Patents by Inventor Ralf Schliwa

Ralf Schliwa 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: 8672267
    Abstract: A toilet arrangement for a vehicle includes a first toilet compartment, an adjacent second toilet compartment and a partition wall situated between the first toilet compartment and the second toilet compartment, wherein the partition wall is movably supported and designed for being transferred into an open position, in which the partition between the first toilet compartment and the second toilet compartment is removed. This makes it possible to convert two relatively small toilet compartments into a larger toilet compartment that is suitable for use by persons with limited mobility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Schliwa, Andreas Barber, Maria Strasdas
  • Publication number: 20140048650
    Abstract: A cabin segment for a vehicle includes two or more parking spaces, arranged side by side and separated from each other by at least one intermediate wall, for accommodating serving trolleys, and furthermore a vehicle attendant seat which on one side is held on one of the at least one intermediate walls so as to be pivotable on an axis. The vehicle attendant seat is pivotable to an in-use position and to an out-of-the-way position. The in-use position and the out-of-the-way position are situated apart by 90° or more relative to the pivoting of the vehicle attendant seat. This makes possible particularly efficient use of space without having to forego parking spaces or a vehicle attendant seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Ralf Schliwa, Maria Strasdas
  • Publication number: 20130334369
    Abstract: A modular cabin segment for a vehicle includes a first lateral segment module that accommodates a first toilet arrangement with at least one toilet compartment and a second lateral segment module, wherein in each case an outer lateral face of the first segment module and of the second lateral segment module is designed to adapt in each case to an inner wall of a cabin of the vehicle so as to correspond to the aforesaid. At least one of the modules includes at least one cabin attendant seat that on one side is held on the at least one module so that it can be pivoted on an axis. In this manner very good integration of many different functions in the manner of a construction kit is achieved in order to be able to accommodate a greater number of passenger seats elsewhere within the limited space provided in a cabin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Ralf Schliwa, Maria Strasdas
  • Patent number: 8401742
    Abstract: A control and monitoring system is provided in the aircraft cabin and controls a reconfiguration process with corresponding software in combination with reconfiguration data received from the ground personnel. The control is realized, for example, with a suitable light signals and the unlocking of the seats at certain times. All work sequences are acoustically and/or optically displayed such that the reconfiguration can also be carried out by untrained personnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Schliwa, Tobias Mayer
  • Patent number: 8360363
    Abstract: A floor structure in an aircraft includes a plurality of seat rails that extend parallel in relation to each other, and at least one floor panel. The floor panel extends over the seat rails and rests on the individual seat rails. In order to be able to fasten interior equipment components to the seat rails situated underneath the floor panels, the at least one floor panel includes a plurality of through-holes through which the interior equipment components of the aircraft can be locked into place on the seat rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Gonnsen, Manfred Kook, Markus Fokken, Michael Dupont, Norbert Möllers, Ralf Schliwa
  • Publication number: 20130001359
    Abstract: A toilet arrangement for a vehicle includes a first toilet compartment, an adjacent second toilet compartment and a partition wall situated between the first toilet compartment and the second toilet compartment, wherein the partition wall is movably supported and designed for being transferred into an open position, in which the partition between the first toilet compartment and the second toilet compartment is removed. This makes it possible to convert two relatively small toilet compartments into a larger toilet compartment that is suitable for use by persons with limited mobility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Schliwa, Andreas Barber, Maria Strasdas
  • Publication number: 20120248245
    Abstract: A monument is provided for a cabin of transportation, for example a lavatory monument, a kitchen or galley monument or a storage monument to be fitted in an aircraft, in a helicopter, in a ship or boat, in a train or in a caravan or trailer. A mounting system is also provided with one or several monuments and transportation with a monument installed therein. The monument for the cabin of the transportation includes, but is not limited to a flexible attachment element for attaching the monument to the cabin of the transportation means. The flexible attachment element is designed in such a manner that attachment of the monument can take place in a region of relative positions of the monument relative to the cabin of the transportation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventor: Ralf Schliwa
  • Publication number: 20120072079
