Patents by Inventor Arnulf Sponheimer

Arnulf Sponheimer 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: 11362357
    Abstract: A system and method for generating vibrations in a fuel cell system include a vibration device which can be arranged on the fuel cell system or is formed by at least one component of the fuel cell system, for generating excitation vibrations which can be transmitted to the component. An electronic actuating system includes a controller and memory for actuating the vibration device, which may include a coolant pump or a compressor, at a natural frequency of a fuel system component for de-icing. At temperatures below 0° C., the electronic actuating system is adapted to actuate the vibration device during a switch-on process and/or a switch-off process of the fuel cell system taking into consideration at least one natural frequency of the component. Embodiments including actuating a compressor, cooling pump, and/or valve to transmit vibrations to a component to be de-iced at a natural frequency of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Julio Orozco Santos Coy, Rolf Lorenz Loeffler, Arnulf Sponheimer
  • Patent number: 11267355
    Abstract: A charging method (10) for an electrically operated motor vehicle (30) designed for autonomous driving is provided, in which, in a first exercise, the motor vehicle (30) is charged in a charging procedure (22) within a time window at a charging station (4). According to the invention, the motor vehicle (30) is commanded in an approach command delivery (19) to approach (6) the charging station (4) or in a departure command delivery (24) to depart (7) from the charging station (4). Moreover, a motor vehicle (30) is claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Arnulf Sponheimer, Stephan Strahl
  • Patent number: 11171343
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes multiple stacked individual cells each having an anode and a cathode, a common fuel inlet duct, a common fuel outlet duct, a common oxidizing agent inlet duct, a common oxidizing agent outlet duct, and at least one microwave source configured to selectively generate microwave radiation into the common fuel outlet duct and/or into the common oxidizing agent outlet duct to manage water contained therein to melt ice and/or expedite evaporation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Arnulf Sponheimer, Stephan Strahl, Julio Orozco Santos Coy, Rolf Lorenz Loeffler
  • Patent number: 10800259
    Abstract: A plug-in hybrid vehicle includes an engine mechanically coupled to at least one wheel and having a turbocharger. A first electric machine is coupled to at least one wheel. A second electric machine is coupled to the turbocharger. An electric store or battery is coupled to the first and second electric machines. A controller is coupled to the second electric machine and a plug configured to connect to an external electric grid. The second electric machine is configured to drive the turbocharger during charging of the battery from the external electric grid via the plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Julio Orozco, Arnulf Sponheimer
  • Patent number: 10800266
    Abstract: A mobility system includes an electrically drivable motor vehicle and an electrically drivable battery transport cart. A rechargeable drive battery of the motor vehicle is received in the battery transport cart. The battery transport cart can be releasably inserted into a downwardly open region of a supporting structure of the motor vehicle. The disclosure also relates to a battery transport cart, an electrically drivable motor vehicle and a method to charge a rechargeable drive battery of an electrically drivable motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Arnulf Sponheimer, Markus Kees
  • Publication number: 20200287228
    Abstract: A system and method for generating vibrations in a fuel cell system include a vibration device which can be arranged on the fuel cell system or is formed by at least one component of the fuel cell system, for generating excitation vibrations which can be transmitted to the component. An electronic actuating system includes a controller and memory for actuating the vibration device, which may include a coolant pump or a compressor, at a natural frequency of a fuel system component for de-icing. At temperatures below 0° C., the electronic actuating system is adapted to actuate the vibration device during a switch-on process and/or a switch-off process of the fuel cell system taking into consideration at least one natural frequency of the component. Embodiments including actuating a compressor, cooling pump, and/or valve to transmit vibrations to a component to be de-iced at a natural frequency of the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Julio OROZCO SANTOS COY, Rolf Lorenz LOEFFLER, Arnulf SPONHEIMER
  • Patent number: 10714768
    Abstract: The fuel cell system of a motor vehicle has a fuel cell, comprising an anode side and a cathode side, a compressor, which is rotationally connected to a motor and connected by a feed line to the cathode side of the fuel cell, and a turbine, which is connected by an exhaust air line to the cathode side and which furthermore is rotationally connected only to a generator, which is connected at the output side to a second inverter and a low-voltage battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Julio Orozco, Arnulf Sponheimer
  • Patent number: 10632831
    Abstract: A fuel cell plug-in hybrid vehicle includes a fuel cell having an anode side and a cathode side with a compressor connected to the cathode side. An electric motor is drive-connected exclusively to the compressor. A converter is connected electrically on one side to the motor and on the other side to a high-voltage battery. A controller switches the vehicle between two different operating states. In a first operating state, the high-voltage battery supplies electrical power to the motor via the converter so that the electric motor drives the compressor. In a second operating state, an electrical voltage is supplied from a power supply system to the motor or to the converter via a power supply line. The motor can modify the amplitude of the system voltage with the modified voltage present across the converter, which converts the voltage into a DC voltage applied across the high-voltage battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Julio Orozco Santos Coy, Arnulf Sponheimer
  • Publication number: 20200091537
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes multiple stacked individual cells each having an anode and a cathode, a common fuel inlet duct, a common fuel outlet duct, a common oxidizing agent inlet duct, a common oxidizing agent outlet duct, and at least one microwave source configured to selectively generate microwave radiation into the common fuel outlet duct and/or into the common oxidizing agent outlet duct to manage water contained therein to melt ice and/or expedite evaporation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Arnulf Sponheimer, Stephan Strahl, Julio Orozco Santos Coy, Rolf Lorenz Loeffler
  • Publication number: 20190315242
    Abstract: A charging method (10) for an electrically operated motor vehicle (30) designed for autonomous driving is provided, in which, in a first exercise, the motor vehicle (30) is charged in a charging procedure (22) within a time window at a charging station (4). According to the invention, the motor vehicle (30) is commanded in an approach command delivery (19) to approach (6) the charging station (4) or in a departure command delivery (24) to depart (7) from the charging station (4). Moreover, a motor vehicle (30) is claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Arnulf Sponheimer, Stephan Strahl
