Patents by Inventor Dirk Hoefner

Dirk Hoefner 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: 20250167366
    Abstract: A cell separating element for arrangement in an intermediate space between two battery cells of a cell stack arranged adjacent to one another in a stacking direction. The cell separating element has a first flexible outer wall and a second flexible outer wall which are at least partially connected to one another all around at the edges. An interior space of the cell separating element is located between the first and second outer wall. The cell separating element includes an intermediate plate which is arranged between the first and second outer wall, on which at least one first resilient support element is arranged, which resiliently supports the intermediate plate against the first outer wall, and on which at least one second resilient support element is arranged, which resiliently supports the intermediate plate against the second outer wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2024
    Publication date: May 22, 2025
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dirk HOEFNER, Christian Gert VOIGT
  • Publication number: 20250087803
    Abstract: A battery housing arrangement with a first housing unit for accommodating at least two prismatic battery cells, which has a side wall, a first outer wall with a first wall portion, and a second outer wall opposite the first outer wall with a second wall portion, which is opposite the first wall portion, the side wall connecting the first and second outer walls to one another. The first housing unit can be reversibly coupled to a second housing unit of the same design as the first housing unit, forming a cuboid receiving space, in such a way that the side wall of the first housing unit is opposite a side wall of the second housing unit, and in that the at least two prismatic battery cells can be arranged next to one another in the receiving space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2024
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Markus THURMEIER, Carsten LORENZ, Eduard MAIN, Peter JURIS, Dirk HOEFNER, Sebastian ENDERLE
  • Publication number: 20230327235
    Abstract: A cooling device for an energy store for cooling a cell group on both sides, having a first cooling unit for a first side of the cell group and a second cooling unit for an opposite second side of the cell group. The first cooling unit includes a first cooling area associated with the cell group, which is divided into a first and second sub-area in relation to a second direction, and the second cooling unit includes a second cooling area associated with the cell group, which is divided into a third and fourth sub-area in relation to the second direction. The first sub-area is opposite the third sub-area and the second sub-area is opposite the fourth sub-area, and the first and fourth sub-areas are located closer to an at least one supply port of a distributor arrangement of the cooling device than the second and third sub-areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang BECK, Uwe GERLINGER, Johannes HAF, Joohwa Sarah LEE, Thomas MILDE, Martin LINDNER, Dirk HOEFNER, Martin SCHÜSSLER
  • Patent number: 11688898
    Abstract: An attachment assembly with a battery module, a cooling device, and an attachment device for attaching the battery module to the cooling device. The battery module is arranged on the cooling device. A heat-conducting element is arranged between the battery module and the cooling device. The battery module has a first attachment component. The attachment assembly has a second attachment component, which is provided by a part of the cooling device or is connected to the cooling device. The first attachment component is attached to the second attachment component by the attachment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Dirk Hoefner
  • Publication number: 20230155234
    Abstract: A tolerance compensation arrangement for tolerance compensation between a first component and a second component to be fastened to the first component, the tolerance compensation arrangement having a tolerance compensation unit, a base element for fastening to the first component, a compensation element which can be accommodated in the base element, and a first through-opening extending in a first direction through the base element and through the compensation element accommodated in the base element. The tolerance compensation arrangement has a nut for fastening to the second component. The tolerance compensation unit is designed in such a way that by screwing a specific screw, the screw neck of which is passed through the first through-opening of the tolerance compensation unit, into the nut in a screwing-in direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Steffen SINZEL, Dirk HOEFNER, Alexander LOEFFLATH
  • Patent number: 11646462
    Abstract: A traction battery for an electrically operated vehicle, having a battery housing having a housing base, on which at least one battery module rests in a heat-conducting manner, which has an installation section, which can be clamped via a threaded bolt on a housing flange of the battery housing, wherein in the clamped state the threaded bolt is screwed together with a housing flange internal thread and the battery module installation section is clamped between a bolt head of the threaded bolt and the housing flange, specifically with a tolerance compensation unit interposed, which is supported between the battery module installation section and a housing flange upper side facing away from the housing base, wherein the tolerance compensation unit has a stop sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Steffen Sinzel, Dirk Hoefner, Norbert Hornbostel
