Patents by Inventor Pierre C. Zahlen

Pierre C. Zahlen 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: 11504739
    Abstract: A device and method for lacquer transfer includes a lacquer application unit and at least one of a masking application unit and a masking removal unit, the application unit for applying lacquer to a work surface, wherein the masking application unit is configured to apply a masking to the work surface and is attached to the lacquer application unit so the masking application unit is moved in the application direction ahead of the lacquer application unit across the work surface when the lacquer application unit is moved across the work surface in the application direction. The masking removal unit can remove a previously applied masking from the work surface and is attached to the lacquer application unit such that the masking removal unit is moved in the application direction behind the lacquer application unit across the work surface when the lacquer application unit is moved across the work surface in the application direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Pierre C. Zahlen
  • Patent number: 11413650
    Abstract: A device for a lacquer transfer includes a frame, transfer roller with a circumferential lateral wall, drive unit for rotating the transfer roller, and slit nozzle with a muzzle end for dispensing lacquer. The slit nozzle includes a first nozzle-part, second nozzle-part and deformation unit. The deformation unit is attached to the first nozzle-part, the lateral wall passing in a rotation direction subsequently the deformation unit and the muzzle end during transfer unit rotation. The lateral wall of the transfer roller is deformed by the deformation unit in the radial direction resulting in a deformation section of the lateral wall in the rotation direction behind the deformation unit, the muzzle end of the slit nozzle arranged for dispensing lacquer into depressions of the lateral wall. The transfer roller can roll with the outside contact surface on a work surface of a work piece for transferring lacquer from the depressions to the work surface of the work piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignees: Airbus Operations GmbH, Airbus (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: Pierre C. Zahlen, Alexander Gillessen, Sebastian Kerger, Christian Schepp, Daniel Kress, Waldemar Kümmel
  • Patent number: 11369987
    Abstract: A device and a system for a lacquer transfer with a frame, transfer roller with a circumferential lateral wall, a drive unit, a slit nozzle, the slit nozzle at least indirectly connected to the frame, an outside contact surface of the lateral wall including depressions, the transfer roller mounted rotatably about an axis of rotation at the frame, the drive unit configured to drive the transfer roller for the transfer roller to rotate about the axis of rotation. The slit nozzle includes a supply connection, nozzle-cavity, slit-shaped nozzle-channel and at least one limiter, the supply connection coupled to the nozzle-cavity for supplying lacquer to the nozzle-cavity, the nozzle-channel extending from the nozzle-cavity to a muzzle end formed by the slit nozzle at the end of the nozzle-channel for dispensing lacquer, the slit nozzle configured by the limiter to adjust a cross-section in a restriction area of the nozzle-channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Pierre C. Zahlen, Alexander Gillessen, Sebastian Kerger
  • Patent number: 11331688
    Abstract: A device for a lacquer transfer includes a transfer roller mounted at and rotatable relative to a frame. The roller includes a cylindrical support-body, first ring-element, second ring-element, and a tire including a middle-section forming a circumferential outer contact surface with depressions, the roller configured to roll with the outer contract surface on a work surface of a workpiece for transferring lacquer from the outer contact surface and the depressions to the work surface. The tire includes two annular end-sections attached to a cylindrical outer shell of the support-body resulting in two axially separated and circumferentially extending connections, the tire, connections, and outer shell of the support-body being fluid-tight. The first and second ring-elements are in the first cavity seated on the support-body at a distance in an axial direction of the roller from one another and the middle-section of the tire between the first and second ring-elements is prestrained in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignees: Airbus Operations GmbH, Airbus (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: Pierre C. Zahlen, Alexander Gillessen, Christian Schepp, Daniel Kress, Waldemar Kümmel
  • Patent number: 11267014
