Patents by Inventor Jens Pache

Jens Pache 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: 8584654
    Abstract: A method for controlling a tank ventilation device (102) for a motor vehicle (100) is proposed in which first of all a tank vent valve (28) of the tank ventilation device (102) is closed. Then, the value of a control signal for the tank vent valve (28) is increased in the sense of an opening of the tank vent valve (28) until a leak detection means (23, 31) associated with the tank ventilation device (102) recognizes a leak in the tank ventilation device (102). The value of the control signal at which the leak in the tank ventilation device (102) is recognized is identified as the opening control value for opening the tank vent valve (28). In this way, the opening control value for the tank vent valve (28) can be determined with a high frequency and precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Stephane Closet, Wolfgang Mai, Jens Pache
  • Patent number: 8347864
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine (1) has a fuel tank (18) and a fuel vapor reservoir (25). According to the method during the tank vent period—before opening the tank vent valve (28) a reference value is updated if a condition is met, and otherwise the existing reference value is maintained, —before opening the tank vent valve (28) an opening period is determined as a function of at least one variable, —the tank vent valve (28) is controlled such that the flow achieves the target flow value by the end of the opening period that was determined, —the load level of the fuel vapor reservoir (25) is computed based on the reference value, —a fuel amount is computed based on the load level, —and the fuel amount to be metered by the injection valve (22) is corrected based on the computer fuel amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Mai, Jens Pache
  • Patent number: 8108121
    Abstract: In a method for correcting the fuel concentration in a regeneration gas flow of a tank venting device, the fuel concentration is determined, and a defined regeneration gas flow rate is set and supplied to the engine to use the regeneration gas in the combustion process. Then, a reference composition is determined and the flow rate is varied. Then, a first injection amount correction value is determined based on the fuel concentration and the flow rate adjustment amount. A pre-specified quantity of fuel is corrected by the first correction value and the exhaust gas composition is determined again after the corrected fuel quantity has been supplied. A second correction value is determined by which the corrected fuel quantity is further corrected to set the exhaust gas composition to the reference composition. The fuel concentration of the regeneration gas flow is corrected by the first and the second correction values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Mai, Jens Pache
  • Patent number: 8082905
    Abstract: A tank venting device for a motor vehicle has a fuel tank, a fuel vapor accumulator for storing fuel vapors escaping from the fuel tank and a connection line, via which the fuel vapors may flow from the fuel tank into the fuel vapor accumulator. Furthermore, an overpressure line having an overpressure valve is provided, via which the fuel vapors may flow from the fuel tank into the fuel vapor accumulator when the overpressure valve is open. An attachment of the connection line on the fuel vapor accumulator and an attachment of the overpressure line on the fuel vapor accumulator are situated at different points on the fuel vapor accumulator. The operational reliability of a tank venting procedure may thus be increased and the adsorption capacity of the fuel vapor accumulator may be used better.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Mai, Jens Pache
  • Patent number: 8041496
    Abstract: The tank venting device has a fuel vapor reservoir connected to a fuel tank to deliver escaping fuel vapors to the fuel vapor reservoir, and is connected to the internal combustion engine in such a manner that during a tank venting operation the fuel vapors contained in the fuel vapor reservoir are delivered as regeneration gas. To check the operability of the venting device the fuel concentration in the regeneration gas is ascertained at a minimum of two different points in time during the venting operation. The fuel concentration values in the regeneration gas are compared with respective reference values representing the regeneration gas fuel concentration in the situation in which no additional fuel vapors are delivered during the venting operation. The assessment of the venting device operability is carried out by comparison of the values ascertained for the fuel concentration in the regeneration gas with the reference values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Eser, Wolfgang Mai, Jens Pache
  • Patent number: 7996141
    Abstract: In a method for operating an internal combustion engine with a crankcase breather venting into an intake tract, operating parameters of the internal combustion engine are measured 102. A mass flow of fuel from the crankcase into the intake tract is determined as a function of the operating parameters measured 103. The internal combustion engine is controlled 111 or monitored 108 as a function of the mass flow of fuel from the crankcase into the intake tract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Pache, Gerd Rösel
  • Publication number: 20110139261
