Patents by Inventor Thomas Fehling

Thomas Fehling 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: 20250198829
    Abstract: A monolithic flexure joint arrangement includes a main body (12) through which a first channel pair (24-1) and a second channel pair (24-2) pass. The channel pairs are aligned mutually perpendicular in a radial plane and both intersect with a central axis normal to the radial plane in the center of the main body. Each channel pair has two individual through channels aligned mutually parallel, which are arranged with convexly curved channel wall portions facing one another and adjoining one another such that webs extending between the curved channel wall portions commonly form a flexure joint (22). A central piece (16) of the main body is pivotably articulated to an input piece (18) with a first flexure joint (22-1) formed between the through-channels of the first channel pair as well as to an output piece (20) with a second flexure joint (22-2) formed between the through-channels of the second channel pair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2025
    Publication date: June 19, 2025
    Inventors: Falko HILBRUNNER, Thomas FROEHLICH, Mario SCHREIBER, Tim SCHULZ, Thomas FEHLING
  • Publication number: 20250180399
    Abstract: A balance that includes a magazine for test weights (100) to be weighed in succession, a weighing device with a load carrier (200) holding a test weight (100) during an associated weighing operation, and a load changing device transferring the test weight to be weighed from the magazine to the load carrier. The magazine includes a motorized rotatable turntable (300), over the circumference of which the test weights are arranged distributed in test weight receptacles rotatable together with the turntable and with which the test weight receptacle carrying the test weight currently being weighed can be positioned in a weighing standby position above the load carrier. Each test weight receptacle is designed as a carrier gondola (400) mounted to the turntable in a manner vertically movable relative to the turntable and is adjustable in height relative to the turntable via a first motorized height adjustment unit (500, 500?).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2025
    Publication date: June 5, 2025
    Inventors: Falko HILBRUNNER, Thomas FROEHLICH, Mario SCHREIBER, Tim SCHULZ, Thomas FEHLING
  • Publication number: 20250180398
    Abstract: A balance (10) includes an evacuable housing (12) having a bottom (121), side walls (122), and a top (123), and a weighing device (14) arranged in the housing (12) having a load carrier (142), a weighing system (141) and a weighing sensor. The weighing system (141) has a base fixed to the housing and a load receptor connected to the load carrier (142), which load receptor is coupled to the base in a vertically movable manner via a link arrangement articulated to the base on the one hand and is coupled to the weighing sensor fixed to the base in a force-transmitting manner via a lever arrangement on the other hand. A vertical post (124) protrudes from the center of the bottom (121) of the housing (12), wherein the base of the weighing system (141) is fixed on a free end of the post (124).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2025
    Publication date: June 5, 2025
    Inventors: Falko HILBRUNNER, Thomas FROEHLICH, Mario SCHREIBER, Tim SCHULZ, Thomas FEHLING
  • Patent number: 10393570
    Abstract: A precision balance including a weighing chamber (16); a draft shield (18, 20, 22), which surrounds the weighing chamber (16); a climate module (34), which is detachably disposed in the weighing chamber (16); a processor (32) and a data input unit, which both form part of the overall precision balance; and a data transmission path, over which data is exchanged between the climate module (34) and the processor (32). Also disclosed is a climate module for a precision balance. The climate module (34) forms a self-contained modular unit and includes an air pressure sensor (62), an air humidity sensor (54) and an air temperature sensor (52) The climate module also includes a data transmission path configured to transmit data to a processor external to the climate module, and a mounting mechanism configured to secure the climate module detachably to a weighing module (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: SARTORIUS LAB INSTRUMENTS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Richard Esser, Heyko Holst, Sigo Muehlich, Falko Hilbrunner, Thomas Fehling, Benno Gatzemeier, Rainer Gunkel
  • Publication number: 20190137325
    Abstract: A mass comparator including a weighing chamber (16); a draft shield (18, 20, 22), which surrounds the weighing chamber; a climate module (34), which is detachably disposed in the weighing chamber; a processor (32), a data input unit, and a data transmission path, over which data is exchanged between the climate module and the processor. The processor is programmed to use the air pressure, the air humidity and the air temperature in the weighing chamber to determine, based on the density of a substance to be weighed, an air buoyancy of at least one test sample and/or a buoyancy correction factor. Also disclosed are a climate module configured to electrically yet detachably couple to a mass comparator, and a method for operating a mass comparator including determining the air buoyancy and/or the buoyancy correction factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Richard ESSER, Heyko HOLST, Sigo MUEHLICH, Falko HILBRUNNER, Thomas FEHLING, Benno GATZEMEIER, Rainer GUNKEL
  • Patent number: 10060784
