Patents by Inventor Ralph Funck

Ralph Funck 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: 11973377
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and a system for pretensioning fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) sleeves surrounding an assembly of parts. The method includes application of pretensioning FRP sleeves surrounding a permanent magnet rotor with surface magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Albany Engineered Composites, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Funck, Jens Jung, Martin Welsch
  • Patent number: 11959511
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a rod end that has a locking mechanism where the locking mechanism has an insert, a fork end, a female torque locking element, and a male torque locking element. Upon activation of the locking mechanism, the female torque locking element engages with the male torque locking element in a form-fitting connection. The locking mechanism of the present invention can easily be activated and is capable of withstanding a torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Albany Engineered Composites, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Funck, Martin Welsch, Alexander Wieland
  • Patent number: 11913499
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and related compositions for producing a positive-locking load application for rod-shaped fiber composite structures, and the design thereof. The present invention concerns a method for producing a positive-locking load application for tension-compression rods from a fiber plastic hollow structure by means of an outer sleeve. In this process, a force pushes the fiber plastic hollow structure at least partially over at least one force application element, which is provided with at least one undercut to create a positive-locking connection. An object of the present invention is attained through local heating of the fiber plastic hollow structure to the point of plasticity of the fiber plastic hollow structure, at least in the region of the undercut(s) of the force application element, and application of at least one outer sleeve to the fiber plastic hollow structure in the region of the force application element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Albany Engineered Composites, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Funck, Martin Welsch
  • Publication number: 20240001626
    Abstract: Disclosed are reinforced structures. The structures are comprised of reinforced elements that have continuous fibers embedded in a matrix material. The reinforced elements are combined in a matrix material to form a desired shape of reinforced structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: Albany Engineered Composites, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Funck, Jens Jung, Martin Welsch
  • Patent number: 11813806
    Abstract: Disclosed are reinforced structures. The structures are comprised of reinforced elements that have continuous fibers embedded in a matrix material. The reinforced elements are combined in a matrix material to form a desired shape of reinforced structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Albany Engineered Composites, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Funck, Jens Jung, Martin Welsch
  • Patent number: 11703078
    Abstract: The invention relates to a strut, such as fiber composite struts used in aircraft or spacecraft, which has a largest possible outer diameter within a cylindrical installation space of the strut. The invention concerns an insert connected to a fiber composite hollow structure, such as a fiber plastic composite hollow structure, where the hollow structure engages an undercut of the insert, wherein the outer region of the fiber composite hollow structure likewise has an undercut and this undercut is filled with a fiber composite jacket, such as a fiber plastic composite jacket, and the inner region of the fiber composite hollow structure has, at least in one subregion, a core connected thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Albany Engineered Composites, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Funck, Martin Welsch
  • Patent number: 11649850
    Abstract: The present invention achieves a high mechanical load capacity of a rod end by means of a component loop that passes around a bearing, where the component may be made of continuous-fiber reinforced composite material with thermoplastic matrix and where the continuous-fiber reinforced composite material with thermoplastic matrix may extend into a threaded stem of the rod end, and the component made of continuous-fiber reinforced composite material with thermoplastic matrix may be enclosed by short-fiber reinforced, long-fiber reinforced, or unreinforced thermoplastic. The threaded stem can be implemented with an external or an internal thread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Albany Engineered Composites, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Funck, Volker Schimmelpfennig
  • Publication number: 20220344989
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and a system for pretensioning fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) sleeves surrounding an assembly of parts. The method includes application of pretensioning FRP sleeves surrounding a permanent magnet rotor with surface magnets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Ralph Funck, Jens Jung, Martin Welsch
  • Publication number: 20210370619
    Abstract: Disclosed are reinforced structures. The structures are comprised of reinforced elements that have continuous fibers embedded in a matrix material. The reinforced elements are combined in a matrix material to form a desired shape of reinforced structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Ralph Funck, Jens Jung, Martin Welsch
  • Publication number: 20210317855
