Patents by Inventor Volker Zellmann

Volker Zellmann 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: 10847289
    Abstract: An article for magnetic heat exchange includes a functionally-graded monolithic sintered working component including La1-aRa(Fe1-x-yTyMx)13HzCb with a NaZn13-type structure. M is one or more of the elements from the group consisting of Si and Al, T is one or more of the elements from the group consisting of Mn, Co, Ni, Ti, V and Cr and R is one or more of the elements from the group consisting of Ce, Nd, Y and Pr. A content of the one or more elements T and R, if present, a C content, if present, and a content of M varies in a working direction of the working component and provides a functionally-graded Curie temperature. The functionally-graded Curie temperature monotonically decreases or monotonically increases in the working direction of the working component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: VACUUMSCHMELZE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Katter, Alexander Barcza, Volker Zellmann
  • Publication number: 20180308608
    Abstract: An article for magnetic heat exchange includes a functionally-graded monolithic sintered working component including La1-aRa(Fe1-x-yTyMx)13HzCb with a NaZn13-type structure. M is one or more of the elements from the group consisting of Si and Al, T is one or more of the elements from the group consisting of Mn, Co, Ni, Ti, V and Cr and R is one or more of the elements from the group consisting of Ce, Nd, Y and Pr. A content of the one or more elements T and R, if present, a C content, if present, and a content of M varies in a working direction of the working component and provides a functionally-graded Curie temperature. The functionally-graded Curie temperature monotonically decreases or monotonically increases in the working direction of the working component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Matthias KATTER, Alexander BARCZA, Volker ZELLMANN
  • Patent number: 9978487
    Abstract: An article for magnetic heat exchange includes a functionally-graded monolithic sintered working component including La1-aRa(Fe1-x-yTyMx)13HzCb with a NaZn13-type structure. M is one or more of the elements from the group consisting of Si and Al, T is one or more of the elements from the group consisting of Mn, Co, Ni, Ti, V and Cr and R is one or more of the elements from the group consisting of Ce, Nd, Y and Pr. A content of the one or more elements T and R, if present, a C content, if present, and a content of M varies in a working direction of the working component and provides a functionally-graded Curie temperature. The functionally-graded Curie temperature monotonically decreases or monotonically increases in the working direction of the working component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: VACUUMSCHMELZE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Katter, Alexander Barcza, Volker Zellmann
  • Patent number: 9773591
    Abstract: An article for magnetic heat exchange comprising a magnetocalorically active phase with a NaZn13-type crystal structure is provided by hydrogenating a bulk precursor article. The bulk precursor article is heated from a temperature of less than 50° C. to at least 300° C. in an inert atmosphere and hydrogen gas only introduced when a temperature of at least 300° C. is reached. The bulk precursor article is maintained in a hydrogen containing atmosphere at a temperature in the range 300° C. to 700° C. for a selected duration of time, and then cooled to a temperature of less than 50° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Vacuumschmelze GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Katter, Volker Zellmann
  • Patent number: 9524816
    Abstract: A process of fabricating a monolithic working component for magnetic heat exchange is disclosed. The process includes mixing two or more portions comprising amounts of La, Fe, Si and at least one of T and R suitable to produce a La1-aRa(Fe1-x-yTySix)13Hz phase, wherein T is at least one element from the group consisting of Mn, Co, Ni and Cr and R is at least one element from the group consisting of Ce, Nd, Y and Pr. The amount of T, R, and Si is selected for each of the two or more portions to provide the two or more portions with differing Curie temperatures and, preferably, a density, d, within a range of ±5% of an average density, dav, of a total number of portions. The process includes heat treating a single monolithic green body formed from two or more precursor powder mixtures to produce a single monolithic working component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: VACUUMSCHMELZE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Katter, Volker Zellmann, Alexander Barcza
  • Publication number: 20130187077
    Abstract: An article for magnetic heat exchange includes a functionally-graded monolithic sintered working component including La1-aRa(Fe1-x-yTyMx)13HzCb with a NaZn13-type structure. M is one or more of the elements from the group consisting of Si and Al, T is one or more of the elements from the group consisting of Mn, Co, Ni, Ti, V and Cr and R is one or more of the elements from the group consisting of Ce, Nd, Y and Pr. A content of the one or more elements T and R, if present, a C content, if present, and a content of M varies in a working direction of the working component and provides a functionally-graded Curie temperature. The functionally-graded Curie temperature monotonically decreases or monotonically increases in the working direction of the working component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: VACUUMSCHMELZE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Katter, Alexander Barcza, Volker Zellmann
  • Publication number: 20120061066
    Abstract: An article for magnetic heat exchange comprising a magnetocalorically active phase with a NaZn13-type crystal structure is provided by hydrogenating a bulk precursor article. The bulk precursor article is heated from a temperature of less than 50° C. to at least 300° C. in an inert atmosphere and hydrogen gas only introduced when a temperature of at least 300° C. is reached. The bulk precursor article is maintained in a hydrogen containing atmosphere at a temperature in the range 300° C. to 700° C. for a selected duration of time, and then cooled to a temperature of less than 50° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: Vacuumschmelze GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Matthias Katter, Volker Zellmann
