Patents by Inventor Eric Hein

Eric 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: 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Patent number: 10080601
    Abstract: In a multi-electrode ablation system, method, and controller, a power supply is configured to be coupled to a plurality of electrodes, and a controller is coupled to the power supply. The controller is configured to couple an output voltage of the power supply to the plurality of electrodes, and for each electrode of the plurality of electrodes, measure a temperature associated with the electrode, and determine a thermal gain of each electrode of the plurality of electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: ST JUDE MEDICAL, CARDIOLOGY DIVISION, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Allen Brotz, John Eric Hein, Raymond Vincent Froehlich, Joseph William Barnier
  • Publication number: 20180250059
    Abstract: Multi-electrode ablation systems, methods, and controllers are described. In one example, a multi-electrode ablation system includes a power supply configured to be coupled to a plurality of electrodes and a controller coupled to the power supply. The controller is configured to determine a thermal gain of each electrode of the plurality of electrodes. For each electrode of the plurality of electrodes, the controller sets a power limit based at least in part on said electrode's determined thermal gain. The power limit establishes a maximum power that may be dissipated through said electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: John B. Blix, James C. Baker, Kevin K. Ennett, John Eric Hein, Joseph Allen Brotz, Joseph William Barnier, Raymond Victor Froehlich, Michael Olsen, Sukanya Varadharajan
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20180156092
    Abstract: The disclosure refers to a static mixer for use in an exhaust system for a combustion engine and for the mixing of an additive injected into an exhaust system. The mixer consists of a tubular housing encircling a central axis X. The housing comprises an input opening at the end in the direction of central axis X and at the opposite end an outlet opening, whereby the inlet opening is used for the supply of additive injected into the exhaust system. The housing is closed in the section of the inlet opening and in the section of the outlet opening in circumferential direction around the central axis X. The static mixer is designed to generate little counterpressure, to guarantee rapid and complete reducing agent preparation and at the same time to be resistant to production tolerances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2016
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Tobias INCLÁN, Thomas KREMER, Eric HEIN
  • Patent number: 9987070
    Abstract: Multi-electrode ablation systems, methods, and controllers are described. In one example, a multi-electrode ablation system includes a power supply configured to be coupled to a plurality of electrodes and a controller coupled to the power supply. The controller is configured to determine a thermal gain of each electrode of the plurality of electrodes. For each electrode of the plurality of electrodes, the controller sets a power limit based at least in part on said electrode's determined thermal gain. The power limit establishes a maximum power that may be dissipated through said electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: ST. JUDE MEDICAL, CARDIOLOGY DIVISION, INC.
    Inventors: John B. Blix, James C. Baker, Kevin K. Ennett, John Eric Hein, Joseph Allen Brotz, Joseph William Barnier, Raymond Victor Froehlich, Michael Olsen, Sukanya Varadharajan
  • Publication number: 20180066559
    Abstract: A mixing device for integration into an exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine and for mixing an exhaust gas stream (T), which device is formed from a housing having a tubular wall and a mid-axis that can be aligned parallel to the exhaust pipe and from an intermediate wall which is aligned transversely with respect to the mid-axis, wherein the intermediate wall divides the housing and has an inflow side and an outflow side, wherein at least one inflow opening (E1) is provided in the intermediate wall, via which the exhaust gas stream (T) can at least partly flow from the inflow side of the intermediate wall to the opposite outflow side of the intermediate wall, wherein the at least one inflow opening (E1) is placed eccentrically with respect to the mid-axis and is brought close to a wall section (W1) of the tubular wall, wherein a flow guide element (S2) having a longitudinal axis (L2) is provided on the outflow side, which at least partly bounds a mixing chamber with the intermediate wall and by an a
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Sascha HAVERKAMP, Joachim GEHRLEIN, Stefan KOHRS, Eric HEIN, Attila KOVACS
  • Publication number: 20170354454
