Patents Assigned to Daimler AG
  • Fuel cell system and method of operating a fuel cell system
    Patent number: 8173308
    Abstract: In a fuel cell system a specific connection and a valve arrangement make it possible for a compressor to supply precompressed air to a fuel cell stack via a waste gas line, said air then leaving the fuel cell stack via a line which is otherwise an air feed line. In this way, a humidifier may be bypassed. This is sensible in particular during a start phase at low ambient temperatures, during which the fuel cell system is intended to warm up without moisture in the fuel cell stack having a negative effect, for instance by freezing. The compressor may be operated both in the start phase or stop phase and during conventional operation by the same mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventor: Hans-Joerg Heidrich
  • Separator plate unit with inclined separating wall having at least one metering point and fuel cell having separator plate unit thereof
    Patent number: 8173321
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell having a membrane electrode arrangement (16) arranged between two separator plate units (44), a first fluid area (12) for distribution of a first fluid which is adjacent to one side of the membrane-electrode arrangement (16), a second fluid area (14) for distribution of a second fluid which is adjacent to a side of the membrane-electrode arrangement (16) opposite this side, with a separating wall (36) being arranged in at least one fluid area (12) and subdividing the fluid area (12) into at least one metering area (32) and one fluid subarea (34), with the at least one metering area (32) having a fluid connection to the adjacent fluid subarea (34) at at least one metering point (38), such that the first fluid can be metered from the metering area (32) through the metering point (38) into the adjacent fluid subarea (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventor: Felix Blank
  • Method and belt tensioning system for restraining passengers of a vehicle upon impact with an obstacle
    Patent number: 8172267
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for restraining passengers in a retaining passengers in a vehicle upon impact with an obstacle, a possible accident is initially sensed. Thereafter, at the latest, whenever the vehicle first contacts the obstacle, or whenever vehicle deceleration exceeds a threshold, a force acting in the direction of impact is exerted upon the passenger via a seat belt system. The force is introduced by bilateral tensioning of a lap belt of a seat belt system, from both sides at a force of at least 2000-4500 N. The latter is maintained for a retaining phase of at least 20 ms along a displacement path of the passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Walter Eberle, Till Heinrich, Christian Mayer
  • Method and apparatus to control operation of a hydraulic pump for an electro-mechanical transmission
    Patent number: 8170762
    Abstract: A method for controlling a hydraulic flow within a powertrain comprising an electromechanical transmission mechanically-operatively coupled to an engine adapted to selectively transmit power to an output, wherein the transmission utilizes a hydraulic control system serving a number of hydraulic oil consuming functions includes monitoring minimum hydraulic pressure requirements for each of the functions, determining a requested hydraulic pressure based upon the monitoring minimum hydraulic pressure requirements and physical limits of the hydraulic control system including a maximum pressure, determining a desired flow utilizing a hydraulic control system flow model based upon the requested hydraulic pressure, and utilizing the desired flow to control an auxiliary hydraulic pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Daimler AG, Chrysler LLC, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael D. Foster, Eric S. Tryon, Jy-Jen F. Sah, Ali K Naqvi
  • Method and apparatus to control motor cooling in an electro-mechanical transmission
    Patent number: 8167773
    Abstract: A method for controlling a powertrain including an transmission coupled to an engine and an electric machine and a hydraulic control system providing hydraulic flow to a cooling circuit of the electric machine, wherein the transmission is adapted to selectively transmit mechanical power to an output member, includes monitoring a temperature of the electric machine, determining a cooling flow requirement for the cooling circuit based upon the temperature of the electric machine, comparing the cooling flow requirement to a threshold cooling flow, and requesting active electric machine cooling of the electric machine based upon the comparing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Daimler AG, Chrysler LLC, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Aniket Kothari, Jy-Jen F. Sah, Ali K Naqvi, William Joseph Gourlay
  • Exhaust manifold
    Patent number: 8166754
    Abstract: In an exhaust manifold for an internal combustion engine including a central part with tow exhaust gas flow ducts extending from the central part in opposite directions for collecting exhaust gas from first and respectively second cylinder groups of the engine, the center part includes a first control valve for controlling the exhaust gas flow from the first and the second cylinder groups to first and second turbine inlet flow passages, a second control valve for controlling the exhaust gas pressure and a third control valve for controlling the exhaust gas recirculation rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Gerolf Frantzheld, Jürgen Orlich, Andreas Ruess
