Patents by Inventor Ingo Lenz

Ingo Lenz 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: 9208127
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle powertrain, includes: sensing a vehicle speed; selecting a plurality of control strategies; activating one of the plurality of control strategies, the control strategy including: (i) operating the vehicle in a stationary start-stop mode when the vehicle speed is below a first threshold; and (ii) operating the vehicle in a rolling stationary start-stop mode when the vehicle speed is above the first threshold but below a second threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ingo Lenz, Chris Connelly, Chris Edward Pedlar, Rainer Busch, Urs Christen, Baekhyun (“Harry”) Cho
  • Patent number: 9206893
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle powertrain, includes: sensing a vehicle velocity; selecting at least two of a plurality of control strategies; activating the at least two control strategies, said two control strategies including: (i) operating the vehicle in a stationary start-stop mode when the vehicle speed is below a first threshold; and (ii) operating the vehicle in a rolling stationary start-stop mode when the vehicle speed is above a second threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ingo Lenz, Leonhard Bartsch
  • Patent number: 9150210
    Abstract: A system and method for selectively opening a drivetrain of a vehicle is described. In one example, an electrically operated clutch is opened during selected driving conditions to conserve kinetic energy of the vehicle. The method may reduce fuel consumption during selected conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Edward Pedlar, Urs Christen, Rainer Busch, Chris Connelly, Ingo Lenz, Harry Cho
  • Publication number: 20140094344
    Abstract: A system and method for selectively opening a drivetrain of a vehicle is described. In one example, an electrically operated clutch is opened during selected driving conditions to conserve kinetic energy of the vehicle. The method may reduce fuel consumption during selected conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Edward Pedlar, Urs Christen, Rainer Busch, Chris Connelly, Ingo Lenz, Harry Cho
  • Patent number: 8622872
    Abstract: A system and method for selectively opening a drivetrain of a vehicle is described. In one example, an electrically operated clutch is opened during selected driving conditions to conserve kinetic energy of the vehicle. The method may reduce fuel consumption during selected conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Edward Pedlar, Urs Christen, Rainer Busch, Chris Connelly, Ingo Lenz, Harry Cho
  • Patent number: 8555825
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is disclosed that has a cylinder block with multiple cylinders, a bridge between adjacent cylinders, a cooling slot in the bridge, and a water jacket portion in the cylinder block. A cylinder head is coupled to the cylinder block which has a first cooling passage fluidly coupling the cooling slot and the water jacket portion in the cylinder block, a water jacket portion in the cylinder head, and a second cooling passage in the cylinder head fluidly coupling the cooling slot with the water jacket portion in the cylinder head. A cylinder head gasket is arranged between the cylinder head and the cylinder block which has a first orifice in the cylinder head gasket cooperating with the first cooling passage a second orifice in the cylinder head gasket cooperating with the second cooling passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ingo Lenz, Urban Morawitz, Richard Fritsche, Guenter Bartsch, Bernd Steiner, Jeroen Slotman
  • Publication number: 20130124057
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle powertrain, includes: sensing a vehicle velocity; selecting at least two of a plurality of control strategies; activating the at least two control strategies, said two control strategies including: (i) operating the vehicle in a stationary start-stop mode when the vehicle speed is below a first threshold; and (ii) operating the vehicle in a rolling stationary start-stop mode when the vehicle speed is above a second threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Inventors: Ingo Lenz, Leonhard Bartsch
  • Publication number: 20130116903
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle powertrain, includes: sensing a vehicle speed; selecting a plurality of control strategies; activating one of the plurality of control strategies, the control strategy including: (i) operating the vehicle in a stationary start-stop mode when the vehicle speed is below a first threshold; and (ii) operating the vehicle in a rolling stationary start-stop mode when the vehicle speed is above the first threshold but below a second threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventors: Ingo Lenz, Chris Connelly, Chris Edward Pedlar, Rainer Busch, Urs Christen, Baekhyun ("Harry") Cho
  • Publication number: 20120100960
    Abstract: A system and method for selectively opening a drivetrain of a vehicle is described. In one example, an electrically operated clutch is opened during selected driving conditions to conserve kinetic energy of the vehicle. The method may reduce fuel consumption during selected conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Edward Pedlar, Urs Christen, Rainer Busch, Chris Connelly, Ingo Lenz, Harry Cho
  • Patent number: 8061309
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an internal combustion engine with a cooling circuit having a water jacket portion in the cylinder block and a water jacket portion in the cylinder head which has an intake portion and an exhaust portion. Flow from the intake and exhaust portions mix in an outlet housing which has a cylinder head outlet thermostat. A coolant pump provides flow to a first branch to the exhaust portion and a second branch to the water jacket portion in the cylinder block. A block thermostat is located in the second branch downstream of the coolant pump and upstream of the water jacket portion in the cylinder block. The intake portion of the water jacket portion in the cylinder head is fluidly coupled to the water jacket portion in the cylinder block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Ingo Lenz, Urban Morawitz, Richard Fritsche, Guenter Bartsch, Bernd Steiner, Jeroen Slotman
  • Publication number: 20110023797
