Patents by Inventor Bernd Steiner

Bernd Steiner 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).

  • Publication number: 20190211779
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a compressed natural gas fuel rail. In one example, a system comprises a device having a first volume for housing compressed natural gas and a second volume for housing lubricant, the first and second volumes arranged in a single housing and separated by a barrier. Lubricant flow from the second volume to the first volume may be adjusted by adjusting a pressure of the second volume so that a pressure difference between the second and first volumes is increased to increase lubricant flow or decreased to decrease lubricant flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Oliver Berkemeier, Bernd Steiner
  • Publication number: 20190211720
    Abstract: A device for supplying lubricant for a fuel injection nozzle for injecting compressed natural gas (CNG) into an internal combustion engine is provided. The device includes a lubricant reservoir for supplying lubricant and having a feed pressure supply apparatus for applying a feed pressure to lubricant which is stored in the lubricant reservoir, where a feed pressure valve for setting the feed pressure is provided between the feed pressure supply apparatus and the lubricant reservoir, and a lubricant metering valve for metering the lubricant supply is provided between the lubricant reservoir and the fuel injection nozzle, where the lubricant is fed to the lubricant reservoir from an oil gallery of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Oliver Berkemeier, Bernd Steiner
  • Patent number: 10288012
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for introducing water into an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine. In one example, the system may include a water container, a water inlet for inputting water into the intake manifold, and a throttle valve that is arranged between an intake manifold inlet and the internal combustion engine, with the water container arranged at a higher point than the water inlet and the water inlet opening into the intake manifold downstream of the throttle valve. A switchable valve is arranged in fluidic connection with both the water container and the water inlet, with the result that it can enable or interrupt the introduction of water into the intake manifold and also create a Venturi effect at the water inlet, which draws water from the water container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Oliver Berkemeier, Bernd Steiner, Georg Louven, Klemens Grieser, Helmut Hans Ruhland
  • Publication number: 20180328260
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a ventilation arrangement. In one example, a system may include a compact ventilation arrangement arranged within a space between an intake manifold and a cylinder head. A pump of the ventilation arrangement arrange adjacent the cylinder head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Bernd Steiner, Hans Guenter Quix, Carsten Weber, Jan Mehring
  • Publication number: 20180320604
    Abstract: A method for varying a compression ratio ? of an operating applied-ignition internal combustion engine having at least two cylinders and having a crank mechanism (1) comprising a crankshaft (2) which is mounted in a crankcase and which rotates at a crankshaft rotational speed ?crankshaft, is described. The method includes increasing an expansion phase of a cylinder cycle via rotation of the eccentric bushing (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Martin Wirth, Maziar Khosravi, Bernd Steiner, Jens Dunstheimer
  • Publication number: 20180306095
    Abstract: A cooling system in an engine is provided. The cooling system includes a cylinder bore including a central axis, a coolant duct including a first section positioned on a first side of the cylinder bore and a second section positioned on a second side of the cylinder bore, a connecting duct extending between the first section and the second section and including a first end opening into the first section and a second end opening into the second section. The connecting duct includes a first subsection and a second subsection extending inwardly toward the central axis and an intersection of the first subsection and the second subsection in a plane perpendicular to the central axis form a non-straight angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Bernd Steiner, Klaus-Peter Heinig, Dietmar Hohmann
  • Patent number: 10090649
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for producing spark plugs and/or spark plug components, and a capsule which may be used to produce a spark plug or spark plug component. The capsule may include a housing of a material which is unstable when heated a threshold temperature, and the capsule may further be filled with one or more powders, whereupon heating of the capsule of the housing may break down and the powders may be sintered or fused into a resistive body. The presently disclosed method may simplify and/or reduce the cost of producing spark plugs using known methods of inserting powdered precursor materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Oliver Berkemeier, Helmut Hans Ruhland, Bernd Steiner, Krystian Dylong
  • Patent number: 10066594
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber for burning a fuel mixture and a spark plug for performing spark ignition of the fuel mixture in the combustion chamber. The spark plug includes electrodes for generating an ignition spark at a location within the combustion chamber. Furthermore, the internal combustion engine includes an adjustment device for reducing a distance between the location of the ignition spark and an edge of the combustion chamber in the case of an increase in temperature of the internal combustion engine during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bernd Steiner, Oliver Berkemeier, Krystian Dylong, Jan Mehring
  • Patent number: 10060383
    Abstract: A reciprocating piston engine which has a cylinder block, at least one combustion chamber arranged in the cylinder block and a liner which borders the combustion chamber and is composed of a first material is provided. In one example, the reciprocating piston engine comprises a reinforcing element composed of a second material for the radial reinforcement of the liner, said reinforcing element being arranged between the cylinder block and the liner and at least partially surrounding the liner, with the second material having a higher modulus of elasticity than the first material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stefan Quiring, Klaus-Peter Heinig, Bernd Steiner
  • Patent number: 9976471
    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: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jan Mehring, Moritz Klaus Springer, Bernd Steiner, Thomas Lorenz
  • Patent number: 9964067
