Patents by Inventor Steffen Nowotny

Steffen Nowotny 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: 10150183
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of forming a coating or of three-dimensional structural elements on substrate surfaces which is/are formed by TiAl. Said coating/Said three-dimensional structural elements is/are manufactured by laser build-up welding. The procedure is followed in the method in accordance with the invention that titanium and aluminum are supplied into the region of influence of at least one laser beam in wire and/or band form in a pure or alloyed form in each case as a single wire or a single band. They are melted by the thermal input and in this respect the materials are mixed with one another. The coating or three-dimensional structural elements are thereby formed with TiAl on the substrate surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG
    Inventors: Sebastian Thieme, Christoph Leyens, Steffen Nowotny
  • Patent number: 9364919
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for laser deposition welding of powdery welding material. The powdery welding material is conveyed via a nozzle coaxial with respect to a laser beam directed in a focused manner with a constant focal length onto a processing region through the nozzle onto the processing region. Optical elements are arranged in a laser optical unit for the shaping and guidance of the laser beam. The laser optical unit is attached to a processing head and can be moved with the processing head parallel to the laser beam by a first drive. The plane of the focal point can thereby be changed with respect to the surface. The nozzle can be moved independently of the laser optical unit parallel to the optical axis of the laser beam by a second drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Ronny Wappler, Steffen Nowotny, Frank Brueckner, Siegfried Scharek, Robert Muenster, Frank Kubisch, Holger Hillig, Friedrich Kempe
  • Publication number: 20150041442
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of forming a coating or of three-dimensional structural elements on substrate surfaces which is/are formed by TiAl, Said coating/Said three-dimensional structural elements is/are manufactured by laser build-up welding. The procedure is followed in the method in accordance with the invention that titanium and aluminum are supplied into the region of influence of at least one laser beam in wire and/or band form in a pure or alloyed form in each case as a single wire or a single band. They are melted by the thermal input and in this respect the materials are mixed with one another. The coating or three-dimensional structural elements are thereby formed with TiAl on the substrate surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Sebastian Thieme, Christoph Leyens, Steffen Nowotny
  • Patent number: 8809730
    Abstract: The invention relates to a modular system for overlay welding at inwardly disposed surfaces of workpieces using a laser beam. In this respect, a coating can be formed on inwardly disposed surfaces using a powdery welding material. It is the object of the invention to provide possibilities for the overlay welding or for the coating of inwardly disposed surfaces of workpieces with a variable immersion depth, increased flexibility and independence of direction in the processing. A feed for powdery welding material, a feed for protective gas and a feed for a coolant are present on a system in accordance with the invention. The system is formed with a coupling module for the laser beam, at least one beam guiding module for the laser beam and a processing module, which can be connected to one another. A collimated laser beam is directed via the coupling module through the beam guiding modules) onto an optical element focusing the laser beam on the surface of a workpiece to be processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Steffen Nowotny, Siegfried Scharek, Frank Kublech, Friedrich Kempe
  • Publication number: 20120261393
    Abstract: The invention relates to a modular system for overlay welding at inwardly disposed surfaces of workpieces using a laser beam. In this respect, a coating can be formed on inwardly disposed surfaces using a powdery welding material. It is the object of the invention to provide possibilities for the overlay welding or for the coating of inwardly disposed surfaces of workpieces with a variable immersion depth, increased flexibility and independence of direction in the processing. A feed for powdery welding material, a feed for protective gas and a feed for a coolant are present on a system in accordance with the invention. The system is formed with a coupling module for the laser beam, at least one beam guiding module for the laser beam and a processing module, which can be connected to one another. A collimated laser beam is directed via the coupling module through the beam guiding modules) onto an optical element focusing the laser beam on the surface of a workpiece to be processed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventors: Steffen Nowotny, Siegfried Scharek, Frank Kubisch, Friedrich Kempe
  • Patent number: 8129657
    Abstract: The invention relates to a machining head with integrated powder supply for deposition welding using laser radiation. A machining head in accordance with the invention can in particular be used for deposition welding at a high deposition rate. In the machining head in accordance with the invention, the laser radiation is directed to supplied powder and to a material surface with a focal spot. The powder supply takes place symmetrically to the axial feed direction with a plurality of channels arranged oppositely. The channels are aligned at an obliquely inclined angle so that powder discharged from them is supplied into the focal spot of the laser radiation from two mutually oppositely disposed sides over the total width of the focal spot with respect to the axial feed direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Steffen Nowotny, Andreas Schmidt, Siegfried Scharek, Tobias Naumann, Friedrich Kempe
  • Publication number: 20110259858
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for the laser deposition welding of powdery welding material having increased flexibility and reduced costs, in particular for systems engineering. The powdery welding material is conveyed via a nozzle coaxial with respect to a laser beam directed in a focused manner with a constant focal length onto a processing region of a workpiece through the nozzle onto the processing region. A plurality of optical elements are statically arranged in a laser optical unit for the shaping and beam guidance of the laser beam. The laser optical unit it attached to a processing head and can be moved with the processing head parallel to the optical axis of the laser beam by a first drive. The plane of the focal point can thereby be changed with respect to the workpiece surface and to the size of the surface of the focal point in the processing region. The nozzle can be moved independently of the laser optical unit parallel to the optical axis of the laser beam by a second drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V.
