Patents by Inventor Manfred Nicolai

Manfred Nicolai 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: 20220416529
    Abstract: A connecting arrangement electrically connects a heating conductor to an electrical connection line. The heating conductor includes a heating conduction element having an exposed end segment defining a first connecting region and the electrical connection line includes a connection line conductor having an exposed end segment defining a second connecting region. A connector mutually electrically connects the exposed end segments. A shielding sleeve surrounds the first connecting region, the second connecting region and the connector. The shielding sleeve has first and second sleeve end portions and the shielding sleeve is connected to the heating conductor in the first connecting region and is connected to the electrical connection line in the second connecting region and so shields the exposed end segment of the heating conduction element and the exposed end segment of the connection line conductor and the connector against external influences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Holger Brenner, Manfred Nicolai
  • Patent number: 9997152
    Abstract: A sound generator (100) mounts on a vehicle to manipulate vehicle noise originating from a vehicle operated by an internal combustion engine. The sound generator (100) includes a casing (110), a loudspeaker (120), and at least one pressure compensation valve (130). The loudspeaker (120) and the casing (110) together thereby enclose a volume (115). Further, the pressure compensation valve (130) couples the volume (115) enclosed by the loudspeaker (120) and the casing to an outside of the casing (110). The pressure compensation valve (130) thereby extends through a plane in which the loudspeaker (120) is located. A system (200) for manipulating sound waves propagating through exhaust systems of vehicles driven by an internal combustion engine uses the above sound generator (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Eberspächer Exhaust Technology GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Manfred Nicolai, Thomas Schmidt, Jan Krüger
  • Publication number: 20170133003
    Abstract: A sound generator (100) mounts on a vehicle to manipulate vehicle noise originating from a vehicle operated by an internal combustion engine. The sound generator (100) includes a casing (110), a loudspeaker (120), and at least one pressure compensation valve (130). The loudspeaker (120) and the casing (110) together thereby enclose a volume (115). Further, the pressure compensation valve (130) couples the volume (115) enclosed by the loudspeaker (120) and the casing to an outside of the casing (110). The pressure compensation valve (130) thereby extends through a plane in which the loudspeaker (120) is located. A system (200) for manipulating sound waves propagating through exhaust systems of vehicles driven by an internal combustion engine uses the above sound generator (100).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Manfred NICOLAI, Thomas SCHMIDT, Jan KRÜGER
  • Patent number: 9374632
    Abstract: A sound generator for influencing sound waves propagating in exhaust or intake systems of combustion engine driven vehicles includes: an enclosure having a port opening for communication with an exhaust and/or intake system; a loudspeaker basket supported by the enclosure; a membrane and a permanent magnet supported by the loudspeaker basket; and a voice coil supported by a voice coil carrier. The voice coil is disposed in a constant magnetic field created by the permanent magnet and is connected to the membrane. The membrane is located between the port opening and the permanent magnet. The membrane is funnel-like or dome-like, with the top or top face of the funnel-like membrane or the geometric center of the dome-like membrane facing away from the permanent magnet. An anti-noise system using the sound generator, and a vehicle using the anti-noise system are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Eberspächer Exhaust Technology GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jan Krueger, Manfred Nicolai
  • Patent number: 9206717
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an active sound absorber (3) for an exhaust system (1) of an internal combustion engine, preferably of a motor vehicle, comprising a housing (7), a connecting pipe (8) for the acoustic and fluidic connecting of the housing (7) with the exhaust system (1), an active membrane (10) which in the housing (7) separates a front volume (12), fluidically connected with the connecting pipe (8), from a back volume (13), and an actuator (11) for vibration stimulation of the active membrane (10). A risk of damage by condensate in the back volume (13) can be reduced by at least one condensation line (14), which fluidically connects the back volume (13) with the front volume (12), in which vapor contained in the exhaust gas condenses, and which directs the condensate which occurs to the front volume (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Eberspaecher Exhaust Technology GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jan Krüger, Manfred Nicolai, Michael Pommerer, Georg Wirth
  • Patent number: 9084039
    Abstract: A method for controlling an anti-sound system includes measuring sound within an exhaust system of a vehicle, calculating a control signal based on the measured sound, calculating a thermal load to be expected of the at least one loudspeaker of the anti-sound system during operation with a control signal based on a mathematical model of a thermal behavior of the loudspeaker and/or a mechanical load to be expected of the at least one loudspeaker of the anti-sound system based on a mathematical model of a mechanical behavior the loudspeaker, comparing the calculated thermal and/or mechanical load with a specified maximum load, operating the loudspeaker with the control signal, if the calculated thermal and/or mechanical load is smaller than or equal to the maximum load, and changing the spectrum of the control signal, in order to receive a corrected control signal, if the calculated load is greater than the maximum load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Eberspächer Exhaust Technology GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Uwe Schumacher, Christof Luecking, Manfred Nicolai
  • Publication number: 20140334633
