Patents by Inventor Klaus SZOUCSEK

Klaus SZOUCSEK 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: 20240149663
    Abstract: The technology disclosed by the invention relates to a pressure vessel system for a motor vehicle for storing fuel, comprising a plurality of pressure vessels (100) that are combined to a pressure vessel assembly (10), the pressure vessels (100), when mounted, being arranged substantially in parallel relative to each other, and the pressure vessels (100) being fluidically interconnected via a common fuel line (200).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: Oemer AHMET-TSAOUS, Peter BARTL, Olivier COUSIGNE, Christopher DETMAR, Timo GUTMANN, Eric HENDEL, Joerg HENNECKE, Klaas KUNZE, Lydia MORAL GRACI, Andreas PELGER, Klaus SZOUCSEK, Alexander ZOTTER
  • Publication number: 20240068621
    Abstract: A method is provided for refueling a motor vehicle. The method include the steps of: acquiring at least one signal, wherein the signal contains information as to whether the motor vehicle has at least one device for preventing follow-up refueling; and providing fuel in accordance with the acquired signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventor: Klaus SZOUCSEK
  • Publication number: 20230332750
    Abstract: A pressure vessel for storing may have a connection piece for forming a fluid connection between the fuel storage volume V of the pressure vessel and an energy converter of a motor vehicle. At least part of the connection piece may extend out of the pressure vessel. An outer surface of the connection piece may have a sealing face and a curved fastening face. The sealing face may be designed to seal off the fluid connection between the pressure vessel and a fuel-conducting section of the motor vehicle. The fastening face may be provided for fastening the pressure vessel to at least one body attachment element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Peter BARTL, Timo GUTMANN, Klaus SZOUCSEK
  • Publication number: 20230184388
    Abstract: A control unit is provided for a pressure vessel system having at least one pressure vessel with a pressure vessel valve designed to convey fuel from the pressure vessel into a discharge line in order to supply an energy converter. The control unit is configured to determine that a reduced-power operating mode of the energy converter is present, wherein, in the reduced-power operating mode, the fuel mass flow for supplying the energy converter is less than or equal to a predefined mass flow threshold value. The control unit is further configured to cause the pressure vessel valve to be intermittently opened during the execution of the reduced-power operating mode, in order to convey in each case a surge of fuel from the pressure vessel into the discharge line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventor: Klaus SZOUCSEK
  • Publication number: 20230053395
    Abstract: A pressure vessel arrangement includes a plurality of pressure vessels configured to store fuel, and a valve arrangement with at least one valve and a plurality of tank connectors. In the pressure vessel arrangement each pressure vessel of the plurality of pressure vessels is connected to one of the tank connectors. Further, in the pressure vessel arrangement the valve arrangement connects the tank connectors directly to one another and to the at least one valve, such that a fluid exchange which is not impaired at any time by way of a valve is brought about between the individual pressure vessels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Lydia Moral GRACI, Klaus SZOUCSEK
  • Publication number: 20230026657
    Abstract: A pressure vessel system has a pressure vessel for storing gaseous fuel, a fuel line, and a total-pressure sensor for measuring a total pressure of the fuel at a position within the fuel line. This makes it possible for various functions, such as the control of power reduction, for example, to be performed more accurately than if only static pressure were being used. The technology disclosed here also relates to an energy supply arrangement having such a pressure vessel system and having an energy converter, such as a fuel cell, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Klaas KUNZE, Klaus SZOUCSEK
  • Patent number: 11541747
    Abstract: A motor vehicle with a pressure vessel system includes at least a first pressure vessel arranged in a first region of the motor vehicle and at least one second pressure vessel arranged in a second region of the motor vehicle having a lower intrusion probability than the first region. Fuel is preferentially removed first primarily from the at least one first pressure vessel. When the lower limit of fuel level or fuel temperature is reached in the at least one first pressure vessel, fuel is removed from the at least one second pressure vessel. If the fuel supply rate from the at least one first pressure vessel is lower than an overall fuel supply rate for an energy converter, fuel is removed from the at least one second pressure vessel to meet the overall fuel supply rate needed by the energy converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Lorenz Ehgartner, Andreas Pelger, Klaus Szoucsek
  • Publication number: 20220381403