  • Publication number: 20190160935
    Abstract: A fuel cell plug-in hybrid vehicle includes a fuel cell having an anode side and a cathode side with a compressor connected to the cathode side. An electric motor is drive-connected exclusively to the compressor. A converter is connected electrically on one side to the motor and on the other side to a high-voltage battery. A controller switches the vehicle between two different operating states. In a first operating state, the high-voltage battery supplies electrical power to the motor via the converter so that the electric motor drives the compressor. In a second operating state, an electrical voltage is supplied from a power supply system to the motor or to the converter via a power supply line. The motor can modify the amplitude of the system voltage with the modified voltage present across the converter, which converts the voltage into a DC voltage applied across the high-voltage battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Julio OROZCO SANTOS COY, Arnulf SPONHEIMER
  • Publication number: 20190135125
    Abstract: A mobile energy storage device is provided that is arranged to drive autonomously in public traffic to a requested location and to supply energy to a parked electrically powered motor vehicle during the parking time thereof. The energy storage device contains a storage device for hydrogen and a fuel cell and is arranged to charge the parked motor vehicle with electric current that is generated by the fuel cell from the stored hydrogen. A method of charging a vehicle using the mobile energy storage device is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Arnulf SPONHEIMER, Markus KEES, Bert HOBEIN
  • Patent number: 10160347
    Abstract: The disclosure concerns an operating method for an electric motor vehicle with at least one electrical machine as the traction motor and with an operating element for preselecting a coasting function, wherein, if the coasting function is preselected by the driver, under predetermined conditions the operating mode is automatically changed into a coasting mode, in which neither a drive torque nor a drag torque is exerted on the wheels of the vehicle. According to the disclosure, the predetermined conditions include the conditions that the gas pedal is in a neutral position and that the current speed of the vehicle is at or is greater than a preset value. Under the predetermined conditions the operating mode is automatically changed into the coasting mode by bringing the drive train of the vehicle into a state in which the at least one electrical machine is consuming no electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Arnulf Sponheimer, Brian Gillespey
  • Patent number: 10137799
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes a plurality of electric drive units coupled to one or more axles of the electric vehicle. The drive units have an associated power loss map that is approximated by a plurality of second-order polynomials. Torque is apportioned between the electric drive units to minimize total power losses based on coefficients of the second-order polynomials for each of the electric drive units and a driver torque demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Gillespey, Arnulf Sponheimer
  • Publication number: 20180334042
    Abstract: A plug-in hybrid vehicle includes an engine mechanically coupled to at least one wheel and having a turbocharger. A first electric machine is coupled to at least one wheel. A second electric machine is coupled to the turbocharger. An electric store or battery is coupled to the first and second electric machines. A controller is coupled to the second electric machine and a plug configured to connect to an external electric grid. The second electric machine is configured to drive the turbocharger during charging of the battery from the external electric grid via the plug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Julio OROZCO, Arnulf SPONHEIMER
  • Publication number: 20180301719
    Abstract: The fuel cell system of a motor vehicle has a fuel cell, comprising an anode side and a cathode side, a compressor, which is rotationally connected to a motor and connected by a feed line to the cathode side of the fuel cell, and a turbine, which is connected by an exhaust air line to the cathode side and which furthermore is rotationally connected only to a generator, which is connected at the output side to a second inverter and a low-voltage battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Julio OROZCO, Arnulf SPONHEIMER
  • Publication number: 20180222338
    Abstract: A mobility system includes an electrically drivable motor vehicle and an electrically drivable battery transport cart. A rechargeable drive battery of the motor vehicle is received in the battery transport cart. The battery transport cart can be releasably inserted into a downwardly open region of a supporting structure of the motor vehicle. The disclosure also relates to a battery transport cart, an electrically drivable motor vehicle and a method to charge a rechargeable drive battery of an electrically drivable motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Arnulf SPONHEIMER, Markus KEES
  • Publication number: 20170317365
    Abstract: A method comprising feeding a fuel and an oxidant to individual cells in a fuel cell stack, each having two electrode layers and an electrolyte layer arranged between the electrode layers. The method further includes compressing the cell stack with a clamping device, and detecting a compression pressure upon the cell stack with at least one pressure sensor. The method also includes determining a moisture content of the two electrolyte layers based on the detected compression pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Stephan STRAHL, Arnulf SPONHEIMER, Uwe GUSSEN
  • Publication number: 20170288254
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell stack having a cell stack of mutually adjacently arranged individual cells and a tension device for compressing the cell stack. Each individual cell has two electrode layers and an electrolyte layer arranged between the electrode layers. The tension device contains at least one tension element, which extends from one end of the cell stack to the other end of the cell stack. The fuel cell stack furthermore contains at least one piezo actuator for pressing an end plate against one end of the cell stack. The invention furthermore relates to a corresponding method for operating a fuel cell stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Stephan STRAHL, Uwe GUSSEN, Arnulf SPONHEIMER
  • Patent number: 9776527
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle driveline includes connecting an electric motor to each of respective vehicle wheels, determining from driver input a magnitude of demanded wheel torque, determining speed of each wheel, using demanded wheel torque and the respective wheel speed to determine from a power loss map a current power loss for each motor, and transmitting power from the motor having the lowest current power loss to the respective vehicle wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Arnulf Sponheimer, Monika Derflinger, Roger Graaf, Marc Simon