Patents by Inventor Thomas Berger

Thomas Berger 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).

  • Publication number: 20060011758
    Abstract: A grinding mechanism for a food waste disposer includes a grinding ring defining a plurality of window openings therethrough. A backing member receives the grinding ring and defines a plurality of cavities therein corresponding to the window openings. A plurality of stacked disks form a rotatable shredder plate that is situated to rotate relative to the grinding plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Publication date: January 19, 2006
    Applicant: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventors: Steven Hanson, Richard Junk, Cynthia Jara-Almonte, Thomas Berger
  • Publication number: 20060001328
    Abstract: The present invention proposes a method for manufacturing a stator for an electric machine, in which strip-shaped laminations (21) are first stacked to form an essentially block-shaped lamination packet (40) that is then shaped into an annular form by means of roller bending in one of the subsequent steps; the annular form has an axial direction (a), which corresponds to a cylinder axis (z), and axial end surfaces (46). In another of the subsequent steps, the annular lamination packet (40) is plastically deformed in the axial direction (a) at least in some parts of the axial end surfaces (46). The present invention also proposes a stator for an electric machine, in particular a generator for motor vehicles, which is comprised of a stator yoke that is composed of rolled strip-shaped laminations (21) and has axial end surfaces (46). The stator yoke is plastically deformed in the axial direction (a) on the end surfaces (46).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Publication date: January 5, 2006
    Inventors: Eberhard Rau, Thomas Berger, Martin Henne, Klaus Pflueger
  • Publication number: 20050158256
    Abstract: A cosmetics tester including a transparent support medium in the form of a sheet. The support medium is partly covered by a motif. Preferably at least two visually different motifs are provided which are formed from at least one cosmetic composition, for example, a nail varnish, with the compositions being permanently attached to the support medium. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a cosmetics tester wherein at least one cosmetic composition is screen-printed onto a transparent support medium so as to obtain a motif capable of being permanently attached to the support medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Publication date: July 21, 2005
    Applicant: L'OREAL
    Inventor: Thomas Berger
  • Patent number: 6874991
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fan apparatus for an electrical machine, with a fan (10), which can be rotated around an axis, wherein air flows into the fan (10) in the axial direction and out of the fan (10) in the radial direction, a bearing plate (12), and a magnet wheel (14), wherein a flow conduit (16) is at least partially bounded by the bearing plate (12) and the magnet wheel (14) and the flow cross section of the flow conduit (16) is essentially constant in the radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Horst Braun, Thomas Berger, Uwe Knappenberger
  • Publication number: 20050071177
    Abstract: The methods of the invention include interrogating a user provided “Abandoned Property DataBase” (APDB) and assigning a probable escheat jurisdiction to each account based on a series of user-selected processing options. The invention appends confidence codes indicating how each escheat decision was reached, enabling users to make informed decisions as to which accounts require additional manual review and ultimately, which escheat to each jurisdiction. The invention can also correct addresses, parse extraneous data, append alternate escheat jurisdictions, provide Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) compliance validation, and allow real-time review and updating of account data and escheat determinations. The invention will increase the likelihood of lost assets being reunited with their rightful owners and/or turned over to the proper jurisdiction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Inventor: Thomas Berger
  • Publication number: 20050067911
    Abstract: A stator for an electrical machine is proposed that has a stator winding (45) that is held by a stator core (10) that is formed into an annular shape. The stator core (10) has grooves (14) and teeth (13) on its radially inwardly oriented circumference. The stator core (10) is composed of layered stator sheet metal lamellae (11), the direction of the layers defining an axial direction (a). It is provided that at least a first stator sheet metal lamella (20) has a higher flexural strength than second stator sheet metal lamellae (21), the at least one first stator sheet metal lamella (20) having a thickness (dLE) in the axial direction (a) that does not exceed 4 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Inventors: Wolfgang Harrer, Eberhard Rau, Thomas Berger
  • Patent number: 6855455
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrode unit for rechargeable electrochemical cells, e.g. accumulator cells, whose energy storage properties are drawn from the deposition of an element such as metal or an alloy. The electrode unit has an electrode (2) and a porous separator (5a) nearly completely surrounding said electrode, wherein an electrically insulating spacer (3) covering at least one face of the electrode is disposed between the electrode and the separator. The spacer according to the invention makes it possible to provide the necessary space for the metal or alloy deposited on the electrode, particularly during charging of the accumulator cell. The mechanical pressure as a result of changes in the volume of the electrode due to the deposited metal or alloy are intercepted, thereby reliably preventing short circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Thomas Berger, Birgit Fuchs, Angela Piepke
  • Publication number: 20040246095
    Abstract: A security device (1) is disclosed, which permits the controlled access of authorised personnel to vulnerable security regions. According to the invention, the security device (1) is provided with a bus system (3), connecting a central control device to several actuators (4), each of which is allocated to one of the security regions (2). Access authorisation is monitored and controlled by means of a personal identification device (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas Berger, Robert Gassner, Andre Kling, Hartmut Schumacher
  • Publication number: 20040239191
    Abstract: A striplike lamination (10) for a stator of an electrical machine is proposed, in which the striplike lamination has an end contour (19) on each strip end (18). The end contours (19) are embodied such that a difference in length at the lamination (10) resulting from bending can be compensated for.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: Klaus Pflueger, Martin Henne, Thomas Berger, Erberhard Rau, Wolfgang Harrer
  • Publication number: 20040072347