    Abstract: A sound generator for influencing sound waves propagating in exhaust or intake systems of combustion engine driven vehicles includes: an enclosure having a port opening for communication with an exhaust and/or intake system; a loudspeaker basket supported by the enclosure; a membrane and a permanent magnet supported by the loudspeaker basket; and a voice coil supported by a voice coil carrier. The voice coil is disposed in a constant magnetic field created by the permanent magnet and is connected to the membrane. The membrane is located between the port opening and the permanent magnet. The membrane is funnel-like or dome-like, with the top or top face of the funnel-like membrane or the geometric center of the dome-like membrane facing away from the permanent magnet. An anti-noise system using the sound generator, and a vehicle using the anti-noise system are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Eberspächer Exhaust Technology GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jan KRUEGER, Manfred NICOLAI
  • Patent number: 8360192
    Abstract: An exhaust system (3) for an internal combustion engine (2), especially of a motor vehicle (1), is provided with at least one exhaust pipe (10), which carries an exhaust gas flow (11) away from the internal combustion engine (2) during the operation of the internal combustion engine (2). An active exhaust muffler (12) is provided with a housing (13) that is acoustically connected to the exhaust pipe (10) via a connection pipe (15). Damage to the exhaust muffler (12) is avoided by actively and/or passively cooling the connection pipe (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: J. Eberspächer GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jan Krüger, Manfred Nicolai
  • Publication number: 20110005857
    Abstract: A connection device (1) for an actuator (4) acting as an active exhaust muffler is provided for connection to at least one feeding pipe section (8) of an exhaust system (3) of an internal combustion engine, especially of a motor vehicle. A connection section (5) is arranged between the actuator (4) and an exhaust system-side connection area (2) for spacing the actuator (4) from the exhaust system (2). Skillful design measures are provided, which lead at least to a change in a flow cross section of the connection area (2) compared to at least the feeding pipe section (8), to make it is possible to improve the thermal uncoupling between the actuator (4) and the exhaust system (3) without compromising the acoustic connection of the actuator (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventors: Michael Pommerer, Manfred Nicolai, Michael Ihring, Jürgen Kobe
  • Publication number: 20110000734
    Abstract: An exhaust system (3) for an internal combustion engine (2), especially of a motor vehicle (1), is provided with at least one exhaust pipe (10), which carries an exhaust gas flow (11) away from the internal combustion engine (2) during the operation of the internal combustion engine (2). An active exhaust muffler (12) is provided with a housing (13) that is acoustically connected to the exhaust pipe (10) via a connection pipe (15). Damage to the exhaust muffler (12) is avoided by actively and/or passively cooling the connection pipe (15).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventors: Jan Krüger, Manfred Nicolai
  • Patent number: 7849960
    Abstract: The invention relates to a silencer for an airborne sound conducting pipe system, including a housing enclosing an interior space, an inlet pipe having an outlet within the interior space, a bypass pipe branching off from inlet pipe within the housing and having an outlet, a control element actuated by the gas flow and arranged downstream of bypass pipe on or in the inlet pipe, and at least one outlet pipe having an inlet within the interior space. Furthermore, the interior space is acoustically unseparated in such a manner that the volume of the interior space loaded with the airborne sound is equal with opened and with closed control element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: J. Eberspaecher GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Manfred Nicolai, Frank Castor, Jan Krüger
  • Patent number: 7651316
    Abstract: A conveying member, especially a rotor or stator, for conveying a flowable, preferably gaseous medium, comprises a plurality of blades (S1-S7) arranged following each other with a circumferential distance in a circumferential direction (U) around a central axis (A). Either a first circumferential distance (a) or a second circumferential distance (b) differing from the first circumferential distance (a) is provided between a blade and a respective blade following it in the circumferential direction (U) in a group of blades directly following each other in a circumferential direction (U), which the group comprises at least some of the blades (S1-S7). The first circumferential distance (a) is provided between at least two blades (S1-S7) located directly adjacent to one another, and the second circumferential distance is provided between at least two blades (S1-S7) located directly adjacent to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: J. Eberspächer GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jan Krüger, Frank Castor, Manfred Nicolai, Thomas Rose
  • Publication number: 20080302598
    Abstract: The invention relates to a silencer for an airborne sound conducting pipe system, including a housing enclosing an interior space, an inlet pipe having an outlet within the interior space, a bypass pipe branching off from inlet pipe within the housing and having an outlet, a control element actuated by the gas flow and arranged downstream of bypass pipe on or in the inlet pipe, and at least one outlet pipe having an inlet within the interior space. Furthermore, the interior space is acoustically unseparated in such a manner that the volume of the interior space loaded with the airborne sound is equal with opened and with closed control element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: J. EBERSPAECHER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Manfred Nicolai, Frank Castor, Jan Kruger
  • Publication number: 20050175483
    Abstract: A conveying member, especially a rotor or stator, for conveying a flowable, preferably gaseous medium, comprises a plurality of blades (S1-S7) arranged following each other with a circumferential distance in a circumferential direction (U) around a central axis (A). Either a first circumferential distance (a) or a second circumferential distance (b) differing from the first circumferential distance (a) is provided between a blade and a respective blade following it in the circumferential direction (U) in a group of blades directly following each other in a circumferential direction (U), which the group comprises at least some of the blades (S1-S7). The first circumferential distance (a) is provided between at least two blades (S1-S7) located directly adjacent to one another, and the second circumferential distance is provided between at least two blades (S1-S7) located directly adjacent to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Publication date: August 11, 2005
    Inventors: Jan Kruger, Frank Castor, Manfred Nicolai, Thomas Rose