Patents by Inventor Rolf Dittmann

Rolf Dittmann 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: 9532818
    Abstract: An orthopedic nail of generally rod-like shape having a through hole extending from a first side to a second side of the orthopedic nail and being adapted to receive a screw and/or a pin, a first end of the through hole at the first side defining a rim region, wherein at least one surface notch is provided in the rim region at and restricted to an outer circumferential surface of the orthopedic nail, the surface notch being arranged transverse to a nail axis of the orthopedic nail, a width (W) of the surface notch in the direction of the nail axis being smaller than a diameter of the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Zimmer GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas E. Schwammberger, Jordan Velikov, Rolf Dittmann
  • Patent number: 9474557
    Abstract: The present invention provides an intramedullary nail having a body with a transverse bore extending through the body and having an area of enhanced stress distribution on at least the lateral side of the transverse bore. In one exemplary embodiment, the intramedullary nail includes a cutout adjacent to the transverse bore, such as an oblique cutout, that enhances the stress distribution of the intramedullary nail in the region around the lateral opening of the transverse bore. In one exemplary embodiment, the cutout includes a ramp portion or area that defines the lateral opening of the transverse bore. In other exemplary embodiments, the cutout includes a runout or a substantially flat portion that defines the lateral opening of the transverse bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Zimmer GmbH
    Inventors: Andy Schwammberger, Jordan Velikov, Reto Senger, Rolf Dittmann
  • Publication number: 20140135767
    Abstract: The present invention provides an intramedullary nail having a body with a transverse bore extending through the body and having an area of enhanced stress distribution on at least the lateral side of the transverse bore. In one exemplary embodiment, the intramedullary nail includes a cutout adjacent to the transverse bore, such as an oblique cutout, that enhances the stress distribution of the intramedullary nail in the region around the lateral opening of the transverse bore. In one exemplary embodiment, the cutout includes a ramp portion or area that defines the lateral opening of the transverse bore. In other exemplary embodiments, the cutout includes a runout or a substantially flat portion that defines the lateral opening of the transverse bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2014
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: ZIMMER GMBH
    Inventors: Andy Schwammberger, Jordan Velikov, Reto Senger, Rolf Dittmann
  • Patent number: 8668695
    Abstract: The present invention provides an intramedullary nail having a body with a transverse bore extending through the body and having an area of enhanced stress distribution on at least the lateral side of the transverse bore. In one exemplary embodiment, the intramedullary nail includes a cutout adjacent to the transverse bore, such as an oblique cutout, that enhances the stress distribution of the intramedullary nail in the region around the lateral opening of the transverse bore. In one exemplary embodiment, the cutout includes a ramp portion or area that defines the lateral opening of the transverse bore. In other exemplary embodiments, the cutout includes a runout or a substantially flat portion that defines the lateral opening of the transverse bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Zimmer GmbH
    Inventors: Andy Schwammberger, Jordan Velikov, Reto Senger, Rolf Dittmann
  • Publication number: 20120265202
    Abstract: An orthopedic nail (10) of generally rod-like shape having a through hole (2) extending from a first side (4) to a second side (6) of said orthopedic nail (10) and being adapted to receive a screw (22) and/or a pin, a first end of said through hole (2) at said first side (4) defining a rim region (48), wherein at least one surface notch (8; 26) is provided in said rim region (48) at and restricted to an outer circumferential surface of said orthopaedic nail (10), said surface notch (8; 26) being arranged transverse to a nail axis (28) of said orthopedic nail (10), a width (W) of said surface notch (8; 26) in the direction of said nail axis (28) being smaller than a diameter of said through hole (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: ZIMMER GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas E. Schwammberger, Jordan Velikov, Rolf Dittmann
  • Patent number: 7815129
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for continuously delivering and non-intermittently introducing a liquid into a main flow. An exemplary apparatus includes a supply line, a delivery line, a delivery device for delivering a mass flow of the liquid from the supply line to the delivery line, and at least one atomizing element communicating with the delivery line. A branch line which branches off from the delivery line can be arranged in the delivery direction downstream of the delivery device and upstream of the atomizing element, at least one changeover and/or regulating member for shutting off and/or throttling the branch line being arranged in combination with the branch line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Stefan Lecheler, Rolf Dittmann
  • Publication number: 20100174284
