Patents by Inventor Michael Niederer
Michael Niederer 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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Publication number: 20240407132Abstract: An electric heating device includes an electronics housing with a partition wall which separates a connection chamber from a heating chamber for emitting heat to a medium to be heated, and a fluid housing which delimits the heating chamber. At least one PTC heating device is connected to the heating chamber in a thermally conductive manner and is electrically connected in the connection chamber. A control device is located, at least in part, in the connection chamber and includes a circuit breaker that bears against a channel base. The channel base is located outside the heating chamber and is formed by the partition wall. The channel base, together with a channel top, forms a channel through which the medium can flow. This eliminates the need for complex heat sinks or the like, and the waste heat from the circuit breaker can be used to heat the medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2024Publication date: December 5, 2024Inventor: Michael Niederer
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Patent number: 12089298Abstract: A heat-generating element of an electric heating device includes a PTC element, conductor tracks abutting surfaces of the PTC element, and an adhesive which connects the conductor tracks to the PTC element. The conductor track has several contact projections which protrude from an abutment surface of the conductor tracks. The contact projections form a contact surface which abuts the surface in an electrically conductive manner with a free space between the surface and the abutment surface, in which the adhesive is accommodated. Also disclosed is a method in which the contact projections are formed from initially planar conductor track, an adhesive is applied to the abutment surface between the contact projections, a masking covering the contact surfaces is removed, and the conductor track is glued to a PTC element with the adhesive accommodated between the surface and the abutment surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2020Date of Patent: September 10, 2024Assignee: Eberspächer catem GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Ahmad Asafi, Stefan Plewnia, Kai-Fabian Bürkle, Rüdiger Freitag, Michael Niederer, Müge Pilavtepe-Christ
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Patent number: 12052801Abstract: An electric heating device a housing with a partition wall which separates a connection chamber from a heating chamber for dissipating heat and from which at least one PTC heating element with a heating element casing protrudes in the direction toward the heating chamber. At least one PTC element and conductor tracks, electrically connected in the connection chamber for energizing the PTC element with different polarities and connected to the PTC element in an electrically conductive manner, are supported in the heating element casing an insulated manner. For improved support of the PTC heating element, a holding element, engaging around the heating element casing, is connected to the partition wall on its side facing the heating chamber and is connected to the heating element casing. Also disclosed is a method for the manufacture of such an electric heating device.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2020Date of Patent: July 30, 2024Assignee: Eberspächer catem GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Sascha Hort, Michael Niederer
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Publication number: 20240230056Abstract: An optical device usable as a headlight of a motor vehicle has an optical system in the form of a lens and/or a light source which is surrounded by a housing and which is covered by a translucent, in particular transparent, cover which is connected to the housing. To increase the functionality of the optical device, a PTC heating assembly is configured to heat a space between the housing and the cover. The PTC heating assembly includes at least one PTC element and strip conductors that are connected electrically to the PTC element.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2023Publication date: July 11, 2024Inventors: Michael Niederer, Peter Scholz, Kurt Walz, Ralf Lothar Weinand
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Publication number: 20240133535Abstract: An optical device usable as a headlight of a motor vehicle has an optical system in the form of a lens and/or a light source which is surrounded by a housing and which is covered by a translucent, in particular transparent, cover which is connected to the housing. To increase the functionality of the optical device, a PTC heating assembly is configured to heat a space between the housing and the cover. The PTC heating assembly includes at least one PTC element and strip conductors that are connected electrically to the PTC element.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2023Publication date: April 25, 2024Inventors: Michael Niederer, Peter Scholz, Kurt Walz, Ralf Lothar Weinand
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Patent number: 11965675Abstract: An electric heating device includes at least two hollow profile elements which form a fluid channel for a fluid to be heated and, opposite the fluid channel, a heating chamber which is bounded by opposite contact surfaces against which at least one PTC element abuts in a heat-conducting manner. A scalable and easier to assemble electric heating device is achieved by connecting the hollow profile elements to one another by complementary form-fit segments.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2022Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: Eberspächer catem GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Kurt Walz, Michael Niederer
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Patent number: 11943846Abstract: A method for the production of a heat-generating element includes placing in which at least two electrical conductor elements, provided with through holes, onto a film provided with an adhesive mass, pressing the conductor elements against the films such that the mass is forced into the through holes. At least one PTC element is subsequently placed onto one of the conductor elements, and then the other of the conductor elements, together with the film adhering thereto, is placed opposite to the one of the conductor elements onto the PTC element. The invention further relates to a heat-generating element with a PTC element and electrical conductor elements connected thereto in an electrically conductive manner for energizing the PTC element with a different polarity and an electrical insulation that is provided on the outer side thereof with a film and an adhesive mass applied thereto.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2020Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: Eberspächer catem GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Kurt Walz, Michael Niederer
