Patents by Inventor Eric A. HEIN

Eric A. HEIN 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: 20250059903
    Abstract: A mixing device for mixing and injected additive with an exhaust gas stream comprises a tubular housing including an exhaust gas inlet and an exhaust gas outlet. An intermediate wall is positioned within the tubular housing between the exhaust gas inlet and the exhaust gas outlet. A mixing chamber includes an inflow opening in fluid communication with the exhaust gas stream and the injected additive. The mixing chamber is at least partially defined by the intermediate wall. A first deflector is positioned on the intermediate wall and within the mixing chamber. The first deflector is oriented to deflect a first auxiliary exhaust gas stream passing through the intermediate wall in a radial and/or circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2024
    Publication date: February 20, 2025
    Inventors: Sascha HAVERKAMP, Joachim GEHRLEIN, Stefan KOHRS, Eric A. HEIN, Attila KOVACS
  • Patent number: 12158096
    Abstract: A mixer assembly comprises a tubular housing including an exhaust gas inlet, an exhaust gas outlet, and a reductant inlet on a side of the tubular housing. An upstream mixing element is positioned within the tubular housing upstream from the reductant inlet. A downstream mixing element is positioned within the tubular housing downstream from the reductant inlet and the upstream mixing element. The upstream and downstream mixing elements at least partially define a reductant receiving mixing chamber in which the injected reductant and exhaust gas mix. A divider is positioned within the tubular housing downstream from the upstream mixing element to split the exhaust into two divided flow streams prior to exiting through the exhaust gas outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: Tenneco GmbH
    Inventors: Sascha Haverkamp, Joachim Gehrlein, Stefan Kohrs, Eric A. Hein, Attila Kovacs
  • Publication number: 20230313723
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mixing device (1) for integration into an exhaust pipe (4.1, 4.2) of an internal combustion engine and for mixing an exhaust gas stream (T), which device is formed from a housing (2) having a tubular wall (2.1) and a mid-axis (2.2) that can be aligned parallel to the exhaust pipe (4.1, 4.2) and from an intermediate wall (3) which is aligned transversely with respect to the mid-axis (2.2), wherein the intermediate wall (3) divides the housing (2) and has an inflow side (3.1) and an outflow side (3.2), wherein at least one inflow opening (E1) is provided in the intermediate wall (3), via which the exhaust gas stream (T) can at least partly flow from the inflow side (3.1) of the intermediate wall (3) to the opposite outflow side (3.2) of the intermediate wall (3), wherein the at least one inflow opening (E1) is placed eccentrically with respect to the mid-axis (2.2) and is brought close to a wall section (W1) of the tubular wall (2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Sascha HAVERKAMP, Joachim GEHRLEIN, Stefan KOHRS, Eric A. HEIN, Attila KOVACS
  • Patent number: 11702975
    Abstract: A mixer comprises a tubular housing defining a longitudinal axis along which exhaust gas flows. Injected reductant flows along an injection axis that extends at a non-parallel angle to the longitudinal axis. A first flow guide element extends across and blocks a portion of the tubular housing and includes a first aperture extending therethrough. The first flow guide element is positioned upstream from the reductant inlet such that exhaust gas flowing through the first aperture is impinged by the reductant. A second flow guide element is positioned downstream from the first flow guide element and fixed to the first flow guide element to define a mixing chamber in which injected reductant and exhaust gas mix. An intermediate wall is integrally formed with one of the first and second flow guide elements. The other of the first and second flow guide elements is fixed to the intermediate wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Tenneco GmbH
    Inventors: Sascha Haverkamp, Joachim Gehrlein, Stefan Kohrs, Eric A. Hein, Attila Kovacs
  • Publication number: 20230003160
    Abstract: A mixer comprises a tubular housing defining a longitudinal axis along which exhaust gas flows. Injected reductant flows along an injection axis that extends at a non-parallel angle to the longitudinal axis. A first flow guide element extends across and blocks a portion of the tubular housing and includes a first aperture extending therethrough. The first flow guide element is positioned upstream from the reductant inlet such that exhaust gas flowing through the first aperture is impinged by the reductant. A second flow guide element is positioned downstream from the first flow guide element and fixed to the first flow guide element to define a mixing chamber in which injected reductant and exhaust gas mix. An intermediate wall is integrally formed with one of the first and second flow guide elements. The other of the first and second flow guide elements is fixed to the intermediate wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Sascha HAVERKAMP, Joachim GEHRLEIN, Stefan KOHRS, Eric A. HEIN, Attila KOVACS
