Patents by Inventor Franz J. Brinkmann

Franz J. Brinkmann 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: 11408334
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a turbocharger system. In one example, a system comprises an actuator configured to adjust a position of a plurality of guide vanes and a position of a coolant valve configured to adjust coolant flow through a turbine coolant jacket or a compressor coolant jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Franz J. Brinkmann, Ludwig Stump, Carsten Weber, Stefan Quiring, Kai Kuhlbach, Jan Mehring
  • Patent number: 11060435
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an exhaust gas system. In one example, a system comprises a conical passage fluidly coupling a turbine outlet to an aftertreatment device. The conical passage may further comprise a scavenge valve to adjust exhaust gas flow therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vanco Smiljanovski, Joerg Kemmerling, Helmut Matthias Kindl, Hanno Friederichs, Andreas Kuske, Frank Wunderlich, Frank Kraemer, Franz J. Brinkmann, Lutz Henkelmann, Franz Arnd Sommerhoff
  • Publication number: 20210164385
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a turbocharger system. In one example, a system comprises an actuator configured to adjust a position of a plurality of guide vanes and a position of a coolant valve configured to adjust coolant flow through a turbine coolant jacket or a compressor coolant jacket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Franz J. Brinkmann, Ludwig Stump, Carsten Weber, Stefan Quiring, Kai Kuhlbach, Jan Mehring
  • Publication number: 20200149456
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an exhaust gas system. In one example, a system comprises a conical passage fluidly coupling a turbine outlet to an aftertreatment device. The conical passage may further comprise a scavenge valve to adjust exhaust gas flow therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Vanco Smiljanovski, Joerg Kemmerling, Helmut Matthias Kindl, Hanno Friederichs, Andreas Kuske, Frank Wunderlich, Frank Kraemer, Franz J. Brinkmann, Lutz Henkelmann, Franz Arnd Sommerhoff
  • Patent number: 10612562
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a swirl generating device upstream of a compressor including a method, a system, and an apparatus for actuating the swirl generating device, which is located in a ring-shaped duct, adjust a swirl of air flowing through the ring-shaped duct to the compressor in response to engine operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Helmut Matthias Kindl, Vanco Smiljanovski, Joerg Kemmerling, Andreas Kuske, Franz Arnd Sommerhoff, Franz J. Brinkmann, Frank Kraemer, Hanno Friederichs
  • Patent number: 10563566
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a coolant system. In one example, a method may include flowing coolant to an active cylinder during a cold-start.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Franz J. Brinkmann, Vanco Smiljanovski, Joerg Kemmerling, Hans Guenter Quix, Volker Haupts, Helmut Matthias Kindl, Werner Willems
  • Patent number: 10428749
    Abstract: Embodiments for operating an engine having parallel turbochargers and two fluidically coupleable, separated intake manifolds is provided. In one example, a method includes responsive to a first condition, operating a first cylinder group of an engine, deactivating a second cylinder group of the engine, and blocking fluidic communication between a first intake manifold coupled to the first cylinder group and a second intake manifold coupled to the second cylinder group, and responsive to a second condition, activating the second cylinder group and establishing fluidic communication between the first and second intake manifolds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frank Kraemer, Vanco Smiljanovski, Franz J. Brinkmann, Helmut Matthias Kindl, Franz Arnd Sommerhoff, Hanno Friederichs, Joerg Kemmerling, Andreas Kuske
  • Patent number: 10428728
    Abstract: Embodiments for an engine coupled to a first turbocharger and a second turbocharger are provided. One example includes responsive to a first condition, deactivating a first turbine of the first turbocharger and meeting a boost demand via operation of the second turbocharger, and responsive to deactivating the first turbine, increasing a pressure at a compressor-side end of a bearing arrangement of a shaft of the first turbocharger. In this way, oil leakage from the bearing arrangement may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Harald Stoffels, Ludwig Stump, Klemens Grieser, Jens Wojahn, Franz J. Brinkmann
  • Patent number: 10393007
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a spark-ignited charged internal combustion engine coupled to an exhaust gas turbocharger with a compressor mounted on a rotatable shaft, the rotatable shaft coupled to a turbine and to an electric auxiliary drive. The electric auxiliary drive of the exhaust gas turbocharger may be activated to increase rotational speed of the rotatable shaft to drive the compressor to supply boost to the engine. The electric auxiliary drive may be engaged or disengaged from the rotatable shaft, responsive to engine operating conditions, such as engine speed, rotation speed of the rotatable shaft, exhaust volume, and engine boost demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frank Kraemer, Vanco Smiljanovski, Joerg Kemmerling, Helmut Matthias Kindl, Franz J. Brinkmann
