Patents by Inventor Hans Houben

Hans Houben 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: 8656898
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a glow plug to a target value of the surface temperature while the engine is running. An effective voltage is generated by pulse width modulation of a vehicle electrical system voltage. This effective voltage is applied to the glow plug. The electric resistance of the glow plug is measured and compared to a resistance value expected for the target value of the surface temperature. The effective voltage is varied as a function of the deviation of the measured value of the electric resistance from the expected value of the electric resistance. A pressure sensor of the glow plug is used to measure the combustion chamber pressure. The resistance value expected for the target value of the surface temperature is determined as a function of the combustion chamber pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Borgwarner Beru Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Sackmann, Bernd Last, Marc Rottner, Hans Houben, Olaf Toedter
  • Patent number: 8569658
    Abstract: Composite conductor comprising a metallic conductor and a ceramic conductor or non-conductor, at least one of them being elongate, the two being connected with each other in an electrically conductive manner. The ceramic conductor or non-conductor and the metallic conductor are hard-soldered to each other by a contact surface extending obliquely to the longitudinal direction of the at least one elongate conductor, and has one of the conductors tapers at its end and the other conductor has a matching tapering recess. The tapering end of the conductor is fitted into the tapering recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: BERU Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Martin Allgaier, Hans Peter Kasimirski, Rainer Hain, Bernhard Graf, Oliver Göb, Lutz Frassek, Johannes Hasenkamp, Jochen Hammer, Henning Von Watzdorf, Hans Houben
  • Patent number: 8479697
    Abstract: Glow plug, particularly for operation in a combustion engine, comprising at least one heating rod (1) and at least one body (2) and at least one annular gap (3) between the heating rod (1) and the body (2) and at least one chamber (4) primarily arranged between the heating rod (1) and the body (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: BorgWarner BERU Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Karsten Volland, Bernd Last, Hans Houben, Dirk Von Hacht, Frank Pechhold, Christian Pottiez, Michael Haussner, Ralf Ehlert
  • Patent number: 8459104
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pencil-type glow plug, in particular for a self-igniting internal combustion engine. The plug includes at least one plug base with at least one essentially bar-shaped heating element, which projects on one end from the plug base, and at least one measurement element, the heating element and the measurement element being integrally bonded and/or force-locked and/or form-locked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: BorgWarner BERU Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Yue Cheng, Bernhard Last, Hans Houben, Frank Pechhold
  • Patent number: 8397556
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for determining combustion chamber pressure, having at least one glow filament, at least one measuring element, at least two spring membranes, and at least one tubular base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: BorgWarner BERU Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Last, Hans Houben, Yue Cheng, Christian Pottiez, Frank Pechhold, Arno Marto
  • Publication number: 20110220073
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a glow plug to a target value of the surface temperature while the engine is running, wherein an effective voltage is generated by pulse width modulation of a vehicle electrical system voltage and this effective voltage is applied to the glow plug, the electric resistance of the glow plug is measured and compared to a resistance value expected for the target value of the surface temperature, and the effective voltage is varied as a function of the deviation of the measured value of the electric resistance from the expected value of the electric resistance. According to the invention, a pressure sensor of the glow plug is used to measure the combustion chamber pressure and the resistance value expected for the target value of the surface temperature is determined as a function of the combustion chamber pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: BorgWarner BERU Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Sackmann, Bernd Last, Marc Rottner, Hans Houben, Olaf Toedter
  • Patent number: 7980908
    Abstract: The invention describes a spark plug having an outer electrode (12), a central electrode (10), an inner conductor (2) connected to the central electrode (10) and an insulator (3) enclosing the inner conductor (2). It is provided according to the invention that the insulator (3) is produced by extrusion. The invention further relates to a method for production of a spark plug of that kind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Inventors: Werner Niessner, Lutz Frassek, Hans Houben
  • Publication number: 20110146393