    Abstract: A method for controlling a tank ventilation device (102) for a motor vehicle (100) is proposed in which first of all a tank vent valve (28) of the tank ventilation device (102) is closed. Then, the value of a control signal for the tank vent valve (28) is increased in the sense of an opening of the tank vent valve (28) until a leak detection means (23, 31) associated with the tank ventilation device (102) recognizes a leak in the tank ventilation device (102). The value of the control signal at which the leak in the tank ventilation device (102) is recognized is identified as the opening control value for opening the tank vent valve (28). In this way, the opening control value for the tank vent valve (28) can be determined with a high frequency and precision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Stephane Closet, Wolfgang Mai, Jens Pache
  • Patent number: 7918213
    Abstract: In a control method for an internal combustion engine (1) which has a fuel tank (18), a fuel vapor storage device (25) for storing the escaping fuel vapors and a controllable valve (28) for adjusting the stream of fuel vapors fed to the intake tract (4) during a period of tank ventilation, the valve (28) is controlled in such a way according to the method that the stream of fuel vapors varies during the tank ventilation period. The regeneration of the fuel vapor storage device is intended to be improved thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Althof, Stefan Fuehling, Wolfgang Mai, Knut Meyer, Jens Pache, Matthias Wiese
  • Publication number: 20110067676
    Abstract: In a method for controlling a tank vent valve (28) of a tank vent device (102) for an internal combustion engine (101) of a motor vehicle (100), the tank vent valve (28) is disposed in a vent line (27) between a fuel vapor reservoir (25) and an intake manifold (4) of the internal combustion engine (101). According to the method, the internal combustion engine (101) is switched off, and the tank vent valve (28) is opened when the internal combustion engine (101) has been switched off, if a signal is sensed according to which a start of the internal combustion engine (101) is expected to be imminent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventors: Wolfgang Mai, Jens Pache
  • Patent number: 7823569
    Abstract: According to a method for controlling an internal combustion engine by which the tank ventilation operation and an adjustment of the basic mixture can be carried out simultaneously, the engine is operated with an open tank ventilation valve. A first fuel amount correction value is determined for correction of a basic pilot control value for the amount of injected fuel. The regeneration gas volume flow rate is subsequently varied by a predefined change amount. A second fuel amount correction value is determined for correction of the basic pilot control value. Based on the first and second correction values and the flow rate change amount, a third fuel amount correction value is calculated by which the basic pilot control value would have to be corrected to again regulate the exhaust gas composition with a closed tank ventilation valve. Based on the third correction value the basic pilot control value is corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Mai, Jens Pache
  • Publication number: 20100031932
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine (1) has a fuel tank (18) and a fuel vapor reservoir (25). According to the method during the tank vent period—before opening the tank vent valve (28) a reference value is updated if a condition is met, and otherwise the existing reference value is maintained,—before opening the tank vent valve (28) an opening period is determined as a function of at least one variable,—the tank vent valve (28) is controlled such that the flow achieves the target flow value by the end of the opening period that was determined,—the load level of the fuel vapor reservoir (25) is computed based on the reference value,—a fuel amount is computed based on the load level,—and the fuel amount to be metered by the injection valve (22) is corrected based on the computer fuel amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventors: Wolfgang Mai, Jens Pache
  • Publication number: 20090204309
    Abstract: The tank venting device has a fuel vapor reservoir connected to a fuel tank to deliver escaping fuel vapors to the fuel vapor reservoir, and is connected to the internal combustion engine in such a manner that during a tank venting operation the fuel vapors contained in the fuel vapor reservoir are delivered as regeneration gas. To check the operability of the venting device the fuel concentration in the regeneration gas is ascertained at a minimum of two different points in time during the venting operation. The fuel concentration values in the regeneration gas are compared with respective reference values representing the regeneration gas fuel concentration in the situation in which no additional fuel vapors are delivered during the venting operation. The assessment of the venting device operability is carried out by comparison of the values ascertained for the fuel concentration in the regeneration gas with the reference values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventors: Gerhard Eser, Wolfgang Mai, Jens Pache
  • Publication number: 20090139989
    Abstract: A tank venting device for a motor vehicle has a fuel tank, a fuel vapor accumulator for storing fuel vapors escaping from the fuel tank and a connection line, via which the fuel vapors may flow from the fuel tank into the fuel vapor accumulator. Furthermore, an overpressure line having an overpressure valve is provided, via which the fuel vapors may flow from the fuel tank into the fuel vapor accumulator when the overpressure valve is open. An attachment of the connection line on the fuel vapor accumulator and an attachment of the overpressure line on the fuel vapor accumulator are situated at different points on the fuel vapor accumulator. The operational reliability of a tank venting procedure may thus be increased and the adsorption capacity of the fuel vapor accumulator may be used better.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventors: Wolfgang Mai, Jens Pache
  • Publication number: 20090084084
