Patents by Inventor Ekkehard Pott

Ekkehard Pott 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: 11274584
    Abstract: The invention relates to a ceramic body which can be designed as a catalyst support and/or particulate filter and which has a plurality of channels and a plurality of elongate metal elements for inductive heating arranged in parallel with the channels, the elongate metal elements being arranged in the walls of the ceramic body. In this way, the free frontal area of the ceramic body is preferably reduced or is at least no more than 5%. The invention also relates to a method for producing the ceramic body, an exhaust gas purification device and a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Ekkehard Pott
  • Publication number: 20210071560
    Abstract: The invention relates to a ceramic body which can be designed as a catalyst support and/or particulate filter and which has a plurality of channels and a plurality of elongate metal elements for inductive heating arranged in parallel with the channels, the elongate metal elements being arranged in the walls of the ceramic body. In this way, the free frontal area of the ceramic body is preferably reduced or is at least no more than 5%. The invention also relates to a method for producing the ceramic body, an exhaust gas purification device and a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicant: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Ekkehard Pott
  • Publication number: 20140130495
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an internal combustion engine, a turbine of an exhaust gas turbocharger situated in an exhaust system of the internal combustion engine being driven by exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine, and a compressor of the exhaust gas turbocharger powered by the turbine and situated in a combustion air system of the internal combustion engine compressing combustion air, exhaust gas being diverted in a high pressure exhaust gas recirculation loop upstream from the turbine and mixed with the combustion air downstream from the compressor, exhaust gas being diverted in a low pressure exhaust gas recirculation loop downstream from the turbine and mixed with the combustion air upstream from the compressor, exhaust gas being purified by a low pressure exhaust gas recirculation filter in the LP-EGR loop, a predetermined value for a total exhaust gas recirculation flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ekkehard POTT, Bernd Hahne
  • Patent number: 8459003
    Abstract: In a method for the after-treating of an exhaust gas from a preferably direct-injection and/or spark-ignition internal combustion engine, the exhaust gas is fed through a catalytic converter system connected downstream of the internal combustion engine. The system has at least one catalyst with a noble metal depletion having at least the elements palladium and rhodium which are present in a weight ratio of >5:1, 6:1, 7:1, 8:1, 9:1, 10:1, 11:1, or 12:1. In the new European driving cycle, the catalyst exceeds a temperature TK of 300° C., 450° C., 550° C., 600° C. within a time interval of 30 s, preferably 20 s, especially preferably 10 s after starting the engine, and/or the cumulative untreated emissions of hydrocarbons not exceeding 0.05 g/km and/or of nitrogen oxides not exceeding 0.04 g/km within a time interval of 10 s, preferably 20 s, especially preferably 30 s after starting the engine, and/or the engine achieving at least the emissions limit values of EU standard 4, preferably EU standard 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Jörg Theobald, Alf Degen, Ekkehard Pott
  • Patent number: 8402747
    Abstract: At least one chemical heating measure, which causes an increase in the catalytic converter temperature essentially by introducing into the exhaust gas channel additional chemical energy in excess of energy provided at an initial engine operating point, is combined with at least one thermal heating measure, which causes an increase in the catalytic converter temperature essentially by introducing into the exhaust gas channel additional thermal energy in excess of energy provided at an initial engine operating point, so that a major fraction of the chemical energy is introduced temporally before a major fraction of the thermal energy is introduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Zillmer, Ekkehard Pott, Matthias Holz, Kai Philipp
  • Patent number: 8317652
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine drives, via a belt drive, a first and a second auxiliary unit embodied respectively as a water pump and an air-conditioning compressor and drives a starter-generator operating as a starter and as a generator depending on the operating mode. The belt drive is connected through a clutch element, which has a freewheel, to the internal combustion engine such that, when the internal combustion engine is at standstill, only the two auxiliary units, but not at the same time the internal combustion engine, are driven by the starter-generator. The clutch element which has a freewheel allows a stepless transition of the drive mode from the internal combustion engine to the starter-generator. In order to start the internal combustion engine, the clutch element is engaged only for a short time, so that the drive power of the starter-generator is transmitted to the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Marc Hladun, Marcel Zirwes, Kai Bohnstedt, Ekkehard Pott, Georg Kruse
  • Patent number: 8316810
    Abstract: In a method and a device for engine stop/engine start of hybrid vehicles, which includes an internal combustion engine and an electric machine which is coupled to the internal combustion engine and is selectively able to be operated regeneratively or motively, the engine speed can be detected and compared to a limit speed to initiate the stopping of the engine in a hybrid vehicle using an automatic start/stop mechanism, and if the engine speed drops to the threshold speed, the engine is stopped, the electric machine being switched over into the motive or the regenerative operation when the limit speed is reached; the electric machine assuming the limit speed, whereas the fuel supply of the internal combustion engine is shut down or remains shut down and the electric machine initiates the stopping of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Skoda Auto A.S.