    Abstract: A control and monitoring system is provided in the aircraft cabin and controls a reconfiguration process with corresponding software in combination with reconfiguration data received from the ground personnel. The control is realized, for example, with a suitable light signals and the unlocking of the seats at certain times. All work sequences are acoustically and/or optically displayed such that the reconfiguration can also be carried out by untrained personnel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Ralf SCHLIWA, Tobias MAYER
  • Publication number: 20120048998
    Abstract: An arrangement is provided for accommodating passengers in a transportation device that includes, but is not limited to a first positioning space, a second positioning space and a third positioning space that are arranged side by side on a shared positioning area. Two of the positioning spaces comprise an accommodation unit for accommodating a passenger, while one of the positioning spaces is equipped to accommodate a stowage cabinet. The stowage cabinet includes, but is not limited to a first stowage compartment for accommodating a wheelchair which has been folded to its transport position. In this way, persons with restricted mobility can bring along a wheelchair in the transportation means without there being a need to sacrifice additional passenger seat capacity for accommodating a wheelchair brought along in the passenger cabin. Preferably the positioning area is in a region of the passenger cabin close to a door, in which region usually a galley is installed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Ralf SCHLIWA, Maria STRASDAS, Wolfgang MOELLER
  • Publication number: 20120012707
    Abstract: Integration of supply functions is provided in a storage compartment. In particular, an integrated module is provided, which can be mounted in the overhead area of a passenger cabin, and exhibits different system components, which are automatically hooked up to the supply system of the transport (e.g., an aircraft) during the mechanical installation of the module on the load-bearing structure of the cabin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Ralf SCHLIWA, Martin FREY, René STOLL, Andreas TOLKSDORF, Uwe SCHNEIDER
  • Publication number: 20100065681
    Abstract: A floor structure in an aircraft includes a plurality of seat rails that extend parallel in relation to each other, and at least one floor panel. The floor panel extends over the seat rails and rests on the individual seat rails. In order to be able to fasten interior equipment components to the seat rails situated underneath the floor panels, the at least one floor panel includes a plurality of through-holes through which the interior equipment components of the aircraft can be locked into place on the seat rails.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: AIRBUS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Johannes Gonnsen, Manfred Kook, Markus Fokken, Michael Dupont, Norbert Möllers, Ralf Schliwa
  • Patent number: 6273366
    Abstract: A patient transport arrangement is provided in the passenger cabin of an aircraft and includes a patient stretcher, medical supplies and equipment, and a compartment that is variably and adaptably useable as a restroom compartment and as a medical care compartment. The compartment is arranged adjacent to the doorway clearance area in front of the cabin door of the aircraft. The adaptable compartment includes a foldable wall element so that the stretcher can extend at least partially into the compartment during take-off, landing and ground operations of the aircraft while leaving the doorway clearance area unobstructed, and so that the stretcher can be repositioned out of the compartment and into the doorway clearance area during cruise flight so as to allow the compartment to be used as a passenger restroom during the flight. This arrangement makes efficient use of space within the passenger cabin that would otherwise be unused during various phases of flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Aerospace Airbus GmbH
    Inventors: Wilfried Sprenger, Ralf Schliwa, Mikko Gabriel, Michael Deppe, Erich Foucar, Hans Lobentanzer
  • Patent number: 5752673
    Abstract: It is a problem in conventional aircraft having a fuselage of substantially circular cross-section, that a conventional lower deck would have an insufficient standing height for passengers if the lower deck were to be equipped as a passenger cabin space including seats, sleeping cabins, or other passenger service facilities. In the present aircraft, the lower deck floor (2, 2') is depressed or dropped at least in a certain area (14) that will form an aisle (16), so that the free height of the lower deck in the area of the depressed floor provides at least the normal standing height (HS) for a person. A module (15, 15') containing passenger service facilities is arranged in the lower deck area at least to one side of the depressed floor area. A modular construction provides a great flexibility and convenience in reconfiguring a lower deck from a cargo hold configuration to a passenger cabin configuration and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aerospace Airbus GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Schliwa, Hans-Juergen Mueller, Wilfried Sprenger
  • Patent number: 5542626
