Patents by Inventor Michael Zollenkopf

Michael Zollenkopf 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: 10421522
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cover device for at least sectional closing of an underwater opening in a hull of a watercraft, in particular an opening of a transverse channel of a thruster. According to the invention the cover device includes at least one variable-volume hollow chamber lip including at least one buoyancy body, and the at least one hollow chamber lip is shiftable into an expansion state or into a shrinkage state by supplying or removing a fluid, in particular air. As a result of the variable-volume or inflatable cover device a more reliable and simultaneously lower-maintenance operation of the cover device is given. In addition, the invention has a thruster, in particular a bow or stern-thruster, as subject matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: SKF Marine GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Zollenkopf, Frank Albrecht, Ulrich Albrecht, Kai Danneberg, Uwe Leitloff, Thomas Siebrecht, Holger Spardel
  • Patent number: 10220923
    Abstract: A fin stabilizer for stabilizing watercraft includes a pivotable stabilizer fin and a receiving space for receiving the stabilizer fin. The stabilizer fin is shiftable from a retracted state in which the stabilizer fin is received in the receiving space to an extended state in which the stabilizer fin extends from the receiving space. Also at least one flexible cover element for at least partially covering an opening of the receiving space, through which opening the stabilizer fin enters and exits the receiving space during retracting and extending, respectively. The stabilizer fin does not contact the at least one cover element when shifting from the retracted state to the extended state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: SKF Marine GmbH
    Inventors: Kai Danneberg, Michael Zollenkopf, Frank Albrecht, Ulrich Albrecht, Uwe Leitloff, Thomas Siebrecht, Holger Spardel
  • Publication number: 20180312223
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cover device for at least sectional closing of an underwater opening in a hull of a watercraft, in particular an opening of a transverse channel of a thruster. According to the invention the cover device includes at least one variable-volume hollow chamber lip including at least one buoyancy body, and the at least one hollow chamber lip is shiftable into an expansion state or into a shrinkage state by supplying or removing a fluid, in particular air. As a result of the variable-volume or inflatable cover device a more reliable and simultaneously lower-maintenance operation of the cover device is given. In addition, the invention has a thruster, in particular a bow or stern-thruster, as subject matter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Michael Zollenkopf, Frank Albrecht, Ulrich Albrecht, Kai Danneberg, Uwe Leitloff, Thomas Siebrecht, Holger Spardel
  • Publication number: 20170247090
    Abstract: A fin stabilizer for stabilizing watercraft includes a pivotable stabilizer fin and a receiving space for receiving the stabilizer fin. The stabilizer fin is shiftable from a retracted state in which the stabilizer fin is received in the receiving space to an extended state in which the stabilizer fin extends from the receiving space. Also at least one flexible cover element for at least partially covering an opening of the receiving space, through which opening the stabilizer fin enters and exits the receiving space during retracting and extending, respectively. The stabilizer fin does not contact the at least one over element when shifting from the retracted state to the extended state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: Kai Danneberg, Michael Zollenkopf, Frank Albrecht, Ulrich Albrecht, Uwe Leitloff, Thomas Siebrecht, Holger Spardel
  • Patent number: 9745031
    Abstract: A fin stabilizer for stabilizing a watercraft against rolling movements includes a main fin configured to be pivoted by a watercraft-side fin drive, a tail fin, and an elastically deformable connection between the main fin and the tail fin, the elastically deformable connection being configured to flex whenever a water force acting on the tail fin is greater than a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignees: SKF Blohm + Voss Industries GmbH, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR)
    Inventors: Dirk Buechler, Thomas Elsken, Sebastian Geier, Bram van de Kamp, Markus Kintscher, Steffen Opitz, Martin Pohl, Andreas Bubbers, Kai Danneberg, Lothar Knippschild, Thomas Siebrecht, Holger Spardel, Christian Thieme, Michael Zollenkopf
  • Publication number: 20160059941
    Abstract: A fin stabilizer for stabilizing a watercraft against rolling movements includes a main fin configured to be pivoted by a watercraft-side fin drive, a tail fin, and an elastically deformable connection between the main fin and the tail fin, the elastically deformable connection being configured to flex whenever a water force acting on the tail fin is greater than a predetermined amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Applicants: Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V., SKF Blohm + Voss Industries GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Buechler, Thomas Elsken, Sebastian Geier, Bram van de Kamp, Markus Kintscher, Steffen Opitz, Martin Pohl, Andreas Bubbers, Kai Danneberg, Lothar Knippschild, Thomas Siebrecht, Holger Spardel, Christian Thieme, Michael Zollenkopf