Patents Assigned to Beru AG
  • Patent number: 7084374
    Abstract: A heating flange especially for the preheating of the intake air of an internal combustion engine with a frame (8), a supporting ceramic element (2) with a heating band (10) fitted thereto. The supporting ceramic element 2 is held in the frame at an inner side of the frame, and a support spring (1) is arranged between the supporting ceramic element (2) and the inner side of the frame. The support spring (1) is a leaf spring which is straight in the non-stressed state, and sits under an initial prestess between the supporting ceramic element (2) and the inner side of the frame. As a result of this configuration, low friction arises between the supporting ceramic element (2) and heating band (10), as well as leaf spring (1), which reduces failures due to vibratory loading, and a defined initial spring tension with a defined spring deflection is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Beru AG
    Inventors: Steffen Geiger, Thomas Giffels, Martin Eller
  • Patent number: 7064293
    Abstract: A heating element for preheating intake air for an internal combustion engine and having a housing for attaching the heating element to an air intake line of the internal combustion engine. At least one heating strip (1), which runs in windings (1a), is held in the housing and is provided with electrical terminals (6) that lead from the housing to the outside. The heating strip (1) is held in the housing by a support (3) running between two housing walls, which runs, electrically insulated, through the windings (1a) of the heating strip (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Beru AG
    Inventors: Steffen Geiger, Thomas Giffels, Martin Eller, Ullrich Stephan, Hans Houben
  • Patent number: 7032438
    Abstract: A pressure gauge glow plug for a diesel engine having a plug body, a heating element, and a pressure sensor, which is positioned under pretension between the heating element and the plug body in such a way that the pressure sensor experiences the pressure existing in the combustion chamber of the cylinder in which it is inserted. The heating element is positioned so that it may be slid in an axial direction in the plug body and transmits the pressure in the combustion chamber of the cylinder to the pressure sensor. The pressure sensor is positioned on a heating element support that is permanently bonded to the heating element in a cap that permanently bonded to the plug body. The heating element support and pressure sensor form a unit that has axial play in the interior of the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Beru AG
    Inventors: Stefan Heinzelmann, Frank Pechhold, Arno Marto
  • Publication number: 20060053875
    Abstract: A pressure-measuring glow plug for a diesel engine with a plug body (3, 4) for insertion into a cylinder of the diesel engine, a heating rod (1) which is arranged in the plug body (3, 4), and a pressure sensor, which is arranged under an initial tension between the heating rod (1) and the plug body (3, 4), in such a way that the pressure sensor (7) is acted upon by the pressure prevailing in the combustion chamber of the cylinder. The heating rod (1) transmits the pressure in the combustion chamber of the cylinder to the pressure sensor (7) and is arranged so as to be displaceable in a sliding manner in the axial direction relative to the plug body (3, 4). A seal in the form of a bellows-shaped component (2) is provided between the heating rod (1) and the plug body (3, 4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Publication date: March 16, 2006
    Applicants: Beru AG, Texas Instruments Holland B.V.
    Inventors: Michael Haussner, Hans Houben, Frank Pechhold, Friedrich Mayr, Ulf Wyrwich
  • Patent number: 7002106
    Abstract: A process and device for controlling the heating of the glow plugs of a diesel engine. To be able to take into consideration the thermal behavior of the glow plugs while controlling the current supply of the glow plugs (3) of a diesel engine, the thermal behavior of the glow plugs (3) is emulated via a physical model. Formed on the corresponding output signal of the model (4), which is proportional to the glow plug temperature, is a reference signal, which as a control value, lies on the electronic control (12) controlling the heating flow of the glow plugs (3), which accordingly controls the heating of the glow plugs (3) using the actual glow plug temperature determined from emulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Beru AG
    Inventors: Olaf Toedter, Heinz-Georg Schmitz
  • Publication number: 20050252297
    Abstract: A pressure gauge glow plug for a diesel engine having a plug body, a heating element, and a pressure sensor, which is positioned under pretension between the heating element and the plug body in such a way that the pressure sensor experiences the pressure existing in the combustion chamber of the cylinder in which it is inserted. The heating element is positioned so that it may be slid in an axial direction in the plug body and transmits the pressure in the combustion chamber of the cylinder to the pressure sensor. The pressure sensor is positioned on a heating element support that is permanently bonded to the heating element in a cap that permanently bonded to the plug body. The heating element support and pressure sensor form a unit that has axial play in the interior of the cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Publication date: November 17, 2005
    Applicant: Beru AG
    Inventors: Stefan Heinzelmann, Frank Pechhold, Arno Marto
  • Publication number: 20050173395