    Abstract: A device for lacquer transfer includes a frame, a transfer roller with a circumferential lateral wall, a drive unit and a lacquer application unit. The lacquer application unit is mounted on the frame and applies lacquer to a work surface of a work piece while the device is moved in an application direction across the work surface. The drive unit drives the transfer roller in a rotation direction about an axis of rotation. An outside contact surface of the lateral wall comprises a plurality of depressions forming a predetermined structure. The transfer roller rolls with the outside contact surface on the work surface of the work piece for transferring the predetermined structure defined by the depressions in the outside contact surface to lacquer previously applied to the work surface by the lacquer application unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Pierre C. Zahlen, Alexander Gillessen
  • Patent number: 11241708
    Abstract: A device for lacquer transfer includes a frame, transfer roller with circumferential lateral wall, nozzle for dispensing lacquer, and hardening unit, the hardening unit formed as a UV-light unit for hardening the lacquer in a contactless way by emitting UV-light, and is within an interior space defined by the transfer roller. The lateral wall of the transfer roller is transparent for UV-light, and the hardening unit is arranged such that UV-light is emitted towards the work surface upon which the lateral wall of the transfer roller rolls, to harden the lacquer after it being transferred to the work surface. Using the device, lacquer transfer can occur from the transfer roller to the work surface more reliably. The device includes a light shield between the hardening unit and outside contact surface with at least a portion of the outside contact surface provided with lacquer is shielded from UV-light emitted from the hardening unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignees: Airbus Operations GmbH, Airbus (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: Pierre C. Zahlen, Christian Schepp, Daniel Kress, Waldemar Kümmel
  • Publication number: 20200324310
    Abstract: A device for lacquer transfer includes a frame, transfer roller with circumferential lateral wall, nozzle for dispensing lacquer, and hardening unit, the hardening unit formed as a UV-light unit for hardening the lacquer in a contactless way by emitting UV-light, and is within an interior space defined by the transfer roller. The lateral wall of the transfer roller is transparent for UV-light, and the hardening unit is arranged such that UV-light is emitted towards the work surface upon which the lateral wall of the transfer roller rolls, to harden the lacquer after it being transferred to the work surface. Using the device, lacquer transfer can occur from the transfer roller to the work surface more reliably. The device includes a light shield between the hardening unit and outside contact surface with at least a portion of the outside contact surface provided with lacquer is shielded from UV-light emitted from the hardening unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Pierre C. Zahlen, Christian Schepp, Daniel Kress, Waldemar Kümmel
  • Publication number: 20200324315
    Abstract: A device for a lacquer transfer includes a frame, transfer roller with a circumferential lateral wall, drive unit for rotating the transfer roller, and slit nozzle with a muzzle end for dispensing lacquer. The slit nozzle includes a first nozzle-part, second nozzle-part and deformation unit. The deformation unit is attached to the first nozzle-part, the lateral wall passing in a rotation direction subsequently the deformation unit and the muzzle end during transfer unit rotation. The lateral wall of the transfer roller is deformed by the deformation unit in the radial direction resulting in a deformation section of the lateral wall in the rotation direction behind the deformation unit, the muzzle end of the slit nozzle arranged for dispensing lacquer into depressions of the lateral wall. The transfer roller can roll with the outside contact surface on a work surface of a work piece for transferring lacquer from the depressions to the work surface of the work piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Pierre C. Zahlen, Alexander Gillessen, Sebastian Kerger, Christian Schepp, Daniel Kress, Waldemar Kümmel
  • Publication number: 20200306787
    Abstract: A device for a lacquer transfer includes a transfer roller mounted at and rotatable relative to a frame. The roller includes a cylindrical support-body, first ring-element, second ring-element, and a tire including a middle-section forming a circumferential outer contact surface with depressions, the roller configured to roll with the outer contract surface on a work surface of a workpiece for transferring lacquer from the outer contact surface and the depressions to the work surface. The tire includes two annular end-sections attached to a cylindrical outer shell of the support-body resulting in two axially separated and circumferentially extending connections, the tire, connections, and outer shell of the support-body being fluid-tight. The first and second ring-elements are in the first cavity seated on the support-body at a distance in an axial direction of the roller from one another and the middle-section of the tire between the first and second ring-elements is prestrained in the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Pierre C. Zahlen, Alexander Gillessen, Christian Schepp, Daniel Kress, Waldemar Kümmel
