Patents by Inventor Ralf Strumpler

Ralf Strumpler 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: 7524166
    Abstract: A compressor includes a compressor wheel, a diffuser and a device for the wet cleaning of the diffuser of a compressor, the diffuser being arranged downstream of the compressor wheel in the flow direction of the medium to be compressed. The device includes an arrangement for injecting a liquid, which is arranged in such a way that the liquid can be introduced, downstream of the compressor wheel, to the diffuser. The diffuser has at least partially a non-stick coating. A device of this type is suitable for removing deep-seated deposits from the surface of the diffuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Martin Thiele, Henning Fuhrmann, Ralf Strumpler, Joachim Glatz-Reichenbach
  • Publication number: 20060245913
    Abstract: A compressor comprises a compressor wheel, a diffuser and a device for the wet cleaning of the diffuser of a compressor, the diffuser being arranged downstream of the compressor wheel in the flow direction of the medium to be compressed. The device comprises means for injecting a liquid, which are arranged in such a way that the liquid can be introduced, downstream of the compressor wheel, to the diffuser. The diffuser has at least partially a non-stick coating. A device of this type is suitable for removing deep-seated deposits from the surface of the diffuser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Publication date: November 2, 2006
    Applicant: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Martin Thiele, Henning Fuhrmann, Ralf Strumpler, Joachim Glatz-Reichenbach
  • Patent number: 7109560
    Abstract: A micro-electromechanical system comprises a substrate (S) and at least two micro-elements (1, 2) of which a first is bistably switchable. The micro-elements (1, 2) have faces (3a, 4a) facing one another, which are produced by a structuring method and thereby initially have at least one minimal distance from one another characteristic of the structuring method. The first micro-element (1) is then switched to the other stable state (B) whereby the distance between the faces (3a, 4a) facing one another is smaller than the characteristic minimal distance for the structuring method. The micro-electromechanical system can be constructed as an electrostatically actuatable microswitch with improved switchability. Laterally and horizontally operating micro-electromechanical systems with new functionality and current-free closed relays can be implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: ABB Research LTD
    Inventor: Ralf Strümpler
  • Publication number: 20050225311
    Abstract: The invention is concerned with a binary voltage indicator for use with high- or medium voltage equipment. The indicator comprises a photoactive layer (5) which changes its reflectivity or emissivity when subjected to an electric field and which is applied directly onto the surface of a conductor. The photoactive layer is based on materials as used for low-voltage displays, such as electrophoretic films.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Publication date: October 13, 2005
    Applicant: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Ralf Strumpler, Joachim Glatz-Richenbach
  • Patent number: 6932928
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel method of producing a resistor device comprising a PTC-polymer element 2 and a varistor element 4. Both elements are molded in a common molding process using one common mold. Preferred is co-injection molding. The invention further relates to the resistor device thus produced and a current limit means including the resistor device and a switch (FIG. 4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Ralf Strümpler, Ruzica Loitzl-Jelenic, Joachim Glatz-Reichenbach
  • Publication number: 20050093141
    Abstract: A micro-electromechanical system comprises a substrate (S) and at least two micro-elements (1, 2) of which a first is bistably switchable. The micro-elements (1, 2) have faces (3a, 4a) facing one another, which are produced by a structuring method and thereby initially have at least one minimal distance from one another characteristic of the structuring method. The first micro-element (1) is then switched to the other stable state (B) whereby the distance between the faces (3a, 4a) facing one another is smaller than the characteristic minimal distance for the structuring method. The micro-electromechanical system can be constructed as an electrostatically actuatable microswitch with improved switchability. Laterally and horizontally operating micro-electromechanical systems with new functionality and current-free closed relays can be implemented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Inventor: Ralf Strumpler
  • Patent number: 6743989
    Abstract: A microswitch produced from a predominantly plate-shaped substrate can include: a stationary contact piece (7, 9) on the substrate, a moveable contact piece (6), which electrical contacts the stationary contact piece (7, 9) in the switch-on position of the switch and is electrically isolated from the stationary contact piece in the switch-off position of the switch, a bendable contact carrier (1) which holds the moveable contact piece (6) and is fixed to the substrate by two ends (2, 3), and a drive (10) which guides the contact carrier (1) into the switch-on or switch-off position by elastic deformation. The contact carrier (1) can deform in substrate-parallel fashion. In a stable position corresponding to the switch-off position, the contact carrier (1) has the form of a symmetrical antinode. In a stable position corresponding to the switch-on position, the contact carrier (1) is deformed in the manner of an asymmetrical antinode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventor: Ralf Strümpler
  • Patent number: 6738246
    Abstract: The invention relates to a combination of a microrelay switch (1) switching off small overcurrents, and a short-circuit current limiter, for example a fuse link, a PTC thermistor 16 or a power breaker, for limiting or switching of large overcurrents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventor: Ralf Strümpler
  • Patent number: 6628485
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for limiting an electrical current by using a PTC resistor being monitored by a monitor circuit. According to the invention, the monitor circuit issues a signal only after detecting the status of the PTC resistor for a defined time period after a PTC resistance change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Erkki Rajala, Ralf Strümpler, Joachim Glatz-Reichenbach, Timo Jokiniemi
  • Publication number: 20030169136
    Abstract: The microswitch is produced from a substrate of predominantly plate-type design and has at least the following component parts: a stationary contact piece (7, 9) fitted on the substrate, a moveable contact piece (6), which makes electrical contact with the stationary contact piece (7, 9) in the switch-on position of the switch and is isolated from the stationary contact piece in the switch-off position of the switch, a bendable contact carrier (1), which holds the moveable contact piece (6) and is fixed to the substrate by two ends (2, 3), and a drive (10) which guides the contact carrier (1) into the switch-on or switch-off position by elastic deformation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventor: Ralf Strumpler
