Patents by Inventor Stephan Kraus

Stephan Kraus 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: 11549453
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine, which comprises a combustion unit, a generator coupled with the combustion unit, a fresh gas tract, an exhaust tract, an exhaust gas recirculation line, which branches off of the exhaust tract and opens into the fresh gas tract, and at least one electrical heating device, which is integrated into the exhaust tract or into the exhaust gas recirculation line, characterized in that, during an overrun mode of the combustion unit, the heating device is operated with energy provided by the generator, and exhaust gas heated with the aid of the heating device is partially or completely guided via the exhaust gas recirculation line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ingo Blei, Johannes Bunkus, Stephan Kraus
  • Publication number: 20220298991
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine, which comprises a combustion unit, a generator coupled with the combustion unit, a fresh gas tract, an exhaust tract, an exhaust gas recirculation line, which branches off of the exhaust tract and opens into the fresh gas tract, and at least one electrical heating device, which is integrated into the exhaust tract or into the exhaust gas recirculation line, characterized in that, during an overrun mode of the combustion unit, the heating device is operated with energy provided by the generator, and exhaust gas heated with the aid of the heating device is partially or completely guided via the exhaust gas recirculation line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ingo BLEI, Johannes BUNKUS, Stephan KRAUS
  • Patent number: 10837570
    Abstract: A valve for closing a fluid line, comprising: an inlet element with an inlet line; an outlet element with an outlet line; a closing element which, in a first state, allows a fluid passage between the inlet line and the outlet line and which, in a second state, closes the fluid passage, wherein the closing element, in the first state, is fixedly connected to the inlet element or the outlet element and, in the second state, is detached from the inlet element or the outlet element; an actuator which, when actuated, is configured to move the closing element from the first state towards the second state; and a pretension element which is pretensioned and is configured to move the closing element into the second state after actuation of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: ARIANEGROUP GMBH
    Inventors: Stephan Kraus, Thomas Maier, Markus Wolf, Georg Schulte
  • Patent number: 10215300
    Abstract: A bending frame extends the travel of an actuator for a mechanically actuated component. The bending frame includes a plurality of bendable longitudinal struts, which are arranged about a longitudinal axis on which the travel of the actuator runs. The longitudinal struts each extend in the direction of the longitudinal axis, and an application of force enacted by the actuator long the actuation path on the longitudinal struts causes same to bend in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Respective cross struts extend out toward the longitudinal axis from each of the longitudinal struts, wherein a first end of a respective cross strut is articulated to a respective longitudinal strut and a second end of the respective cross strut opposite to the first end is provided in order to transmit force to the component in the direction of the longitudinal axis for the purpose of actuation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Airbus DS GmbH
    Inventors: David Reith, Stephan Kraus, Thomas Maier
  • Patent number: 9989039
    Abstract: A valve arrangement for an aerospace component includes an inlet, an outlet, and an actuator that can be actuated by a heating element. In a non-actuated state of the actuator, the valve is open to allow flow between the inlet and the outlet. The actuator is a single-use effect shape memory actuator that is compressed in the martensitic state along a longitudinal axis of the actuator and integrated into the valve arrangement. Through the activation of the heating element upon reaching a predetermined transformation temperature, the actuator undergoes a change in length, whereby it is gradually pressed against a seal seat that is embodied at the inlet or the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Airbus DS GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Kraus, Thomas Maier, Markus Wolf, Georg Schulte
  • Publication number: 20180087686
    Abstract: A valve for closing a fluid line, comprising: an inlet element with an inlet line; an outlet element with an outlet line; a closing element which, in a first state, allows a fluid passage between the inlet line and the outlet line and which, in a second state, closes the fluid passage, wherein the closing element, in the first state, is fixedly connected to the inlet element or the outlet element and, in the second state, is detached from the inlet element or the outlet element; an actuator which, when actuated, is configured to move the closing element from the first state towards the second state; and a pretension element which is pretensioned and is configured to move the closing element into the second state after actuation of the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: Stephan KRAUS, Thomas MAIER, Markus WOLF, Georg SCHULTE
  • Patent number: 9810340
    Abstract: A device for opening or closing a seal seat of a valve arranged in a pipe for liquid or gaseous media includes a one-time only activation of the valve using a shape memory actuator. The shape memory actuator changes its external shape abruptly when a transformation temperature is reached that is dependent upon its alloy composition. The transformation temperature can be generated by a controllable electrical heating device of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Astrium GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Kraus, Thomas Maier, Markus Wolf
  • Patent number: 9746092
    Abstract: A valve assembly includes an inlet and an outlet, which open into a working chamber of the valve assembly, and an actuator. In a non-actuated state of the actuator, a flow passage between the inlet and the outlet is blocked. The actuator is optionally a shape-memory actuator that can be actuated one time or comprises a shape-memory actuator, which suddenly changes its external shape upon reaching a conversion temperature, which is dependent on the alloy composition thereof, and which can be generated by a controllable electrical heating device of the valve assembly. The actuator irreversibly destroys a pipe element separating the inlet from the outlet in the working chamber upon actuation, whereby the inlet and the outlet are connected to one another with respect to flow via the working chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Airbus DS GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Wolf, Thomas Maier, Stephan Kraus
  • Patent number: 9366352
    Abstract: A valve assembly for switching and/or regulating a medium flow of an aerospace engine includes a drive, a valve and a flexible separator element. The drive includes one or more electrically actuatable actuators, which change their length in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the valve assembly when a control voltage is applied to the actuators. The valve includes a valve piston, which can be moved back and forth along the longitudinal axis by the drive and which has a valve member. The flexible separator element delimits a working space of the valve from the drive, as a result of which the medium, which flows through the valve or is present in the working space, is hermetically separated from the drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Astrium GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Kraus, Thomas Maier
