Patents by Inventor Armin Schurfeld

Armin Schurfeld 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: 7207324
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air-intake duct system (1) in which a throttle valve (40), an exhaust gas recirculating valve (29), a bypass valve (19), an exhaust gas cooler (11), against which exhaust gas flows via bypass valve (19), and, optionally, an air mass sensor are integrated. A complete intake unit for modern engines is hereby created, with which achieves a charging optimization and thus a reduction in fuel consumption as well as a reduction in pollutants by a corresponding thermal management in the engine by the exhaust gas cooler (11) that, together with a shell (3, 4) of the housing (2), is manufactured as a single piece. The individual add-on pieces (12, 19, 29, 40, 59) are optimally matched to one another and have, due to their designs, a low weight and a low finishing work requirement. This makes it possible to distinctly reduce assembly and manufacturing costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Pierburg GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Ulrich Kühnel, Michael Sanders, Armin Schürfeld, Dieter Thönnessen
  • Publication number: 20060283429
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air-intake duct system (1) in which a throttle valve (40), an exhaust gas recirculating valve (29), a bypass valve (19), an exhaust gas cooler (11), against which exhaust gas flows via the bypass valve (19), and, optionally, an air mass sensor are integrated. A complete intake unit for modern engines is hereby created, with which both a charging optimization and thus a reduction in fuel consumption as well as a reduction in pollutants are achieved by a corresponding thermal management in the engine by the exhaust gas cooler (11) that, together with a shell (3, 4) of the housing (2), is manufactured as a single piece. The individual add-on pieces (12, 19, 29, 40, 59) are optimally matched to one another and have, due to their designs, a low weight and a low requirement of finishing work. This makes it possible to distinctly reduce assembly and manufacturing costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Publication date: December 21, 2006
    Applicant: PIERBURG GMBH
    Inventors: Hans-Ulrich Kühnel, Michael Sanders, Armin Schürfeld, Dieter Thönnessen
  • Patent number: 6213446
    Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation valve in which an impact element is spaced from a head on a valve rod, in order to develop kinetic energy when activated end produce impact on the head to free a valve member which may have become stuck to the valve seat due to deposits on the seat from the recirculating exhaust gas. The impact member is activated when the engine is started and after the valve disk is free, the exhaust gas recirculation valve operates conventionally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Pierburg AG
    Inventors: Heinrich Dismon, Armin Schürfeld, Dieter Thönnessen
  • Patent number: 5457957
    Abstract: A pre-heating arrangement for a catalytic converter of an internal combustion engine having a pre-heating burner operated according to a control and regulation program in the cold-running state of the internal combustion engine after start up. The catalytic converter (2) is formed by two converter elements (4, 5) between which is a converter chamber (6). Hot gases from the burner enter the converter chamber (6) and mix thereat with the exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine and heat the converter element (5) which is second in line in the direction of engine exhaust gas flow. The first converter element (4) on the upstream side, which is subject to impairment due to aging, is by-passed by the hot gases from the burner, which are thereby employed efficiently to rapidly bring the second catalytic converter element (5) up to operating temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: Pierburg GmbH
    Inventors: Gunter Hartel, Armin Schurfeld
  • Patent number: 5417059
    Abstract: A burner system for cleaning exhaust gases in the exhaust line of an internal combustion engine during start-up of the engine. The burner system serves to heat the catalytic convertor during start-up. The burner system has a burner including a combustion chamber for supplying combustion gases to the catalytic converter. A fuel line connected to the fuel injection system of the engine supplies fuel to the burner and a fuel regulator is provided in the fuel line. A secondary sir supply system supplies secondary air to the burner and includes an air fan, an air line connecting the air fan to the burner and a pressure regulator in the air line. The pressure regulator is subjected to the pressure prevailing in the combustion chamber or in the exhaust line for the exhaust gases of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: Pierburg GmbH
    Inventors: Gunter Hartel, Armin Schurfeld, Riedel Rottges, Matthias Hullmann
  • Patent number: 5315867
    Abstract: The quantity of fuel in a fuel tank 1 is measured by determining the displacement of a membrane 19 and pressure values from a sensor 13. The displacement values of the membrane are representative of volume changes in a gas chamber in the tank 1 while the pressure values in the sensor 13 are representative of the pressure of the gas chamber. With these values, the fuel content in the gas tank can be determined from the general equation of state of an ideal gas. In order to displace the membrane 19, an electric motor 20 drives a step down transmission 25 which in turn drives a spindle mechanism 22 which is coupled to the membrane 19.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Pierburg GmbH
    Inventors: Gunter Hartel, Karl-Heinrich Losing, Armin Schurfeld, Johann Blasczyk, Harald Kerkmann
  • Patent number: 5245870
    Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the quantity of fuel in a fuel tank of a vehicle wherein a chamber 41 is disconnected from tank 1 and connected to a fuel pump 4 after the measurement of the fuel quantity in the tank is conducted, the tank 1 being connected to the atmosphere, so that membrane 26 is displaced upwards to a defined position against the action of spring 27 by the fuel which flows into chamber 41 under pressure. The fuel in chamber 41 is then delivered into tank 1 for another measurement, the chamber 41 then being disconnected from fuel pump 4 and connected to tank 1 which is closed to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Assignee: Pierburg GmbH
