Patents by Inventor Hans Fickel

Hans Fickel 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: 8517128
    Abstract: A motor vehicle includes two drive assemblies in the form of an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. For operating the motor vehicle at low speeds, preferably in an inner-city area, a fuel cell having comparatively small dimensions provides electric energy that is supplied to the electric motor directly and/or via an electric accumulator. In this way, the motor vehicle can be moved without emissions during the operation of the fuel cell with hydrogen. For operating outside of city areas, the internal combustion engine having an accordingly higher output is available. The fuel cell is arranged in the engine compartment of the motor vehicle together with the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Daniel Gleyzes, Johann Perzl, Hans Fickel, Robert Harrison
  • Publication number: 20130008733
    Abstract: A motor vehicle includes two drive assemblies in the form of an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. For operating the motor vehicle at low speeds, preferably in an inner-city area, a fuel cell having comparatively small dimensions provides electric energy that is supplied to the electric motor directly and/or via an electric accumulator. In this way, the motor vehicle can be moved without emissions during the operation of the fuel cell with hydrogen. For operating outside of city areas, the internal combustion engine having an accordingly higher output is available. The fuel cell is arranged in the engine compartment of the motor vehicle together with the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Daniel Gleyzes, Johann Perzl, Hans Fickel, Robert Harrison
  • Patent number: 7360368
    Abstract: A system and method for vaporizing a cryogenically stored fuel, particularly hydrogen, liquefied by cooling below the ambient temperature is provided. A system for vaporizing a cryogenically stored fuel uses heat arising in the area of a fuel consumer, and includes: a withdrawing line device for drawing fuel out of a tank device; a vaporizer device for vaporizing the fuel drawn via the withdrawing line, while introducing the vaporization heat; a gas line device for feeding the vaporized fuel to each consumer; a heat transfer system provided in the vicinity of the consumer while serving to absorb heat arising in the vicinity of the consumer, and; a fuel/heat exchanger device, through which a heat transfer fluid flows and which forms a part of the vaporizer device, for providing the vaporization heat via a heat flux drawn out of the heat transfer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans Fickel, Andres Groetzbach
  • Publication number: 20060201164
    Abstract: A system and method for vaporizing a cryogenically stored fuel, particularly hydrogen, liquefied by cooling below the ambient temperature is provided. A system for vaporizing a cryogenically stored fuel uses heat arising in the area of a fuel consumer, and includes: a withdrawing line device for drawing fuel out of a tank device; a vaporizer device for vaporizing the fuel drawn via the withdrawing line, while introducing the vaporization heat; a gas line device for feeding the vaporized fuel to each consumer; a heat transfer system provided in the vicinity of the consumer while serving to absorb heat arising in the vicinity of the consumer, and; a fuel/heat exchanger device, through which a heat transfer fluid flows and which forms a part of the vaporizer device, for providing the vaporization heat via a heat flux drawn out of the heat transfer system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans Fickel, Andres Groetzbach
  • Patent number: 7003946
    Abstract: For the regeneration of an NOx storage catalyst by means of hydrogen in a secondary hydrogen process, the hydrogen required for the regeneration is taken from a primary hydrogen process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
    Inventors: Michael Preis, Hans Fickel, Juergen Ringler
  • Patent number: 6931841
    Abstract: For the regeneration of an NOx storage catalyst by means of hydrogen in a secondary hydrogen process, the hydrogen required for the regeneration is taken from a primary hydrogen process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
    Inventors: Michael Preis, Hans Fickel, Juergen Ringler
  • Publication number: 20040261399
    Abstract: For the regeneration of an NOx storage catalyst by means of hydrogen in a secondary hydrogen process, the hydrogen required for the regeneration is taken from a primary hydrogen process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Applicant: BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG
    Inventors: Michael Preis, Hans Fickel, Juergen Ringler
  • Publication number: 20030115857
    Abstract: For the regeneration of an NOx storage catalyst by means of hydrogen in a secondary hydrogen process, the hydrogen required for the regeneration is taken from a primary hydrogen process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
    Inventors: Michael Preis, Hans Fickel, Juergen Ringler
  • Patent number: 6526760
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for conveying a cryogenically-stored fuel to an internal-combustion engine for providing a combustible working gas. In accordance with the invention, the cryogenically-stored fuel is drawn, in the liquid state, from a thermally-insulated fuel tank, and forced into a fuel line by a conveying device. At least from time to time, within the scope of the operation of the conveying device, the pressure in the fuel tank is increased by an amount that is larger than the difference between a drop in the supply-flow pressure occurring on the intake side of the conveying device and the difference between the dominant tank pressure at a pump-inlet point and the boiling pressure dictated by the instantaneous fuel temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans Fickel, Juergen Ringler
  • Publication number: 20020069857
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for conveying a cryogenically-stored fuel to an internal-combustion engine for providing a combustible working gas. In accordance with the invention, the cryogenically-stored fuel is drawn, in the liquid state, from a thermally-insulated fuel tank, and forced into a fuel line by a conveying device. At least from time to time, within the scope of the operation of the conveying device, the pressure in the fuel tank is increased by an amount that is larger than the difference between a drop in the supply-flow pressure occurring on the intake side of the conveying device and the difference between the dominant tank pressure at a pump-inlet point and the boiling pressure dictated by the instantaneous fuel temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans Fickel, Juergen Ringler