  • Publication number: 20200306791
    Abstract: A device and method for lacquer transfer includes a lacquer application unit and at least one of a masking application unit and a masking removal unit, the application unit for applying lacquer to a work surface, wherein the masking application unit is configured to apply a masking to the work surface and is attached to the lacquer application unit so the masking application unit is moved in the application direction ahead of the lacquer application unit across the work surface when the lacquer application unit is moved across the work surface in the application direction. The masking removal unit can remove a previously applied masking from the work surface and is attached to the lacquer application unit such that the masking removal unit is moved in the application direction behind the lacquer application unit across the work surface when the lacquer application unit is moved across the work surface in the application direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventor: Pierre C. Zahlen
  • Publication number: 20200306785
    Abstract: A device for lacquer transfer includes a frame, a transfer roller with a circumferential lateral wall, a drive unit and a lacquer application unit. The lacquer application unit is mounted on the frame and applies lacquer to a work surface of a work piece while the device is moved in an application direction across the work surface. The drive unit drives the transfer roller in a rotation direction about an axis of rotation. An outside contact surface of the lateral wall comprises a plurality of depressions forming a predetermined structure. The transfer roller rolls with the outside contact surface on the work surface of the work piece for transferring the predetermined structure defined by the depressions in the outside contact surface to lacquer previously applied to the work surface by the lacquer application unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Pierre C. Zahlen, Alexander Gillessen
  • Publication number: 20200306786
    Abstract: A device and a system for a lacquer transfer with a frame, transfer roller with a circumferential lateral wall, a drive unit, a slit nozzle, the slit nozzle at least indirectly connected to the frame, an outside contact surface of the lateral wall including depressions, the transfer roller mounted rotatably about an axis of rotation at the frame, the drive unit configured to drive the transfer roller for the transfer roller to rotate about the axis of rotation. The slit nozzle includes a supply connection, nozzle-cavity, slit-shaped nozzle-channel and at least one limiter, the supply connection coupled to the nozzle-cavity for supplying lacquer to the nozzle-cavity, the nozzle-channel extending from the nozzle-cavity to a muzzle end formed by the slit nozzle at the end of the nozzle-channel for dispensing lacquer, the slit nozzle configured by the limiter to adjust a cross-section in a restriction area of the nozzle-channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Pierre C. Zahlen, Alexander Gillessen, Sebastian Kerger
  • Patent number: 9902483
    Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to a window panel for a body structure of a vehicle, especially an airframe of an aircraft or spacecraft, including a first skin which extends over a first side of the panel to form an outer skin of the vehicle body structure; a second skin which extends over a second side of the panel to form an inner skin of the vehicle body structure; and a core, especially a foam core, located between and covered by the first and second skins in a sandwich structure. The window panel includes at least one window aperture formed through the first layer, the core, and the second layer. The core may be confined to or extends over a limited extent, region or part of the panel. Thus, the first skin and/or the second skin may extend over or cover a greater area of the panel than the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Pierre C. Zahlen, Johannes Born, Lars Meyer, Gregor Baumbach, Claus Hanske, Jens Prowe, Johan Oentoro, M. Ichwan Zuardy, Wouter Brok, Martin Metten
  • Patent number: 9533453
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a fiber-reinforced composite component in production or in service. The system includes a composite component having reinforcing fibers which are encompassed by a matrix material; at least one optical fiber arranged to extend in a continuous path over a monitoring area of the composite component for contact with the matrix material; a signal generator configured to transmit an optical signal along the at least one optical fiber; and a detector device configured to detect scattering, and in particular backscattering, of the optical signal transmitted along the at least one optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Ichwan M. Zuardy, Pierre C. Zahlen, Clemens Bockenheimer, Oliver Bullinger
