Patents by Inventor Jan Fiebrandt

Jan Fiebrandt 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: 11787370
    Abstract: A cleaning device for selectively bombarding a surface with a first medium, including an accumulator valve module having a high-pressure accumulator configured to store the first medium at a high-pressure accumulator pressure, an impulse nozzle configured to bombard the surface with the first medium, a changeover valve having a nozzle connector configured to connect to the impulse nozzle and a high-pressure accumulator connector configured to connect to the high-pressure accumulator, wherein the changeover valve is configured to: connect, in a release position, the high-pressure accumulator and the impulse nozzle via the high-pressure accumulator connector and the nozzle connector, interrupt, in a charge position, a flow path from the high-pressure accumulator to the impulse nozzle, and switch between the release position and the charge position. The cleaning device includes a high-pressure accumulator holding valve connecting the high-pressure accumulator to the first medium source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: ZF CV SYSTEMS EUROPE BV
    Inventors: Jan Fiebrandt, Helge Westerkamp
  • Publication number: 20230107319
    Abstract: A cleaning device for a vehicle provides a liquid cleaning pulse and/or a compressed air cleaning pulse for a cleaning nozzle. The cleaning device includes a module compressed air connection for receiving compressed air and a pressure cylinder with a cylinder volume. A movable separator divides the cylinder volume into a compressed air receiving chamber and a cleaning liquid receiving chamber in a fluid tight manner. The air chamber has an air chamber connection which can be supplied with compressed air. Contraction of the liquid chamber occurs when filling the air chamber by moving the separator against a restoring force. A switching valve establishes a pneumatic connection between the module compressed air connection and the air chamber connection. A bypass valve establishes a pneumatic connection between the module compressed air connection and the compressed air nozzle line while bypassing the switching valve for providing a bypass compressed air flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Jan Cohrs, Jan Fiebrandt
  • Publication number: 20230104642
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a sensor cleaning system for a vehicle having: at least one sensor cleaning module, wherein the sensor cleaning module has a valve unit, wherein the valve unit is configured for receiving compressed air via a module compressed air port and for selectively outputting the compressed air cleaning pulse via a cleaning compressed air port. The sensor cleaning module has a module reservoir and a pump mechanism, wherein the module reservoir is configured for receiving and storing the cleaning liquid provided via a module liquid port, and is connected to the pump mechanism for fluid transfer, and the pump mechanism is configured for providing the cleaning liquid in the form of a liquid cleaning pulse at a cleaning fluid port depending on a control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Jan Cohrs, Jan Fiebrandt, Janik Ricke
  • Patent number: 11541849
    Abstract: A cleaning device for selectively bombarding a surface with a media sequence, the sequence including at least a first gaseous medium and a second liquid medium, includes a nozzle configured to bombard the surface with the second medium; a cleaning valve with a holding port, a pressure port, a plunger, and a pressure outlet; and a high-pressure accumulator configured to store the first medium. The first medium is loaded with an accumulator pressure. The cleaning device further includes a changeover valve configured to selectively create a connection between a first medium supply line and a holding line connected to the holding port. The pressure outlet is configured to bombard the surface with the first medium in pulse-like fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: ZF CV SYSTEMS EUROPE BV
    Inventors: Jan Fiebrandt, Helge Westerkamp
  • Publication number: 20220402463
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating a cleaning system for cleaning a sensor surface of a sensor of a vehicle, in particular an optical sensor, having the step: applying an amount of compressed air to the sensor surface in an air cleaning step characterized by: checking an air cleaning result in a checking step; in the event of a negative air cleaning result, performing a hybrid cleaning step including: applying an amount of cleaning fluid to the sensor surface in a fluid, in particular liquid, cleaning step; and/or, applying an amount of compressed air to the sensor surface in a further air cleaning step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: Jan Fiebrandt, Janik Ricke
  • Publication number: 20220332290
    Abstract: A cleaning device for selectively bombarding a surface with a first medium, including an accumulator valve module having a high-pressure accumulator configured to store the first medium at a high-pressure accumulator pressure, an impulse nozzle configured to bombard the surface with the first medium, a changeover valve having a nozzle connector configured to connect to the impulse nozzle and a high-pressure accumulator connector configured to connect to the high-pressure accumulator, wherein the changeover valve is configured to: connect, in a release position, the high-pressure accumulator and the impulse nozzle via the high-pressure accumulator connector and the nozzle connector, interrupt, in a charge position, a flow path from the high-pressure accumulator to the impulse nozzle, and switch between the release position and the charge position. The cleaning device includes a high-pressure accumulator holding valve connecting the high-pressure accumulator to the first medium source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Jan Fiebrandt, Helge Westerkamp
  • Patent number: 11433858