  • Patent number: 11506099
    Abstract: An exhaust treatment assembly for receiving exhaust gas from a motor vehicle includes a mix pipe, a sheath, and a heater. The mix pipe at least partially defines a passage adapted to receive the exhaust gas and a chemical reductant. The sheath includes a first end fluidly sealed to the mix pipe. At least a portion of the sheath is radially spaced apart from the mix pipe to at least partially define a gap. The heater is disposed in the gap. The heater is adapted to heat a reductant impingement surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignees: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc., Tenneco GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas M. Harris, Eric A. Hein
  • Patent number: 11466606
    Abstract: A mixer assembly for mixing an injected reductant with an exhaust gas comprises a tubular housing including a reductant inlet, an exhaust gas inlet and an exhaust gas outlet. The reductant inlet is positioned on a first side of the tubular housing and oriented to direct injected reductant along an injection access that extends transversely to a longitudinal axis. A first flow guide element is shaped as a sheet including a first aperture extending therethrough as well as a surface facing upstream. Exhaust gas flowing through the first aperture is impinged by the injected redundant. A second flow guide element is shaped as a sheet, positioned downstream from the first flow guide element and fixed to the first flow guide element to define a mixing chamber between the first flow guide element and the second flow guide element in which the injected redundant and the exhaust gas mix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Tenneco GmbH
    Inventors: Sascha Haverkamp, Joachim Gehrlein, Stefan Kohrs, Eric A. Hein, Attila Kovacs
  • Publication number: 20210246820
    Abstract: A mixer assembly for mixing an injected reductant with an exhaust gas comprises a tubular housing including a reductant inlet, an exhaust gas inlet and an exhaust gas outlet. The reductant inlet is positioned on a first side of the tubular housing and oriented to direct injected reductant along an injection access that extends transversely to a longitudinal axis. A first flow guide element is shaped as a sheet including a first aperture extending therethrough as well as a surface facing upstream. Exhaust gas flowing through the first aperture is impinged by the injected redundant. A second flow guide element is shaped as a sheet, positioned downstream from the first flow guide element and fixed to the first flow guide element to define a mixing chamber between the first flow guide element and the second flow guide element in which the injected redundant and the exhaust gas mix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Sascha HAVERKAMP, Joachim GEHRLEIN, Stefan KOHRS, Eric A. HEIN, Attila KOVACS
  • Patent number: 10995643
    Abstract: A mixer assembly comprises a tubular housing including a reductant inlet, an exhaust gas inlet and an exhaust gas outlet. The tubular housing defines a longitudinal axis along which exhaust enters the housing. The reductant inlet is positioned on a first side of the tubular housing. An upstream element covers approximately one-half of the cross sectional area of the enhaust gas inlet and is positioned upstream of the reductant inlet. An upstream surface of the upstream mixing element directs exhaust gas flow transversly toward the reductant inlet. A downstream mixing element along with the upstream mixing element at least partially defines a reductant receiving duct in which injected reductant and exhaust gas mix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Inventors: Sascha Haverkamp, Joachim Gehrlein, Stefan Kohrs, Eric A. Hein, Attila Kovacs
  • Patent number: 10711677
    Abstract: A mixer assembly for mixing an injected reductant with an exhaust gas output from a combustion engine comprises a mixer housing including a wall defining an exhaust passageway having a longitudinal axis. A tubular swirling device housing extends along a first axis substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis. The tubular swirling device includes a plurality of openings through which exhaust gas enters. The exhaust gas within the tubular swirling device swirls about the first axis and exits at an outlet end of the tubular swirling device. A mixing plate is positioned immediately downstream of the tubular swirling device. The mixing plate swirls the exhaust about a second axis extending parallel to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence J. Noren, IV, Daniel J. Owen, Jeffrey W. Denton, Attila Kovacs, Eric A. Hein, Meng-Huang Lu, Manoj K. Sampath