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing mature and stable dendritic cells or immature dendritic cells which comprises cultivating hematopoietic progenitor cells in a sterile cultivating apparatus, an apparatus suitable for said method and a method for preparing peripheral blood mononuclear cells, which are suitable for cultivation of dendritic cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: Gerold Schuler, Beatrice Thurner-Schuler, Thomas Berger
  • Publication number: 20030228217
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fan apparatus for an electrical machine, with a fan (10), which can be rotated around an axis, wherein air flows into the fan (10) in the axial direction and out of the fan (10) in the radial direction, a bearing plate (12), and a magnet wheel (14), wherein a flow conduit (16) is at least partially bounded by the bearing plate (12) and the magnet wheel (14) and the flow cross section of the flow conduit (16) is essentially constant in the radial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2003
    Publication date: December 11, 2003
    Inventors: Horst Braun, Thomas Berger, Uwe Knappenberger
  • Publication number: 20030218277
    Abstract: According to a known method for producing a component by means of a powdery starting material, powder is mixed with auxiliaries comprising binding agents, whereby a free-flowing mass is produced. A green body is produced from the mass by means of powder injection moulding. A portion of the auxiliaries is extracted by heating the green body in a container and exposing said body to a stream of solvents. The green body is sintered, whereby the component is produced. The aim of the invention is to enable fast and gentle extraction for releasing green bodies which are produced by means of powder injection moulding. According to the invention, the extraction comprises a heating-up phase during which the temperature of the green body is permanently or gradually increased and the green body is overflown by solvent in the form of a compressed, supercritical treatment gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas Berger, Henry Cohrt, Heribert Dierkes
  • Patent number: 6413430
    Abstract: A process for separation of an oil-containing aqueous emulsion includes mixing the oil-containing aqueous emulsion with carbon-dioxide and subjecting the emulsion and carbon dioxide for a specified time within an autoclave to an elevated pressure and an elevated temperature. A rising stream of bubbles is formed within the autoclave by suddenly relieving the pressure within the autoclave with the rising stream of bubbles serving to separate the oil-containing aqueous emulsion into an oil-rich phase and an oil-depleted emulsion. The oil depleted emulsion is transferred to a segrating tank. At least a fraction of the oil-depleted emulsion within the segregated tank is subjected to ultrafiltration to separate the fraction into a permeate and a retentate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Messer Griesheim GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Berger
  • Patent number: 6284302
    Abstract: In a process for cooling and atomizing liquid or pasty substances or mixtures of substances, a liquid or pasty substance/mixture of substances is combined with liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide and then the mixture of liquid or pasty substance/mixture of substances and liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide is expanded. An apparatus for cooling liquid or pasty substances or mixtures of substances has a storage vessel for the liquid or pasty substance/mixture of substances, to which is allocated a line in which a device for transporting the liquid or pasty substance/mixture of substances is disposed. The apparatus has a source of liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide, to which source is allocated a line, and it has a connection point via which the line allocated to the storage vessel for the liquid or pasty substance/mixture of substances is connected to the line allocated to the source of liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide, and which has an expansion apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Messer Griesheim GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Berger, Guido Büschkens, Klaus Lingler, Peter Nobis
  • Patent number: 6044895
    Abstract: A continuous casting and rolling system for steel strips includes a vertically working two-roll casting device, a first device for adding molten steel to the casting device, a second device for guiding a cast strip produced by the casting device into a horizontal position, a horizontally working rolling mill for working the cast strip, and a reel device receiving the strip worked in the horizontally working rolling mill. Each of the casting device, the first device, the second device, the horizontally working rolling mill and the reel device are controlled by respective individual closed-loop control systems. The system also includes a central control system connected to the first device, the casting device, the second device, the rolling mill and the reel device for an integrated adjustment of the respective individual closed-loop control systems as a function of mathematical models.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Werner Kuttner, Friedemann Schmid, Hannes Schulze Horn, Kurt Hohendahl, Thomas Berger, Immo Domnig
  • Patent number: 5981696
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process for preparing coating powder compositions in which one or a plurality of base resins and one or a plurality of hardeners, each of which is in solid form, is dissolved with a low-molecular compound above its critical pressure and critical temperature. This low-molecular compound is inert with respect to the base resins and hardeners and is in gaseous form under normal operating conditions with respect to pressure and temperature. The pressure of the resultant solution is then reduced, for example, by spraying. The resultant coating powder composition can be sprayed directly onto a substrate to be coated. Coating powders can also be recycled according to the process of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Herberts GmbH
    Inventors: Dietrich Saatweber, Karin Maag, Wolfgang Diener, Peter Klostermann, Thomas Berger
  • Patent number: 5586861
    Abstract: A centrifugal fan is provided with an inlet cone that serves to measure air flow through the fan. The inlet cone has a flared inlet for receiving air, a narrow throat, and a flared outlet for expelling air into the center of a rotating fan wheel. Pressure taps are provided to measure the static pressure at the inlet and the throat. The difference between these pressures, adjusted for the empirically determined characteristics of the inlet cone, can be used as an indication of air flow. In one aspect of the invention, a controller monitors the pressure differential, calculates a flow rate based on the characteristics of the cone, and adjusts the fan speed to maintain a desired air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Pace Company
    Inventor: Thomas A. Berger
  • Patent number: D362331
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Inventor: Thomas Berger, II