Patents by Inventor Richard Pirkl

Richard Pirkl 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: 20200256297
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for sensing the state of an injector, comprising an injector for injecting fuel into an engine combustion chamber, a switch, which is designed to change the switching state thereof in accordance with the state of the injector, and an evaluating unit for sensing the switching state of the switch, wherein a first switch contact of the switch is connected to an electrical input line of the injector, a second switch contact of the switch is connected to ground, and the evaluating unit is designed to carry out a first current measurement for a current flowing into the injector and into the switch and a second current measurement for the current flowing into the injector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Norbert SCHOEFBAENKER, Richard PIRKL, Lorand D'OUVENOU
  • Publication number: 20200116113
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel injection valve for the intermittent injection of fuel into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine having a housing which has a high pressure chamber and a low pressure chamber. In addition, the fuel injection valve has a control chamber which is divided by means of a control valve into a first and a second control chamber. The control valve in turn has a valve guide and a valve insert, wherein an outflow throttle which connects the first control chamber to the second control chamber is arranged in the valve guide. According to the invention, the connection which is formed by way of the outflow throttle between the first control chamber and the second control chamber can be interrupted temporarily in a targeted manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Richard PIRKL, Razvan-Sorin STINGHE, Markus HOELLBACHER, Alexander PREIS, Michael SCHMID
  • Patent number: 9850842
    Abstract: A controller for a common-rail injection system includes a plurality of fuel injectors, a common fuel supply line for the fuel injectors, a high-pressure pump for supplying the common fuel supply line with fuel, and a pressure sensor for determining the pressure in the common fuel supply line. A determination unit evaluates data of the pressure sensor and, from the pressure drop caused by an injection in the common fuel supply line, determines the fuel quantity actually injected during this injection or a value derived therefrom. An adaption unit uses the results of the determination unit in order to adapt the actuation of the fuel injectors. The determination unit carries out at least one test injection, and the actually injected fuel quantity or a value derived therefrom is effected by way of the test injection or injections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Liebherr Machines Bulle SA
    Inventors: Konrad Christ, Francois Masson, Richard Pirkl
  • Patent number: 9334823
    Abstract: A controller for an injection system having a plurality of fuel injectors includes a map controller. From a desired injection value, the map controller generates a control value for actuating a fuel injector with reference to a specified map. A determination unit determines the actual injection value for at least one injection made, and an adaption unit uses results from the determination unit in order to adapt actuation of the fuel injectors. The adaption unit determines an adaption value for injector actuation from the at least one actual injection value. In engine operation, the adaption unit receives the control values generated by the map controller as input. From this input, the adaption unit generates adapted actuation values as output by applying a mathematical function to the control values generated by the map controller. The at least one adaption value is included in the first mathematical function as parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Liebherr Machines Bulle SA
    Inventors: Konrad Christ, Francois Masson, Richard Pirkl
  • Patent number: 8939128
    Abstract: The present invention shows a high-pressure injector having the following assemblies: an injector unit (1), a drive unit (2) for driving the injector unit (1), preferably a high-pressure storage unit (3) for supplying the injector unit (1) with fuel, and a high-pressure connection (4). Provision is made in this respect that the high-pressure injector has a housing (5) in which a plurality of the named assemblies are arranged behind one another in the longitudinal direction of the injector, wherein the housing (5) completely envelops at least one of the named assemblies, in particular the drive unit (2) and/or the high-pressure storage unit (3). The high-pressure injector with the injector unit can be used in all types of internal combustion engines, preferably in diesel engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Liebherr Machines Bulle SA
    Inventors: Richard Pirkl, Edgar Bignion, Wolfram Klemp
  • Publication number: 20140311453
    Abstract: A controller for a common-rail injection system includes a plurality of fuel injectors, a common fuel supply line for the fuel injectors, a high-pressure pump for supplying the common fuel supply line with fuel, and a pressure sensor for determining the pressure in the common fuel supply line. A determination unit evaluates data of the pressure sensor and, from the pressure drop caused by an injection in the common fuel supply line, determines the fuel quantity actually injected during this injection or a value derived therefrom. An adaption unit uses the results of the determination unit in order to adapt the actuation of the fuel injectors. The determination unit carries out at least one test injection, and the actually injected fuel quantity or a value derived therefrom is effected by way of the test injection or injections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Liebherr Machines Bulle SA
    Inventors: Konrad CHRIST, Francois MASSON, Richard PIRKL
  • Publication number: 20140311457