    Abstract: The present invention provides an intramedullary nail having a body with a transverse bore extending through the body and having an area of enhanced stress distribution on at least the lateral side of the transverse bore. In one exemplary embodiment, the intramedullary nail includes a cutout adjacent to the transverse bore, such as an oblique cutout, that enhances the stress distribution of the intramedullary nail in the region around the lateral opening of the transverse bore. In one exemplary embodiment, the cutout includes a ramp portion or area that defines the lateral opening of the transverse bore. In other exemplary embodiments, the cutout includes a runout or a substantially flat portion that defines the lateral opening of the transverse bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: ZIMMER, GMBH
    Inventors: Andy Schwammberger, Jordan Velikov, Reto Senger, Rolf Dittmann
  • Patent number: 7481060
    Abstract: A power plant comprises an air-breathing combustion engine having an air inlet and an inflow duct arranged upstream of the air inlet, as well as an atomization device arranged in the inflow duct. In a method for operating this power plant, a liquid is injected into the inflow duct in the atomization device. During the injection, at least the temperature of the atomization liquid which is to be injected upstream of the atomization device or the temperature in the inflow duct downstream of the atomization device is measured. One of these measured temperatures is used as control variable for control of the temperature of the atomization liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Carlos Jimenez Haertel, Sasha Savic, Rolf Dittmann
  • Patent number: 7329084
    Abstract: Suitable means for driving a flow are arranged in annular or ring-segment-shaped cavities that are formed in particular in multi-shell casings of turbomachines. Arranged inside the cavity are ejectors that are supplied via suitable means with a motive-fluid flow which in turn excites the flow, preferably a circumferential flow or a helical flow. The invention is suitable in particular for avoiding casing distortions when turbomachines are at rest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Rolf Dittmann, Jonas Hurter, Robert Marmilic, Pierre Meylan, Ernst Pauli
  • Publication number: 20070001026
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for continuously delivering and non-intermittently introducing a liquid into a main flow. An exemplary apparatus includes a supply line, a delivery line, a delivery device for delivering a mass flow of the liquid from the supply line to the delivery line, and at least one atomizing element communicating with the delivery line. A branch line which branches off from the delivery line can be arranged in the delivery direction downstream of the delivery device and upstream of the atomizing element, at least one changeover and/or regulating member for shutting off and/or throttling the branch line being arranged in combination with the branch line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Applicant: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Stefan Lecheler, Rolf Dittmann
  • Patent number: 7143573
    Abstract: A gas turbine set, with a cooling air system through which at least one cooling air mass flow flows from a compressor to thermally highly loaded components of the gas turbine set. Pressure increasing ejectors are arranged in a cooling air duct of the cooling air system for increasing the pressure of flowing cooling air. The ejectors are operable with a working fluid. The working fluid mass flow is less than twenty percent of a driven cooling air mass flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Alstom Switzerland Ltd
    Inventors: Juergen Hoffmann, Stefan Rofka, René Waelchli, Rolf Dittmann
  • Publication number: 20060248897
    Abstract: A power plant comprises an air-breathing combustion engine having an air inlet and an inflow duct arranged upstream of the air inlet, as well as an atomization device arranged in the inflow duct. In a method for operating this power plant, a liquid is injected into the inflow duct in the atomization device. During the injection, at least the temperature of the atomization liquid which is to be injected upstream of the atomization device or the temperature in the inflow duct downstream of the atomization device is measured. One of these measured temperatures is used as control variable for control of the temperature of the atomization liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Publication date: November 9, 2006
    Applicant: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Carlos Haertel, Sasha Savic, Rolf Dittmann
  • Patent number: 7069727
    Abstract: A gas turbo group has a combustion chamber comprising a catalytic burner stage (2), a preburner stage (1) located upstream from the catalytic burner stage, as well as a non-catalytic burner stage (11, 5, 6) located downstream from the catalytic burner stage. The preburner stage serves to always maintain a temperature (T1) at the inlet into the catalytic stage that corresponds at least to a minimum temperature (TMIN) necessary for operating the catalytic burner stage. According to the invention, the gas turbo group is operated so that the burner stage located downstream from the catalytic combustion chamber is taken into operation only when the temperature (T2) at the outlet from the catalytic stage has reached an upper limit in the presence of a maximum combustion air mass flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Jaan Hellat, Stefan Tschirren, Rolf Dittmann
  • Patent number: 6978622
