Patents by Inventor Gerhard Lepperhoff
Gerhard Lepperhoff 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).
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Patent number: 7207318Abstract: A method for operating a converter for the energy conversion of fuel from at least one main fuel supply, and from at least one auxiliary fuel supply for operating the converter directly and/or by operating an auxiliary unit, comprises: detecting the amount of fuel in the main fuel supply; detecting the amount of fuel in the auxiliary fuel supply, at least with respect to a predetermined minimum amount; in response to the minimum amount being reached, generating a signal that blocks at least one of a) filling of the main fuel supply, and b) startup of the converter via a control unit; and deactivating the blocking in response to the auxiliary fuel supply being replenished.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2004Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: FEV Motorentechnik GmbHInventors: Gerhard Lepperhoff, Helmut Pleimling
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Publication number: 20050004713Abstract: A method for operating a converter for the energy conversion of fuel from at least one main fuel supply, and from at least one auxiliary fuel supply for operating the converter directly and/or by operating an auxiliary unit, comprises: detecting the amount of fuel in the main fuel supply; detecting the amount of fuel in the auxiliary fuel supply, at least with respect to a predetermined minimum amount; in response to the minimum amount being reached, generating a signal that blocks at least one of a) filling of the main fuel supply, and b) startup of the converter via a control unit; and deactivating the blocking in response to the auxiliary fuel supply being replenished.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2004Publication date: January 6, 2005Applicant: FEV MOTORENTECHNIK GMBHInventors: Gerhard Lepperhoff, Helmut Pleimling
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Patent number: 6335790Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the spatial concentration of the various components of a mixture, in particular of a gas mixture in a combustion chamber, of a motor for example; a laser beam is hereby directed into the combustion chamber; the laser beam brings the particles of the mixture to radiate, whereas this light of the particles is passed backward through a masked lens and is imaged on a display as a radiating surface and the radial intensity distribution is recorded by an array photodetector, whereas the spatial concentration of individual components of the particle mixture may be measured from the radial intensity distribution.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2000Date of Patent: January 1, 2002Assignee: Lavision GmbHInventors: Peter Andresen, Gerhard Lepperhoff
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Patent number: 6269631Abstract: Process and device for operating an internal combustion engine with less pollutant emission, whose exhaust gas is subjected to an electrical aftertreatment during engine operation to convert pollutants, the emissions of which are measured. To improve a process with the features mentioned initially, so that on the one hand the desired reduction of emissions of the internal combustion engine is achieved during its entire time of operation, but on the other hand so that the design of the electrical system of the internal combustion engine does not have to be unreasonably large and thus costly, the electrical aftertreatment of the exhaust gas occurs only during the portion of the operating time during which emission peaks occur.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 1999Date of Patent: August 7, 2001Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur Forderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.Inventors: Willi Neff, Klaus Pochner, Gerhard Lepperhoff, Georg Lütkemeyer
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Patent number: 6202408Abstract: An apparatus for a zero-point stabilization of an exhaust gas sensor installed in an apparatus for a thermal energy conversion of gaseous fuel while producing an exhaust gas stream, includes an arrangement for alternatingly exposing the exhaust gas sensor to a flow of exhaust gas and a flow of fresh air.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 1999Date of Patent: March 20, 2001Assignee: FEV Motorentechnik GmbH & Co., KGInventors: Gerhard Lepperhoff, Dietrich Meyerdierks
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Patent number: 6185930Abstract: A method of reducing pollutants in an exhaust gas of an internal-combustion engine includes the following steps: producing, at a first location, a reactive gas component NO2 from at least one part of the NO content of the exhaust gas by reaction with the oxygen, contained in the exhaust gas, under an energy effect; and reactively converting the NO2 in a pollutant retaining system situated at a second location downstream of the first location as viewed in the flow direction.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 1999Date of Patent: February 13, 2001Assignee: FEV Motorentechnik GmbHInventors: Gerhard Lepperhoff, Hartmut Lüders, Kirsten Hentschel, Bernhard Lüers
