Patents by Inventor Andreas Lacroix

Andreas Lacroix 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: 7770383
    Abstract: In a device for dosing and transporting dry urea, e.g., for implementing the SCR method in a motor vehicle, the device includes a storage vessel containing the dry urea in the form of pellets, the wall of the storage vessel having an opening to which a transport line is connected on the outer side. The device also includes a compressed air nozzle which is arranged inside the storage vessel at a distance from the opening, is oriented towards the opening, and may be supplied with compressed air, and a portioning element having an upper side oriented towards the inside of the storage vessel and a lower side opposite the wall of the storage vessel. At least one continuous channel having a larger cross section than the dimensions of the pellets connects the upper side and the lower side in order to form at least one receiving element for the pellets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Sebastian Kaefer, Werner Mueller, Andreas Herr, Andreas Lacroix
  • Publication number: 20060086079
    Abstract: In a device for dosing and transporting dry urea, e.g., for implementing the SCR method in a motor vehicle, the device includes a storage vessel containing the dry urea in the form of pellets, the wall of the storage vessel having an opening to which a transport line is connected on the outer side. The device also includes a compressed air nozzle which is arranged inside the storage vessel at a distance from the opening, is oriented towards the opening, and may be supplied with compressed air, and a portioning element having an upper side oriented towards the inside of the storage vessel and a lower side opposite the wall of the storage vessel. At least one continuous channel having a larger cross section than the dimensions of the pellets connects the upper side and the lower side in order to form at least one receiving element for the pellets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Publication date: April 27, 2006
    Inventors: Sebastian Kaefer, Werner Mueller, Andreas Herr, Andreas Lacroix
  • Patent number: 6928807
    Abstract: A method is provided for producing ammonia (NH3) and introducing the produced ammonia (NH3) into an exhaust gas stream as a reduction means for selectively catalytically reducing nitrogen oxides contained in the exhaust gas stream, which is an exhaust stream generated by the combustion process of a motor, a gas turbine, or a burner. The method comprises feeding dry urea from a supply container in a controlled amount to reactor and subjecting the dry urea in the reactor to a sufficiently rapid thermal treatment such that a gas mixture comprising the reaction products of ammonia (NH3) and isocyanic acid (HCNO) is created. Also, the method comprises immediately catalytically treating the thus produced gas mixture in the presence of water such that the isocyanic acid (HCNO) resulting from the rapid thermal treatment is converted, via quantitative hydrolysis treatment, into ammonia (NH3) and carbon dioxide (CO2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG
    Inventors: Eberhard Jacob, Sebastian Käfer, Werner Müller, Andreas Lacroix, Andreas Herr
  • Publication number: 20040040288
    Abstract: A method is provided for producing ammonia (NH3) and introducing the produced ammonia (NH3) into an exhaust gas stream as a reduction means for selectively catalytically reducing nitrogen oxides contained in the exhaust gas stream, which is an exhaust stream generated by the combustion process of a motor, a gas turbine, or a burner. The method comprises feeding dry urea from a supply container in a controlled amount to reactor and subjecting the dry urea in the reactor to a sufficiently rapid thermal treatment such that a gas mixture comprising the reaction products of ammonia (NH3) and isocyanic acid (HCNO) is created. Also, the method comprises immediately catalytically treating the thus produced gas mixture in the presence of water such that the isocyanic acid (HCNO) resulting from the rapid thermal treatment is converted, via quantitative hydrolysis treatment, into ammonia (NH3) and carbon dioxide (CO2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: Eberhard Jacob, Sebastian Kafer, Werner Muller, Andreas Lacroix, Andreas Herr