  • Patent number: 10208685
    Abstract: Embodiments for controlling boost pressure during transient conditions are disclosed. In one example, a method includes, responsive to deactivation of a first turbine of a first turbocharger, deactivating an exhaust valve of a cylinder to flow exhaust gas from the cylinder to a second turbine of a second turbocharger, and adjusting a speed of the second turbocharger via an electric machine coupled to the second turbocharger in a generator mode; and responsive to activation of the first turbine, activating the exhaust valve to flow exhaust gas from the cylinder to the first turbine and the second turbine, and adjusting the speed of the second turbocharger via the electric machine in an auxiliary drive mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Franz J. Brinkmann, Vanco Smiljanovski, Joerg Kemmerling, Jens Wojahn, Harald Stoffels
  • Patent number: 10006346
    Abstract: A method for operation of an engine. The method includes during a first operating condition, permitting intake airflow through an intake air-supply turbine positioned upstream of a cylinder to drive a generator, the generator coupled to an energy storage device, and inhibiting intake airflow through a motor-driven compressor arranged in parallel flow arrangement with the intake air-supply turbine, the motor driven compressor coupled to a motor coupled to the energy storage device. The method further includes during a second operating condition, permitting intake airflow through the motor-driven compressor while the motor-driven compressor receives rotation input from the motor, and inhibiting intake airflow through the intake air-supply turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joerg Kemmerling, Helmut Matthias Kindl, Vanco Smiljanovski, Frank Kraemer, Franz Arnd Sommerhoff, Andreas Kuske, Franz J. Brinkmann
  • Patent number: 9989020
    Abstract: Embodiments of an internal combustion engine are provided. In one example, an engine includes at least one cylinder, an intake system for supplying charge air to the at least one cylinder, an exhaust-gas discharge system for discharging exhaust gas from the at least one cylinder, a first exhaust-gas turbocharger including a first turbine arranged in the exhaust-gas discharge system and a first compressor arranged in the intake system; and an exhaust-gas recirculation (EGR) system. The EGR system includes a line which branches off from the exhaust-gas discharge system and opens into the intake system, a second exhaust-gas turbocharger comprising an EGR turbine arranged in the line on a shaft and an EGR compressor arranged in the line on the shaft upstream of said EGR turbine, and an EGR cooler positioned between the EGR turbine and the EGR compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vanco Smiljanovski, Joerg Kemmerling, Helmut Matthias Kindl, Andreas Kuske, Franz Arnd Sommerhoff, Franz J. Brinkmann, Werner Willems, Claudia Conee, Michael Forsting, Claudia Katharina Herudek, Tim Franken
  • Patent number: 9951682
    Abstract: A compressor for an internal combustion engine is provided. The compressor includes a compressor shaft having compressor blades attached thereto, positioned in an intake air duct, and rotating about an axis during compressor operation and a magnetic bearing positioned upstream of the compressor blades in the intake air duct, including a ring positioned around the compressor shaft, stator electrics arranged in the ring, and at least two magnets arranged on the compressor shaft configured to exert a magnetic force on the stator electrics to form an air gap between the ring and the compressor shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vanco Smiljanovski, Helmut Matthias Kindl, Joerg Kemmerling, Frank Kraemer, Franz J. Brinkmann
  • Patent number: 9932887
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting flow of exhaust gas from downstream of an exhaust turbine outlet to an exhaust gas aftertreatment device inlet via a compact turbine outlet cone with adjustable swirl vanes. Exhaust flow reaching the exhaust gas aftertreatment device is adjusted based on a desired exhaust gas temperature and exhaust gas flow rate at the aftertreatment device. During cold start conditions, the swirl vanes may be closed to concentrate exhaust gas flowing towards a portion of the aftertreatment device while after attainment of aftertreatment device light-off temperature, the position of the swirl vanes may be adjusted to introduce turbulence and homogeneity to exhaust flow reaching the exhaust aftertreatment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joerg Kemmerling, Franz Arnd Sommerhoff, Andreas Kuske, Helmut Matthias Kindl, Vanco Smiljanovski, Franz J. Brinkmann
  • Patent number: 9903268