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a cylinder head, a cylinder block serving as an upper crankcase half for holding a crankshaft in at least two crankshaft bearings, at least one further shaft mounted in at least two shaft bearings, an oil circuit with oil-conducting lines for supplying oil to at least two bearings, and an exhaust-gas recirculation arrangement. A heat conductor runs between at least one of the bearings and a thermally more highly loaded region of the internal combustion engine which, at least in the warm-up phase of the internal combustion engine, is at a higher temperature than the associated bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jan Mehring, Stefan Quiring, Bernd Steiner, Hans Guenter Quix, Moritz Klaus Springer
  • Publication number: 20180023656
    Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing inertial forces of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine are described. The systems and methods may provide for counterweights in a form of pistons in cylinders that are moved via electromagnets. The counterweights may be moved at a frequency that corresponds to engine speed via an alternating current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventors: Bernd Steiner, Klaus P. Kuepper, Jonathan Gregory
  • Patent number: 9822678
    Abstract: A lubrication system in an internal combustion engine is provided. The lubrication system includes a crankshaft bearing supporting a crankshaft, a supply line including an outlet flowing oil to the crankshaft bearing and an inlet receiving oil from an oil gallery, and thermal insulation at least partially surrounding at least a portion of an inner wall of the supply line and/or the oil gallery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bernd Steiner, Thomas Lorenz, Jan Mehring
  • Patent number: 9784172
    Abstract: A selector guide valve in cooling system of an internal combustion engine is provided. The selector guide valve includes a first control drum independently rotatable and including an inlet receiving engine coolant from a pump and a plurality of coolant openings extending through the first control drum and a second control drum independently rotatable, circumferentially surrounding the first control drum, and including a plurality of coolant openings extending through the second control drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Tobergte, Bernd Steiner, Kay Hohenboeken, Bert Pingen, Stefan Quiring, Jan Mehring
  • Publication number: 20170218884
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for introducing water into an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine. In one example, the system may include a water container, a water inlet for inputting water into the intake manifold, and a throttle valve that is arranged between an intake manifold inlet and the internal combustion engine, with the water container arranged at a higher point than the water inlet and the water inlet opening into the intake manifold downstream of the throttle valve. A switchable valve is arranged in fluidic connection with both the water container and the water inlet, with the result that it can enable or interrupt the introduction of water into the intake manifold and also create a Venturi effect at the water inlet, which draws water from the water container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Oliver Berkemeier, Bernd Steiner, Georg Louven, Klemens Grieser, Helmut Hans Ruhland
  • Publication number: 20170218912
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber for burning a fuel mixture and a spark plug for performing spark ignition of the fuel mixture in the combustion chamber. The spark plug includes electrodes for generating an ignition spark at a location within the combustion chamber. Furthermore, the internal combustion engine includes an adjustment device for reducing a distance between the location of the ignition spark and an edge of the combustion chamber in the case of an increase in temperature of the internal combustion engine during operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Bernd Steiner, Oliver Berkemeier, Krystian Dylong, Jan Mehring
  • Publication number: 20170198661
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a direct-injection engine having at least one cylinder head comprising at least one cylinder, in which each cylinder is assigned an injection nozzle which: is at least connectable to a fuel reservoir which serves for storing fuel, is secured in a nozzle holder, and is fitted with a nozzle needle which is displaceable in the direction of a longitudinal axis in a nozzle needle guide and, opens up at least one nozzle hole in order to introduce fuel. A control piston may be mounted movably on the injection nozzle, is displaceable in a translatory manner along the longitudinal axis of the injection nozzle between an inoperative position and a working position, and closes at least one fluid connection in the inoperative position and opens up same in the working position in order to introduce water into the associated cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventors: Bernd Steiner, Oliver Berkemeier, Krystian Dylong
  • Publication number: 20170114765
    Abstract: A high-pressure fuel injection system includes a nozzle housing and a nozzle needle that is axially displaceable in the nozzle housing and with which an outflow opening in a valve seat of the fuel injection nozzle can be closed and opened. At least one pulsation reducer is arranged between the nozzle needle and an inside of the nozzle housing. The pulsation reducer includes a plurality of breakwater elements that dampen pressure pulsations in the fuel flowing through the injection nozzle to the outflow opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventors: Krystian Dylong, Bernd Steiner, Oliver Berkemeier, Robin Ivo Lawther
  • Publication number: 20170025827
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for producing spark plugs and/or spark plug components, and a capsule which may be used to produce a spark plug or spark plug component. The capsule may comprise a housing of a material which is unstable when heated a threshold temperature, and the capsule may further be filled with one or more powders, whereupon heating of the capsule the housing may break down and the powders may be sintered or fused into a resistive body. The presently disclosed method may simplify and/or reduce the cost of producing spark plugs using known methods of inserting powdered precursor materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Oliver Berkemeier, Helmut Hans Ruhland, Bernd Steiner, Krystian Dylong
  • Publication number: 20160230695
    Abstract: A reciprocating piston engine which has a cylinder block, at least one combustion chamber arranged in the cylinder block and a liner which borders the combustion chamber and is composed of a first material is provided. In one example, the reciprocating piston engine comprises a reinforcing element composed of a second material for the radial reinforcement of the liner, said reinforcing element being arranged between the cylinder block and the liner and at least partially surrounding the liner, with the second material having a higher modulus of elasticity than the first material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Stefan Quiring, Klaus-Peter Heinig, Bernd Steiner