    Abstract: A glow plug connector for a glow plug with built-in sensor, especially built-in pressure sensor, comprising a casing made of an electrically insulating material, which can be placed onto the glow plug. Provided centrally in the casing is a high-current connection which is connected to the high-current contact of the heating devices of the glow plug when the connector is placed thereon. Sensor contacts are provided on the casing insulated with respect to the high-current connection for contacting the sensor connections of the built-in sensor when the connector is placed thereon. For sealing an O-ring is provided on the outside of the casing whereas a locking mechanism serves to deliver the withdrawal force which must be overcome so that a coupling placed thereon can be removed from the glow plug connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Publication date: August 11, 2005
    Applicants: Beru AG, Hirschmann Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Haussner, Gerald List, Frank Pechhold, Hans Houben, Juergen Haefele, Werner Jaeger
  • Publication number: 20050167411
    Abstract: A heating element for preheating intake air for an internal combustion engine and having a housing for attaching the heating element to an air intake line of the internal combustion engine. At least one heating strip (1), which runs in windings (1a), is held in the housing and is provided with electrical terminals (6) that lead from the housing to the outside. The heating strip (1) is held in the housing by a support (3) running between two housing walls, which runs, electrically insulated, through the windings (1a) of the heating strip (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Applicant: Beru AG
    Inventors: Steffen Geiger, Thomas Giffels, Martin Eller, Ullrich Stephan, Hans Houben
  • Publication number: 20050145613
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a ceramic glow pin which is formed of more than two layers arranged especially coaxially to the axis of the glow pin and symmetrically. The layers of the layer structure are manufactured by co-extrusion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2004
    Publication date: July 7, 2005
    Applicant: Beru AG
    Inventors: Oliver Goeb, Hans Houben, Lutz Frassek, Henning Von Watzdorf, Martin Allgaier, Johann Weissenbach
  • Patent number: 6911630
    Abstract: Air heater with PTC heating element with semiconductor switch, the semiconductor switch (5) without the housing being located in the heating tube (9) in the immediate vicinity of the PTC heating element (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Beru AG
    Inventor: Klaus Neckel
  • Patent number: 6906288
    Abstract: A process and device for controlling the heating of the glow plugs of a diesel engine. To be able to take into consideration the thermal behavior of the glow plugs while controlling the current supply of the glow plugs (3) of a diesel engine, the thermal behavior of the glow plugs (3) is emulated via a physical model. Formed on the corresponding output signal of the model (4), which is proportional to the glow plug temperature, is a reference signal, which as a control value, lies on the electronic control (12) controlling the heating flow of the glow plugs (3), which accordingly controls the heating of the glow plugs (3) using the actual glow plug temperature determined from emulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Beru AG
    Inventors: Olaf Toedter, Heinz-Georg Schmitz
  • Publication number: 20050118346
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a glow pin for a ceramic glow plug which is constructed of an inner cylinder and at least one outer layer that is coaxial to the inner cylinder and/or a base layer or cover layer on the front face. The at least one coaxial outer layer and/or the front-face layer is formed by thermal spraying.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2004
    Publication date: June 2, 2005
    Applicant: Beru AG
    Inventors: Oliver Goeb, Hans Houben, Lutz Frassek, Henning Von Watzdorf, Martin Allgaier
  • Publication number: 20050081812
    Abstract: A method for heating a glow plug for a diesel engine to its desired temperature by supplying power to the glow plug in a controlled fashion. During a certain time interval after termination of a previous glow process, a mathematical model is used to determine the values for the supply of power to the glow plug, which includes the values of the actual thermal state of the glow plug, the time elapsed since the end of the previous glow process and the parameters of the diesel engine relevant for a glow process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2004
    Publication date: April 21, 2005
    Applicant: BERU AG
    Inventors: Olaf Toedter, Heinz-Georg Schmitz, Andreas Bleil, Joerg Stoeckle, Hans Houben
  • Patent number: 6872922
    Abstract: A method for operating a multi-stage electrical heater comprised of several heating elements. In conventional multi-stage electrical heaters, the resistance value of the individual heating elements scatters. In order that the individual heating elements emit the same power, specifically the required nominal power, despite the scattered resistance values, the voltage on the individual heating elements is separately regulated down to the required nominal power, proceeding from a maximum electrical resistance of the individual heating elements, at which the entire applied operating voltage yields the nominal power of the individual heating elements required for operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Beru AG
    Inventor: Günther Uhl
  • Publication number: 20050061063
    Abstract: A pressure glow plug for a diesel engine has a glow plug body 2 for being inserted into a cylinder of the diesel engine, a heating rod 1 that is arranged in the glow plug body 2 and a pressure sensor 9 that is arranged between the heating rod 1 and the glow plug body 2 in such a way that the pressure in the combustion chamber of the cylinder that is transmitted by the heating rod 1 influences the pressure sensor 9. The heating rod 1 is arranged in the glow plug body 2 such that it can be displaced in an axially sliding fashion, namely by a corresponding sliding element, for example, a membrane 7 or seals 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Publication date: March 24, 2005
    Applicants: Beru AG, Texas Instruments Holland B.V.
