Patents by Inventor Thomas Lorenz

Thomas Lorenz 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: 9072389
    Abstract: A bracket and spring slat for a slatted bed frame. The bracket has plugs that extend into slots on the spring slat and also a bearing stub that is insertable into a recess on the frame. The slots accommodate a spring action of the slats. The bracket and spring slat combination allow slats to be placed very close together in areas of heavy loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: LORENZ KUNSTSTOFFTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventor: Thomas Lorenz
  • Publication number: 20150167531
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for expediting warm up of an internal combustion engine cylinder block and engine oil utilizing an existing oil coolant circuit. A method for warming up an internal combustion engine with at least one cylinder, a cylinder block which is formed by an upper crankcase half mounted to a lower crankcase half, said lower crankcase half containing an oil sump which is fed, via a supply line, by a coolant jacket, an inlet side of said coolant jacket supplied in turn with oil via the oil sump by an oil pump, the method comprising: releasing oil from the coolant jacket via gravity to reduce a cooling capacity of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Jan Mehring, Moritz Klaus Springer, Bernd Steiner, Thomas Lorenz
  • Patent number: 9051874
    Abstract: A system is provided for an internal combustion engine comprising, at least two cylinders wherein the at least two cylinders form at least two groups, wherein each group comprises at least one cylinder, the at least one cylinder of at least one group being formed as a cylinder which can be activated in a load-dependent manner and which is deactivated if a predefined load is undershot. The at least two groups are characterized by different compression ratios, the at least one cylinder of a first group having a higher compression ratio and the at least one cylinder of a second group having a lower compression ratio and the at least one cylinder of the second group comprises an activatable and deactivatable cylinder. Use of the first cylinder group, and deactivation of the second cylinder group during partial loads increases engine efficiency and fuel economy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Moritz Klaus Springer, Helmut Hans Ruhland, Albert Breuer, Thomas Lorenz, Jan Linsel
  • Patent number: 9004020
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for expediting warm up of an internal combustion engine cylinder block and engine oil utilizing an existing oil coolant circuit. A method for warming up an internal combustion engine with at least one cylinder, a cylinder block which is formed by an upper crankcase half mounted to a lower crankcase half, said lower crankcase half containing an oil sump which is fed, via a supply line, by a coolant jacket, an inlet side of said coolant jacket supplied in turn with oil via the oil sump by an oil pump, the method comprising: releasing oil from the coolant jacket via gravity to reduce a cooling capacity of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jan Mehring, Moritz Klaus Springer, Bernd Steiner, Thomas Lorenz
  • Publication number: 20150053190
    Abstract: A system for filtering and oxidizing particulate matter produced by a gasoline direct injection engine is disclosed. In one embodiment, engine cylinder air-fuel is adjusted to allow soot to oxidize at an upstream particulate filter while exhaust gases are efficiently processed in a downstream catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Carolyn Parks Hubbard, Robert Walter McCabe, Eva Thanasiu, Jeffrey Scott Hepburn, Helmut Hans Ruhland, Moritz Klaus Springer, Thomas Lorenz, Georg Louven, David Karl Bidner
  • Patent number: 8875494
    Abstract: A system for filtering and oxidizing particulate matter produced by a gasoline direct injection engine is disclosed. In one embodiment, engine cylinder air-fuel is adjusted to allow soot to oxidize at an upstream particulate filter while exhaust gases are efficiently processed in a downstream catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Carolyn Parks Hubbard, Robert Walter McCabe, Eva Thanasiu, Jeffrey Scott Hepburn, Helmut Hans Ruhland, Moritz Klaus Springer, Thomas Lorenz, Georg Louven, David Karl Bidner
  • Publication number: 20140201908
    Abstract: A bracket for fastening a bed slat to a frame for a slatted bed frame. The bracket secures a bed slat to a frame rail and also reliably holds the bed slat against upward forces that may act on the ends of the bed slat as a result of a spring deflection of the slat. The bracket has protruding elements that fit into recesses provided on the frame rails, so that it is quickly and easily assembled on the frame and also has protruding elements that are constructed, such, that the end of the bed slat may be snapped onto the bracket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: LORENZ KUNSTSTOFFTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventor: Thomas Lorenz
  • Patent number: 8783020
    Abstract: An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine is provided. The system comprises an exhaust tract which is connectable to an outlet side of the internal combustion engine, at least one catalytic converter arranged in the exhaust tract downstream of the engine, a particle filter downstream of the at least one catalytic converter, and a secondary-air inlet port provided in the exhaust tract upstream of the particle filter for introducing compressed secondary air into the exhaust tract via at least one flutter valve. In this way, additional oxygen may be supplied to the particulate filter to perform filter regeneration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Moritz Klaus Springer, Helmut Hans Ruhland, Thomas Lorenz, Georg Louven, Jens Dunstheimer