    Abstract: A supercharged internal combustion engine includes at least two exhaust-gas turbochargers arranged in series, wherein a first exhaust-gas turbocharger serves as a low-pressure stage and a second exhaust-gas turbocharger serves as a high-pressure stage. A second turbine of the second exhaust-gas turbocharger may be present upstream of a first turbine of the first exhaust-gas turbocharger, and a second compressor of the second exhaust-gas turbocharger may be arranged in an intake system downstream of a first compressor of the first exhaust-gas turbocharger and a first bypass line may branch off upstream of the second turbine and join back at a junction point between the first turbine and the second turbine. The supercharged engine also includes an exhaust-gas recirculation arrangement and at least one exhaust-gas aftertreatment system between the first turbine and the second turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vanco Smiljanovski, Helmut Matthias Kindl, Joerg Kemmerling, Franz Arnd Sommerhoff, Franz J. Brinkmann
  • Patent number: 9896992
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a pressure-charged combustion engine having at least one cylinder head comprising at least two cylinders. In one example, a system may include each cylinder having at least one outlet port, at least two cylinders configured to form two groups each comprising at least one cylinder, exhaust lines joined together to form an overall exhaust line which provides an exhaust manifold, the exhaust lines connected to an exhaust turbocharger and equipped with rotor blades wherein each rotor blade comprises a first inlet edge facing the flows and a second inlet edge facing the flows connected to one another at a connection point forming an inflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vanco Smiljanovski, Helmut Matthias Kindl, Joerg Kemmerling, Franz Arnd Sommerhoff, Franz J. Brinkmann
  • Patent number: 9896991
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling boost pressure in an engine system with a parallel turbocharger. One example method includes, responsive to a first condition, deactivating a first compressor of a first turbocharger, activating each first exhaust valve of each cylinder of an engine, and deactivating each second exhaust valve of each cylinder of the engine to flow exhaust gas from the engine to a second turbocharger. The method further includes, responsive to boost pressure exceeding a threshold, maintaining deactivation of the first compressor, reactivating each second exhaust valve to flow exhaust gas from the engine to both the first turbocharger and second turbocharger, and driving an electric assist device via a first turbine of the first turbocharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vanco Smiljanovski, Helmut Matthias Kindl, Joerg Kemmerling, Franz J. Brinkmann, Franz Arnd Sommerhoff
  • Patent number: 9874161
    Abstract: A method for operating a boosted internal combustion engine is provided. The engine includes a first cylinder in a first cylinder group and a second cylinder in a second cylinder group, each of the first and second cylinders having two activatable outlet openings adjoined by an exhaust line, one of the outlet openings of each of the first and second cylinders coupled to a first turbocharger including a first turbine and one of the outlet openings of each of the cylinders coupled to a second turbocharger including a second turbine, the method comprising: if engine load is less than a threshold load value implementing a first operating mode that includes deactivating the second cylinder, deactivating one of the activatable outlet openings in the first cylinder, and activating one of the activatable outlet opening in the first cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Franz Arnd Sommerhoff, Frank Kraemer, Franz J. Brinkmann, Helmut Matthias Kindl, Vanco Smiljanovski, Joerg Kemmerling, Werner Willems, Carsten Weber
  • Publication number: 20170260916
    Abstract: Embodiments for operating an engine having parallel turbochargers and two fluidically coupleable, separated intake manifolds is provided. In one example, a method includes responsive to a first condition, operating a first cylinder group of an engine, deactivating a second cylinder group of the engine, and blocking fluidic communication between a first intake manifold coupled to the first cylinder group and a second intake manifold coupled to the second cylinder group, and responsive to a second condition, activating the second cylinder group and establishing fluidic communication between the first and second intake manifolds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Frank Kraemer, Vanco Smiljanovski, Franz J. Brinkmann, Helmut Matthias Kindl, Franz Arnd Sommerhoff, Hanno Friederichs, Joerg Kemmerling, Andreas Kuske
  • Publication number: 20170226924
    Abstract: Embodiments for an engine coupled to a first turbocharger and a second turbocharger are provided. One example includes responsive to a first condition, deactivating a first turbine of the first turbocharger and meeting a boost demand via operation of the second turbocharger, and responsive to deactivating the first turbine, increasing a pressure at a compressor-side end of a bearing arrangement of a shaft of the first turbocharger. In this way, oil leakage from the bearing arrangement may be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Harald Stoffels, Ludwig Stump, Klemens Grieser, Jens Wojahn, Franz J. Brinkmann