    Inventors: Matthias Holz, Michael Zillmer, Ekkehard Pott, David Prochazka
  • Patent number: 8276559
    Abstract: A method and a device are for the optimized starting of an internal combustion engine using a starter, which is connected to a capacitor store, the capacitor store being connected via a DC/DC converter to a vehicle electrical system of a vehicle, and the vehicle electrical system including an energy store for supplying electrical energy having a nominal voltage, and the starter consuming a starting energy for starting the internal combustion engine, which is a function of a temperature of the internal combustion engine, the temperature of the internal combustion engine being measured by at least one temperature sensor and the capacitor store being charged to a setpoint voltage with the aid of a battery via another DC/DC converter, which connects the battery in parallel to the capacitor store parallel to a switch, the setpoint voltage being set by a control unit such that the electrical energy stored in the capacitor store charged to the setpoint voltage is greater than the starting energy ascertained on the b
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Matthias Holz, Michael Zillmer, Ekkehard Pott, David Prochazka
  • Patent number: 8250864
    Abstract: A method is for controlling the torque of a hybrid drive unit, which includes a combustion engine and at least one electric machine capable of being operated alternatively as a motor or as a generator. The electric machine, when operated as a motor, is powered by an energy storage device and supplies a positive electric motor torque which together with a combustion engine torque of the combustion engine produces a total drive torque of the hybrid drive unit. A hybrid drive unit includes a respective torque control. In the event that a desired torque is greater than a consumption-optimized combustion engine maximum torque, the electric machine is operated as a motor having an electric motor torque. An electric motor maximum torque is specified as a function of at least one state parameter of the energy storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Ekkehard Pott, Matthias Holz, Michael Zillmer, David Prochazka
  • Patent number: 8020651
    Abstract: A method controls an operation of a motor vehicle equipped with a hybrid drive unit having a combustion engine and at least one electric machine that can be selectively operated as a motor or as a generator. The electric machine, when in generator mode, charges an energy store and/or supplies power to a vehicle electrical system of the motor vehicle. In generator mode, the electric machine is operated in alternating intervals, while maintaining predefined boundary conditions. In a first interval, the electric machine is operated with a first high electrical power output that is higher than an actual power consumption of the vehicle electrical system of the motor vehicle. The electric machine is switched off in a second interval. This largely prevents the electric machine from approaching operating points under light load which have a low efficiency and achieves a fuel advantage in comparison to a continuous operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN Aktiengesellschaft, Skoda Auto A.S.
    Inventors: Michael Zillmer, Matthias Holz, Ekkehard Pott, David Prochazka
  • Publication number: 20110167796
    Abstract: In a method for the after-treating of an exhaust gas from a preferably direct-injection and/or spark-ignition internal combustion engine, the exhaust gas is fed through a catalytic converter system connected downstream of the internal combustion engine. The system has at least one catalyst with a noble metal depletion having at least the elements palladium and rhodium which are present in a weight ratio of >5:1, 6:1, 7:1, 8:1, 9:1, 10:1, 11:1, or 12:1. In the new European driving cycle, the catalyst exceeds a temperature TK of 300° C., 450° C., 550° C., 600° C. within a time interval of 30 s, preferably 20 s, especially preferably 10 s after starting the engine, and/or the cumulative untreated emissions of hydrocarbons not exceeding 0.05 g/km and/or of nitrogen oxides not exceeding 0.04 g/km within a time interval of 10 s, preferably 20 s, especially preferably 30 s after starting the engine, and/or the engine achieving at least the emissions limit values of EU standard 4, preferably EU standard 5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Jorg Theobald, Alf Degen, Ekkehard Pott
  • Patent number: 7967397
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle has an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, in which at least one electric motor converts kinetic energy into electricity in a generator mode and can provide a generator-created braking momentum MG or a respective braking power PG. When braking is requested with a target value MSoll at a time t1, a total braking momentum M is provided according to the following formula: MSoll=MG, if MSoll?MSchwell MSoll=MG+MF, if MSoll>MSchwell. A value MOffset>0 is selected for the braking momentum MG at the time t1, wherein MF>0 is a braking momentum provided by a vehicle brake or when braking is requested with a target value PSoll at a time t1, the vehicle is provided with a total braking power P according to the following formula: PSoll=PG, if PSoll?PSchwell PSoll=PG+PF, if PSoll>PSchwell. A value POffset>0 is selected for the braking power PG at the time T1, wherein PF>0 is a braking power provided by the vehicle brakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Zillmer, Ekkehard Pott, Matthias Holz, David Prochazka
  • Patent number: 7853397
    Abstract: A method relates to operating an internal combustion engine in the form of an Otto engine, especially of a motor vehicle. Otto engine fuel (i.e., carburetor fuel, spark ignition engine fuel), such as gasoline or ethanol (E85), are directly injected into at least one combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine with at least one fuel injector. Optionally, instead of injecting ignition spark engine fuel or in addition, the internal combustion engine is operated with gas, especially CNG (compressed natural gas) or LPG (liquefied petroleum gas). During operation of the internal combustion engine with gas only, the engine is automatically switched to the operation with spark ignition engine fuel for a predetermined period, or the engine is switched to the operation with spark ignition engine fuel in addition to the operation with gas, in such a manner that a predetermined quantity of the carburetor fuel flows through the at least one fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ekkehard Pott, Jörg Theobald
  • Patent number: 7840337
    Abstract: A method is for controlling an overrun condition in a hybrid vehicle having a combustion engine and additionally at least one electric motor as well as an overrun fuel cutoff, which interrupts a fuel supply to the combustion engine when the vehicle is in an overrun condition and restores the fuel supply when the combustion engine reaches or falls below a restoring speed. At least in a combustion engine at operating temperature, the fuel supply is restored at a restoring speed of at most 200 min?1, e.g., at most 100 min?1 above an idling speed of the combustion engine. The restoring speed may be in the range of the idling speed or only slightly above the latter. The restoring speed is thus clearly lowered as compared to the usual restoring speeds and extends the overrun fuel cutoff phases and thus reduces fuel consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Skoda Auto A.S.