  • Patent number: 11456508
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a battery module having at least one battery cell, wherein the battery cell includes a cell housing, which includes a lower side and an upper side opposite to the lower side in a first direction, wherein an opening releasable in the event of an overpressure in the battery cell is arranged in the upper side. In this case, the battery module includes an atomizing device, which is arranged in the first direction above the releasable opening of the at least one battery cell, and which comprises at least one flame passage opening, through which flames escaping from the releasable opening of the battery cell can penetrate, and which comprises a passage area which is smaller than an area of the releasable opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Dirk Hoefner
  • Patent number: 11444345
    Abstract: A separating device for a battery module. The separating device includes a first separating element and a second separating element, which are arranged congruently with respect to one another and adjacent one another. The first separating element and the second separating element are formed from a heat-conducting material. Furthermore, the two separating elements enclose a chamber and the first separating element and the second separating element have embossments corresponding to one another for forming the chamber, wherein the embossments of the first separating element extend away from the second separating element and the embossments of the second separating element extend away from the first separating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Dirk Hoefner
  • Patent number: 11309612
    Abstract: A separating device for a battery module. The separating device includes a first separating element and a second separating element, which are arranged congruently with respect to one another and adjacent one another. Furthermore, the first separating element and the second separating element enclose a chamber between them, and the chamber is filled with a flame-retarding and/or insulating fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Dirk Hoefner
  • Publication number: 20210143384
    Abstract: A separating device for a battery module. The separating device includes a first separating element and a second separating element, which are arranged congruently with respect to one another and adjacent one another. Furthermore, the first separating element and the second separating element enclose a chamber between them, and the chamber is filled with a flame-retarding and/or insulating fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Dirk HOEFNER
  • Publication number: 20210143494
    Abstract: A separating device for a battery module. The separating device includes a first separating element and a second separating element, which are arranged congruently with respect to one another and adjacent one another. The first separating element and the second separating element are formed from a heat-conducting material. Furthermore, the two separating elements enclose a chamber and the first separating element and the second separating element have embossments corresponding to one another for forming the chamber, wherein the embossments of the first separating element extend away from the second separating element and the embossments of the second separating element extend away from the first separating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Dirk HOEFNER
  • Publication number: 20210043989
    Abstract: A traction battery for an electrically operated vehicle, having a battery housing having a housing base, on which at least one battery module rests in a heat-conducting manner, which has an installation section, which can be clamped via a threaded bolt on a housing flange of the battery housing, wherein in the clamped state the threaded bolt is screwed together with a housing flange internal thread and the battery module installation section is clamped between a bolt head of the threaded bolt and the housing flange, specifically with a tolerance compensation unit interposed, which is supported between the battery module installation section and a housing flange upper side facing away from the housing base, wherein the tolerance compensation unit has a stop sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Steffen SINZEL, Dirk HOEFNER, Norbert HORNBOSTEL
  • Publication number: 20210028412
    Abstract: A battery for an at least partially electrically operated functional device, including at least one battery cell module, in each of which a predetermined number of battery cells is clamped by a mechanical clamping device to form a cell stack. The clamping device transmits a traction force or a contact pressure corresponding to the traction force to the cell stack by delimiting elements and traction elements. A frame element is arranged in each case between at least two or some or each of the battery cells and/or the respective terminal battery cell and the delimiting element is arranged adjacent to the respective terminal battery cell and associated with it. The frame element includes a circumferential part and a free volume delimited by the circumferential part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Christian Gert VOIGT, Christoph GLASSL, Florian SCHELS, Dirk HOEFNER, Steffen WALTER, Michael BAYER, Tamas GYULAI, Waldemar BAUER