    Inventors: Gunter Hartel, Karl-Heinrich Losing, Armin Schurfeld, Johann Blasczyk, Harald Kerkmann
  • Patent number: 5182942
    Abstract: Process and apparatus for utilization of fuels with alcohol additives for an internal combustion engine in which during the heating of a sample quantity of a fuel mixture of a conventional fuel and alcohol there is a delay in the temperature increase in the region of the boiling point of the alcohol, due to its heat of vaporization. The apparatus (a) detects this temperature region, which characterizes the type of alcohol in the mixture, and (b) determines the extend of the delay in the temperature increase which characterizes the percent admixture of the alcohol in the fuel mixture. The measurement values obtained during the vaporization are utilized to produce a correction signal in a control device to effect a change in the air-fuel ratio in the fuel mixture former of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Assignee: Pierburg GmbH
    Inventors: Gunter Hartel, Armin Schurfeld, Karl-Heinrich Losing, Dieter Thonnesen, Ulrich Remde
  • Patent number: 5159898
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for utilization of fuels with alcohol additives for an internal combustion engine which are characterized by the fact that at the present time comercial types of fuel have approximately the same molecular weights, which are clearly distinct from the molecular weights of methanol and ethanol. By complete vaporization of a sample volume of fuel, depending on the admixture of alcohol to standard fuel, different volumes of vaporized fuel samples are produced, or different pressures are obtained if the volume is constant. Based thereon and on the sample temperature a correction signal is formed which is characterized by the alcohol and its content in the sample (as compared with reference values stored in a control device), and the correction signal can be utilized to regulate the engine control variables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: Pierburg GmbH
    Inventors: Gunter Hartel, Armin Schurfeld, Karl-Henrich Losing, Dieter Thonnessen, Ulrich Remde
  • Patent number: 4439376
    Abstract: A proportioning device for controlling fluid flow includes a pair of discs (1 and 6) mounted eccentrically face to face and rotatable about parallel axes. The discs are spring biassed towards each other so that a contact face (7) on disc (6) is in constant contact with a slide face (2) on disc (1) irrespective of the relative angular position of the discs. Disc (1) has a passage (4) for the flow of fluid to an outlet (5) in the slide face (2), and disc (6) has a contoured area (8) around its face (7). The axial spacing of flow outlet (5) from the immediately opposite portion of the contoured area (8) defines the free sectional area which determines the amount of fluid which can flow from the outlet. Contoured area (8) is shaped for varying the rate of flow in a predetermined manner by rotating one or both of the discs. Since rotation of the discs can be controlled independently, the flow of fluid can be controlled in dependence upon at least two different operating parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1984
    Assignee: Bosch & Pierburg System oHG
    Inventors: Gunter Hartel, Armin Schurfeld
  • Patent number: 4434772
    Abstract: A carburettor or other combustible mixture generator 1 has a mixture chamber 3 surrounded by a tubular wall 2 which has an inner skin 9 and an outer skin 10 with an annular heating chamber 11 between them. Heating fluid such as exhaust gas or heated engine cooling water flows through the chamber 11 from an inlet 12 to an outlet 13 and so heats the inner skin 9. A fuel metering device 6, 7 directs the fuel on to the surface of the heated skin 9 and thus causes the fuel to be evaporated within the mixing chamber 3 upstream of a throttle 4. This greatly improves the uniformity of the mixture and the uniformity of its distribution through an inlet downstream of the throttle 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1984
    Assignee: Bosch & Pierburg System OHG
    Inventors: Gunter Hartel, Werner Schiele, Armin Schurfeld, Valerio Bianchi, Anwar Abidin
  • Patent number: 4420439
    Abstract: A downdraught carburettor of the constant pressure type has a mixing chamber 2 with an operator-controlled throttle valve 3 at its downstream end and a choke valve 10, which is operated by a diaphragm box 20 in dependence upon the pressure in the mixing chamber 2, at its upstream end. Fuel is supplied to the mixing chamber from an annular duct 5 through ports 6 to the wall of the mixing chamber down which the fuel flows in the form of a thin film. The film is evaporated to form the mixture by a heating jacket 16 which surrounds the mixing chamber 2 and is heated by engine cooling water or exhaust gases. In order to prevent the film of fuel from being broken up before it has been heated and evaporated, which tends to happen owing to turbulence in the air stream caused by the choke valve 10, an inner tube 11 is provided. The choke valve 10 is situated in the upstream end of the inner tube 11 so that the fuel film is screened by the tube 11 from any turbulence caused by the valve 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1983
    Assignee: Bosch & Pierburg System oHG
    Inventors: Gunter Hartel, Armin Schurfeld, Anwar Abidin
  • Patent number: 4302407
    Abstract: A carburettor or other mixture generator 1 for an internal combustion engine has a mixing chamber 3 which is surrounded by a tubular wall 2 and delimited at its ends by a throttle valve 4 and a choke 5. The wall 2 is double-skinned with a water heating chamber 10 between the skins. In order to heat the wall 2 and prevent the condensation of liquid fuel upon it, water from a cooling water circuit of the engine to which the carburettor is fitted is circulated through the chamber 10 under the control of a thermally operated valve 21. Since the cooling water will no heat the carburettor until the engine itself has become heated, the carburettor is also provided with electrical heating for cold starting purposes. The chamber 10 is raised so that when the engine cooling water pump is not operating the chamber 10 is empty and the inside skin 9 of the wall 2 is made of electric resistance heating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1981
    Assignee: Bosch & Pierburg System oHG
    Inventors: Guunter Hartel, Armin Schurfeld