Patents by Inventor Helmut ROTTENKOLBER

Helmut ROTTENKOLBER 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: 20240131896
    Abstract: A reheating method for operating a refrigeration system for a motor vehicle is described, the refrigeration system includes a refrigerant compressor, which is connectable or connected to a primary line and a secondary line; an outer heat exchanger, which is arranged in the primary line; an evaporator, which is arranged in the primary line; a heating register, which is arranged in the secondary line; at least one movable temperature flap which is arranged upstream or downstream of the heating register in relation to a supply air flow direction; and at least one shut-off element, which is arranged downstream of the heating register in the secondary line. The reheating method includes adjusting the at least one shut-off element into a position in which refrigerant flows downstream of the heating register into the evaporator, while bypassing the external heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2020
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dirk SCHROEDER, Christian REBINGER, Helmut ROTTENKOLBER
  • Publication number: 20240131897
    Abstract: A reheating method for operating a refrigeration system for a motor vehicle. The refrigeration system includes a refrigerant compressor, connected to a primary line and a secondary line; an external heat exchanger; an evaporator; a heating register; at least one movable temperature flap; and at least one shutoff element, which is arranged downstream of the heating register in the secondary line. The reheating method includes following steps: setting the at least one shutoff element in a position in which the refrigerant flows into the evaporator downstream of the heating register while bypassing the external heat exchanger, and incorporating at least one further heat sink, which is fluidically arranged in parallel or in series to the evaporator, in particular a chiller operating as a water heat pump evaporator and/or the external heat exchanger operating as an air heat pump evaporator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2020
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dirk SCHROEDER, Christian REBINGER, Helmut ROTTENKOLBER
  • Patent number: 11904654
    Abstract: A method of operating a refrigerant circuit of a cooling system of a vehicle in cooling system mode, having a chiller branch which includes a chiller and a first expansion element connected upstream from it and being thermally coupled to a coolant circuit, at least one interior evaporator branch connected in parallel with the chiller branch, comprising an interior evaporator, a second expansion element connected upstream from it, and a segmentation element connected downstream from the interior evaporator, being adapted to prevent a backflow of refrigerant into the interior evaporator, a refrigerant compressor, and a condenser or gas cooler, wherein the cooling system mode is carried out in single chiller mode by closing the second expansion element and aspirating the refrigerant from the interior evaporator by the starting or already started refrigerant compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dirk Schroeder, Helmut Rottenkolber
  • Patent number: 11820203
    Abstract: A method for defrosting an external heat exchanger, operated as an air heat pump evaporator, of a cooling system for a motor vehicle. The cooling system includes a refrigerant compressor connected to a primary and secondary section; an external heat exchanger; an evaporator; a heating register; a primary section valve which is closed in the air heat pump operation; and a secondary section valve which is open in the air heat pump operation. The method includes closing of the secondary section valve; opening of the primary section valve, so that refrigerant flows directly from the refrigerant compressor to the external heat exchanger; and setting an inlet-side pressure level of the refrigerant on the external heat exchanger to a target pressure which corresponds to a condensation temperature (Tkond) of the refrigerant in the range: 2° C.?Tkond?20° C., in particular 4° C.?Tkond?10° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dirk Schroeder, Christian Rebinger, Helmut Rottenkolber
  • Patent number: 11820198
    Abstract: A method for operating a refrigeration system for a vehicle, the refrigeration system including a refrigerant circuit with a heat pump function. The refrigerant circuit has an exterior heat exchanger, which is operated as a condenser or gas cooler to perform a refrigeration system mode or which is operated as a heat pump evaporator to carry out a heat pump mode. The refrigerant circuit further has an interior heating condenser or heating gas cooler for carrying out a heating mode. The interior heating condenser or heating gas cooler is fluidically connected downstream of the exterior heat exchanger with a reheating expansion device therebetween to carry out a reheating mode. The opening cross-section of the reheating expansion device is controlled in accordance with a refrigeration system parameter indicating the required reheating power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dirk Schroeder, Christian Rebinger, Helmut Rottenkolber
