Patents by Inventor Udo Gruber

Udo Gruber 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: 6703117
    Abstract: A friction or sliding body includes at least two composite materials reinforced with fiber bundles and containing a ceramics matrix. A first composite material forms the outside of the sliding body as a friction layer and a second composite material forms a supporting body joined areally to the friction layer. The fiber bundle lengths of the friction layer are significantly shorter than the fiber bundle lengths of the supporting body. The fiber bundles of the friction layer have a clear alignment perpendicular to the surface. The surface of the friction layer is formed substantially only of small regions of free carbon with a diameter of at most 1.2 mm, and a total fraction of the area of free carbon on the surface is at most 35%. The surface has an extremely fine crack structure and the friction layer exhibits virtually no stresses in the vicinity of the surface. A process for producing a friction or sliding body and a brake disc or brake lining are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: SGL Carbon AG
    Inventors: Udo Gruber, Michael Heine, Andreas Kienzle
  • Publication number: 20030138615
    Abstract: Protection products and armored products made of a fiber-reinforced composite material with a ceramic matrix, include a protection element for partial or complete absorption of at least one impact-like load focussed at a point. The protection element has a body having at least one dimension at least equal to 3 cm, in a direction perpendicular to a load to be absorbed. The body includes a fiber-reinforced composite material having a ceramic matrix with at least 10% by weight of silicon carbide and having reinforcing fibers. At least 5% by weight of the reinforcing fibers are carbon fibers and/or graphite fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Applicant: SGL Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Udo Gruber, Michael Heine, Andreas Kienzle, Reinhard Nixdorf
  • Publication number: 20030138672
    Abstract: Process for protecting fiber-reinforced, carbon-containing composites whose matrix comprises, at least in the outer layer, silicon carbide (SiC) and also silicon (Si) and/or silicon alloys against oxidation, which comprises the steps a) impregnation of the composite with an aqueous, phosphate-containing solution, b) drying, c) heat treatment at a temperature which is at least sufficient to convert the dried solution into insoluble compounds which are suitable for forming a self-healing glass, wherein the composite is treated oxidatively to form silicon oxide (SiO2) either prior to step a), between steps a) and b) or during or after step b) and/or c).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventors: Moritz Bauer, Martin Christ, Udo Gruber, Andreas Kienzle, Jens Rosenloecher, Rainer Zimmermann-Chopin
  • Publication number: 20030118757
    Abstract: Process for producing hollow bodies comprising fibre-reinforced ceramic materials, where cores whose shape corresponds to that of the hollow spaces are produced in a first step, a green body is produced in a second step by introducing the abovementioned cores and a press moulding compound into a mould, where the press moulding compound comprises carbon fibres and/or carbon threads and pitch and/or resins, the green body is cured in a third step by heating under pressure, the cured green body is carbonised in a fourth step by heating in the absence of oxidants to form a C/C body, and, if desired, the C/C body is infiltrated with liquid metal with retention of its shape in a fifth step, with at least partial formation of carbides occurring, where the cores comprise a material which in the fourth step melts without decomposition at a temperature above the curing temperature of the shaping by pressing of the press moulding compound; hollow bodies produced by this process and also their use as brake disks, clutch
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventors: Moritz Bauer, Michael Heine, Udo Gruber, Ronald Huener, Andreas Kienzle, Andreas Rahn, Rainer Zimmermann-Chopin
  • Publication number: 20030057040
    Abstract: A brake system includes a friction coupling having organically or inorganically bound metal-containing, sintered-metal-containing and/or CFC-containing brake linings and a brake disc of fiber-reinforced C/SiC ceramic composite material. A friction layer and/or a surface of the brake disc subject to friction has a proportion of SiC greater than 65% and material compositions in a core region and a surface region of the brake disc are different. The brake system may be used in motor vehicles, rail vehicles or aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Moritz Bauer, Udo Gruber, Michael Heine, Andreas Kienzle, Rainer Zimmermann-Chopin
  • Patent number: 6537654
    Abstract: Protection products and armored products made of a fiber-reinforced composite material with a ceramic matrix, include a protection element for partial or complete absorption of at least one impact-like load focussed at a point. The protection element has a body having at least one dimension at least equal to 3 cm, in a direction perpendicular to a load to be absorbed. The body includes a fiber-reinforced composite material having a ceramic matrix with at least 10% by weight of silicon carbide and having reinforcing fibers. At least 5% by weight of the reinforcing fibers are carbon fibers and/or graphite fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: SGL Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Udo Gruber, Michael Heine, Andreas Kienzle, Reinhard Nixdorf
  • Patent number: 6527092
    Abstract: A method for the production of brake discs having friction areas made of ceramic materials, in particular composite materials, includes placing at least one ceramic portion in a diecasting mold and joining the ceramic portion with molten metals by casting under pressure into a rotationally symmetrical body which contains at least one ceramic (composite) segment that is disposed symmetrically relative to the axis of rotation of the metal body and juts out over at least one surface of the metal body perpendicular to the axis. A brake disc produced according to the method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: SGL Carbon AG
    Inventors: Udo Gruber, Michael Heine, Andreas Kienzle
  • Publication number: 20030012938
    Abstract: A multilayer ceramic composite is described which contains at least one supporting zone having oxidation-sensitive reinforcing fibers as well as a matrix. The matrix optionally contains oxidation-sensitive components. The composite further contains at least one surface layer, as well as at least one additional protective layer disposed between the supporting zone and surface layer, and whose matrix is composed substantially of at least one component of the matrix of the supporting zone or cover layer. The protective layer further contains additives that form self-healing layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventors: Moritz Bauer, Martin Christ, Udo Gruber, Michael Heine, Andreas Kienzle, Jens Rosenlocher, Rainer Zimmermann-Chopin