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Patent number: 11912106Abstract: An electric heating device, in particular for a motor vehicle, includes a housing which has an inlet and outlet opening for a medium to be heated and which encloses a layered structure. The layered stricture comprises at least one PTC element which is electrically conductively connected to conducting elements leading to connections of different polarity, and heat-emitting elements that are conductively connected on both sides to the PTC element. In order to provide improved heat dissipation, the heat-emitting elements include a panel element that is provided with perforations and that is made of a heat-conducting material.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2019Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: Eberspächer catem GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Kurt Walz, Michael Niederer, Ahmad Asafi, Patrick Kachelhoffer
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Patent number: 11913676Abstract: A PTC heating element has a casing that joins as a unit at least one PTC element, conductor paths electrically connected to the PTC element, and insulating layers bearing, in a heat-conductive manner against the PTC element. The PTC heating element also has contact strips which project over itself and which are electrically conductively connected to the conductor paths for energizing the PTC element with different polarities. The casing forms a receptacle space that receives the PTC element, the conductor paths, and the insulating layers. In order to improve heat decoupling from the PTC element, the receptacle, in a cross-sectional view, is defined by two oppositely disposed inner surfaces covering the PTC element and concave cavities, adjoining the inner surfaces and forming the longitudinal edges of the casing, the diameter of which is greater than the distance between the inner surfaces. The electric heating device has at least one PTC heating element arranged in a circulation chamber.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2020Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: Eberspächer catem GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Kurt Walz, Michael Niederer, Rüdiger Freitag
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Publication number: 20240015853Abstract: A component of an electric heating device is provided for transferring a waste heat of at least one transistor to a heat carrier (W) surrounding the component. The transistor may be a bipolar transistor with insulated gate electrode (IGBT). The component has a housing of metal, typically aluminum, with an opening for insertion of the transistor in an insertion direction. The housing has, on the inside, at least in sections, opposite walls for the flat, typically indirect, abutment of the transistor.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2023Publication date: January 11, 2024Inventor: Michael Niederer
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Publication number: 20240011667Abstract: An electric heating assembly of an electric heating device includes a metal housing which forms a pocket in which at least one PTC element, contact sheets abutting surfaces of the PTC element and insulating layers which are arranged between the contact sheets and inner surfaces of the pocket. The contact sheets each have contact projections which project in the direction of one of the contact surfaces of the PTC element and are surrounded by an adhesive which connects the contact sheet to the PTC element. In order to improve heat extraction from the electrical contact of the PTC element, front end regions of the contact projections abutting against the PTC element are plastically deformed against the surface of the PTC element. Also disclosed is a method of making a heating device.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2023Publication date: January 11, 2024Inventors: Michael Niederer, Ulrich Lehr, Müge Pilavtepe-Christ, Rüdiger Freitag, Ahmad Asafi
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Patent number: 11856658Abstract: An electric heating device comprised a housing having a partition wall, which separates a connection chamber from a heating chamber for dissipating heat and from which at least one PTC heating element protrudes as a heating rib in the direction toward the heating chamber. The PTC heating device comprises at least one PTC element and conductor tracks that are electrically connected in the connection chamber for energizing the PTC element with different polarities and that are connected to the PTC element in an electrically conductive manner. The heating chamber, in a top view onto the partition wall, has a substantially rectangular base area. The PTC heating devices are arranged obliquely relative to the base area for a more compact configuration of the electric heating device.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2020Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Eberspächer catem GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Michael Niederer, Stefan Plewnia, Ahmad Asafi, Kai-Fabian Bürkle
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Publication number: 20230383994Abstract: An electric heating device comprises a housing having a partition wall, which separates a connection chamber from a heating chamber for dissipating heat and from which PTC heating devices protrude as heating ribs in the direction toward the heating chamber. Each PTC heating device comprises at least one PTC element and conductor tracks that are electrically connected in the connection chamber for energizing the PTC element with different polarities and that are connected to the PTC element in an electrically conductive manner. The heating chamber, in a top view onto the partition wall, has a substantially rectangular base area. The PTC heating devices are arranged obliquely relative to the base area for a more compact configuration of the electric heating device.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2023Publication date: November 30, 2023Inventors: Michael Niederer, Stefan Plewnia, Ahmad Asafi, Kai-Fabian Bürkle