  • Patent number: 10458302
    Abstract: An exhaust aftertreatment system may include a reductant tank, a gaseous ammonia source, an injector, first conduit and a second conduit. The injector may receive the liquid reductant from the reductant tank and the gaseous ammonia from the gaseous ammonia source and inject the liquid reductant into a stream of exhaust gas in a first mode, inject the gaseous ammonia into the stream of exhaust gas in a second mode, and both the liquid reductant and the gaseous ammonia into the stream of exhaust gas in a third mode. The first conduit may communicate liquid reductant from the reductant tank to the injector. The second conduit may communicate gaseous ammonia from the gaseous ammonia source to the injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignees: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc., Tenneco GmbH
    Inventors: Mark Devito, Ryan A. Floyd, Adam J. Kotrba, Padmanabha R. Ettireddy, Michael C. Bradford, Bradley Fingland, John W. Degeorge, Philipp Kreutziger, Manuel Kluck, Michael Flockert, Mathias Hund, Eric A. Hein
  • Patent number: 10427099
    Abstract: A mixing system for an exhaust system includes a first mixing device having a plurality of first auger blades and an inlet having a first cross-sectional area. A second mixing device is separate and downstream from the first mixing device and includes a second auger blade. The second mixing device includes an inlet having a second cross-sectional area greater than the first cross-sectional area. A flow path longitudinal centerline of the first mixing device extends at an angle to a flow path longitudinal centerline of the second mixing device. A flow path longitudinal centerline of the first mixing device intersects the second auger blade. The first mixing device is disposed within a first portion of an exhaust pipe and the second mixing device is disposed in a second portion of the exhaust pipe. The second portion has a larger cross-sectional area than the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Denton, Eric A. Hein, Attila Kovacs, Kevin R. Reeder, Jonar Mendoza, Gary R. Moore, Manoj K. Sampath, John R. Hardin
  • Publication number: 20190211733
    Abstract: A mixer assembly for mixing an injected reductant with an exhaust gas output from a combustion engine comprises a mixer housing including a wall defining an exhaust passageway having a longitudinal axis. A tubular swirling device housing extends along a first axis substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis. The tubular swirling device includes a plurality of openings through which exhaust gas enters. The exhaust gas within the tubular swirling device swirls about the first axis and exits at an outlet end of the tubular swirling device. A mixing plate is positioned immediately downstream of the tubular swirling device. The mixing plate swirls the exhaust about a second axis extending parallel to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Lawrence J. NOREN, IV, Daniel J. OWEN, Jeffrey W. DENTON, Attila KOVACS, Eric A. HEIN, Meng-Huang LU, Manoj K. SAMPATH
  • Publication number: 20190211732
    Abstract: A mixer assembly comprises a tubular housing including a reductant inlet, an exhaust gas inlet and an exhaust gas outlet. The tubular housing defines a longitudinal axis along which exhaust enters the housing. The reductant inlet is positioned on a first side of the tubular housing. An upstream element covers approximately one-half of the cross sectional area of the enhaust gas inlet and is positioned upstream of the reductant inlet. An upstream surface of the upstream mixing element directs exhaust gas flow transversly toward the reductant inlet. A downstream mixing element along with the upstream mixing element at least partially defines a reductant receiving duct in which injected reductant and exhaust gas mix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Sascha HAVERKAMP, Joachim GEHRLEIN, Stefan KOHRS, Eric A. HEIN, Attila KOVACS
  • Patent number: 10273855
    Abstract: A mixer assembly for mixing an injected reductant with an exhaust gas output from a combustion engine comprises a mixer housing including a wall defining an exhaust passageway having a longitudinal axis. A tubular swirling device housing extends along a first axis substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis. The tubular swirling device includes a plurality of openings through which exhaust gas enters. The exhaust gas within the tubular swirling device swirls about the first axis and exits at an outlet end of the tubular swirling device. A mixing plate is positioned immediately downstream of the tubular swirling device. The mixing plate swirls the exhaust about a second axis extending parallel to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence J. Noren, IV, Daniel J. Owen, Jeffrey W. Denton, Attila Kovacs, Eric A. Hein, Meng-Huang Lu, Manoj K. Sampath
  • Publication number: 20190022583