    Abstract: A balance with a load changing device (14) that has a magazine table, mounted to be horizontally movable and having a plurality of vertical openings (26) arranged in groups. The balance (12) has a load cell (34) and a load receptor (42) with a carrier arrangement (44) corresponding to each of the groups of openings. The magazine table and the balance are height adjustable relative to each other. In a weighing position, a group of openings above the load receptor is penetrated by the carrier arrangement. In a changing position, the carrier arrangement is positioned lower than the openings in the magazine table. The magazine table is mounted at a fixed height relative to a base (16), and the balance is height adjustable relative to the base. The travel of the balance is upwardly limited by a stop (32), which is at a fixed height relative to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Sartorius Lab Instruments GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Froehlich, Sigo Muehlich, Falko Hilbrunner, Thomas Fehling, Mario Schreiber
  • Publication number: 20180017432
    Abstract: A balance with a load changing device (14) that has a magazine table, mounted to be horizontally movable and having a plurality of vertical openings (26) arranged in groups. The balance (12) has a load cell (34) and a load receptor (42) with a carrier arrangement (44) corresponding to each of the groups of openings. The magazine table and the balance are height adjustable relative to each other. In a weighing position, a group of openings above the load receptor is penetrated by the carrier arrangement. In a changing position, the carrier arrangement is positioned lower than the openings in the magazine table. The magazine table is mounted at a fixed height relative to a base (16), and the balance is height adjustable relative to the base. The travel of the balance is upwardly limited by a stop (32), which is at a fixed height relative to the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas FROEHLICH, Sigo MUEHLICH, Falko HILBRUNNER, Thomas FEHLING, Mario SCHREIBER
  • Publication number: 20170023400
    Abstract: A precision balance including a weighing chamber (16), a draft shield (18, 20, 22) which surrounds the weighing chamber, a climate module (34) which is detachably disposed in the weighing chamber, a processor (32), a data input unit, and a data transmission path over which data is exchanged between the climate module and the processor. The processor has a measurement uncertainty determining module (33) with which the measurement uncertainty of the balance is determined. Also disclosed are a method for determining a measurement uncertainty of a balance and a climate module 4 that forms a self-contained modular unit, and includes an air pressure sensor (62), an air humidity sensor (54) and an air temperature sensor (52). A data transmission path transmits data to a processor external to the climate module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Rainer RINDERMANN, Thomas PERTSCH, Sigo MUEHLICH, Thomas FEHLING, Steffen OSANG, Benno GATZEMEIER
  • Patent number: 9546899
    Abstract: A carrier unit for a weight switching device includes a first shift weight carrier (34-1) which moves vertically in relation to a base, for vertically mounting a first shift weight arrangement (22-1R, 22-1L) which has two spaced-apart, parallel carrier arms (30-1R, 30-1L) connected by a bridging piece (32-1). A second shift weight carrier (34-2R, 34-2L) for vertically mounting, with play, a second shift weight arrangement (22-2R, 22-2L) which likewise has two spaced-apart, parallel carrier arms (30-2R, 30-2L) connected by another bridging piece (32-2), is likewise arranged in a vertically movable manner in relation to the base. The carrier arm pair (30-1R, 30-10 of the first shift weight carrier (34-1) is arranged between and parallel to the carrier arm pair (30-2R, 30-2L) of the second shift weight carrier (34-2), and each shift weight carrier (34-1; 34-2) is articulated to a common crosspiece (12) by two parallel links (23-1R, 23-1L; 23-2R, 23-2L).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Sartorius Lab Instruments GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Sigo Muelich, Ulrich Bajohr, Thomas Fehling
  • Publication number: 20160252389
    Abstract: A precision balance including a weighing chamber (16); a draft shield (18, 20, 22), which surrounds the weighing chamber (16); a climate module (34), which is detachably disposed in the weighing chamber (16); a processor (32) and a data input unit, which both form part of the overall precision balance; and a data transmission path, over which data is exchanged between the climate module (34) and the processor (32). Also disclosed is a climate module for a precision balance. The climate module (34) forms a self-contained modular unit and includes an air pressure sensor (62), an air humidity sensor (54) and an air temperature sensor (52) The climate module also includes a data transmission path configured to transmit data to a processor external to the climate module, and a mounting mechanism configured to secure the climate module detachably to a weighing module (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Richard ESSER, Heyko HOLST, Sigo MUEHLICH, Falko HILBRUNNER, Thomas FEHLING, Benno GATZEMEIER, Rainer GUNKEL
  • Publication number: 20160252388
    Abstract: A mass comparator including a weighing chamber (16); a draft shield (18, 20, 22), which surrounds the weighing chamber; a climate module (34), which is detachably disposed in the weighing chamber; a processor (32), a data input unit, and a data transmission path, over which data is exchanged between the climate module and the processor. The processor is programmed to use the air pressure, the air humidity and the air temperature in the weighing chamber to determine, based on the density of a substance to be weighed, an air buoyancy of at least one test sample and/or a buoyancy correction factor. Also disclosed are a climate module configured to electrically yet detachably couple to a mass comparator, and a method for operating a mass comparator including determining the air buoyancy and/or the buoyancy correction factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Richard ESSER, Heyko HOLST, Sigo MUEHLICH, Falko HILBRUNNER, Thomas FEHLING, Benno GATZEMEIER, Rainer GUNKEL