  • Patent number: 6613993
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel micro relay for switching electric currents, in which a movable contact piece 1 moves parallel to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventor: Ralf Strümpler
  • Publication number: 20030154591
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel method of producing a resistor device comprising a PTC-polymer element 2 and a varistor element 4. Both elements are moulded in a common moulding process using one common mould. Preferred is co-injection moulding. The invention further relates to the resistor device thus produced and a current limit means including the resistor device and a switch (FIG. 4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventors: Ralf Strumpler, Ruzica Loitzl-Jelenic, Joachim Glatz-Reichenbach
  • Patent number: 6563683
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel electrical switching device which comprises a switch panel 1 with series-connected and parallel-connected microrelay cells 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventor: Ralf Strúmpler
  • Patent number: 6515570
    Abstract: A fuse has a fuse element (6), composed of silver, with constrictions (7) which follow one another at regular intervals, and which fuse element makes contact with a combustible element (8), preferably over its entire length. The combustible element (8) is composed of a combustion compound, which is essentially of a fuel such as guanidine or a guanidine derivative and a metal such as Mg or Al and an oxidant such as KNO3, NaNO3, NH4NO3, KClO4, NaClO4, KMnO4, the proportion of which is overstoichiometric by a factor of at least 1.1, and preferably of at least 10. The combustible compound also preferably contains a binding agent such as paraffin, a thermoplastic or an elastomer, so that it can be extruded. It has an ignition temperature of between 160° C. and 260° C. and emits more than 200 J/g of heat, so that it ignites even in the event of small overcurrents and melts the entire length of the fuse element (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Uwe Kaltenborn, Ralf Strümpler, Joachim Glatz-Reichenbach, Felix Greuter
  • Patent number: 6492799
    Abstract: An electrical monitor circuit in which star points of taps on a first and a second side of a three-phase current limiting device are voltage compared. Possible applications are combinations with electrical switches, especially for power supplying and protecting circuits for electrical motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Erkki Rajala, Ralf Strümpler, Timo Jokiniemi
  • Patent number: 6469611
    Abstract: The nonlinear resistor has varistor behaviour and has a matrix and a filler in powder form which is embedded in the matrix. The filler contains sintered varistor granules with predominantly spherical particles of doped metal oxide. These particles are made up of crystalline grains separated from one another by grain boundaries. The filler also contains electrically conductive particles, which cover at most a part of the surfaces of the spherical particles, and/or the varistor granules contain two fractions of particles with different sizes, of which the particles in the first fraction have larger diameters than the particles in the second fraction and are arranged essentially in the form of close sphere packing and the particles in the second fraction fill the interstices formed by the sphere packing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Petra Kluge-Weiss, Felix Greuter, Ralf Strümpler
  • Patent number: 6429766
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electric device with a PTC polymer element having a constriction. The constriction defines a web extending in a main current direction over a length longer than in the prior art, namely longer than 5 mm, preferably longer than 15 mm. Further, the aperture angle of the PTC polymer material at the ends of the web is larger than 100°. A preferred choice of material is given, further. The invention achieves very high voltage-withstand capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Joachim Glatz-Reichenbach, Ralf Strümpler
  • Publication number: 20020084883
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical device with a PTC polymer element having a constriction. The constriction defines a web extending in a main current direction over a length longer than in the prior art, namely longer than 5 mm, preferably longer than 15 mm. Further, the aperture angle of the PTC polymer material at the ends of the web is larger than 100°. A preferred choice of material is given, further. The invention achieves very high voltage-withstand capabilities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventors: Joachim Glatz-Reichenbach, Ralf Strumpler
  • Patent number: 6396383
    Abstract: A protective element for protecting in particular an electric motor against overload currents includes in a polymer matrix, preferably ETFE, for example 40% (by volume) of a first powdered filler of a conductive material, preferably TiB2, so that, as in the case of a PTC element, the resistance increases abruptly at a switching temperature corresponding to the melting temperature of the polymer. Also added are 20% (by volume) of a second powdered filler, a phase transition material which, at a critical temperature below the switching temperature, undergoes a phase transition in which it absorbs heat of transformation. As a result, the response time (T) of the protective element is notably extended in a range of the overload current factor (F) corresponding to higher permissible motor starting currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Joachim Glatz-Reichenbach, Felix Greuter, Ruzica Loitzl-Jelenic, Jörgen Skindhoj, Ralf Strümpler
  • Publication number: 20010019300
    Abstract: A fuse has a fuse element (6), for example composed of silver, with constrictions (7) which follow one another at regular intervals, and which fuse element makes contact with a combustible element (8), preferably over its entire length. Said combustible element (8) is composed of a combustion compound, which consists essentially of a fuel such as guanidine or a guanidine derivative and a metal such as Mg or Al and an oxidant such as KNO3, NaNO3, NH4NO3, KClO4, NaClO4, KMnO4, the proportion of which is overstoichiometric by a factor of at least 1.1, and preferably of at least 10. The combustible compound also preferably contains a binding agent such as paraffin, a thermoplastic or an elastomer, so that it can be extruded. It has an ignition temperature of between 160° C. and 260° C. and emits more than 200 J/g of heat, so that it ignites even in the event of small overcurrents and melts the entire length of the fuse element (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Publication date: September 6, 2001
    Inventors: Uwe Kaltenborn, Ralf Strumpler, Joachim Glatz-Reichenbach, Felix Greuter