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a rod end that has a locking mechanism where the locking mechanism has an insert, a fork end, a female torque locking element, and a male torque locking element. Upon activation of the locking mechanism, the female torque locking element engages with the male torque locking element in a form-fitting connection. The locking mechanism of the present invention can easily be activated and is capable of withstanding a torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Ralph Funck, Martin Welsch, Alexander Wieland
  • Publication number: 20210071707
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and related compositions for producing a positive-locking load application for rod-shaped fiber composite structures, and the design thereof. The present invention concerns a method for producing a positive-locking load application for tension-compression rods from a fiber plastic hollow structure by means of an outer sleeve. In this process, a force pushes the fiber plastic hollow structure at least partially over at least one force application element, which is provided with at least one undercut to create a positive-locking connection. An object of the present invention is attained through local heating of the fiber plastic hollow structure to the point of plasticity of the fiber plastic hollow structure, at least in the region of the undercut(s) of the force application element, and application of at least one outer sleeve to the fiber plastic hollow structure in the region of the force application element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Ralph Funck, Martin Welsch
  • Publication number: 20200400190
    Abstract: The present invention achieves a high mechanical load capacity of a rod end by means of a component loop that passes around a bearing, where the component may be made of continuous-fiber reinforced composite material with thermoplastic matrix and where the continuous-fiber reinforced composite material with thermoplastic matrix may extend into a threaded stem of the rod end, and the component made of continuous-fiber reinforced composite material with thermoplastic matrix may be enclosed by short-fiber reinforced, long-fiber reinforced, or unreinforced thermoplastic. The threaded stem can be implemented with an external or an internal thread.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: Ralph Funck, Volker Schimmelpfennig
  • Publication number: 20200282664
    Abstract: The invention relates to a strut, such as fiber composite struts used in aircraft or spacecraft, which has a largest possible outer diameter within a cylindrical installation space of the strut, The invention concerns an insert connected to a fiber composite hollow structure, such as a fiber plastic composite hollow structure, where the hollow structure engages an undercut of the insert, wherein the outer region of the fiber composite hollow structure likewise has an undercut and this undercut is filled with a fiber composite jacket, such as a fiber plastic composite jacket, and the inner region of the fiber composite hollow structure has, at least in one subregion, a core connected thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Inventors: Ralph Funck, Martin Welsch
  • Patent number: 7036677
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pressure vessel for storage of solid, liquid and/or gaseous media under an operating pressure above atmospheric pressure, wherein the pressure vessel encloses a hollow space provided for storage of the medium, and is provided with at least one connector for loading and/or unloading. Because the pressure vessel is composed at least in part of a tube that in turn is manufactured from a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic, wherein the thermoplastic material contains more than 10% by volume of fibers with an average fiber length over 50 mm, the pressure vessel has a low weight and a very good resistance to corrosion and resistance to chemically aggressive media, yet it nevertheless withstands the mechanical stresses of the normal high operating pressures up to 25 Mpa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Inventors: Ralph Funck, Joachim Hausmann
  • Patent number: 7032767
    Abstract: A plastic core container is reinforced with a fibre-plastic composite for storing pressurized liquid and/or gaseous media and includes one or more connecting parts located in the neck and/or base and/or cylindrical container part. At least one connecting part is configured to receive a screw-in cylindrical or conical pressure-line feed device. A cylindrical insert is mounted in a connection shank of the plastic core container and has an end collar that envelops or surrounds the end of the connection shank. At least two seals are positioned so that at least one seal lies between the insert and the inner surface of the plastic connecting shank and at least one additional seal lies between the insert and the pressure-line feed device to guarantee a tight and permanent impermeability in the vicinity of the connecting parts, even under extreme, fluctuating thermal and operational stresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Inventor: Ralph Funck
  • Publication number: 20030089723
    Abstract: The invention relates to a plastic core container which is reinforced with a fibre-plastic composite, for storing pressurized liquid and/or gaseous media. Said container comprises one or more connecting parts located in the neck and/or base and/or cylindrical container part. At least one of said connecting parts (3) is configured for receiving a screw-in cylindrical or conical pressure-line feed device, such as for example, a valve or pipe connection. The invention also relates to a method for producing a plastic core container of this type. According to the invention, a cylindrical insert (4) is mounted in the connection shank of the plastic core container, said insert having an end collar that envelopes or surrounds the end of said connection shank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventor: Ralph Funck