  • Publication number: 20140245809
    Abstract: A carrier unit for a weight switching device includes a first shift weight carrier (34-1) which moves vertically in relation to a base, for vertically mounting a first shift weight arrangement (22-1R, 22-1L) which has two spaced-apart, parallel carrier arms (30-1R, 30-1L) connected by a bridging piece (32-1). A second shift weight carrier (34-2R, 34-2L) for vertically mounting, with play, a second shift weight arrangement (22-2R, 22-2L) which likewise has two spaced-apart, parallel carrier arms (30-2R, 30-2L) connected by another bridging piece (32-2), is likewise arranged in a vertically movable manner in relation to the base. The carrier arm pair (30-1R, 30-10 of the first shift weight carrier (34-1) is arranged between and parallel to the carrier arm pair (30-2R, 30-2L) of the second shift weight carrier (34-2), and each shift weight carrier (34-1; 34-2) is articulated to a common crosspiece (12) by two parallel links (23-1R, 23-1L; 23-2R, 23-2L).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Sartorius Weighing Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Sigo Muelich, Ulrich Bajohr, Thomas Fehling
  • Patent number: 7534971
    Abstract: A weighing system having a base region (1), a parallel-guided load receiver (4), at least one transmission lever (2) that is pivotably mounted on the base region via at least one flexural pivot (3), and a coupling element (7) that connects the load sensor to the short lever arm of the transmission lever. The flexural pivot (3), at least one part of the transmission lever (2), and at least one part of the base region (1?) are monolithically formed from a block. The flexural pivot (3) is separated from the rest of the block by four horizontal parallel bores (31, 32, 33, 34) that are adjacently arranged in an annular manner in such a way as to respectively leave a thin connecting segment (36, 37, 38 39) between adjacent bores, and by additional slots. In this way, a hysteresis-free flexural pivot can be created without the need for separate assembly components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Sartorius AG
    Inventors: Otto Kuhlmann, Peter Fleischer, Friedrich Helmsen, Thomas Fehling
  • Patent number: 7495186
    Abstract: A weighing system having a base region (1), a parallel-guided load receiver (4), at least one transmission lever (2) that is pivotably mounted on the base region via at least one flexural pivot (3), and a coupling element (7) that connects the load sensor to the short lever arm of the transmission lever. The flexural pivot (3), at least one part of the transmission lever (2), and at least one part of the base region (1?) are monolithically formed from a block. The flexural pivot (3) is separated from the rest of the block, and at least one spring connecting segment (36/35/38, 37/35?/39) of the flexural pivot (3) includes two spaced-apart thin material points (36, 38; 37, 39). In this way, a hysteresis-free flexural pivot can be created without the need for separate assembly components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Sartorius AG
    Inventors: Otto Kuhlmann, Peter Fleischer, Friedrich Helmsen, Thomas Fehling
  • Publication number: 20080029315
    Abstract: A weighing system having a base region (1), a parallel-guided load receiver (4), at least one transmission lever (2) that is pivotably mounted on the base region via at least one flexural pivot (3), and a coupling element (7) that connects the load sensor to the short lever arm of the transmission lever. The flexural pivot (3), at least one part of the transmission lever (2), and at least one part of the base region (1?) are monolithically formed from a block. The flexural pivot (3) is separated from the rest of the block by four horizontal parallel bores (31, 32, 33, 34) that are adjacently arranged in an annular manner in such a way as to respectively leave a thin connecting segment (36, 37, 38 39) between adjacent bores, and by additional slots. In this way, a hysteresis-free flexural pivot can be created without the need for separate assembly components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Applicant: Sartorius AG
    Inventors: Otto Kuhlmann, Peter Fleischer, Friedrich Helmsen, Thomas Fehling
  • Publication number: 20080029314
    Abstract: A weighing system having a base region (1), a parallel-guided load receiver (4), at least one transmission lever (2) that is pivotably mounted on the base region via at least one flexural pivot (3), and a coupling element (7) that connects the load sensor to the short lever arm of the transmission lever. The flexural pivot (3), at least one part of the transmission lever (2), and at least one part of the base region (1?) are monolithically formed from a block. The flexural pivot (3) is separated from the rest of the block, and at least one spring connecting segment (36/35/38, 37/35?/39) of the flexural pivot (3) includes two spaced-apart thin material points (36, 38; 37, 39). In this way, a hysteresis-free flexural pivot can be created without the need for separate assembly components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Applicant: Sartorius AG
    Inventors: Otto Kuhlmann, Peter Fleischer, Friedrich Helmsen, Thomas Fehling