    Abstract: Multi-electrode ablation systems, methods, and controllers are described. In one example, a method of beginning an ablation procedure using a multi-electrode ablation system is described. The method includes selectively coupling the output of a power supply to a first electrode of a plurality of electrodes to increase a temperature at the first electrode to a first temperature set-point and limit a rate of increase of the temperature at the first electrode to a predetermined first rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: John B. Blix, James C. Baker, Kevin K. Ennett, John Eric Hein, Joseph Allen Brotz, Joseph William Barnier, Raymond Vincent Froehlich, Michael Olsen, Sukanya Varadharajan, Catherine A. Pipenhagen
  • Publication number: 20170342888
    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: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Lawrence J. NOREN, IV, Daniel J. OWEN, Jeffrey W. DENTON, Attila KOVACS, Eric A. HEIN, Meng-Huang LU, Manoj K. SAMPATH
  • Patent number: 9784163
    Abstract: An exhaust aftertreatment system may include an exhaust gas passageway and a mixer assembly. The exhaust gas passageway may receive exhaust gas output from a combustion engine. The mixer assembly may be disposed along the exhaust gas passageway and may receive the exhaust gas. The mixer assembly may include a mixer housing, a mixing bowl and an injector housing. The mixing bowl may be disposed within the mixer housing and may include an outer diametrical surface that engages an inner diametrical surface of a wall of the mixer housing. The injector housing may extend through the wall and into an aperture in the mixing bowl. The aperture may define a flow path through which at least a majority of the exhaust gas entering the mixer assembly flows. The mixing bowl may include an upstream end portion having contours directing the exhaust gas toward the injector housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    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
  • Patent number: 9775663
    Abstract: Multi-electrode ablation systems, methods, and controllers are described. In one example, a method of beginning an ablation procedure using a multi-electrode ablation system is described. The method includes selectively coupling the output of a power supply to a first electrode of a plurality of electrodes to increase a temperature at the first electrode to a first temperature set-point and limit a rate of increase of the temperature at the first electrode to a predetermined first rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: John B. Blix, James C. Baker, Kevin K. Ennett, John Eric Hein, Joseph Allen Brotz, Joseph William Barnier, Raymond Vincent Froehlich, Michael Olsen, Sukanya Varadharajan, Catherine A. Pipenhagen
  • Patent number: 9713490
    Abstract: In a multi-electrode ablation system, method, and controller, the controller is configured to measure a first current through a common return path when a first voltage is applied by a power supply to a first electrode of a plurality of electrodes, measure a second current through the common return path when a second voltage is applied by the power supply to a second electrode of the plurality of electrodes, measure a third current through the common return path when a third voltage is applied by the power supply concurrently to the first electrode and the second electrode, and determine a common path impedance based at least in part on the first voltage and the first current, the second voltage and the second current, and the third voltage and the third current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: ST. JUDE MEDICAL, CARDIOLOGY DIVISION, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Allen Brotz, John Eric Hein, Raymond Vincent Froehlich, Joseph William Barnier
  • Patent number: 9561070
    Abstract: Multi-electrode ablation systems, methods, and controllers are described. In one example, a multi-electrode ablation system generally includes a power supply and a controller. The power supply is configured to be coupled to a plurality of electrodes for delivering power to the electrodes. The controller is operable to compare a measured temperature at each electrode to a desired temperature to thereby define a temperature difference for each electrode. The controller is operable to determine, based on the temperature difference, a desired power for each electrode, compare the desired power of one of the electrodes to an actual power delivered to the one of the electrodes to define a power difference, and adjust the actual power delivered by the power supply to the one of the electrodes based on the power difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Allen Brotz, John Eric Hein, Raymond Vincent Froehlich, Joseph William Barnier
  • Publication number: 20160310201
    Abstract: In a multi-electrode ablation system, method, and controller, a power supply is configured to be coupled to a plurality of electrodes, and a controller is coupled to the power supply. The controller is configured to couple an output voltage of the power supply to the plurality of electrodes, and for each electrode of the plurality of electrodes, measure a temperature associated with the electrode, and determine a thermal gain of each electrode of the plurality of electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Joseph Allen Brotz, John Eric Hein, Raymond Vincent Froehlich, Joseph William Barnier