    Abstract: In a method for correcting the fuel concentration in a regeneration gas flow of a tank venting device, the fuel concentration is determined, and a defined regeneration gas flow rate is set and supplied to the engine to use the regeneration gas in the combustion process. Then, a reference composition is determined and the flow rate is varied. Then, a first injection amount correction value is determined based on the fuel concentration and the flow rate adjustment amount. A pre-specified quantity of fuel is corrected by the first correction value and the exhaust gas composition is determined again after the corrected fuel quantity has been supplied. A second correction value is determined by which the corrected fuel quantity is further corrected to set the exhaust gas composition to the reference composition. The fuel concentration of the regeneration gas flow is corrected by the first and the second correction values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Wolfgang Mai, Jens Pache
  • Publication number: 20090088953
    Abstract: According to a method for controlling an internal combustion engine by which the tank ventilation operation and an adjustment of the basic mixture can be carried out simultaneously, the engine is operated with an open tank ventilation valve. A first fuel amount correction value is determined for correction of a basic pilot control value for the amount of injected fuel. The regeneration gas volume flow rate is subsequently varied by a predefined change amount. A second fuel amount correction value is determined for correction of the basic pilot control value. Based on the first and second correction values and the flow rate change amount, a third fuel amount correction value is calculated by which the basic pilot control value would have to be corrected to again regulate the exhaust gas composition with a closed tank ventilation valve. Based on the third correction value the basic pilot control value is corrected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Wolfgang Mai, Jens Pache
  • Publication number: 20090088949
    Abstract: In a method for operating an internal combustion engine with a crankcase breather venting into an intake tract, operating parameters of the internal combustion engine are measured 102. A mass flow of fuel from the crankcase into the intake tract is determined as a function of the operating parameters measured 103. The internal combustion engine is controlled 111 or monitored 108 as a function of the mass flow of fuel from the crankcase into the intake tract.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Jens Pache, Gerd Rosel
  • Patent number: 7469687
    Abstract: To operate an internal combustion engine subvolumes of the fluid flowing into an intake duct in each instance during a predetermined time period are determined for each period. Tank purging values of a characteristic quantity are determined for each period. The characteristic quantity is representative of a tank purging fuel mass, which flowed through the tank purging valve in each instance during the predetermined time period. The successive subvolumes are added together, starting from the currently determined subvolume, to give a total subvolume, until the total subvolume is greater than or equal to an effective intake duct volume downstream of the tank purging valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Mai, Jens Pache, Markus Roth, Gerd Rösel
  • Patent number: 7441550
    Abstract: For the purposes of a determination of a fuel vapor loading level of a fuel vapor retention system of a combustion engine, an opening level of a valve of the fuel vapor retention system is increased in steps or continuously during a determination phase. Furthermore, the valve is activated at most a predefined first period prior to a start of the determination phase by a conditioning pulse at least whenever the valve was closed previously for a second period that is longer than a predefined threshold value. The conditioning pulse is generated in such a way that the valve definitely opens at most for a predefined opening period and then closes again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ludwig, Wolfgang Mai, Jens Pache
  • Publication number: 20080236551
    Abstract: In a control method for an internal combustion engine (1) which has a fuel tank (18), a fuel vapor storage device (25) for storing the escaping fuel vapors and a controllable valve (28) for adjusting the stream of fuel vapors fed to the intake tract (4) during a period of tank ventilation, the valve (28) is controlled in such a way according to the method that the stream of fuel vapors varies during the tank ventilation period. The regeneration of the fuel vapor storage device is intended to be improved thereby.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Andreas Althof, Stefan Fuehling, Wolfgang Mai, Knut Meyer, Jens Pache, Matthias Wiese
  • Patent number: 7404394
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has an intake duct, which opens into at least one inlet of at least one cylinder. It also has a tank purging valve, which is configured to control the initiation of a tank purging flow into the intake duct at an inlet point upstream of the respective inlet of the respective cylinder. A main path is configured in the intake duct and a recirculation path is configured there with a recirculation control element, a recirculation inlet from the main path into the recirculation path and a recirculation outlet from the recirculation path into the main path. The recirculation outlet is disposed in the main path upstream in relation to the recirculation inlet. A cylinder tank purging fuel mass is determined as a function of an opening angle of the tank purging valve and an opening angle of the recirculation control element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Mai, Jens Pache, Matthias Wiese