  • Patent number: 9481116
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods and to a manufacturing device for manufacturing a sandwich component. A semifinished product arrangement is soaked with a flowable matrix material, for example a resin, in particular by an infusion method. By using the method of the invention, inherent tensile stresses introduced by the respective method and remaining in the sandwich component to be manufactured are reduced, and moreover the risk of crack formation in the course of the process, afterwards and during operation of the sandwich component is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Ichwan Muhammad Zuardy, Pierre C. Zahlen, Karim Grase, Claudio B. Vultaggio, Axel Siegfried Herrmann
  • Patent number: 9458866
    Abstract: The present invention provides a structural element for an aircraft and spacecraft, having a core which includes core regions which are uncoupled from one another by means of an expansion joint arranged between the core regions. The present invention further provides a method for producing a structural element for an aircraft or spacecraft, including the following method steps: providing a core of the structural element, which core includes core regions; and arranging an expansion joint between the core regions. The present invention relates still further to an aircraft and/or spacecraft having such a structural element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Gerrit Neumann, Pierre C. Zahlen, Artur Poniatowski, Benjamin Teich, Ali Yildiz
  • Publication number: 20160176085
    Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a method of producing a composite structure, such as an airframe or fuselage of an aircraft. The method comprises the steps of: arranging a first component within a cavity of a mold; arranging a second component adjacent the cavity of the mold containing the first component and sealing the cavity against the second component; injecting a polymer or resin into the cavity of the mold to infuse and/or pervade gaps or spaces between the first component and the second component; and curing or setting the polymer or resin within the mold to bond the first component with the second component and so form the composite structure. The subject matter disclosed herein also provides a system for carrying out the above method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Wouter Brok, Bernd SCHWING, Pierre C. Zahlen
  • Publication number: 20150064389
    Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to a window panel for a body structure of a vehicle, especially an airframe of an aircraft or spacecraft, including a first skin which extends over a first side of the panel to form an outer skin of the vehicle body structure; a second skin which extends over a second side of the panel to form an inner skin of the vehicle body structure; and a core, especially a foam core, located between and covered by the first and second skins in a sandwich structure. The window panel includes at least one window aperture formed through the first layer, the core, and the second layer. The core may be confined to or extends over a limited extent, region or part of the panel. Thus, the first skin and/or the second skin may extend over or cover a greater area of the panel than the core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Pierre C. Zahlen, Johannes Born, Lars Meyer, Gregor Baumbach, Claus Hanske, Jens Prowe, Johan Oentoro, M. Ichwan Zuardy, Wouter Brok, Martin Metten
  • Publication number: 20130341497
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a fiber-reinforced composite component in production or in service. The system includes a composite component having reinforcing fibers which are encompassed by a matrix material; at least one optical fiber arranged to extend in a continuous path over a monitoring area of the composite component for contact with the matrix material; a signal generator configured to transmit an optical signal along the at least one optical fiber; and a detector device configured to detect scattering, and in particular backscattering, of the optical signal transmitted along the at least one optical fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Ichwan M. Zuardy, Pierre C. Zahlen, Clemens Bockenheimer, Oliver Bullinger
  • Publication number: 20130234373
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods and to a manufacturing device for manufacturing a sandwich component. A semifinished product arrangement is soaked with a flowable matrix material, for example a resin, in particular by an infusion method. By using the method of the invention, inherent tensile stresses introduced by the respective method and remaining in the sandwich component to be manufactured are reduced, and moreover the risk of crack formation in the course of the process, afterwards and during operation of the sandwich component is minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Ichwan Muhammad Zuardy, Pierre C. Zahlen, Karim Grase, Claudio B. Vultaggio, Axel Siegfried Herrmann