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Patent number: 5671600Abstract: A method of reducing NO.sub.x emissions of a turbo-charged internal combustion engine. The engine has an exhaust conduit guiding an exhaust gas stream, a charge-air intake conduit guiding a charge-air stream and a turbocharger including a turbine disposed in the exhaust conduit and a compressor disposed in the charge-air intake conduit. The method comprises the steps of branching off a partial exhaust gas quantity from the exhaust gas stream upstream of the turbine as viewed in a direction of exhaust gas flow; passing the partial exhaust gas quantity through a particle filter; and introducing the partial exhaust gas quantity into the charge-air stream upstream of the compressor.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 1995Date of Patent: September 30, 1997Assignee: FEV Motorentechnik GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Franz Pischinger, Manfred Durnholz, Gerhard Lepperhoff, Georg Huthwohl
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Patent number: 5472462Abstract: A filter arrangement for removal of soot particles from the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, including a current supply and a filter body. The filter body is composed of a porous filter material. The filter body has a plurality of filter ducts arranged in a honey-comb pattern. Each filter duct has an inlet opening for the intake of the exhaust gases. The filter arrangement further includes a resistance heating element arranged in a region of each inlet opening and having a series of loops each projecting into the filter ducts. The resistance heating element further has a lead-in line and a lead-out line connected to the current supply. A wall of a respective filter duct and a respective heating element loop are form lockingly connected together.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 1994Date of Patent: December 5, 1995Assignee: Fev Motorentechnik GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Franz Pischinger, Gerhard Lepperhoff, Georg Huthwohl, Rolf Backes
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Patent number: 4948403Abstract: A filter system for removing particulates from exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, in particular a diesel engine, having at least one filter member formed by filter channels in the configuration of a honeycomb, and made of porous filter material, in which the region of the inlet openings of the filter channels open on the gas intake side, electrical resistance looped heating elements being arranged that are connected via a lead-in and a lead-out to a power supply. A positive positioning of the heating elements and their connections is assured and false contacts, such as short-circuits, are avoided. The resistance heating elements are connectd to a support element connected to the power supply, and the position of the support element can be adjusted three-dimensionally while maintaining a maximum distance of about 30 mm. from the surface of the filter member at its gas intake side.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 1989Date of Patent: August 14, 1990Assignee: FEV Motorentechnik GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Gerhard Lepperhoff, Georg Lutkemeyer
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Patent number: 4897096Abstract: A system for the regeneration, by oxidation, of the particulates deposited in a particulate filter trap of an internal cumbustion engine provided for purifying the engine exhaust gas, in which the thickness of the particulates deposited in a given area in the trap is determined relative to a predetermined thickness in excess of which the filter trap will operate inefficiently, and the excess thickness being reduced by regeneration.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 1988Date of Patent: January 30, 1990Assignee: FEV Motorentechnik GmbH & Co. KG.Inventors: Franz Pischinger, Gerhard Lepperhoff
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Patent number: 4872889Abstract: A filter system for removing particulates from exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, in particular a diesel engine, having at least one filter member formed by filter channels in the configuration of a honeycomb and made of a porous filter material, in which the region of the inlet openings of the filter channels open on the gas intake side, electrical resistance looped heating elements are arranged that are connected via a lead-in and a lead-out to a power supply. A secure positioning of the heating loops in the honeycomb is assured and contact errors are avoided. The loops of the resistance heating elements and/or the loop connections are received in grooves of the filter system in such a manner that they retain their pre-determined position despite vibrations, thermally-induced shape changes and the like. The grooves can be located in the filter member and/or in a cover plate overlying the inlet face of the filter member.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 1988Date of Patent: October 10, 1989Assignee: FEV Motorentechnik GmbH & Co., KGInventors: Gerhard Lepperhoff, Georg Huthwohl