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for determining combustion chamber pressure, having at least one glow filament, at least one measuring element, at least two spring membranes, and at least one tubular base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Bernd Last, Hans Houben, Yue Cheng, Christian Pottiez, Frank Pechhold, Arno Marto
  • Publication number: 20110146392
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pencil-type glow plug, in particular for a self-igniting internal combustion engine. The plug includes at least one plug base with at least one essentially bar-shaped heating element, which projects on one end from the plug base, and at least one measurement element, the heating element and the measurement element being integrally bonded and/or force-locked and/or form-locked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Yue Cheng, Bernhard Last, Hans Houben, Frank Pechhold
  • Publication number: 20110056925
    Abstract: The invention relates to a glow plug for diesel engines, having a glow plug body comprising an external thread for threading into a threaded hole of a diesel engine, a heating rod that is displaceable in an axial direction of the glow plug body and protrudes from it, a pressure measuring device for measuring a combustion chamber pressure acting on the heating rod, and a sealing membrane disposed between the glow plug body and the heating rod. It is provided according to the invention that an annular or sleeve-shaped vibration damper composed of a perfluorelastomer is disposed between the glow plug body and the heating rod for damping radial oscillations of the heating rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Inventors: Michael Haussner, Christian Pottiez, Ralf Ehlert, Arno Marto, Frank Pechhold, Bernd Last, Johann Weissenbacher, Hans Houben
  • Patent number: 7881851
    Abstract: The invention describes a method for operating glow plugs in a diesel engine that comprises a housing and a heater element projecting beyond that housing which interacts with an engine control unit and a glow plug control unit which, following a preheating phase, controls the electric power supplied to the glow plugs in dependence on an input received from the engine control unit. According to the invention it is provided that the engine control unit determines a value representative of a temperature that is to be reached at the heater element and the engine control unit transmits that value as target value to the glow plug control unit which converts that target value using an algorithm stored in the glow plug control unit and taking into account the characteristic values stored in the glow plug control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: BERU Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Markus Kernwein, Andreas Beil, Jörg Stöckle, Olaf Toedter, Hans Houben
  • Publication number: 20100236512
    Abstract: Glow plug, particularly for operation in a combustion engine, comprising at least one heating rod (1) and at least one body (2) and at least one annular gap (3) between the heating rod (1) and the body (2) and at least one chamber (4) primarily arranged between the heating rod (1) and the body (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventors: Karsten Volland, Bernd Last, Hans Houben, Dirk Von Hacht, Frank Pechhold, Christian Pottiez, Michael Haussner, Half Ehlert
  • Patent number: 7780348
    Abstract: The invention describes a temperature sensor for a resistance thermometer comprising an electric measuring resistor (3) the resistance material of which consists either of a ceramic material or of a metallic resistance material in combination with a ceramic or a mineral carrier, a protective tube (2) comprising a closed tip (2b) and a rear end that provides an access to the inner space of the protective tube (2) and that contains the measuring resistor (3) closely adjacent the closed tip (2b) of the protective tube (2), at least one supply line (5) that is brought out through the rear end of the protective tube (2), and an electrically insulating filler (6) based on a ceramic or a mineral material that fills the space between the protective tube (2) on the one side and the measuring resistor (3) and its at least one supply line (4, 5) on the other side. It is provided according to the invention that the packing density of the filler (6) has a gradient in lengthwise direction of the protective tube (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Inventors: Hans Houben, Rüdiger Zaiser, Friedrich Mayr, Helmut Buck, Markus Mohl, Robert Hartmann, Heiner Lehmann, Werner Schneider, Arno Marto, Hans-Peter Kasimirski
  • Patent number: 7661311
    Abstract: There is described a shaped object adapted for being connected with a rim at a point located inside the rim well (7), having a contact surface (2) intended to rest on the rim well. It is provided according to the invention that the contact surface (2) intersects each of a set of mutually parallel first planes (3) along a curved curve (5), which is not merely an arc of a circle and whose distance from a second plane (6), that subdivides the contact surface (2) and that extends perpendicularly to the first planes (3) increases with a decreasing growth rate, at least in average, at least on one side of the second plane (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Inventors: Hans Houben, Henning Von Watzdorf, Martin Allgaier
  • Publication number: 20100000982
