Patents by Inventor Ralf Egerer

Ralf Egerer 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: 12607286
    Abstract: A coupling for connecting a first and a second multi-walled line (203,204) having at least two concentric pipes (206,207) has a female coupling part (202) with at least two concentric tubes including an inner and an outer tube (217,218) each connected at one end with one of the concentric pipes (206,207) of the first multi-walled line (204), respectively. The coupling further has a male coupling (201) part having at least two concentric tubes including an inner and an outer tube (210,211) each connected at one end with one of the concentric pipes (206,207) of the second multi-walled line (203). The at least two concentric tubes of the female and/or male coupling parts are compressible and/or expandable in an axial direction to ensure a fluid tight connection between the male and female coupling part is already achieved when the coupling has not yet reached its operation temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2026
    Assignee: NEXANS
    Inventors: Gerald Gunzel, Ralf Egerer
  • Publication number: 20260077997
    Abstract: A transfer line arrangement includes a transfer line for fluids and a support structure attached to the transfer line. The transfer line includes flexible sections enabling pivotable movement of the transfer line around an axis such that one end of the transfer line is connectable to a connector at a fluid source for a fluid and the other end of the transfer line is connectable with a connector at a tank to be filled with fluid. The transfer line includes vacuum insulated multiwalled tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2025
    Publication date: March 19, 2026
    Inventors: Gerald GÜNZEL, Anthony COMBESSIS, Ralf EGERER, Yann DUCLOT
  • Patent number: 12547192
    Abstract: A pressure regulator for fluids is described. The pressure regulator (100) has a main body (108) including a control valve (112,113) actuated by a control element (119) responding to a pressure signal generated by sensor means (118) to maintain a set pressure in the transfer line. The main body (108), the control valve (112,113), the control element (119) and the sensor means (118) are contained in an interior space (124) enclosed by a housing (123). A pressure below atmospheric pressure prevails in the interior space (124).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2026
    Assignee: NEXANS
    Inventors: Gerald Gunzel, Ralf Egerer
  • Publication number: 20260029078
    Abstract: A transfer line module includes a rigid multi-walled transfer line section with an inner and an outer pipe and a sensor integrated in the transfer line section. The transfer line section is connectable at both ends with a thermally insulated multi-walled transfer line comprising an inner and outer tube which are connected with the inner and outer pipe of the transfer line section, respectively. The transfer line is apt for transferring temperature sensitive fluids. The transfer line section is provided with a receptacle for the sensor, which is mounted in the receptacle. The receptacle is open towards the interior of the inner pipe such that the sensor is in direct contact with the fluid inside the inner pipe of the transfer line section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2025
    Publication date: January 29, 2026
    Inventors: Gerald GÜNZEL, Anthony COMBESSIS, Ralf EGERER, Yann DUCLOT
  • Publication number: 20260029285
    Abstract: A monitoring system and a method for detecting bending and/or strain of a corrugated tube are suggested. The system comprises at least two sensor chains extending along a longitudinal direction of the corrugated tube at different circumferential positions. The sensor chains are configured to measure bending and/or strain exerted on the corrugated tube. The sensor chains are connected to a signal processing unit that is configured to process output signals of the sensor chains for determining accumulated damages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2025
    Publication date: January 29, 2026
    Inventors: Gerald GÜNZEL, Anthony COMBESSIS, Ralf EGERER
  • Patent number: 12479715
    Abstract: A transfer device for transferring flowable material between a first reservoir and a second reservoir is provided having a loading device (106) mounted on a support structure (101). The loading device (106) includes several loading arm sections (103-105) mechanically connected by pivot joints (113,116,118). The transfer device further has a transfer line (122) connecting the first and second reservoir. The transfer line (122) is composed of rigid and flexible transfer line sections (123-126, 133). The flexible transfer line sections connect the rigid transfer line sections. At an upstream end at least one rigid transfer line section branches into several flexible transfer lines, which are fluidly merged into the next rigid transfer line in flow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2024
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2025
    Assignee: NEXANS
    Inventors: Gerald Gunzel, Ralf Egerer
  • Patent number: 12343815
    Abstract: For the production of fibre waveguides mounted in a metal hollow profile, a flat metal strip is supplied to a deforming unit. The deforming unit is configured for continuously deforming the supplied flat metal strip into a shape corresponding to the hollow profile. The hollow profile is continuously welded along a longitudinal seam by means of a laser. A filler gel with a viscosity which increases with decreasing temperature, and one or more fibre waveguides, are introduced into the welded hollow profile in a continuous process via a guide or protective tube. In order to introduce the one or more fibre waveguides with an excess length into the hollow profile, the welded hollow profile is elastically stretched, is cooled, and is relaxed again. The finished product is received in a receiving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: NEXANS
    Inventors: Ralf Egerer, Olaf Petersen, Steven Dinkel
  • Publication number: 20250155087
