Patents by Inventor Rolf BRÖNNIMANN

Rolf BRÖNNIMANN 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: 10246887
    Abstract: The method includes a tension element, for example in the form of flat steel, that is placed on the structure or structural part and can be guided around a corner. The flat steel can also wrap as a band around the structure, in which the two ends of the flat steel are either connected to one another or are separately connected to the structure by the end anchors or intersect to produce a clamping connection. The flat steel contracts as a result of a subsequent active and controlled input of heat using a heating element and generates a permanent tensile stress and, correspondingly, a permanent prestress on the structure. The structure, as equipped, has at least one tension element as a shape memory alloy which extends along the outer side of the structure and is connected by one or more end anchors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignees: RE-FER AG, EIDGENOESSISCHE MATERIALPRUEFUNGS-UND FORSCHUNGSANSTALT EMPA
    Inventors: Masoud Motavalli, Benedikt Weber, Wookijn Lee, Rolf Broennimann, Christoph Czaderski, Christian Leinenbach, Julien Michels, Moslem Shahverdi
  • Publication number: 20170314277
    Abstract: The method includes a tension element, for example in the form of flat steel, that is placed on the structure or structural part and can be guided around a corner. The flat steel can also wrap as a band around the structure, in which the two ends of the flat steel are either connected to one another or are separately connected to the structure by the end anchors or intersect to produce a clamping connection. The flat steel contracts as a result of a subsequent active and controlled input of heat using a heating element and generates a permanent tensile stress and, correspondingly, a permanent prestress on the structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Applicants: RE-FER AG, EIDGENOESSISCHE MATERIALPRUEFUNGS-UND FORSCHUNGSANSTALT EMPA
    Inventors: Masoud Motavalli, Benedikt Weber, Wookijn Lee, Rolf Broennimann, Christoph Czaderski, Christian Leinenbach
  • Patent number: 9758968
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method according to which a profile consisting of a shape-memory alloy is placed into concrete, or a concrete to be reinforced is roughened on the outside, then profiles (2) consisting of a shape-memory alloy are fastened to the roughened outside (9) of the structure (6) and a cementitious matrix is applied to the roughened outside (9) to cover the profiles (2). After the cementitious matrix has set, said profiles (2) produce a contraction force and thus a tension as a result of the input of heat. The mortar covering layer (16) thereby acts as a reinforcement layer owing to the interlocking of the mortar covering layer (16) with the roughened outside (9) of the structure (6). The profiles (2) run in an outer mortar as a reinforcement layer (16) of the outside of a structure along the outside of the structure inside the mortar or reinforcement layer (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignees: re-Fer AG, EMPA
    Inventors: Christian Leinenbach, Masoud Motavalli, Benedikt Weber, Wookjin Lee, Rolf Brönnimann, Christoph Czaderski
  • Publication number: 20160053492
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method according to which a profile consisting of a shape-memory alloy is placed into concrete, or a concrete to be reinforced is roughened on the outside, then profiles (2) consisting of a shape-memory alloy are fastened to the roughened outside (9) of the structure (6) and a cementitious matrix is applied to the roughened outside (9) to cover the profiles (2). After the cementitious matrix has set, said profiles (2) produce a contraction force and thus a tension as a result of the input of heat. The mortar covering layer (16) thereby acts as a reinforcement layer owing to the interlocking of the mortar covering layer (16) with the roughened outside (9) of the structure (6). The profiles (2) run in an outer mortar as a reinforcement layer (16) of the outside of a structure along the outside of the structure inside the mortar or reinforcement layer (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Applicants: RE-FER AG, EMPA
    Inventors: Christian LEINENBACH, Masoud MOTAVALLI, Benedikt WEBER, Wookjin LEE, Rolf BRÖNNIMANN, Christoph CZADERSKI