Patents by Inventor Thorsten Langen

Thorsten Langen 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: 11889972
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating a suction device that includes a suction unit and a removable filtering device. The suction unit generates a suction flow that flows through the filtering device when arranged on the suction device, in which, after the suction unit is started up, a check is performed of whether the filtering device is present, and if detected as not present, the suction unit is switched off. An evaluation unit uses check data to determine whether a switch-off signal is to be generated for the suction unit. The evaluation unit uses an algorithm or a table to arrive at a decision on switching off the suction unit based on the check data. The table contains at least one threshold value or the algorithm defines at least one threshold value, wherein the at least one threshold value is a threshold value for switching off the suction unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thorsten Langen, Michael Kaiser, Gábor Peflof, Juergen Steinbach, Heiko Stoecker
  • Publication number: 20200163517
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating a suction device that includes a suction unit and a removable filtering device. The suction unit generates a suction flow that flows through the filtering device when arranged on the suction device, in which, after the suction unit is started up, a check is performed of whether the filtering device is present, and if detected as not present, the suction unit is switched off. An evaluation unit uses check data to determine whether a switch-off signal is to be generated for the suction unit. The evaluation unit uses an algorithm or a table to arrive at a decision on switching off the suction unit based on the check data. The table contains at least one threshold value or the algorithm defines at least one threshold value, wherein the at least one threshold value is a threshold value for switching off the suction unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Thorsten Langen, Michael Kaiser, Gábor Peflof, Juergen Steinbach, Heiko Stoecker
  • Patent number: 9351620
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner is provided with a dirt collection container and a suction head which can be placed on the dirt collection container, wherein the suction head has at least one suction unit which is in flow communication with the dirt collection container via a suction duct and a filter device and with at least one exhaust air opening via at least one exhaust air duct. To provide high suction capacity, a compact construction, and relatively little generation of noise during operation, the suction head has two suction units arranged next to one another, positioned in a vertical direction at the same level as the filter device and surrounded by a common exhaust air chamber, wherein the exhaust air chamber is in flow communication with exhaust air openings via a first and a second exhaust air duct and the filter device is arranged between the two exhaust air ducts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jürgen Frank, Kai Thorsten Langen, Maic Hensel
  • Publication number: 20130247328
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner is provided with a dirt collection container and a suction head which can be placed on the dirt collection container, wherein the suction head has at least one suction unit which is in flow communication with the dirt collection container via a suction duct and a filter device and with at least one exhaust air opening via at least one exhaust air duct. To provide high suction capacity, a compact construction, and relatively little generation of noise during operation, the suction head has two suction units arranged next to one another, positioned in a vertical direction at the same level as the filter device and surrounded by a common exhaust air chamber, wherein the exhaust air chamber is in flow communication with exhaust air openings via a first and a second exhaust air duct and the filter device is arranged between the two exhaust air ducts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jürgen Frank, Kai Thorsten Langen, Maic Hensel
  • Patent number: 8142554
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for cleaning filters of a vacuum cleaner having a dirt collecting container, which has a suction inlet and is in flow connection with at least one suction unit via at least one filter and at least one suction extraction line, and at least one external air inlet which opens into the suction extraction line downstream of the filter and can be closed by means of a closing valve. The closing valve has a movable valve body acted upon by a closing spring with a closing force and, in the closed position, additionally by a magnetic holder with a magnetic holding force. In order to clean the filter, at least one closing valve is opened and the side of the filter oriented away from the dirt collecting container is impinged upon by external air. A vacuum cleaner for carrying out the method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Daniel Eckstein, Thorsten Langen
  • Patent number: 7976614
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for cleaning the filters of a vacuum cleaner. A dirt collecting container of the vacuum cleaner has a suction inlet and is in flow connection with at least one suction unit via at least one filter and at least one suction extraction line. At least one external air inlet is provided which opens into the suction extraction line downstream of the filter and can be closed by a closing valve. The closing valve has a movable valve body which is acted upon by a closing spring with a closing force. In order to clean the filter, the closing valve is opened and the side of the filter that is oriented away from the dirt collecting container is impinged upon by external air. The valve body is acted upon, irrespective of its position, by the closing force of the closing spring and, in a position at a distance from the valve seat, additionally acted upon by a repulsion force of a resilient stop element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Daniel Eckstein, Thorsten Langen