    Abstract: A transfer system is provided for transferring temperature sensitive fluids from a supply tank to a receiver tank. The supply and the receiver tank (101,102) are fluidly connected by a piping arrangement comprising at least two thermally insulated transfer lines (103a, 103b) and first and second piping assemblies (104a-d) associated with the receiver and the supply tank, respectively. One end of each transfer line is connected with one of the supply and receiver tank and the other end of each transfer line is provided with a coupling for coupling the other end with the other one of the supply and receiver tank. The transfer system (100) is selectively operable in a transfer mode and an idle mode by appropriately coupling and decoupling the first and second transfer lines. In either mode the piping arrangement remains at or close to an operating temperature of the transfer system in the transfer mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2024
    Publication date: May 15, 2025
    Inventors: Gerald GÜNZEL, Ralf EGERER, Anthony COMBESSIS
  • Publication number: 20240377847
    Abstract: A pressure regulator for fluids is described. The pressure regulator (100) has a main body (108) including a control valve (112,113) actuated by a control element (119) responding to a pressure signal generated by sensor means (118) to maintain a set pressure in the transfer line. The main body (108), the control valve (112,113), the control element (119) and the sensor means (118) are contained in an interior space (124) enclosed by a housing (123). A pressure below atmospheric pressure prevails in the interior space (124).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2024
    Publication date: November 14, 2024
    Inventors: Gerald GUNZEL, Ralf EGERER
  • Publication number: 20240308839
    Abstract: A transfer device for transferring flowable material between a first reservoir and a second reservoir is provided having a loading device (106) mounted on a support structure (101). The loading device (106) includes several loading arm sections (103-105) mechanically connected by pivot joints (113,116,118). The transfer device further has a transfer line (122) connecting the first and second reservoir. The transfer line (122) is composed of rigid and flexible transfer line sections (123-126, 133). The flexible transfer line sections connect the rigid transfer line sections. At an upstream end at least one rigid transfer line section branches into several flexible transfer lines, which are fluidly merged into the next rigid transfer line in flow direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2024
    Publication date: September 19, 2024
    Inventors: Gerald GUNZEL, Ralf EGERER
  • Publication number: 20240271736
    Abstract: A coupling for connecting a first and a second multi-walled line (203,204) having at least two concentric pipes (206,207) has a female coupling part (202) with at least two concentric tubes including an inner and an outer tube (217,218) each connected at one end with one of the concentric pipes (206,207) of the first multi-walled line (204), respectively. The coupling further has a male coupling (201) part having at least two concentric tubes including an inner and an outer tube (210,211) each connected at one end with one of the concentric pipes (206,207) of the second multi-walled line (203). The at least two concentric tubes of the female and/or male coupling parts are compressible and/or expandable in an axial direction to ensure a fluid tight connection between the male and female coupling part is already achieved when the coupling has not yet reached its operation temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2024
    Publication date: August 15, 2024
    Inventors: Gerald GUNZEL, Ralf EGERER
  • Publication number: 20240055158
    Abstract: A method for the continuous production of coaxial cables (224) having a thin-walled, radially closed outer conductor of nonferrous metal comprises supplying a flat strip of the nonferrous metal to a shaping apparatus (212), wherein the thickness of the strip corresponds to the wall thickness of the coaxial cable. The shaping apparatus is configured to continuously shape the supplied flat strip into a form corresponding to the outer conductor of the coaxial cable and around a cable core supplied before the outer conductor is closed. After the shaping, two opposite edges of the flat strip lie flush against one another in a contact region and are continuously welded to one another by a welding apparatus (216) by means of a laser, which radiates light having a wavelength smaller than 600 nm. The laser heats a point in a welding region that has a diameter smaller than 20% of the cross-sectional dimension of the coaxial cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Ralf EGERER, Olaf PETERSEN, Steven DINKEL
  • Patent number: 11772144
    Abstract: A process is provided for the continuous production of thin-walled, radially closed hollow profiles composed of nonferrous metals and having a small cross section comprises supply of a flat strip of the metal to a forming apparatus at a first supply speed, the thickness of the strip corresponding to the wall thickness of the hollow profile. The forming apparatus continuous forms the flat strip into a shape corresponding to the hollow profile. After forming, two opposite edges of the flat strip rest flush against one another in a contact region and are continuously welded by means of a laser which emits light having a wavelength of less than 600 nm. The laser heats an area in a welding region having a diameter of less than 20% of the cross-sectional dimension of the hollow profile. The welded hollow profile is taken off from the welding region and taken up in an uptake device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: NEXANS
    Inventors: Ralf Egerer, Olaf Petersen, Steven Dinkel
  • Patent number: 11561358
    Abstract: A method for the continuous production of a thin-walled, perforated metal hollow profile with one or more fibre waveguides mounted therein. The method includes supplying of a flat metal strip at a first supply rate to a deforming device, which continuously deforms the metal strip into a metal hollow profile with a slot running in a longitudinal direction. Two opposite edges of the metal strip deformed into the metal hollow profile that lie flush against one another in a contact region extending in the longitudinal direction of the metal hollow profile are continuously welded to one another, drawn off from the welding region and perforated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: NEXANS