  • Publication number: 20140173824
    Abstract: A bracket and spring slat for a slatted bed frame. The bracket has plugs that extend into slots on the spring slat and also a bearing stub that is insertable into a recess on the frame. The slots accommodate a spring action of the slats. The bracket and spring slat combination allow slats to be placed very close together in areas of heavy loading.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: LORENZ KUNSTSTOFFTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventor: THOMAS LORENZ
  • Publication number: 20140069371
    Abstract: A direct-injection engine having a cylinder in which a combustion chamber is jointly formed by a piston crown of a piston, which is movable along the longitudinal axis of the cylinder, and a cylinder head, and an injection nozzle, which is arranged in the cylinder head on the opposite side of the piston crown eccentrically, spaced apart from the longitudinal axis of the cylinder, for the direct injection of fuel, which injection nozzle has a nozzle needle movable in a nozzle body, wherein the needle in the open position of the nozzle is moved into the combustion chamber, opening up an annular gap arranged between the nozzle body and needle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventors: Oliver Berkemeier, Thomas Lorenz, Helmut Hans Ruhland, Stefan Quiring, Maziar Khosravi
  • Publication number: 20140034008
    Abstract: Embodiments for selectively filling a cylinder block cooling jacket with oil are provided. In one example, a control unit may be rotated among a plurality of working positions to open up and/or block flow of oil into and out of the cylinder block cooling jacket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jan Mehring, Thomas Lorenz, Bernd Steiner, Moritz Klaus Springer
  • Publication number: 20130332052
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders, the method comprising, during one working cycle, distributing fuel for each cylinder of the plurality of cylinders among a plurality of injection processes according to settable split factors which respectively define a setpoint fuel mass and/or injection duration and time setting of each respective injection process for the plurality of individual injection processes, wherein random variation is carried out for at least one injection process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Georg Louven, Jens Wojahn, Klemens Grieser, Marco Marceno, Helmut Hans Ruhland, Thomas Lorenz, Moritz Klaus Springer
  • Publication number: 20130276747
    Abstract: A system is provided for an internal combustion engine comprising, at least two cylinders wherein the at least two cylinders form at least two groups, wherein each group comprises at least one cylinder, the at least one cylinder of at least one group being formed as a cylinder which can be activated in a load-dependent manner and which is deactivated if a predefined load is undershot. The at least two groups are characterized by different cylinder volumes, the at least one cylinder of a first group having a lesser cylinder volume and the at least one cylinder of a second group having a greater cylinder volume; and the at least one cylinder of the second group comprises an activatable and deactivatable cylinder. Use of the first cylinder group, and deactivation of the second cylinder group during partial loads increases engine efficiency and fuel economy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Moritz Klaus Springer, Helmut Hans Ruhland, Albert Breuer, Thomas Lorenz, Jan Linsel
  • Publication number: 20130276749
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving the operation of a multi-cylinder auto-ignition internal combustion engine. By configuring the cylinders in multiple groups based on compression ratios, and operating the cylinders in a load-dependent manner, fuel consumption may be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Moritz Klaus Springer, Albert Breuer, Thomas Lorenz, Helmut Hans Ruhland, Jan Linsel
  • Publication number: 20130276759
    Abstract: A system is provided for an internal combustion engine comprising, at least two cylinders wherein the at least two cylinders form at least two groups, wherein each group comprises at least one cylinder, the at least one cylinder of at least one group being formed as a cylinder which can be activated in a load-dependent manner and which is deactivated if a predefined load is undershot. The at least two groups are characterized by different compression ratios, the at least one cylinder of a first group having a higher compression ratio and the at least one cylinder of a second group having a lower compression ratio and the at least one cylinder of the second group comprises an activatable and deactivatable cylinder. Use of the first cylinder group, and deactivation of the second cylinder group during partial loads increases engine efficiency and fuel economy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Moritz Klaus Springer, Helmut Hans Ruhland, Albert Breuer, Thomas Lorenz, Jan Linsel
  • Publication number: 20130276755
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for optimizing the operation of a multi-cylinder auto-ignition internal combustion engine. By configuring the cylinders in multiple groups based on compression ratios, and operating the cylinders in a load-dependent manner, fuel consumption may be optimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Moritz Klaus Springer, Albert Breuer, Thomas Lorenz, Helmut Hans Ruhland, Jan Linsel
  • Patent number: D723907
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas Lorenz
  • Patent number: D723908
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas Lorenz
  • Patent number: D724420
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas Lorenz
  • Patent number: D724421
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas Lorenz