    Inventors: RONNY WAPPLER, STEFFEN NOWOTNY, FRANK BRUECKNER, SIEGFRIED SCHAREK, ROBERT MUENSTER, FRANK KUBISCH, HOLGER HILLIG, FRIEDRICH KEMPE
  • Patent number: 7626136
    Abstract: A powder metal cladding nozzle which is coaxially attached to a laser processing head that irradiates a process portion (W) with a laser beam (L) and that discharges powder metal (P) to a laser beam irradiation portion in the process portion (W). The powder metal cladding nozzle includes a body portion (2) that has a ring-shaped powder metal holding space (7) in which the powder metal (P) is held; and a nozzle portion (3) that is connected to the body portion (2) and that has plural discharge passages (18) which are communicated with the powder metal holding space (7) and which open at an outlet (19) for discharging the powder metal (P). The powder metal holding space (7) is formed in the body portion (2) and is divided into plural powder metal holding regions corresponding to plural supply passages (10) that open into the powder metal holding space (7) and that supply the powder metal (P) to the powder metal holding space (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Akio Sato, Yoshinori Ishikawa, Steffen Nowotny, Siegfried Scharek
  • Publication number: 20090057278
    Abstract: The invention relates to a machining head with integrated powder supply for deposition welding using laser radiation. A machining head in accordance with the invention can in particular be used for deposition welding at a high deposition rate. In the machining head in accordance with the invention, the laser radiation is directed to supplied powder and to a material surface with a focal spot. The powder supply takes place symmetrically to the axial feed direction with a plurality of channels arranged oppositely. The channels are aligned at an obliquely inclined angle so that powder discharged from them is supplied into the focal spot of the laser radiation from two mutually oppositely disposed sides over the total width of the focal spot with respect to the axial feed direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Steffen Nowotny, Andreas Schmidt, Siegfried Scharek, Tobias Naumann, Friedrich Kempe
  • Publication number: 20060279731
    Abstract: In material depositing processes such as welding or thermal spraying the large variety of processes and material parameters necessitate a broad range of the resulting characteristics of the applied material. The task of the present invention is comprised of providing a process and a device for determining the quality of specific layer characteristics, in particular their adhesion or strength of joining to the base material. This task is solved thereby, that as the quality characteristic there is employed the degree of mixing of the applied material with the base material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Inventors: Eckhard Beyer, Jorg Hoschele, Steffen Nowotny, Alexander Ohnesorge, Jurgen Steinwandel
  • Patent number: 6744005
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing shaped bodies or applying coatings on workpieces. The aim of the invention is to produce shaped bodies which are structured in an almost arbitrarily three-dimensional manner or contoured coatings are allowed to be formed on most different workpieces wherein simultaneously the required time and energy will be reduced in comparison with conventional procedures. According to the invention, a shaped body will be built-up in layers or a coating that consists of at least two individual layers will be applied on a workpiece. For this, a platform whereon the shaped body will be built-up or the workpiece is held in a clamping device which is movable within at least two axes in relation to two different sources of heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Eckhard Beyer, Steffen Nowotny, Siegfried Scharek
  • Publication number: 20020092834
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for coating a substrate with a plasma arc torch, and with such a plasma arc torch the powdery additive is to be heated, melted open and accelerated towards the surface with plasma gas generated in the plasma arc torch, and with an additional laser beam. In the plasma arc torch, an annular cathode is located or a plurality of individual cathodes are arranged about a longitudinal axis. Gas is supplied into a plasma space which is located between such an annular cathode or the plurality of cathodes, and such an annular anode. With the invention, coating is to be allowed to be formed with a higher speed and deposition rate, respectively, with respect to the conventional solution with the same and increased quality, respectively, and the directional independence for the formation of the coating is to be ensured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur Forderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Steffen Nowotny, Roman Zieris, Tobias Neumann, Gerhard Eckart
  • Patent number: 6316744
    Abstract: The invention relates to a machining head and to a process for the surface machining of workpieces by means of a laser beam, in which coating, alloying in the area close to the surface or dispersion of a peripheral zone of the base material with powder particles can be carried out using a pulverulent filler supplied. The invention is intended to make it possible to maintain, independently of direction, a virtually constant mass flow rate of the powder supplied, the intention being to form a uniform hollow powder jet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Steffen Nowotny, Siegfried Scharek
  • Patent number: 6197386
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for applying a coating by means of plasma spraying to a substrate, in which method the beam of a laser is additionally used, it being possible to coat a very wide variety of substrates in order, in particular, to improve the properties on the substrate surface. Moreover, the method according to the invention is to achieve a high coating rate and, in addition to advantageous adhesion and density of the layer, also to influence in a controlled manner the layer structure which is being formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Eckhard Beyer, Steffen Nowotny