    Abstract: A controller for an injection system having a plurality of fuel injectors includes a map controller. From a desired injection value, the map controller generates a control value for actuating a fuel injector with reference to a specified map. A determination unit determines the actual injection value for at least one injection made, and an adaption unit uses results from the determination unit in order to adapt actuation of the fuel injectors. The adaption unit determines an adaption value for injector actuation from the at least one actual injection value. In engine operation, the adaption unit receives the control values generated by the map controller as input. From this input, the adaption unit generates adapted actuation values as output by applying a mathematical function to the control values generated by the map controller. The at least one adaption value is included in the first mathematical function as parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Liebherr Machines Bulle SA
    Inventors: Konrad CHRIST, Francois MASSON, Richard PIRKL
  • Publication number: 20140299207
    Abstract: The invention relates to an injection system which includes a line which is connected with a pump. Furthermore, the injection system includes at least two branch lines which are connected with the line such that the fluid flowing in the line is split up onto the at least two branch lines. At least one branch line is connected with at least one injection means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Richard Pirkl, Thibault Kämmerlen, Thomas De Rigal
  • Publication number: 20130319374
    Abstract: An injection device for a fluid, in particular for fuel, with has at least one electric and/or electronic control element, at least one valve, at least one first throttle, and a second throttle. The valve can be switched into at least one first throttle position by activating the first throttle and into at least one second throttle position by activating the second throttle. The valve is directly and/or indirectly coupled with the control element such that, by way of an actuating operation of the control element directly and/or indirectly, the valve can be switched from the first into the second throttle position and/or vice versa. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a common-rail injection system, an internal combustion engine, a motor vehicle, a ship, and a method for injecting a fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Liebherr Machines Bulle SA
    Inventors: Harald Schmidt, Richard Pirkl
  • Patent number: 8368288
    Abstract: In an actuator unit for an injection system of an internal combustion engine, the difference in the longitudinal extension when a change of temperature of the piezoelectric actuator element occurs affecting the actuator unit is equalized compared to the actuator housing due to different thermal expansion coefficient values in that a fastening element is arranged on the actuator housing. The fastening element is made of a different material than the actuator housing and thus affects a force acting counter to the change of length of the actuator housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Jürgen Dick, Hellmut Freudenberg, Richard Pirkl
  • Patent number: 8365704
    Abstract: In a method or a device for forming an electric control signal for an injection impulse of a position-controlled fuel injector, particularly of a common-rail or pump-nozzle injection system, the course of the electric control signal can be selected freely in regard to the pulse edges (injection rate changes Q), the holding period (?t) and the injection rate (Q). This offers the advantage that the combustion process can be better optimized with respect to low emissions, low consumption and for meeting tightened legal regulations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Jörg Beilharz, Uwe Lingener, Andreas Pfeifer, Richard Pirkl, Harald Schmidt, Klaus Wenzlawski, Hans-Jörg Wiehoff
  • Publication number: 20110271935
    Abstract: The present invention shows a high-pressure injector having the following assemblies: an injector unit (1), a drive unit (2) for driving the injector unit (1), preferably a high-pressure storage unit (3) for supplying the injector unit (1) with fuel, and a high-pressure connection (4). Provision is made in this respect that the high-pressure injector has a housing (5) in which a plurality of the named assemblies are arranged behind one another in the longitudinal direction of the injector, wherein the housing (5) completely envelops at least one of the named assemblies, in particular the drive unit (2) and/or the high-pressure storage unit (3). The high-pressure injector with the injector unit can be used in all types of internal combustion engines, preferably in diesel engines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: Liebherr Machines Bulle SA
    Inventors: Richard Pirkl, Edgar Bignion, Wolfram Klemp
  • Patent number: 8038079
    Abstract: An injection system for injecting fuel has: a housing for containing the fuel, with a first and second aperture, a piezo actuator having a first and second face plate aperture, a controllable piezo stack arranged between the face and base plate, a sealed casing laterally surrounding at least the piezo stack and arranged between the face and base plate and a transmission means arranged in an actuator interior space having a fluid, a first contact device guided through the first aperture and face plate aperture, a second contact device guided through the second aperture and face plate aperture, a first sealing device surrounding the contact device near the apertures and providing a seal between the housing interior and exterior space and a second sealing device surrounding the contact devices near the face plate apertures and providing a seal between the housing interior space and the actuator interior space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Richard Pirkl
  • Publication number: 20100288238