    Abstract: A pressure vessel, in particular a cryogenic pressure vessel, has an inner vessel, an outer vessel and a chamber that can be evacuated at least partly. A motor vehicle includes such a pressure vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Lorenz EHGARTNER, Simon HETTENKOFER, Klaus SZOUCSEK
  • Patent number: 11376950
    Abstract: A method grants an enablement of refueling of a motor vehicle. The method includes the steps: i) detecting a tank temperature value which is indicative of the present temperature of at least one pressure vessel of the motor vehicle and/or of the fuel stored in the at least one pressure vessel; ii) determining a temperature difference value which is indicative of the present difference between the tank temperature value and an ambient temperature value which is indicative of the ambient temperature; and iii) releasing a tank flap, wherein the tank flap is released by the motor vehicle for the purposes of refueling only if the temperature difference value is lower than a temperature difference threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Klaus Szoucsek
  • Patent number: 11181236
    Abstract: In one aspect the present disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing a cryogenic pressure vessel. The method may include providing a metal lined, composite wrapped vessel which has a boss. The method may further include securing an inlet to the boss, and then encapsulating the metal lined, composite wrapped vessel within a metallic layer in a vacuum controlled environment to form an encapsulated inner tank subassembly. The method may further include securing at least one support to an exterior of the encapsulated inner tank subassembly, and within the controlled vacuum environment, applying a metal coating over the encapsulated inner tank subassembly and the at least one support to form a metal coated, encapsulated inner tank subassembly. The method may further include, within the controlled vacuum environment, encapsulating the metal coated, encapsulated inner tank subassembly within a metallic vacuum jacket, which forms the cryogenic pressure vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignees: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Salvador Aceves, John Elmer, Francisco Espinosa-Loza, Guillaume Petitpas, James Smith, Michael Veenstra, Klaus Szoucsek
  • Patent number: 11168841
    Abstract: A service device for a pressure vessel system of a motor vehicle includes a service-device-side refueling coupling part which is connectable to a motor-vehicle-side refueling coupling part of the motor vehicle and a controller for activating the pressure vessel system. A method for the service of the pressure vessel system includes producing a connection between the service device and the pressure vessel system and activating the pressure vessel system by the service device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Klaus Szoucsek, Andreas Pelger
  • Patent number: 11124060
    Abstract: A pressure vessel stores fuel. The pressure vessel includes a liner, a fiber-reinforced layer, at least one end piece, and at least one outlet. The fiber-reinforced layer surrounds the liner, at least in some regions. The end piece is covered by the fiber-reinforced layer, at least in some regions. The at least one outlet is used to carry fuel that has collected in a boundary layer between the liner and the fiber-reinforced layer and is to be drained. The outlet surrounds the end piece, at least in some sections. The outlet is arranged and formed in such a way that the fuel to be drained escapes from the boundary layer into the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Pelger, Hans-Ulrich Stahl, Klaus Szoucsek
  • Publication number: 20210268896
    Abstract: A motor vehicle with a pressure vessel system includes at least a first pressure vessel arranged in a first region of the motor vehicle and at least one second pressure vessel arranged in a second region of the motor vehicle having a lower intrusion probability than the first region. Fuel is preferentially removed first primarily from the at least one first pressure vessel. When the lower limit of fuel level or fuel temperature is reached in the at least one first pressure vessel, fuel is removed from the at least one second pressure vessel. If the fuel supply rate from the at least one first pressure vessel is lower than an overall fuel supply rate for an energy converter, fuel is removed from the at least one second pressure vessel to meet the overall fuel supply rate needed by the energy converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Lorenz EHGARTNER, Andreas PELGER, Klaus SZOUCSEK
  • Patent number: 11105466