  • Publication number: 20230294481
    Abstract: A method is described for operating a refrigeration system having a heat pump function for motor vehicle, including the following steps: setting a heat pump operation, in which the refrigerant is routed from the refrigerant compressor into the secondary line; setting an expansion valve assigned to the third heat exchanger such that a total mass flow of refrigerant flows through the third heat exchanger; detecting the temperature of the coolant in the third heat exchanger. The total mass flow of refrigerant is routed through the third heat exchanger when the temperature of the coolant is greater than an upper limiting temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Christian REBINGER, Dirk SCHROEDER, Helmut ROTTENKOLBER
  • Publication number: 20230096213
    Abstract: A method for defrosting an external heat exchanger, operated as an air heat pump evaporator, of a cooling system for a motor vehicle. The cooling system includes a refrigerant compressor connected to a primary and secondary section; an external heat exchanger; an evaporator; a heating register; a primary section valve which is closed in the air heat pump operation; and a secondary section valve which is open in the air heat pump operation. The method includes closing of the secondary section valve; opening of the primary section valve, so that refrigerant flows directly from the refrigerant compressor to the external heat exchanger; and setting an inlet-side pressure level of the refrigerant on the external heat exchanger to a target pressure which corresponds to a condensation temperature (Tkond) of the refrigerant in the range: 2° C. ? Tkond ? 20° C., in particular 4° C. ? Tkond ? 10° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dirk SCHROEDER, Christian REBINGER, Helmut ROTTENKOLBER
  • Publication number: 20220324296
    Abstract: A method for operating a coolant circuit of a refrigeration system of a vehicle having multiple system sections. A single pressure sensor is located in each system section. A temperature sensor is arranged downstream at each component to be balanced in the system sections, such as heat exchangers and a coolant compressor. The sensor signals of the pressure and temperature sensors are supplied to a control unit for the control or regulation of the refrigeration system. Furthermore, a pressure approximation value at the position of the temperature sensor is calculated by a pressure loss value determined using a pressure loss calculation function starting from the position of the pressure sensor arranged in the system section of the component up to the position of the temperature sensor if the temperature sensor and the pressure sensor are arranged at different positions in the system section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dirk SCHROEDER, Christian REBINGER, Helmut ROTTENKOLBER
  • Publication number: 20220297504
    Abstract: A modular cooling system for a vehicle including a base module having a refrigerant compressor, a high-pressure section having a direct or indirect condenser or gas cooler, and a low-pressure section having an evaporator and a chiller having chiller expansion elements connected upstream. The low-pressure section is connected via a heat pump expansion element to the high-pressure section. A first supplementary module has a heating branch having a heat pump heat exchanger, which is connectable via a first reheating branch having a valve element to the direct or indirect condenser or gas cooler, and a heat pump recirculation branch having a blockable valve element for connecting the direct or indirect condenser or gas cooler to the low-pressure section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dirk SCHROEDER, Christian REBINGER, Helmut ROTTENKOLBER
  • Patent number: 11364770
    Abstract: A refrigeration system for a vehicle including a refrigerant circuit having a double-flow heat exchanger, it being possible to operate the heat exchanger as a refrigerant condenser/gas cooler for an AC mode or as an air heat pump evaporator for a heat pump mode. The first flow of the heat exchanger has a first refrigerant connection and the second flow of the heat exchanger has a second refrigerant connection. For double flow through the heat exchanger in AC mode the first refrigerant connection is a refrigerant inlet and the second refrigerant connection is a refrigerant outlet. For single flow through the heat exchanger in heat pump mode the second refrigerant connection is a refrigerant inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dirk Schroeder, Christian Rebinger, Helmut Rottenkolber
  • Patent number: 11325446