    Abstract: In a method or a device for forming an electric control signal for an injection impulse of a position-controlled fuel injector, particularly of a common-rail or pump-nozzle injection system, he course of the electric control signal can be selected freely in regard to the pulse edges (injection rate changes Q), the holding period (?t) and the injection rate (Q). This offers the advantage that the combustion process can be better optimized with respect to low emissions, low consumption and for meeting tightened legal regulations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventors: Jörg Beilharz, Uwe Lingener, Andreas Pfeifer, Richard Pirkl, Harald Schmidt, Klaus Wenzlawski, Hans-Jörg Wiehoff
  • Patent number: 7815128
    Abstract: A method for injecting a fluid, in particular a fuel, performs the following steps: A nozzle (1) which can be actuated by a piezo element (5) is provided. A current pulse (12a) is supplied to the piezo element (5). The capacity (16) of the piezo element (5) is recorded at the time when the current pulse (12a) is supplied. An actual characteristic curve of the injection is recorded based on the capacity (16). The current pulse (12a) is regulated in order to optimize the injection based on the actual characteristic curve of the injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Jörg Beilharz, Nicholas Nozeran, Richard Pirkl, Christian Riβler, Harald Schmidt, Hans-Jörg Wiehoff
  • Patent number: 7802561
    Abstract: A valve has a piezo actuator, a valve element, a valve body and a valve seat. At a predeterminable point in time, the valve element is controlled by a discharging process of the piezo actuator from a position in which it rests against the valve seat to a predetermined position located at a distance from the valve seat. The discharging process is divided into a first discharging period during which a predetermined first amount of electrical energy is discharged from the piezo actuator, a subsequent holding time period during which the piezo actuator is not controlled, and a subsequent second discharging period during which a predetermined second amount of electrical energy is discharged. The holding time duration and/or the first discharging period are/is adapted according to the course of a value that is not characteristic of the oscillation behavior of the piezo actuator during the holding time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Jörg Beilharz, Maximillian Kronberger, Richard Pirkl, Sven Rebeschieβ, Harald Schmidt, Hans-Jörg Wiehoff
  • Publication number: 20100194244
    Abstract: In an actuator unit for an injection system of an internal combustion engine, the difference in the longitudinal extension when a change of temperature of the piezoelectric actuator element occurs affecting the actuator unit is equalized compared to the actuator housing due to different thermal expansion coefficient values in that a fastening element is arranged on the actuator housing. The fastening element is made of a different material than the actuator housing and thus affects a force acting counter to the change of length of the actuator housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Jürgen Dick, Hellmut Freudenberg, Richard Pirkl
  • Patent number: 7710052
    Abstract: A piezo-actuator is actuated in a first operating mode (B1) by pulsed supply of a first electrical variable for charging or discharging of the piezo-actuator taking into account at least one actuation parameter (P) for the piezo-actuator. The piezo-actuator is actuated in a second operating mode (B2) by non-pulsed introduction of the first electrical variable for charging or discharging of the piezo-actuator, to be precise with the first electrical variable having a predetermined profile which is substantially independent of any load change on the piezo-actuator (1). A profile of a second electrical variable of the piezo-actuator is recorded during at least one measurement time period while the predetermined profile of the first electrical variable is being applied. The at least one actuation parameter (P) of the piezo-actuator is determined as a function of the recorded profile of the second electrical variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Richard Pirkl, Udo Reiländer, Hans-Jörg Wiehoff
  • Patent number: 7690358
    Abstract: An piezo actuator loading signal is determined and generated according to an output value and a pilot control value which depends on at least one operational parameter. The loading signal causes that a valve member moves into a valve seat. A first value characteristic of the electric power fed to the actuator when the valve member hits the valve seat is determined while a second value characteristic of the energy delivered to the actuator is determined when the loading process of the actuator has been completed. A real value characteristic of a sealing force with which the valve member is pressed onto the valve seat is determined according to the first and second value. The real value and a predefined setpoint value are fed to the controller which accordingly adjusts a pilot control value assignment instruction which is used for determining the pilot control value if a predefined condition is met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Reiner Lederle, Richard Pirkl, Hans-Jörg Wiehoff
  • Patent number: 7617813
    Abstract: A method for controlling a piezoelectric actuator which displaces a control element of an injection valve includes the step of charging the actuator until a start voltage is reached. Subsequently, the actuator is discharged until a partial lifting voltage, which is maintained during a holding time, is reached. In the final step, the actuator is discharged until an off-load voltage is reached and a parameter which is dependent on the partial lifting voltage is used as a control variable. A desired value for the control variable is determined and the actuator is controlled in such a manner that the desired value of the control variable is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Richard Pirkl, Harald Schmidt, Hans-Jörg Wiehoff