  • Publication number: 20200365859
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a battery module having at least one battery cell, wherein the battery cell includes a cell housing, which includes a lower side and an upper side opposite to the lower side in a first direction, wherein an opening releasable in the event of an overpressure in the battery cell is arranged in the upper side. In this case, the battery module includes an atomizing device, which is arranged in the first direction above the releasable opening of the at least one battery cell, and which comprises at least one flame passage opening, through which flames escaping from the releasable opening of the battery cell can penetrate, and which comprises a passage area which is smaller than an area of the releasable opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Dirk HOEFNER
  • Publication number: 20200266503
    Abstract: An attachment assembly with a battery module, a cooling device, and an attachment device for attaching the battery module to the cooling device. The battery module is arranged on the cooling device. A heat-conducting element is arranged between the battery module and the cooling device. The battery module has a first attachment component. The attachment assembly has a second attachment component, which is provided by a part of the cooling device or is connected to the cooling device. The first attachment component is attached to the second attachment component by the attachment device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Dirk HOEFNER
  • Patent number: 9422897
    Abstract: In a fuel system of an internal combustion engine, a low-pressure delivery unit for the fuel, at least indirectly delivers fuel to at least one low-pressure injection device. The fuel system further provides a high-pressure delivery unit, which has a drive region and a delivery region and at least indirectly delivers fuel to at least one high-pressure injection device. According to the invention, the fuel is first delivered by the low-pressure delivery unit to the drive region of the high-pressure delivery unit and from there onward to the low-pressure injection device and/or to the delivery region of the high-pressure delivery unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH, Audi AG
    Inventors: Dirk Hoefner, Sven Troester, Bernd Schroeder, Berthold Pfuhl, Maximilian Stichlmeir, Martin Laich
  • Publication number: 20150167604
    Abstract: In a fuel system of an internal combustion engine, a low-pressure delivery unit for the fuel, at least indirectly delivers fuel to at least one low-pressure injection device. The fuel system further provides a high-pressure delivery unit, which has a drive region and a delivery region and at least indirectly delivers fuel to at least one high-pressure injection device. According to the invention, the fuel is first delivered by the low-pressure delivery unit to the drive region of the high-pressure delivery unit and from there onward to the low-pressure injection device and/or to the delivery region of the high-pressure delivery unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Dirk Hoefner, Sven Troester, Bernd Schroeder, Berthold Pfuhl, Maximilian Stichlmeir, Martin Laich
  • Patent number: 8973556
    Abstract: In a fuel system of an internal combustion engine, a low-pressure delivery unit for the fuel, at least indirectly delivers fuel to at least one low-pressure injection device. The fuel system further provides a high-pressure delivery unit, which has a drive region and a delivery region and at least indirectly delivers fuel to at least one high-pressure injection device. According to the invention, the fuel is first delivered by the low-pressure delivery unit to the drive region of the high-pressure delivery unit and from there onward to the low-pressure injection device and/or to the delivery region of the high-pressure delivery unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Hoefner, Sven Troester, Bernd Schroeder, Berthold Pfuhl, Maximilian Stichlmeir, Martin Laich
  • Publication number: 20120279474
    Abstract: In a fuel system of an internal combustion engine, a low-pressure delivery unit for the fuel, at least indirectly delivers fuel to at least one low-pressure injection device. The fuel system further provides a high-pressure delivery unit, which has a drive region and a delivery region and at least indirectly delivers fuel to at least one high-pressure injection device. According to the invention, the fuel is first delivered by the low-pressure delivery unit to the drive region of the high-pressure delivery unit and from there onward to the low-pressure injection device and/or to the delivery region of the high-pressure delivery unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: Dirk Hoefner, Sven Troester, Bernd Schroeder, Berthold Pfuhl, Maximilian Stichlmeir, Martin Laich
  • Patent number: 8151760
    Abstract: The invention relates to a high pressure injection arrangement for an internal combustion engine with direct injection, with an injection valve and a support element, which supports the injection valve in the installed state on a seat of an internal combustion engine. It is provided that a spring element is arranged between the injection valve and the support element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventor: Dirk Hoefner