    Abstract: A method for adjusting temperature and/or pressure of fuel in a pressured container system of a vehicle to a respective temperature setpoint and/or a respective pressure setpoint before a process of filling the pressurized containers includes extracting fuel from a first pressurized container having a first temperature and a first pressure, to bring the first temperature and/or the first pressure of the fuel closer to the temperature setpoint and/or to the pressure setpoint of the first pressurized container. The method also includes supplying the extracted fuel to either a fuel conversion device to power the vehicle or into a second pressurized container, where fuel in the second pressurized container has a second temperature and a second pressure, to bring the second temperature and/or the second pressure of the fuel closer to the temperature setpoint and/or to the pressure setpoint of the second pressurized container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Simon Hettenkofer, Andreas Pelger, Stefan Schott, Andreas Schaefer, Klaus Szoucsek
  • Publication number: 20200391587
    Abstract: A method grants an enablement of refueling of a motor vehicle. The method includes the steps: i) detecting a tank temperature value which is indicative of the present temperature of at least one pressure vessel of the motor vehicle and/or of the fuel stored in the at least one pressure vessel; ii) determining a temperature difference value which is indicative of the present difference between the tank temperature value and an ambient temperature value which is indicative of the ambient temperature; and iii) releasing a tank flap, wherein the tank flap is released by the motor vehicle for the purposes of refueling only if the temperature difference value is lower than a temperature difference threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventor: Klaus SZOUCSEK
  • Publication number: 20200385068
    Abstract: A hydrogen discharge device for a motor vehicle has at least one outlet for hydrogen. The hydrogen discharge device is arranged below the vehicle hood such that when the vehicle hood is closed, the outlet cannot be accessed and when the vehicle hood is open, the outlet can be accessed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventor: Klaus SZOUCSEK
  • Patent number: 10744872
    Abstract: A two-track multi-axle motor vehicle including at least two fuel tanks in which a fuel for producing driving energy for a vehicle drive unit can be stored under high pressure of the order of magnitude of 300 bar and more is provide. Each tank includes a safety valve device having a temperature-sensitive element monitoring only a partial region of the tank surface. The safety valve device allows at least a partial quantity of the stored fuel to escape from the respective tank at a higher temperature, which can occur, for example, in the case of a fire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Pelger, Klaus Szoucsek
  • Patent number: 10746109
    Abstract: A monitoring apparatus is provided for a pressure tank, in particular in a motor vehicle. The monitoring apparatus is designed to determine current operating parameters of the pressure tank and, on the basis of the operating parameters, to calculate and preferably to display a maximum possible filling level for the pressure tank under the current operating parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Simon Hettenkofer, Klaus Szoucsek
  • Publication number: 20200200326
    Abstract: In one aspect the present disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing a cryogenic pressure vessel. The method may include providing a metal lined, composite wrapped vessel which has a boss. The method may further include securing an inlet to the boss, and then encapsulating the metal lined, composite wrapped vessel within a metallic layer in a vacuum controlled environment to form an encapsulated inner tank subassembly. The method may further include securing at least one support to an exterior of the encapsulated inner tank subassembly, and within the controlled vacuum environment, applying a metal coating over the encapsulated inner tank subassembly and the at least one support to form a metal coated, encapsulated inner tank subassembly. The method may further include, within the controlled vacuum environment, encapsulating the metal coated, encapsulated inner tank subassembly within a metallic vacuum jacket, which forms the cryogenic pressure vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicants: LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC, FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Salvador ACEVES, John ELMER, Francisco ESPINOSA-LOZA, Guillaume PETITPAS, James SMITH, Michael VEENSTRA, Klaus SZOUCSEK
  • Patent number: 10473267
    Abstract: A method is provided for filling a fuel storage system of a motor vehicle with fuel at a relatively high pressure. The fuel storage system has a main tank, which can be filled by way of a main filling line until a limit pressure has been reached, and an auxiliary storage device. If the filling line is connected to a supply station, which provides fuel at a pressure exceeding the tank limit pressure, a tank shut-off valve provided in the filling line will be closed in time before the limit pressure is reached in the main tank and an auxiliary tanking valve is opened in an auxiliary storage device filling line branching off from the main filling line upstream of the tank shut-off valve and leading to the auxiliary storage device. The auxiliary storage device is configured to receive fuel at a higher pressure than the above-mentioned tank limit pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Pelger, Klaus Szoucsek, Klaas Kunze