    Abstract: A cleaning device for selectively applying a first medium to a surface includes a high pressure reservoir configured to store the first medium held under a storage pressure, a pulse nozzle configured to apply the first medium under the storage pressure in a pulsed manner to the surface, and a switching valve that includes a nozzle port and a high pressure reservoir port for selectively establishing a first connection between the high pressure reservoir and the pulse nozzle, and a feed port for establishing a second connection between the high pressure reservoir and a first medium source. The high pressure reservoir and the switching valve are structurally integrated in a reservoir valve module. The switching valve comprises a solenoid valve to switch between the first and the second connection when the high pressure reservoir port is under the storage pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: ZF CV SYSTEMS EUROPE BV
    Inventors: Jan Fiebrandt, Helge Westerkamp
  • Publication number: 20220193734
    Abstract: A cleaning device for supplying a medium pulse to a surface includes a pressure cylinder having a pressure connection, a medium connection, and a first nozzle connection. The volume of the pressure cylinder is divided into a first medium chamber and a second medium chamber and volumes thereof are configured to be changed. A switching valve is configured to switch between a first switching state and a second switching state. In the first switching state, the first medium chamber is connected to the first medium source to reduce the volume of the second medium chamber, and in the second switching state, the first medium chamber is connected to the second nozzle connection to increase the volume of the second medium chamber such that the surface can be supplied with the medium pulse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Jan Cohrs, Jan Fiebrandt
  • Publication number: 20220194327
    Abstract: A cleaning device for dispensing a gaseous medium and/or a medium mixture includes a mixing element having a first feed connection in a main medium feed line, a second feed connection in a medium feed branch line, and a dispensing connection configured to dispense the gaseous medium and/or the medium mixture. The cleaning device further includes a pressure chamber on the main medium feed line and a switching valve arranged in the main medium feed line, downstream or and/or at the pressure chamber. The switching valve is configured to prevent passage of the gaseous medium through the mixing element in a first switching state and to allow passage of the gaseous medium in a second switching state. The cleaning device optionally additionally includes a regulating device arranged in the medium feed branch line and configured to regulate a feed of the liquid medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas Dieckmann, Jan Fiebrandt, Gerd Schuenemann, Jan Cohrs
  • Publication number: 20210387596
    Abstract: A cleaning device for selectively bombarding a surface with a media sequence, the sequence including at least a first gaseous medium and a second liquid medium, includes a nozzle configured to bombard the surface with the second medium; a cleaning valve with a holding port, a pressure port, a plunger, and a pressure outlet; and a high-pressure accumulator configured to store the first medium. The first medium is loaded with an accumulator pressure. The cleaning device further includes a changeover valve configured to selectively create a connection between a first medium supply line and a holding line connected to the holding port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Jan Fiebrandt, Helge Westerkamp
  • Publication number: 20210323510
    Abstract: A cleaning device for selectively applying a first medium to a surface includes a high pressure reservoir configured to store the first medium held under a storage pressure, a pulse nozzle configured to apply the first medium under the storage pressure in a pulsed manner to the surface, and a switching valve that includes a nozzle port and a high pressure reservoir port for selectively establishing a first connection between the high pressure reservoir and the pulse nozzle, and a feed port for establishing a second connection between the high pressure reservoir and a first medium source. The high pressure reservoir and the switching valve are structurally integrated in a reservoir valve module. The switching valve comprises a solenoid valve to switch between the first and the second connection when the high pressure reservoir port is under the storage pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Jan Fiebrandt, Helge Westerkamp
  • Patent number: 10888890
    Abstract: A cleaning device for selectively bombarding a surface with a media sequence of at least a first medium and a second medium. The cleaning device includes a nozzle configured to bombard the surface with the second medium and a cleaning valve having a holding port, a pressure port, a plunger, and a pressure outlet. The cleaning device further includes a high-pressure accumulator configured to store the first medium, which is loaded with an accumulator pressure, and a changeover valve configured to selectively create a connection between a first medium supply line and a holding line connected to the holding port. The pressure outlet is configured to bombard the surface with the first medium in pulse-like fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: WABCO GMBH
    Inventors: Jan Fiebrandt, Helge Westerkamp
  • Publication number: 20200282416
    Abstract: A cleaning device for selectively bombarding a surface with a media sequence of at least a first medium and a second medium. The cleaning device includes a nozzle configured to bombard the surface with the second medium and a cleaning valve having a holding port, a pressure port, a plunger, and a pressure outlet. The cleaning device further includes a high-pressure accumulator configured to store the first medium, which is loaded with an accumulator pressure, and a changeover valve configured to selectively create a connection between a first medium supply line and a holding line connected to the holding port. The pressure outlet is configured to bombard the surface with the first medium in pulse-like fashion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Inventors: Jan Fiebrandt, Helge Westerkamp