  • Patent number: 7861367
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner with a dirt collection tank which has a suction inlet and is in flow connection with at least one suction unit via at least one filter and at least one extraction line, and with at least one external air inlet which opens into the extraction line downstream of the filter and can be closed by means of at least one closing valve, wherein the closing valve has a movable valve member which is acted upon by a spring-elastic restoring device with a closing force and in the closing position, in addition, by a magnetic holding device with a magnetic holding force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Daniel Eckstein, Thorsten Langen, Martin Wegner
  • Publication number: 20090205159
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner with a dirt collection tank which has a suction inlet and is in flow connection with at least one suction unit via at least one filter and at least one extraction line, and with at least one external air inlet which opens into the extraction line downstream of the at least one filter and can be closed by means of at least one closing valve, wherein the at least one closing valve has a valve member which can be moved back and forth between a closing position and an open position, wherein it is acted upon permanently by a closing spring with a closing force and in the closing position, in addition, by a magnetic holding device with a magnetic holding force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christian Stewen, Daniel Eckstein, Thorsten Langen, Gottfried Benzler
  • Publication number: 20090205499
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for cleaning the filters of a vacuum cleaner comprising a dirt collecting container, which has a suction inlet and is in flow connection with at least one suction unit via at least one filter and at least one suction extraction line, and comprising at least one external air inlet which opens into the suction extraction line downstream of the filter and can be closed by a closing valve, wherein the closing valve has a movable valve body which is acted upon by a closing spring with a closing force, which valve body lies against a valve seat in a closed position and is at a distance from the valve seat in an open position, wherein, in order to clean the filter, at least one closing valve is opened and the side of the filter that is oriented away from the dirt collecting container is impinged upon by external air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Daniel Eckstein, Thorsten Langen
  • Publication number: 20090205158
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner with a dirt collection tank which has a suction inlet and is in flow connection with at least one suction unit via at least one filter and at least one extraction line, and with at least one external air inlet which opens into the extraction line downstream of the filter and can be closed by means of at least one closing valve, wherein the closing valve has a movable valve member which is acted upon by a spring-elastic restoring device with a closing force and in the closing position, in addition, by a magnetic holding device with a magnetic holding force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Daniel Eckstein, Thorsten Langen, Martin Wegner
  • Publication number: 20090205491
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for cleaning the filters of a vacuum cleaner comprising a dirt collecting container, which has a suction inlet and is in flow connection with at least one suction unit via at least one filter and at least one suction extraction line, and comprising at least one external air inlet which opens into the suction extraction line downstream of the filter and can be closed by means of a closing valve, wherein the closing valve has a movable valve body which is acted upon by a closing spring with a closing force and, in the closed position, additionally by a magnetic holder with a magnetic holding force, wherein, in order to clean the filter, at least one closing valve is opened and the side of the filter that is oriented away from the dirt collecting container is impinged upon by external air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Daniel Eckstein, Thorsten Langen
  • Patent number: 7040837
    Abstract: A self-propelled road milling machine is equipped with a cooling system comprising a fan for drawing in air, a cooler, and a suction channel. The suction channel has a vent opening facing the cooler and an intake opening. In relation to the longitudinal axis of the road milling machine, the intake opening points to the side of the road milling machine, so that air is drawn in from the side. This results in significantly less dirt being sucked into the machine than when the suction channel is positioned in the direction of travel. In a preferred embodiment, the suction channel is formed in one piece with a liquid tank of the road milling machine. The liquid tank and suction system therefore form a modular unit, which can be easily installed on the chassis of the road milling machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: WIRTGEN GmbH
    Inventors: Olaf Gaertner, Thorsten Langen, Dieter Bungarten
  • Publication number: 20050117970
    Abstract: A self-propelled road milling machine is equipped with a cooling system comprising a fan for drawing in air, a cooler, and a suction channel. The suction channel has a vent opening facing the cooler and an intake opening. In relation to the longitudinal axis of the road milling machine, the intake opening points to the side of the road milling machine, so that air is drawn in from the side. This results in significantly less dirt being sucked into the machine than when the suction channel is positioned in the direction of travel. In a preferred embodiment, the suction channel is formed in one piece with a liquid tank of the road milling machine. The liquid tank and suction system therefore form a modular unit, which can be easily installed on the chassis of the road milling machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Publication date: June 2, 2005
    Applicant: WIRTGEN GMBH
    Inventors: Olaf Gaertner, Thorsten Langen, Dieter Bungarten