    Inventors: Ralf Egerer, Steven Dinkel, Nico Lange, Olaf Petersen
  • Patent number: 11548095
    Abstract: A process for the continuous production of thin-walled, radially closed hollow profiles which are composed of nonferrous metals and have a small cross section comprises supply of a flat strip of the nonferrous metal to a forming apparatus (212) at a first supply speed, where the thickness of the strip corresponds to the wall thickness of the hollow profile. The forming apparatus (212) is configured for continuous forming of the flat strip supplied into a shape corresponding to the hollow profile. After forming, two opposite edges of the flat strip rest flush against one another in a contact region. A welding apparatus (216) continuously welds the edges which rest flush against one another by means of a laser which emits light having a wavelength of less than 600 nm. The laser heats a point in a welding region which has a diameter which is less than 20% of the cross-sectional dimension of the hollow profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: NEXANS
    Inventors: Ralf Egerer, Olaf Petersen, Steven Dinkel
  • Patent number: 11066292
    Abstract: A device (1) for transferring a fluid from a mooring area to a ship is specified. The device (1) comprises an articulated supporting structure (2), which has at least one first and one second support (3, 4, 5), which are connected pivotably to one another by at least one pivot joint (6, 7) and which each have a longitudinal axis, wherein the first support (3) is fixed on the mooring area in such a way that the longitudinal axis of said support can be rotated substantially vertically and the first support (3) can be rotated about the longitudinal axis thereof, and wherein the second support (4, 5) is pivotable in a vertical plane. The device (1) furthermore comprises at least one guide element (8), which is fixed on the supports (3, 4, 5) or on the at least one pivot joint (6, 7), and a first flexible line (9), which is supported by means of the guide element (8) and is guided substantially in the vertical plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: NEXANS
    Inventors: Holger Schulz, Christian Reiter, Ralf Egerer
  • Publication number: 20210199910
    Abstract: A method (100) for the continuous production of a thin-walled, perforated metal hollow profile with one or more fibre waveguides mounted therein. The method includes supplying (102) of a flat metal strip at a first supply rate to a deforming device, which continuously deforms the metal strip into a metal hollow profile with a slot running in a longitudinal direction. Two opposite edges of the metal strip deformed into the metal hollow profile that lie flush against one another in a contact region extending in the longitudinal direction of the metal hollow profile are continuously welded to one another (110), drawn off from the welding region and perforated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Ralf EGERER, Steven DINKEL, Nico LANGE, Olaf PETERSEN
  • Publication number: 20210154768
    Abstract: For the production of fibre waveguides mounted in a metal hollow profile, a flat metal strip is supplied to a deforming unit. The deforming unit is configured for continuously deforming the supplied flat metal strip into a shape corresponding to the hollow profile. The hollow profile is continuously welded along a longitudinal seam by means of a laser. A filler gel with a viscosity which increases with decreasing temperature, and one or more fibre waveguides, are introduced into the welded hollow profile in a continuous process via a guide or protective tube. In order to introduce the one or more fibre waveguides with an excess length into the hollow profile, the welded hollow profile is elastically stretched, is cooled, and is relaxed again. The finished product is received in a receiving unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Ralf EGERER, Olaf PETERSEN, Steven DINKEL
  • Publication number: 20210138521
    Abstract: A process for the continuous production of thin-walled, radially closed hollow profiles which are composed of nonferrous metals and have a small cross section comprises supply of a flat strip of the nonferrous metal to a forming apparatus (212) at a first supply speed. The thickness of the strip corresponds to the wall thickness of the hollow profile. The forming apparatus (212) is configured for continuous forming of the flat strip supplied into a shape corresponding to the hollow profile. After forming, two opposite edges of the flat strip rest flush against one another in a contact region. A welding apparatus (216) continuously welds the edges which rest flush against one another by means of a laser which emits light having a wavelength of less than 600 nm. The laser heats a point in a welding region which has a diameter which is less than 20% of the cross-sectional dimension of the hollow profile. The welded hollow profile is taken off from the welding region and taken up in an uptake device (226).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Ralf EGERER, Olaf PETERSEN, Steven DINKEL
  • Publication number: 20210094126
    Abstract: A process for the continuous production of thin-walled, radially closed hollow profiles which are composed of nonferrous metals and have a small cross section comprises supply of a flat strip of the nonferrous metal to a forming apparatus (212) at a first supply speed, where the thickness of the strip corresponds to the wall thickness of the hollow profile. The forming apparatus (212) is configured for continuous forming of the flat strip supplied into a shape corresponding to the hollow profile. After forming, two opposite edges of the flat strip rest flush against one another in a contact region. A welding apparatus (216) continuously welds the edges which rest flush against one another by means of a laser which emits light having a wavelength of less than 600 nm. The laser heats a point in a welding region which has a diameter which is less than 20% of the cross-sectional dimension of the hollow profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Ralf EGERER, Olaf PETERSEN, Steven DINKEL