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Patent number: 11723119Abstract: An electric heating device includes a housing having a partition wall which separates a connection chamber from a heating chamber for dissipating heat and from which at least one receiving pocket, protruding into the heating chamber as a heating rib tapering towards its lower, closed end protrudes. A PTC heating element includes at least one PTC element and conductor tracks for energizing the PTC element with different polarities. The conductor tracks are electrically conductively connected to the PTC element and are electrically connected in the connection chamber. A pressure element is received which holds heat extraction surfaces of the PTC element abutted against oppositely disposed inner surfaces of the receiving pocket. The pressure element includes a sheet metal strip which, by punching and bending, forms spring segments protruding from the plane of the sheet metal strip.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2020Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: Eberspächer catem GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Kurt Walz, Michael Niederer, Patrick Kachelhoffer
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Patent number: 11676745Abstract: A PTC heating element has two insulating layers with a metallic coating provided on one side and a PTC element arranged therebetween. The PTC element is provided on oppositely disposed main side surfaces with a respective metallization which is electrically conductively connected to the coating of one of the insulating layers The metallization provided on one of the main side surfaces is assigned only to one potential for energizing the PTC element, and the metallization provided on the other of the main side surfaces is only assigned to the other potential for energizing the PTC element, as well as an electric heating device containing such a PTC heating element. With regard to better heat decoupling, the insulating layer may be glued to the PTC element, and the coating of the insulating layers is in direct electrically conductive contact with the metallization of the PTC element.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2020Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: Eberspächer catem Hermsdorf GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Jan-Michael Feustel, Florian Bitto-Golon, Ahmad Asafi, Stefan Plewnia, Kai-Fabian Bürkle, Michael Niederer, Marcel Lösch
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Patent number: 11516885Abstract: An electric heating device comprises a housing with a partition wall which separates a connection chamber from a heating chamber for dissipating heat and from which at least one PTC heating element with a heater casing protrudes in the direction toward the heating chamber. The at least one PTC element and conductor tracks are supported in the heater casing in an insulated manner. The heater casing is sealed against the partition wall by way of a seal arranged in a receptacle of the partition wall circumferentially surrounding the heater casing. A press ring is arranged in the receptacle and surrounds the heater casing circumferentially, securing the seal in the receptacle. A method of forming such an electric heating device also is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2021Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: Eberspächer catem GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Kurt Walz, Michael Niederer
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Publication number: 20220377854Abstract: An electric heating apparatus includes a PTC heating device comprising at least one PTC element and electric conductor tracks which are connected to the PTC element in an electrically conductive manner, and a housing which receives the PTC heating device and on which inlet and outlet openings for a fluid to be heated are exposed. A helically-shaped tube is provided in the housing and connects the inlet opening to the outlet opening and is coupled to the PTC heating device in a thermally conductive manner.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2022Publication date: November 24, 2022Inventors: Ahmad Asafi, Michael Niederer
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Patent number: 11432374Abstract: A PTC heating device exhibits a good degree of efficiency while providing good electrical insulation of the device's PTC element. The insulation of the PTC heating device comprises a film and a layer that is bonded to the film and made of brown compact which comprises non-sintered ceramic particles. Also disclosed is a method in which ceramic particles are provided with a binding agent, and the mass thus produced is applied in a planar manner onto a film and bonded to the film. The multilayer insulation thus produced is placed around the PTC element and the conductor tracks, and the binding agent is subsequently removed, at least in part.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2021Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: Eberspächer catem GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Kurt Walz, Michael Niederer, Ahmad Asafi, Tobias Semmler
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Patent number: 11395376Abstract: A PTC heating device for introduction into a receiving pocket of an electric heating device includes at least one PTC element, a conductor track that is electrically connected to the PTC element, and insulating layers that are abutted in a thermally conductive manner against the PTC element. A frame-shaped casing joins the at least one PTC element, the conductor track, and the insulating layers as a unit. The frame-shaped casing has a leading frame member with elastic guide tabs which, in an initial assembly state, project on oppositely disposed sides of the frame-shaped casing over the heat-emitting open surface respectively associated with them, which are inclined obliquely from the leading frame member in a direction of the open surface, and which are elastically pivotable. During heating device assembly, the PTC heating device is centered and guided by the elastic guide tabs when introduced into a heating rib of a heating chamber.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2020Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: Eberspächer catem GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Michael Niederer, Rüdiger Freitag
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Publication number: 20210337631Abstract: A PTC heating device exhibits a good degree of efficiency while providing good electrical insulation of the device's PTC element. The insulation of the PTC heating device comprises a film and a layer that is bonded to the film and made of brown compact which comprises non-sintered ceramic particles. Also disclosed is a method in which ceramic particles are provided with a binding agent, and the mass thus produced is applied in a planar manner onto a film and bonded to the film. The multilayer insulation thus produced is placed around the PTC element and the conductor tracks, and the binding agent is subsequently removed, at least in part.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2021Publication date: October 28, 2021Inventors: Kurt Walz, Michael Niederer, Ahmad Asafi, Tobias Semmler