ensuring high amplitude resolution for the vibration analysis under all conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Zielinski, Gerhard Ziller
  • Publication number: 20100033707
    Abstract: A method for repairing turbine blades by replacing at least a part of the blade profile, the method having: a) manufacture of a replacement blade part; b) separation of the damaged area with a standardized cutting plane, leaving behind a remaining blade; c) matching of the replacement blade part to the actual geometry of the remaining blade; d) connecting or joining of the replacement blade part to the remaining blade by soldering of at least one web and welding of an outer contour.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventors: Christof Gerlach, Michael Zielinski
  • Patent number: 7644984
    Abstract: A cover conceals a portion of a gap formed between an adjacent pair of seat backs of a motor vehicle seat assembly. The cover includes a substantially rigid portion and a substantially flexible portion. The flexible portion of the cover has first and second flanges that extend outwardly from opposite sides of the substantially rigid portion for concealing a portion of the gap between the seat backs of the seat assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: George M. Chalhoub, Vikas Bhatia, Michael A. Zielinski, Michael J. Sweers, Hideki Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20090256556
    Abstract: A measurement system for detecting a rotary movement of a rotor that is situated in particular in rotatable fashion in a compressor housing of a jet engine, includes the rotor having vane elements that are preferably situated equidistant from one another on its periphery, and in addition at least one sensor being provided, and at least one material measure being fashioned on the rotor that can be periodically detected by the sensor due to the rotational movement, the material measure is forned by at least one modified vane element that is truncated in the area of the vane tip, the sensor outputting an identical measurement signal in each case when the vane elements travel past, and outputting a modified measurement signal when the modified vane element travels past.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2007
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Inventors: Johann Eberl, Michael Zielinski, Gerhard Zilleer
  • Publication number: 20090179472
    Abstract: A cover conceals a portion of a gap formed between an adjacent pair of seat backs of a motor vehicle seat assembly. The cover includes a substantially rigid portion and a substantially flexible portion. The flexible portion of the cover has first and second flanges that extend outwardly from opposite sides of the substantially rigid portion for concealing a portion of the gap between the seat backs of the seat assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: George M. Chalhoub, Vikas Bhatia, Michael A. Zielinski, Michael J. Sweers, Hideki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7398701
    Abstract: A device is described for determining the torque which is applied to a turbine shaft (10), the determination device having at least one system for contactless measurement of the integral torsion of the turbine shaft (10) and a unit for contactless measurement of the restoring constant of the turbine shaft (10). Furthermore, a method is described for determining the torque which is applied to the low-pressure turbine shaft (10) of a turbine engine, which is distinguished in that, to determine the torque, the integral torsion of the turbine shaft is measured by a contactless method and the restoring constant of the turbine shaft is measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Zielinski
  • Publication number: 20070182230
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat cushion and a seat back. The seat back is pivotally coupled to the seat cushion for movement between a generally upright seating position and a folded flat position overlying the seat cushion. The seat back has a front seating surface and an opposite back surface. The back surface has a console with at least one compartment with a hinged lid for storing objects therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: Toyota Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Vikas Bhatia, Hamshivraj S. Dhamrat, Robert C. Day, Masroor Fahim, Bill Deming, Michael A. Zielinski, George M. Chalhoub