    Abstract: In order to avoid the “buckling” of multi-shell turbomachine casings during a cooling phase following the shutdown, it is proposed to provide means in order to suitably discharge warm medium which collects at a point of the casing cavity situated at the highest geodetic level. In an embodiment, it is proposed to allow the corresponding lines to open out in the stack of a power plant; the stack draft effect assists the flow even further. Regulating members are advantageously provided in the lines in order to shut off these lines during operation of the turbomachine on the one hand and in order not to arrange the flow through the casing cavities too intensively on the other hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Rolf Dittmann, Jonas Hurter, Robert Marmilic, Pierre Meylan, Ernst Pauli
  • Publication number: 20050150232
    Abstract: In order to avoid the “buckling” of multi-shell turbomachine casings during a cooling phase following the shutdown, it is proposed to provide means in order to suitably discharge warm medium which collects at a point of the casing cavity situated at the highest geodetic level. In an embodiment, it is proposed to allow the corresponding lines to open out in the stack of a power plant; the stack draft effect assists the flow even further. Regulating members are advantageously provided in the lines in order to shut off these lines during operation of the turbomachine on the one hand and in order not to arrange the flow through the casing cavities too intensively on the other hand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Publication date: July 14, 2005
    Inventors: Rolf Dittmann, Jonas Hurter, Robert Marmilic, Pierre Meylan, Ernst Pauli
  • Patent number: 6901760
    Abstract: An aerodynamically stabilized premixing burner includes a swirl generator for the production of a rotating combustion air flow, and a device for the introduction of at least one fuel into this combustion air flow. The burner is advantageously provided with a device for the introduction of an axial air flow into the center of the generated rotational flow. This axial air flow is controllable in order to affect the position and intensity of the flame-stabilizing recirculation zone at the burner mouth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Alstom Technology LTD
    Inventors: Rolf Dittmann, Christian Steinbach
  • Publication number: 20050056001
    Abstract: In a power generation plant, for example a power station plant for the generation of electricity, a secondary machine (1a, 1b, 1c, 2) is connected downstream of an open-cycle gas turboset (100) for the utilization of the waste heat of the exhaust gases (107). The secondary machine is a machine working in a closed cycle with a gaseous process fluid, for example a closed-cycle gas turboset having a compressor (1a, 1b, 1c), a device for heating the compressed gas (6) which utilize the waste heat of the exhaust gas (107) of the primary gas turboset (100), a turbine (2) and at least one heat sink (13). In one embodiment, intercoolers (41, 42) are arranged during the compression process. A variable cycle charge of the secondary machine permits superior flexibility in the utilization of greatly varying supplies of waste heat available.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Publication date: March 17, 2005
    Inventors: Hans Frutschi, Rolf Dittmann
  • Publication number: 20040228723
    Abstract: Suitable means for driving a flow are arranged in annular or ring-segment-shaped cavities that are formed in particular in multi-shell casings of turbomachines. Arranged inside the cavity are ejectors that are supplied via suitable means with a motive-fluid flow which in turn excites the flow, preferably a circumferential flow or a helical flow. The invention is suitable in particular for avoiding casing distortions when turbomachines are at rest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Inventors: Rolf Dittmann, Jonas Hurter, Robert Marmilic, Pierre Meylan, Ernst Pauli
  • Publication number: 20040216462
    Abstract: A gas turbo group has a combustion chamber comprising a catalytic burner stage (2), a preburner stage (1) located upstream from the catalytic burner stage, as well as a non-catalytic burner stage (11, 5, 6) located downstream from the catalytic burner stage. The preburner stage serves to always maintain a temperature (T1) at the inlet into the catalytic stage that corresponds at least to a minimum temperature (TMIN) necessary for operating the catalytic burner stage. According to the invention, the gas turbo group is operated so that the burner stage located downstream from the catalytic combustion chamber is taken into operation only when the temperature (T2) at the outlet from the catalytic stage has reached an upper limit in the presence of a maximum combustion air mass flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: Jaan Hellat, Stefan Tschirren, Rolf Dittmann
  • Publication number: 20040139748
    Abstract: An aerodynamically stabilized premixing burner includes a swirl generator for the production of a rotating combustion air flow, and a device for the introduction of at least one fuel into this combustion air flow. The burner is advantageously provided with a device for the introduction of an axial air flow into the center of the generated rotational flow. This axial air flow is controllable in order to affect the position and intensity of the flame-stabilizing recirculation zone at the burner mouth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Applicant: ALSTOM (Switzerland) Ltd.
    Inventors: Rolf Dittmann, Christian Steinbach