    Abstract: Composite conductor comprising a metallic conductor and a ceramic conductor or non-conductor, at least one of them being elongate, the two being connected with each other in an electrically conductive manner. The ceramic conductor or non-conductor and the metallic conductor are hard-soldered to each other by a contact surface extending obliquely to the longitudinal direction of the at least one elongate conductor, and has one of the conductors tapers at its end and the other conductor has a matching tapering recess. The tapering end of the conductor is fitted into the tapering recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventors: Martin Allgaier, Hans Peter Kasimirski, Rainer Hain, Bernhard Graf, Oliver Göb, Lutz Frassek, Johannes Hasenkam, Jochen Hammer, Henning Von Watzdorf, Hans Houben
  • Publication number: 20090012695
    Abstract: The invention describes a method for operating glow plugs in a diesel engine that comprises a housing and a heater element projecting beyond that housing which interacts with an engine control unit and a glow plug control unit which, following a preheating phase, controls the electric power supplied to the glow plugs in dependence on an input received from the engine control unit. According to the invention it is provided that the engine control unit determines a value representative of a temperature that is to be reached at the heater element and the engine control unit transmits that value as target value to the glow plug control unit which converts that target value using an algorithm stored in the glow plug control unit and taking into account the characteristic values stored in the glow plug control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventors: Markus Kernwein, Andreas Beil, Jorg Stockle, Olaf Toedter, Hans Houben
  • Publication number: 20080309214
    Abstract: The invention describes a spark plug having an outer electrode (12), a central electrode (10), an inner conductor (2) connected to the central electrode (10) and an insulator (3) enclosing the inner conductor (2). It is provided according to the invention that the insulator (3) is produced by extrusion. The invention further relates to a method for production of a spark plug of that kind.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventors: Werner Niessner, Lutz Frassek, Hans Houben
  • Patent number: 7439845
    Abstract: The invention describes a temperature sensor for a, resistance thermometer having an electric measuring resistor the resistance material of which consists either of a ceramic material or of a metallic resistance material in combination with a ceramic or a mineral carrier; having a protective tube comprising a closed tip and a rear end that provides an access to the inner space of the protective tube and that contains the measuring resistor; having at least one connection wire of the measuring resistor that is brought out through the rear end of the protective tube; and having an electrically insulating filler based on a ceramic or a mineral material that fills the space between the protective tube on the one side and the measuring resistor on the other side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Inventors: Hans Houben, Robert Hartmann, Helner Lehmann, Werner Schnelder, Amo Marto
  • Publication number: 20080080592
    Abstract: The invention describes a temperature sensor for a resistance thermometer comprising an electric measuring resistor (3) the resistance material of which consists either of a ceramic material or of a metallic resistance material in combination with a ceramic or a mineral carrier, a protective tube (2) comprising a closed tip (2b) and a rear end that provides an access to the inner space of the protective tube (2) and that contains the measuring resistor (3) closely adjacent the closed tip (2b) of the protective tube (2), at least one supply line (5) that is brought out through the rear end of the protective tube (2), and an electrically insulating filler (6) based on a ceramic or a mineral material that fills the space between the protective tube (2) on the one side and the measuring resistor (3) and its at least one supply line (4, 5) on the other side. It is provided according to the invention that the packing density of the filler (6) has a gradient in lengthwise direction of the protective tube (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Inventors: Hans Houben, Rudiger Zaiser, Friedrich Mayr, Helmut Buck, Markus Mohl, Robert Hartmann, Heiner Lehmann, Werner Schneider, Arno Marto, Hans-Peter Kasimirski
  • Patent number: 7337657
    Abstract: A pressure glow plug for a diesel engine has a glow plug body 2 for being inserted into a cylinder of the diesel engine, a heating rod 1 that is arranged in the glow plug body 2 and a pressure sensor 9 that is arranged between the heating rod 1 and the glow plug body 2 in such a way that the pressure in the combustion chamber of the cylinder that is transmitted by the heating rod 1 influences the pressure sensor 9. The heating rod 1 is arranged in the glow plug body 2 such that it can be displaced in an axially sliding fashion, namely by a corresponding sliding element, for example, a membrane 7 or seals 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignees: Beru AG, Texas Instruments Holland B.V.
    Inventors: Michael Haussner, Ulf Wyrwich, Hans Houben, Frank Pechhold, Heinz-Georg Schmitz, Dirk Von Hacht, Marc Gerard Johan Borgers, Albert Ferdinand Zwijze, Paulus Thomas Johannes Gennissen, Ronald De Groot, Arie-Jan Koelling