  • Publication number: 20030003286
    Abstract: A friction or sliding body includes at least two composite materials reinforced with fiber bundles and containing a ceramics matrix. A first composite material forms the outside of the sliding body as a friction layer and a second composite material forms a supporting body joined areally to the friction layer. The fiber bundle lengths of the friction layer are significantly shorter than the fiber bundle lengths of the supporting body. The fiber bundles of the friction layer have a clear alignment perpendicular to the surface. The surface of the friction layer is formed substantially only of small regions of free carbon with a diameter of at most 1.2 mm, and a total fraction of the area of free carbon on the surface is at most 35%. The surface has an extremely fine crack structure and the friction layer exhibits virtually no stresses in the vicinity of the surface. A process for producing a friction or sliding body and a brake disc or brake lining are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Udo Gruber, Michael Heine, Andreas Kienzle
  • Publication number: 20020153213
    Abstract: A friction disc includes a cylindrical zone A, which is force-lockingly or frictionally connected to a shaft as a supporting disc, and at least one cylindrical annular zone B. The annular zone B has a side remote from the supporting disc in which recesses are formed. The recesses may be radially trapezoidal and/or involutely curved and/or elliptical and/or circular and/or polygonal and open and/or closed towards the periphery and/or the center. The material of the supporting disc A is a fiber-reinforced ceramic material shaped from a single piece in the green state prior to ceramization. The material of the annular zone B is a ceramic material which is optionally fiber-reinforced. The ceramic material of the annular zone B and the material of the matrix of the fiber-reinforced ceramic of the supporting disc A are selected independently of one another from silicon, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, carbon, boron nitride, boron carbide, Si/B/N/C and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventors: Udo Gruber, Michael Heine, Andreas Kienzle
  • Publication number: 20020153214
    Abstract: A friction disc, in particular a brake or clutch disc, includes carbon fiber-reinforced ceramic composite material with at least one top surface formed as a friction surface. At least part of the friction surface is formed of a different material, in particular of a carbon-containing material. The different material exhibits lower wear and oxidation resistance than that of the rest of the friction surface and a supporting zone of the friction disc. A visual, audible or mechanical signal is produced under operating conditions due to comparatively greater wear. The signal provides a warning that the service life of the friction disc is being exceeded. A process for producing the friction disc is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventors: Moritz Bauer, Bodo Benitsch, Martin Christ, Udo Gruber, Michael Heine, Andreas Kienzle, Jens Rosenlocher, Rainer Zimmermann-Chopin
  • Publication number: 20010025751
    Abstract: A method for the production of brake discs having friction areas made of ceramic materials, in particular composite materials, includes placing at least one ceramic portion in a diecasting mold and joining the ceramic portion with molten metals by casting under pressure into a rotationally symmetrical body which contains at least one ceramic (composite) segment that is disposed symmetrically relative to the axis of rotation of the metal body and juts out over at least one surface of the metal body perpendicular to the axis. A brake disc produced according to the method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Inventors: Udo Gruber, Michael Heine, Andreas Kienzle
  • Patent number: 6231791
    Abstract: A composite material article reinforced with high strength short graphite fibers and having a matrix substantially consisting of silicon carbide is prepared which has an elongation at break of 0.25 to 0.5% and thus exhibits quasi-ductile failure behavior. The short reinforcing graphite fibers are enclosed by at least two shells of graphitized carbon which have been obtained by impregnation with carbonizable impregnating agents and subsequent carbonization. The shell closest to the graphite fibers contains no cracks. The outermost shell is partially converted into silicon carbide. The starting material used comprises long or short fiber prepregs, which are first carbonized, then subjected at least once to an operation consisting of impregnation with a carbonizable impregnating agent and recarbonization, then graphitized at a temperature of up to a maximum of 2400° C. and then comminuted to yield a dry material for the production of a precursor article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: SGL Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Heine, Udo Gruber
  • Patent number: 6030913
    Abstract: A composite material article reinforced with high strength short graphite fibers and having a matrix substantially consisting of silicon carbide is prepared which has an elongation at break of 0.25 to 0.5% and thus exhibits quasi-ductile failure behavior. The short reinforcing graphite fibers are enclosed by at least two shells of graphitized carbon which have been obtained by impregnation with carbonizable impregnating agents and subsequent carbonization. The shell closest to the graphite fibers contains no cracks. The outermost shell is partially converted into silicon carbide. The starting material used comprises long or short fiber prepregs, which are first carbonized, then subjected at least once to an operation consisting of impregnation with a carbonizable impregnating agent and recarbonization, then graphitized at a temperature of up to maximum of 2400.degree. C. and then comminuted to yield a dry material for the production of a precursor article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: SGL Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Heine, Udo Gruber
  • Patent number: 5281479
    Abstract: An ordered packing for mass transfer and heat exchange processes includes pre-formed individual parts. The packing is formed of carbon fiber-reinforced carbon with carbon fibers or carbon fiber yarns, which are linked one with the other by way of textile bindings, as a filler and of a matrix carbon, preferably based on synthetic resins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Assignee: Sigri Great Lakes Carbon GmbH
    Inventors: Siegbert Rittner, Jurgen Spiske, Dieter Kompalik, Udo Gruber