  • Publication number: 20150369373
    Abstract: A bending frame extends the travel of an actuator for a mechanically actuated component. The bending frame includes a plurality of bendable longitudinal struts, which are arranged about a longitudinal axis on which the travel of the actuator runs. The longitudinal struts each extend in the direction of the longitudinal axis, and an application of force enacted by the actuator long the actuation path on the longitudinal struts causes same to bend in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Respective cross struts extend out toward the longitudinal axis from each of the longitudinal struts, wherein a first end of a respective cross strut is articulated to a respective longitudinal strut and a second end of the respective cross strut opposite to the first end is provided in order to transmit force to the component in the direction of the longitudinal axis for the purpose of actuation thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: David REITH, Stephan KRAUS, Thomas MAIER
  • Publication number: 20150260300
    Abstract: A valve assembly includes an inlet and an outlet, which open into a working chamber of the valve assembly, and an actuator. In a non-actuated state of the actuator, a flow passage between the inlet and the outlet is blocked. The actuator is optionally a shape-memory actuator that can be actuated one time or comprises a shape-memory actuator, which suddenly changes its external shape upon reaching a conversion temperature, which is dependent on the alloy composition thereof, and which can be generated by a controllable electrical heating device of the valve assembly. The actuator irreversibly destroys a pipe element separating the inlet from the outlet in the working chamber upon actuation, whereby the inlet and the outlet are connected to one another with respect to flow via the working chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventors: Markus WOLF, Thomas MAIER, Stephan KRAUS
  • Publication number: 20150252794
    Abstract: A valve arrangement for an aerospace component includes an inlet, an outlet, and an actuator that can be actuated by a heating element. In a non-actuated state of the actuator, the valve is open to allow flow between the inlet and the outlet. The actuator is a single-use effect shape memory actuator that is compressed in the martensitic state along a longitudinal axis of the actuator and integrated into the valve arrangement. Through the activation of the heating element upon reaching a predetermined transformation temperature, the actuator undergoes a change in length, whereby it is gradually pressed against a seal seat that is embodied at the inlet or the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Stephan KRAUS, Thomas MAIER, Markus WOLF, Georg SCHULTE
  • Publication number: 20150028234
    Abstract: A device for opening or closing a seal seat of a valve arranged in a pipe for liquid or gaseous media includes a one-time only activation of the valve using a shape memory actuator. The shape memory actuator changes its external shape abruptly when a transformation temperature is reached that is dependent upon its alloy composition. The transformation temperature can be generated by a controllable electrical heating device of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Stephan KRAUS, Thomas MAIER, Markus WOLF
  • Publication number: 20150028238
    Abstract: A valve assembly for switching and/or regulating a medium flow of an aerospace engine includes a drive, a valve and a flexible separator element. The drive includes one or more electrically actuatable actuators, which change their length in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the valve assembly when a control voltage is applied to the actuators. The valve includes a valve piston, which can be moved back and forth along the longitudinal axis by the drive and which has a valve member. The flexible separator element delimits a working space of the valve from the drive, as a result of which the medium, which flows through the valve or is present in the working space, is hermetically separated from the drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Stephan KRAUS, Thomas MAIER
  • Patent number: 7896430
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle roof with a roof opening (12) and with a roof section (10) having a roof tip (16) pointing to the front of the vehicle (14) and a roof end (18) pointing to the rear of the vehicle (12). The roof section (10) can be moved along guide tracks (23), which run on both sides of the roof opening, out of a closed position, which closes the roof opening (2), into an open position, which at least partially opens up the roof opening. In order to optimize the vehicle roof to the effect that, in the partially open position and/or during the opening movement while under way, only very low travelling noises, if any at all, are produced and the highest requirements with regard to the sealing in the closed position are met, the opening movement from the closed position of the roof section begins with a movement of the roof end (18) into a lowered position below the roof opening (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Webasto AG
    Inventors: Peter Reihl, Thomas Dintner, Adam Wagner, Reinhard Filsinger, Stephan Kraus
  • Publication number: 20090079226
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle roof with a roof opening (12) and with a roof section (10) having a roof tip (16) pointing to the front of the vehicle (14) and a roof end (18) pointing to the rear of the vehicle (12). The roof section (10) can be moved along guide tracks (23), which run on both sides of the roof opening, out of a closed position, which closes the roof opening (2), into an open position, which at least partially opens up the roof opening. In order to optimize the vehicle roof to the effect that, in the partially open position and/or during the opening movement while under way, only very low travelling noises, if any at all, are produced and the highest requirements with regard to the sealing in the closed position are met, the opening movement from the closed position of the roof section begins with a movement of the roof end (18) into a lowered position below the roof opening (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: Peter Reihl, Thomas Dintner, Adam Wagner, Reinhard Filsinger, Stephan Kraus
  • Patent number: 7394713
    Abstract: A memory device is provided, the memory device having a memory cell, a programming unit for programming the memory cell, and a switching unit for optionally connecting or isolating a terminal of the memory cell to or from a potential which serves for altering an electrical property of the memory cell and for thereby effecting an altered programming state of the memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Matthias Knopf, Stephan Kraus, Gunther Lehmann
  • Publication number: 20060268616
    Abstract: A memory device is provided, the memory device having a memory cell, a programming unit for programming the memory cell, and a switching unit for optionally connecting or isolating a terminal of the memory cell to or from a potential which serves for altering an electrical property of the memory cell and for thereby effecting an altered programming state of the memory cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Inventors: Matthias Knopf, Stephan Kraus, Gunther Lehmann