    Inventors: Michael Zillmer, Matthias Holz, Ekkehard Pott, David Prochazka
  • Patent number: 7832381
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine in the form of an Otto engine, especially of a motor vehicle, selectively uses carburetor fuel, especially gasoline or ethanol (E85) by direct injection into at least one combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine by means of at least one fuel injector. Optionally, instead of injecting ignition spark engine fuel or in addition to injecting ignition spark engine fuel, the internal combustion engine is operated with gas, especially CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) or LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas). A mixture adaptation value is continuously determined during the operation of the internal combustion engine with spark ignition engine fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Ekkehard Pott, Oliver Fladung, Jörg Theobald
  • Patent number: 7757489
    Abstract: An engine configuration includes an internal combustion engine with a plurality of cylinders, at least one turbocharger and a first and a second exhaust gas tract. A turbine of the at least one turbocharger is associated with the first exhaust gas tract. Increased torque and increased power can be achieved when a bypass exhaust gas line emerging from at least one cylinder, which is associated with the first exhaust gas tract, is connected to the first exhaust gas tract such that it bypasses the at least one turbocharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Helmut Endres, Ekkehard Pott, Fred Thiele, Jörg Theobald
  • Publication number: 20100131177
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine in the form of an Otto engine, especially of a motor vehicle, selectively uses carburetor fuel, especially gasoline or ethanol (E85) by direct injection into at least one combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine by means of at least one fuel injector. Optionally, instead of injecting ignition spark engine fuel or in addition to injecting ignition spark engine fuel, the internal combustion engine is operated with gas, especially CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) or LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas). A mixture adaptation value is continuously determined during the operation of the internal combustion engine with spark ignition engine fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Ekkehard Pott, Oliver Fladung, Jörg Theobald
  • Publication number: 20100131178
    Abstract: A method relates to operating an internal combustion engine in the form of an Otto engine, especially of a motor vehicle. Otto engine fuel (i.e., carburetor fuel, spark ignition engine fuel), such as gasoline or ethanol (E85), are directly injected into at least one combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine with at least one fuel injector. Optionally, instead of injecting ignition spark engine fuel or in addition, the internal combustion engine is operated with gas, especially CNG (compressed natural gas) or LPG (liquefied petroleum gas). During operation of the internal combustion engine with gas only, the engine is automatically switched to the operation with spark ignition engine fuel for a predetermined period, or the engine is switched to the operation with spark ignition engine fuel in addition to the operation with gas, in such a manner that a predetermined quantity of the carburetor fuel flows through the at least one fuel injector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Ekkehard Pott, Jörg Theobald
  • Publication number: 20100108009
    Abstract: A method and a device are for the optimized starting of an internal combustion engine using a starter, which is connected to a capacitor store, the capacitor store being connected via a DC/DC converter to a vehicle electrical system of a vehicle, and the vehicle electrical system including an energy store for supplying electrical energy having a nominal voltage, and the starter consuming a starting energy for starting the internal combustion engine, which is a function of a temperature of the internal combustion engine, the temperature of the internal combustion engine being measured by at least one temperature sensor and the capacitor store being charged to a setpoint voltage with the aid of a battery via another DC/DC converter, which connects the battery in parallel to the capacitor store parallel to a switch, the setpoint voltage being set by a control unit such that the electrical energy stored in the capacitor store charged to the setpoint voltage is greater than the starting energy ascertained on the b
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: Matthias Holz, Michael Zillmer, Ekkehard Pott, David Prochazka
  • Patent number: 7654077
    Abstract: A method is for controlling the operation of an exhaust-gas sensor disposed in an exhaust duct of a motor vehicle and equipped with an internal or external sensor heating device, the motor vehicle including a combustion engine and an automatic switchoff, which causes an automatic switching off of the combustion engine when at least one stop condition is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Skoda Auto A.S.
    Inventors: Michael Zillmer, Matthias Holz, Ekkehard Pott, David Prochazka