  • Method and apparatus to reprofile input speed during speed during speed phase during constrained conditions for a hybrid powertrain system
    Patent number: 8170764
    Abstract: A method to control a powertrain including a transmission, an engine, and an electric machine includes monitoring an input speed, monitoring an output speed, upon initiation of a transmission shift, determining a plurality of input acceleration profiles for controlling the engine and electric machine during the shift, identifying an input acceleration constraint affecting one of the input acceleration profiles, reprofiling the input acceleration profiles based upon the identified input acceleration constraint, and controlling operation of the engine and electric machine based upon the reprofiled input acceleration profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Daimler AG, Chrysler LLC, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Kaminsky, Jy-Jen F. Sah
  • Transmission with power take-off drive
    Patent number: 8161834
    Abstract: In a motor vehicle transmission with a power take-off drive, an auxiliary drive clutch in the form of a jaw clutch is arranged in the torque flow downstream of the transmission input clutch for coupling the power take-off drive to the transmission input shaft under the control of the drive motor clutch while the transmission is disconnected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventor: Frank Steffens
  • Freeze Start Method for Fuel Cells
    Publication number: 20120094200
    Abstract: A method for starting operation of a solid polymer fuel cell from a temperature below 0° C. is disclosed that prevents certain problems with ice formation as the fuel cell thaws. During startup, the method involves providing the oxidant flow at a rate less than half of its maximum when the coolant temperature is near 0° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicants: Ford Motor Company, Daimler AG
    Inventors: Elisabeth Funk WOOLLIAMS, Richard FELLOWS, Adrian Kent ROETT, Laura IWAN, Matthew Blair GUENTHER
  • Bipolar plate and fuel cell unit
    Patent number: 8158299
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bipolar plate for a fuel cell stack, which comprises at least a an anode-side sub-plate. An interior of the bipolar plate is enclosed by the sub-plates, with a fluid port area arranged having at least one fluid port, over which a fluid can be conveyed to the fluid channels. The fluid channels are arranged on at least one of the flat sides, as well as a manifold zone, over which the fluid can be distributed to its assigned fluid channels and an accumulation zone, over which the fluid can be carried away from the fluid channels to another fluid port area. At least one of the sub-plates has a uniform arrangement of raised support points in the manifold zone and/or accumulation zone. Apart from the peripherally situated support points, a negative support point of the same type is designed adjacent to each raised support point inside the manifold zone and/or the accumulation zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Felix Blank, Thomas Kunick, Markus Schudy
  • Method for predicting an operator torque request of a hybrid powertrain system
    Patent number: 8160761
    Abstract: A method for controlling a hybrid powertrain system based upon a predicted speed of an output member, a predicted operator torque request, and a predicted accelerator pedal position is disclosed. The method comprises predicting the accelerator pedal position based upon a monitored accelerator pedal position and a filtered accelerator pedal position, predicting the speed of an output member based upon a monitored speed of the output member, and predicting the operator torque request based upon the predicted speed of the output member and the predicted accelerator position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Daimler AG, Chrysler LLC, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Anthony H. Heap, Kee Yong Kim
  • Wheel or wheel cover
    Patent number: D657727
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Mark Fetherston, Michael Frei, Klaus Frenzel
  • Headlight for a vehicle
    Patent number: D657894
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Klaus Frenzel, Hans-Dieter Futschik, Stefan Handt, Gorden Wagener, Juergen Wiesen
  • Taillight for a vehicle
    Patent number: D657895
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Klaus Frenzel, Hans-Dieter Futschik, Stefan Handt, Gorden Wagener, Juergen Wiesen
  • Taillight for a vehicle
    Patent number: D657896
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Klaus Frenzel, Hans-Dieter Futschik, Stefan Handt, Gorden Wagener, Juergen Wiesen
  • Wheel or wheel cover
    Patent number: D658104
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Cengiz Dilber, Marian Hrabcak
  • Wheel or wheel cover
    Patent number: D658105
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Hans, Kai Hilpert
  • Wheel or wheel cover
    Patent number: D658108
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Mark Fetherston, Hans-Dieter Futschik, Robert Lesnik, Gorden Wagener
  • Lense for a headlight for a vehicle
    Patent number: D658318
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Hans-Dieter Futschik, Jaroslav Hejtmanek, Steffen Koehl, Frank Pfisterer, Gorden Wagener
  • Front portion of a vehicle, toy, and/or replicas thereof
    Patent number: D658552
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Mark Fetherston, Klaus Frenzel, Hans-Dieter Futschik, Gorden Wagener