    Abstract: A method for operating a refrigeration system for a vehicle with a refrigerant circuit including a heat exchanger. A controllable environmental air flow (L) is flowed through the heat exchanger and the heat exchanger can be operated as a refrigerant condenser or a gas cooler for a refrigeration system operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dirk Schroeder, Helmut Rottenkolber
  • Publication number: 20210268868
    Abstract: A method for operating a refrigeration system for a vehicle, which refrigeration system includes a refrigerant circuit having a heat pump function. The refrigerant circuit has an exterior heat exchanger, which is operated as a condenser or gas cooler in order to perform a refrigeration system mode or as a heat pump evaporator in order to carry out a heat pump mode. The refrigerant circuit has an interior heating condenser or heating gas cooler for carrying out a heating mode. The interior heating condenser or heating gas cooler is fluidically connected to the exterior heat exchanger, downstream, by a post-heating expansion device in order to carry out a post-heating mode. The opening cross-section of the post-heating expansion device is controlled in accordance with a refrigeration system parameter indicating the required post-heating power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dirk SCHROEDER, Christian REBINGER, Helmut ROTTENKOLBER
  • Patent number: 11104204
    Abstract: A method for operating a cooling circuit. It is provided that a) the actuation signal ST of the coolant compressor is provided so as to increase over time from a minimum value (STmin) in order to generate a start-up phase of the coolant compressor, b) a control signal maximum value (STmax) and a control signal threshold (STSW) are provided, where STSW<STmax, c) the actuation signal (ST) is limited to the control signal maximum value (STmax) if the actuation signal (ST) reaches the control signal threshold (STSW) and the measured high and/or low-pressure value (PHD, PND) satisfies a condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dirk Schroeder, Christian Rebinger, Helmut Rottenkolber, Jan Wack
  • Publication number: 20210148616
    Abstract: A refrigeration system for a vehicle including a refrigerant circuit having a double-flow heat exchanger, it being possible to operate the heat exchanger as a refrigerant condenser/gas cooler for an AC mode or as an air heat pump evaporator for a heat pump mode. The first flow of the heat exchanger has a first refrigerant connection and the second flow of the heat exchanger has a second refrigerant connection. For double flow through the heat exchanger in AC mode the first refrigerant connection is a refrigerant inlet and the second refrigerant connection is a refrigerant outlet. For single flow through the heat exchanger in heat pump mode the second refrigerant connection is a refrigerant inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dirk SCHROEDER, Christian REBINGER, Helmut ROTTENKOLBER
  • Publication number: 20200247213
    Abstract: A method of operating a refrigerant circuit of a cooling system of a vehicle in cooling system mode, having a chiller branch which includes a chiller and a first expansion element connected upstream from it and being thermally coupled to a coolant circuit, at least one interior evaporator branch connected in parallel with the chiller branch, comprising an interior evaporator, a second expansion element connected upstream from it, and a segmentation element connected downstream from the interior evaporator, being adapted to prevent a backflow of refrigerant into the interior evaporator, a refrigerant compressor, and a condenser or gas cooler, wherein the cooling system mode is carried out in single chiller mode by closing the second expansion element and aspirating the refrigerant from the interior evaporator by the starting or already started refrigerant compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dirk SCHROEDER, Helmut ROTTENKOLBER
  • Publication number: 20200130468
    Abstract: A method for operating a cooling circuit. It is provided that a) the actuation signal ST of the coolant compressor is provided so as to increase over time from a minimum value (STmin) in order to generate a start-up phase of the coolant compressor, b) a control signal maximum value (STmax) and a control signal threshold (STSW) are provided, where STSW<STmax, c) the actuation signal (ST) is limited to the control signal maximum value (STmax) if the actuation signal (ST) reaches the control signal threshold (STSW) and the measured high and/or low-pressure value (PHD, PND) satisfies a condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: Audi AG
    Inventors: Dirk SCHROEDER, Christian REBINGER, Helmut ROTTENKOLBER, Jan WACK
  • Publication number: 20200070629
    Abstract: A method for operating a refrigeration system for a vehicle with a refrigerant circuit comprising a heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger is flowed through by a controllable environmental air flow (L) and can be operated as refrigerant condenser or gas cooler for a refrigeration system operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dirk SCHROEDER, Helmut ROTTENKOLBER