    Inventors: Michael Haussner, Ulf Wyrwich, Hans Houben, Frank Pechhold, Heinz-Georg Schmitz, Dirk Von Hacht, Marc Borgers, Albert Zwijze, Paulus Genissen, Ronad De Groot, Arie-Jan Koelling
  • Publication number: 20050039732
    Abstract: A process and device for controlling the heating of the glow plugs of a diesel engine. To be able to take into consideration the thermal behavior of the glow plugs while controlling the current supply of the glow plugs (3) of a diesel engine, the thermal behavior of the glow plugs (3) is emulated via a physical model. Formed on the corresponding output signal of the model (4), which is proportional to the glow plug temperature, is a reference signal, which as a control value, lies on the electronic control (12) controlling the heating flow of the glow plugs (3), which accordingly controls the heating of the glow plugs (3) using the actual glow plug temperature determined from emulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Applicant: BERU AG
    Inventors: Olaf Toedter, Heinz-Georg Schmitz
  • Patent number: 6833658
    Abstract: Process for producing a middle electrode with precious metal reinforcement, a middle electrode being used with an ignition tip which is tapered relative to the middle electrode body, such that a precious metal wire with a cross section which corresponds to the tapered ignition tip is welded flat onto the tapered ignition tip and such that this precious metal wire is cut off at the desired height, with a sharp edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Beru AG
    Inventor: Werner Niessner
  • Patent number: 6810203
    Abstract: An electrical air heating apparatus, especially for a motor vehicle, with electrical heating elements (3) for heating air and a housing (1) which has a ground connection (1a), an electrical supply connection and an electronic circuit (7) to control the supplying of electrical power to the heating elements (3). In the housing (1), the heating elements (3) are arranged in electrical contact with the ground connection and the electrical supply connection. The housing (1) is made of an electrically conducting material, for example, aluminum and is constructed in one piece with a molded-on ground connection (1a). The heating elements (3) and the electronic circuit (7) are arranged in direct electrical contact with the housing (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Beru AG
    Inventors: Thomas Alban, Dirk Wenske
  • Patent number: 6807041
    Abstract: A heating element and a process for conducting the operating heat of a semiconductor switch to a heating cell which is triggered by the semiconductor switch via first and second heat and current conducting material strips and a frame terminal with an interposed heat-conducting insulating film. The semiconductor switch is provided with a cooling fin and is applied directly to a surface of the first heat and current conducting material strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Beru AG
    Inventors: Steffen Geiger, Thomas Giffels, Klaus Neckel
  • Patent number: 6791246
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing spark plugs with central and body electrode(s) armed with noble metal inserts, in which the tip of a central electrode which is pyramid or conic shaped with a base diameter (d), is liquefied by being pressed against a noble metal ball with diameter (d) that is mounted in the face of a welding electrode under a defined welding contact pressure and defined welding parameters. The liquefied material of the central electrode tip partially flows around the noble metal ball, and the welding electrode is separated from the central electrode after the liquefied material of the central electrode tip has solidified with noble metal ball embedded therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Beru AG
    Inventor: Werner Niessner