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an internal combustion engine with a cooling circuit having a water jacket portion in the cylinder block and a water jacket portion in the cylinder head which has an intake portion and an exhaust portion. Flow from the intake and exhaust portions mix in an outlet housing which has a cylinder head outlet thermostat. A coolant pump provides flow to a first branch to the exhaust portion and a second branch to the water jacket portion in the cylinder block. A block thermostat is located in the second branch downstream of the coolant pump and upstream of the water jacket portion in the cylinder block. The intake portion of the water jacket portion in the cylinder head is fluidly coupled to the water jacket portion in the cylinder block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ingo Lenz, Urban Morawitz, Richard Fritsche, Guenter Bartsch, Bernd Steiner, Jeroen Slotman
  • Publication number: 20110023799
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is disclosed that has a cylinder block with multiple cylinders, a bridge between adjacent cylinders, a cooling slot in the bridge, and a water jacket portion in the cylinder block. A cylinder head is coupled to the cylinder block which has a first cooling passage fluidly coupling the cooling slot and the water jacket portion in the cylinder block, a water jacket portion in the cylinder head, and a second cooling passage in the cylinder head fluidly coupling the cooling slot with the water jacket portion in the cylinder head. A cylinder head gasket is arranged between the cylinder head and the cylinder block which has a first orifice in the cylinder head gasket cooperating with the first cooling passage a second orifice in the cylinder head gasket cooperating with the second cooling passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ingo Lenz, Urban Morawitz, Richard Fritsche, Guenter Bartsch, Bernd Steiner, Jeroen Slotman
  • Patent number: 7721683
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cooling strategy for an internal combustion engine (1) which has at least one cylinder head (2) and an associated cylinder block (3). A coolant flows in a coolant circuit (4), with at least one control element (6, 7, 8, 9) being assigned to the coolant circuit (4). During a warmup of the internal combustion engine, in successive phases, the coolant flow is conducted to separate cooling regions by the control elements (6, 7, 8, 9), wherein in an operating mode at operating temperature which follows the warmup, the coolant flow is conducted to separate cooling regions by the control elements (6, 7, 8, 9) taking into consideration the operating states of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Martin Lutz, Carsten Weber, Jan Mehring, Ingo Lenz, Kai Sebastian Kuhlbach, Richard Fritsche
  • Publication number: 20080168956
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cooling strategy for an internal combustion engine (1) which has at least one cylinder head (2) and an associated cylinder block (3). A coolant flows in a coolant circuit (4), with at least one control element (6, 7, 8, 9) being assigned to the coolant circuit (4). During a warmup of the internal combustion engine, in successive phases, the coolant flow is conducted to separate cooling regions by the control elements (6, 7, 8, 9), wherein in an operating mode at operating temperature which follows the warmup, the coolant flow is conducted to separate cooling regions by the control elements (6, 7, 8, 9) taking into consideration the operating states of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: Martin Lutz, Carsten Weber, Jan Mehring, Ingo Lenz, Kai Sebastian Kuhlbach, Richard Fritsche
  • Patent number: 7201118
    Abstract: The invention relates to an internal combustion engine having a piston-cooling arrangement (1) which has at least one spray device (2, 27; 2, 39) which is supplied with a coolant/lubricant via at least one supply passageway (3). The supply passageway (3) is arranged in a module (4) composed of a crankshaft-bearing structural element (6) and a crankshaft-bearing cap (7). The spray device (2, 27; 2, 39) is coupled to the crankshaft-bearing cap (7), a crankshaft-bearing shell (14) in the region of the supply passageway (3). Supply passageway (3) also connect to through-opening (16), so that coolant/lubricant can be directed via the supply passageway (3) to both the spray device (2, 27; 2, 39) and a crankshaft (17). The spray device (2) is designed as an oil-spray nozzle (27) or alternatively as a spray hole (39) integrated in the crankshaft-bearing cap (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ingo Lenz, Dietmar Laufenberg, Carsten Weber, Urban Morawitz
  • Publication number: 20060169224
    Abstract: The invention relates to an internal combustion engine having a piston-cooling arrangement (1) which has at least one spray device (2, 27; 2, 39) which is supplied with a coolant/lubricant via at least one supply passageway (3). The supply passageway (3) is arranged in a module (4) composed of a crankshaft-bearing structural element (6) and a crankshaft-bearing cap (7). The spray device (2, 27; 2, 39) is coupled to the crankshaft-bearing cap (7), a crankshaft-bearing shell (14) in the region of the supply passageway (3). Supply passageway (3) also connect to through-opening (16), so that coolant/lubricant can be directed via the supply passageway (3) to both the spray device (2, 27; 2, 39) and a crankshaft (17). The spray device (2) is designed as an oil-spray nozzle (27) or alternatively as a spray hole (39) integrated in the crankshaft-bearing cap (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2006
    Publication date: August 3, 2006
    Inventors: Ingo Lenz, Dietmar Laufenberg, Carsten Weber, Urban Morawitz
  • Patent number: 6532934
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control process for charge flow management devices as arranged in the intake area of the inlet ports of direct-injection internal combustion engines and port-injection type internal combustion engines having intake ports into which no fuel is injected. The process is characterized by the fact that the charge flow management devices are not closed when the engine operates on overrun. This reduces fouling on the intake valves produced by fuel and lubricant residue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Claus Juergen Glahn, Ingo Lenz, Sigurd Limbach
  • Publication number: 20020152986
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control process for charge flow management devices as arranged in the intake area of the inlet ports of direct-injection internal combustion engines and port-injection type internal combustion engines having intake ports into which no fuel is injected. The process is characterized by the fact that the charge flow management devices are not closed when the engine operates on overrun. This reduces fouling on the intake valves produced by fuel and lubricant residue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2001
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventors: Claus Juergen Glahn, Ingo Lenz, Sigurd Limbach