  • Publication number: 20120045633
    Abstract: An article for magnetic heat exchange comprises a monolithic working component comprising two or more portions. The two or more portions comprise amounts of La, Fe, Si and of one or more elements T and R suitable to produce a La1-aRa(Fe1-x-yTySix)13Hz phase, wherein T is one or more of the elements from the group consisting of Mn, Co, Ni and Cr and R is one or more of the elements from the group consisting of Ce, Nd, Y and Pr. The amount of the one or more elements T and R and the amount of Si is selected for each of the two or more portions to provide the two or more portions with differing Curie temperatures and, preferably, a density, d, within a range of ±5% of an average density, dav, of a total number of portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: Vacuumschmelze GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Matthias KATTER, Volker Zellmann, Alexander Barcza
  • Publication number: 20120043497
    Abstract: A working component for magnetic heat exchange comprises a magnetocalorically active phase comprising La1-aRa(Fe1-x-yTyMx)13Hz, a hydrogen content, z, 90% or higher of a hydrogen saturation value, zsat, and values of a, x and y selected to give a Curie temperature Tc. M is one or more of the elements from the group consisting of Al and Si, T is one or more of the elements from the group consisting of Co, Ni, Mn, Cr, Cu, Ti and V and R is one or more of the elements from the group consisting of Ce, Nd, Y and Pr. Tcmax is a Curie temperature of a La1-aRa(Fe1-x-yTyMx)13Hz phase comprising a hydrogen content z=zsat and said selected values of a, x and y. The working component comprises the Tc wherein (Tcmax?Tc)?20K.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: Vacuumschmelze GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Matthias KATTER, Volker Zellmann, Alexander Barcza
  • Patent number: 8105443
    Abstract: A method for the production of pressed permanent magnets comprises the following steps: A mixture of at least one magnetic powder and a thermosetting binder is provided and pressed to produce a moulded body. In order to obtain a permanent and particularly reliable protection against oxidation and corrosion, the moulded body is impregnated with an acid and solvent mixture in an impregnating bath before the cure of the thermosetting binder, whereby the entire surface of the permanent magnet is coated with a reaction layer [FIG. 1].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Vacuumschmelze GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Georg Werner Reppel, Volker Zellmann
  • Publication number: 20110198069
    Abstract: An article for magnetic heat exchange comprising a magnetocalorically active phase with a NaZn13-type crystal structure is provided by hydrogenating a bulk precursor article. The bulk precursor article is heated from a temperature of less than 50° C. to at least 300° C. in an inert atmosphere and hydrogen gas only introduced when a temperature of at least 300° C. is reached. The bulk precursor article is maintained in a hydrogen containing atmosphere at a temperature in the range 300° C. to 700° C. for a selected duration of time, and then cooled to a temperature of less than 50° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: Vacuumschmelze GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Matthias Katter, Volker Zellmann
  • Publication number: 20110140031
    Abstract: Article for use in magnetic heat exchange, intermediate article and method for producing an article for use in magnetic heat exchange An article for magnetic heat exchange is produced by heat treating an intermediate article comprising, in total, elements in amounts capable of providing at least one magnetocalorically active LaFe13-based phase and less than 5 Vol % impurities, wherein the intermediate article comprises a permanent magnet. The intermediate article is worked by removing at least one portion of the intermediate article. The intermediate article is then heat treated to produce a final product comprising at least one magnetocalorically active LaFe13-based phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: Vacuumschmeize GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Katter, Volker Zellmann
  • Publication number: 20090127493
    Abstract: A method for the production of pressed permanent magnets comprises the following steps: A mixture of at least one magnetic powder and a thermosetting binder is provided and pressed to produce a moulded body. In order to obtain a permanent and particularly reliable protection against oxidation and corrosion, the moulded body is impregnated with an acid and solvent mixture in an impregnating bath before the cure of the thermosetting binder, whereby the entire surface of the permanent magnet is coated with a reaction layer [FIG. 1].
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: Vacuumschmelze GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Georg Werner Reppel, Volker Zellmann
  • Patent number: 6926777
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing rod-shaped permanent magnets according to which pressed parts (2) are produced that are then assembled to a rod-shaped green product. Said green product is subsequently sintered, whereby a rod-shaped single-piece permanent magnet (1) is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Vacuumschmelze GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Georg Werner Reppel, Volker Zellmann
  • Patent number: 6599465
    Abstract: According to the inventive method for producing a composite part (4), a support body (1) is produced from a powder with a ferrous alloy base using powder metallurgy. A magnet body (2) which is based on an alloy that is rich in rare earths is applied to the support body (1) and both are then sintered in a furnace (1), whereby a solid joint is formed between the support body (1) and the magnet body (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Vacuumschemlze GmbH
    Inventors: Georg-Werner Reppel, Volker Zellmann
  • Publication number: 20030110617
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing rod-shaped permanent magnets according to which pressed parts (2) are produced that are then assembled to a rod-shaped green product Said green product is subsequently sintered, whereby a rod-shaped single-piece permanent magnet (1) is produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventors: Georg Werner Reppel, Volker Zellmann