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Patent number: 4730455Abstract: A process and system for the regeneration of at least a pair of side-by-side particulate filter traps for purifying the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, particularly a motor vehicle diesel engine, by oxidation of particulates collected in the traps, combustion of the particulates being carried out during engine operation by fuel burners respectively associated with the traps, in which a flame jet at high velocity flow is directed from one of the burners for a short duration transversely to the inflow direction of the exhaust gas to be purified directly into an associated trap without mixing with the exhaust gas flow, such that the exhaust gas in the vicinity of the one burner is diverted by the one flame jet to flow into and through the other trap while the one flame jet initiates combustion of the particulates collected in its associated trap.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 1987Date of Patent: March 15, 1988Assignee: FEV Motorentechnik GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Franz Pischinger, Gerhard Lepperhoff
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Patent number: 4730454Abstract: A process for the oxidation of a concentration of internal combustion engine emission particulates collected in a particulate filter trap by supplying secondary energy to the deposit at the inlet surface of the filter and/or to the particulate/exhaust gas mixture, includes adjusting the particulate concentration to a value which lies within the explosive range of the particulate/exhaust gas mixture by briefly adding, or recycling, combustible particulates to the exhaust gas flow in the filter, especially in front of the inlet face of the filter.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 1986Date of Patent: March 15, 1988Assignee: FEV Forschungsgesellschaft fur Energie-Technik und Verbrennungsmotoren mbHInventors: Franz Pischinger, Gerhard Lepperhoff
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Patent number: 4709547Abstract: A process for the regeneration of engine emission particulates collected in particulate filter traps associated with each of the engine cylinders, or with groups of such cylinders, includes the selective elevation of the emission temperature of at least one of the cylinders or groups to the extent required for regeneration, by oxidation, of the filter trap or traps associated therewith, by supplying engine fuel to such cylinder or cylinders in a predtermined amount to produce the elevated emission temperature, and supplying the remaining of the cylinders with amounts of engine fuel less than such predetermined amount as required to sustain the given engine power output.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 1987Date of Patent: December 1, 1987Assignee: FEV Motorentechnik GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Franz Pischinger, Gerhard Lepperhoff, Georg Huthwohl
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Patent number: 4709549Abstract: An assembly for particulate filter traps in which engine exhaust particulates are deposited for the treatment of internal combustion emission, includes a filter trap support containing a plurality of individual particulate filter traps arranged side-by-side and parallel to the direction of exhaust gas flow therethrough. An inflow housing overlying the trap support is removable for inspection of the filter traps, and a sectioned cover of the trap support underlying the removable housing permits one or more individual traps to be inspected and separately replaced.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 1987Date of Patent: December 1, 1987Assignee: FEV Motorentechnik GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Gerhard Lepperhoff
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Patent number: 4634459Abstract: In a particle filter device containing porous filter material adapted for the exhaust flow of a diesel engine to filter particles from the exhaust gasses discharged from the engine, a system for the removal of filtered particles collected on the filter material, wherein the removal is effected by oxidation, includes a housing containing the filter material and having a flow control nozzle, the cross-section of which is reduced in the direction of the filter material for directing the gas stream to be purified toward the porous filter material in such a manner that described purification zones of the filter material are preferentially impacted by the through-flowing gas to be purified.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 1986Date of Patent: January 6, 1987Assignee: FEV Forschungsgesellschaft fur Energie-Technik und Verbrennungsmotoren GmbHInventors: Franz Pischinger, Gerhard Lepperhoff
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Patent number: RE42771Abstract: A method for operating a converter for the energy conversion of fuel from at least one main fuel supply, and from at least one auxiliary fuel supply for operating the converter directly and/or by operating an auxiliary unit, comprises: detecting the amount of fuel in the main fuel supply; detecting the amount of fuel in the auxiliary fuel supply, at least with respect to a predetermined minimum amount; in response to the minimum amount being reached, generating a signal that blocks at least one of a) filling of the main fuel supply, and b) startup of the converter via a control unit; and deactivating the blocking in response to the auxiliary fuel supply being replenished.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2009Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: FEV Motorentechnik GmbHInventors: Gerhard Lepperhoff, Helmut Pleimling