    Abstract: An energy absorbing structural unit is attached outside the fuselage belly of an aircraft having at least two decks arranged one over another. At least the lower deck, of which the floor is adjacent to the fuselage belly, includes passenger cabin compartments and/or service facilities. The energy absorbing structure is an energy absorbing structural unit (5) that is attached outside of the existing aircraft fuselage (2) approximately vertically below the passenger cabin compartment (9) and/or service facilities provided on the lower deck of the aircraft. The energy absorbing structural unit absorbs impact energy arising in a crash or emergency landing of the aircraft. Because impact energy is absorbed by the external structural unit rather than or in addition to the structure of the aircraft fuselage and air frame, it is possible to provide lower deck passenger cabin space that may be continuously occupied by passengers and crew even during the take-off and landing phases of a flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Deutsche Aerospace Airbus GmbH
    Inventors: Guenter Beuck, Hans-Juergen Mueller, Ralf Schliwa
  • Patent number: 5474260
    Abstract: An aircraft body or fuselage is divided by a main deck (3) to form an upper deck and a lower deck. The lower deck has its own floor (5). A connecting device or several such devices, for example stairs and/or elevators, interconnect the upper deck with the lower deck in positions to facilitate central access to a plurality of lower deck facilities. Supply facilities and sanitary facilities are arranged on the lower deck to provide additional seating space on the upper deck. The lower deck may also hold resting areas, such as a lounge that may be equipped with beds, such as convertible beds. A food distribution station is arranged on the upper deck in vertical alignment with a galley on the lower deck. All the facilities of a group of facilities on the lower deck are centrally accessible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: Deutsche Aerospace Airbus GmbH
    Inventors: Guenter Schwertfeger, Harry Kwik, Ralf Myska, Hans-Juergen Mueller, Ingrid Kutzner, Ralf Schliwa, Joachim Claus, Markus Schumacher, Michael Lau, Andrew Muin
  • Patent number: 5441218
    Abstract: An overhead luggage compartment system for a passenger aircraft is equipped with luggage compartments formed as shells that can be adjusted in their tilted position and in their elevated position for easy access. In the closed position the shells are fully recessed into the ceiling structure of the aircraft cabin. Such a structure does not require any separate covers or lids for the luggage compartments. Additionally, a power drive lifts, lowers, and tilts the compartment shells. In the lowered position the shells are fully accessible even for short people. In the upper, recessed position the shells are closed and locked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Assignee: Deutsche Aerospace Airbus GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Mueller, Ralf Schliwa, Guenther Schwertfeger
  • Patent number: 5395075
    Abstract: A stair and stairwell construction for interconnecting two different decks, especially in an aircraft, includes stair treads, stringers, and a stairwell enclosure or housing. At least one of the just enumerated components is constructed to be positionable or tiltable relative to the planes defined by the decks. One of these components is positionable into an open position, thereby providing a passageway, or into a closed position thereby blocking the passageway. In both positions, this positionable component is lockable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: Deutsche Aerospace Airbus GmbH
    Inventors: Wilfried Sprenger, Ralf Schliwa, Hans-Juergen Mueller
  • Patent number: 5369960
    Abstract: A refrigeration system for cooling foodstuffs in an aircraft body having a deck and a space (26) below the deck, uses a surface type heat exchanger (7) positioned for a heat exchange with the environment of the aircraft. A catering container (1) is constructed as a cooler box, and at least one refrigeration device (21) is exchangeably mounted in the space below the deck. The refrigeration device (21) is equipped with at least one modular refrigeration unit (6) connected through respective pipes or conduits (8, 9) to the surface type heat exchanger (7). The refrigeration device (21) is connected by further conduit means (3, 10) to the cooler box (1). The temperature difference between inside and outside of the aircraft is efficiently used for the refrigeration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Deutsche Aerospace Airbus GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Mueller, Ralf Schliwa, Thomas Scherer, Harald Kull
  • Patent number: 5309938
    Abstract: Fresh water is distributed in an aircraft from at least one supply tank connected through a conduit to at least one water using device, such as a tap, faucet, or the like. The conduit is constructed as a ring conduit, which is provided with or connected to a water conveying device, such as a pump, suction, or pressurizing device. One or more water using devices are connected to the ring conduit by respective branch lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Deutsche Aerospace Airbus GmbH
    Inventors: Hubert Ellgoth, Helge Frank, Gerd Grunwald, Georg Mai, Karolin Mau, Ralf Schliwa
  • Patent number: D701948
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Schliwa, Maria T. Strasdas, Florian Schüphaus, Christian Seibt