    Abstract: A mixing system for an exhaust system includes a first mixing device having a plurality of first auger blades and an inlet having a first cross-sectional area. A second mixing device is separate and downstream from the first mixing device and includes a second auger blade. The second mixing device includes an inlet having a second cross-sectional area greater than the first cross-sectional area. A flow path longitudinal centerline of the first mixing device extends at an angle to a flow path longitudinal centerline of the second mixing device. A flow path longitudinal centerline of the first mixing device intersects the second auger blade. The first mixing device is disposed within a first portion of an exhaust pipe and the second mixing device is disposed in a second portion of the exhaust pipe. The second portion has a larger cross-sectional area than the first portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. DENTON, Eric A. HEIN, Attila KOVACS, Kevin R. REEDER, Jonar MENDOZA, Gary R. MOORE, Manoj K. SAMPATH, John R. HARDIN
  • Publication number: 20180298802
    Abstract: A mixer assembly for mixing an injected reductant with an exhaust gas output from a combustion engine comprises a mixer housing including a wall defining an exhaust passageway having a longitudinal axis. A tubular swirling device housing extends along a first axis substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis. The tubular swirling device includes a plurality of openings through which exhaust gas enters. The exhaust gas within the tubular swirling device swirls about the first axis and exits at an outlet end of the tubular swirling device. A mixing plate is positioned immediately downstream of the tubular swirling device. The mixing plate swirls the exhaust about a second axis extending parallel to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Lawrence J. NOREN, IV, Daniel J. OWEN, Jeffrey W. DENTON, Attila KOVACS, Eric A. HEIN, Meng-Huang LU, Manoj K. SAMPATH
  • Patent number: 10086333
    Abstract: A mixing system for an exhaust aftertreatment system includes a first mixing device having a plurality of first auger blades and an inlet having a first cross-sectional area. A second mixing device is separate and downstream from the first mixing device and includes a second auger blade. The second mixing device includes an inlet having a second cross-sectional area greater than the first cross-sectional area. A plurality of flow paths created by the first mixing device are recombined into a single flow path between the first and second mixing devices. A longitudinal center line of the first mixing device is offset from a longitudinal center line of the second mixing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Denton, Eric A. Hein, Attila Kovacs, Kevin R. Reeder, Jonar Mendoza, Gary R. Moore, Manoj K. Sampath, John R. Hardin
  • Publication number: 20180238217
    Abstract: An exhaust aftertreatment system may include a reductant tank, a gaseous ammonia source, an injector, first conduit and a second conduit. The injector may receive the liquid reductant from the reductant tank and the gaseous ammonia from the gaseous ammonia source and inject the liquid reductant into a stream of exhaust gas in a first mode, inject the gaseous ammonia into the stream of exhaust gas in a second mode, and both the liquid reductant and the gaseous ammonia into the stream of exhaust gas in a third mode. The first conduit may communicate liquid reductant from the reductant tank to the injector. The second conduit may communicate gaseous ammonia from the gaseous ammonia source to the injector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Applicants: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc., Tenneco GmbH
    Inventors: Mark DEVITO, Ryan A. FLOYD, Adam J. KOTRBA, Padmanabha R. ETTIREDDY, Michael C. BRADFORD, Bradley FINGLAND, John W. DEGEORGE, Philipp KREUTZIGER, Manuel KLUCK, Michael FLOCKERT, Mathias HUND, Eric A. HEIN
  • Patent number: 10047657
    Abstract: A mixer assembly for mixing an injected reductant with an exhaust gas output from a combustion engine comprises a mixer housing including a wall defining an exhaust passageway having a longitudinal axis. A tubular swirling device housing extends along a first axis substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis. The tubular swirling device includes a plurality of openings through which exhaust gas enters. The exhaust gas within the tubular swirling device swirls about the first axis and exits at an outlet end of the tubular swirling device. A mixing plate is positioned immediately downstream of the tubular swirling device and includes apertures through which the exhaust gas exiting the outlet end of the tubular swirling device flows. The mixing plate swirls the exhaust about a second axis extending parallel to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence J. Noren, IV, Daniel J. Owen, Jeffrey W. Denton, Attila Kovacs, Eric A. Hein, Meng-Huang Lu, Manoj K. Sampath