Patents by Inventor Michael Hitzel

Michael Hitzel 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: 20250100523
    Abstract: A a hydraulic brake system comprises a hydraulic pump for conveying brake fluid from a suction side to a pressure side, at least one electrically controlled hydraulic valve, and a brake fluid reservoir, which is connected to the suction side of the pump, and at least one control unit for controlling the hydraulic pump and the at least one hydraulic valve. In order to improve the availability at low temperatures, the control unit is configured, when a limit temperature is undershot and/or a limit viscosity is exceeded, to heat the brake fluid reservoir by means of the at least one electrically controlled hydraulic valve by actuating it with an electric current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2023
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Neu Neu, Michael Hitzel, Christian Courth, Harald Biller, Sebastian Mihm
  • Publication number: 20250042380
    Abstract: An electrohydraulic brake control device (200) for a motor vehicle for at least four hydraulically actuatable wheel brakes (8a-8d), said brake control device comprising an electrically actuatable pressure source (2), an electrically actuatable inlet valve (6a-6d) for each wheel brake, an electrically actuatable outlet valve (7a-7d) for each wheel brake, and a brake supply line (13), to which the at least four inlet valves (6a-6d) are connected, wherein an electrically actuatable circuit separation valve (40) is arranged in the brake supply line (13) in such a way that, when the circuit separation valve (40) is closed, the brake supply line (13) is hydraulically separated into a first line section (13a) and a second line section (13b), wherein the brake control device (200) comprises at least four hydraulic wheel ports (9a-9d) for connection to the wheel brakes (8a-8d), wherein the brake control device (200) comprises a first hydraulic port (62) for connection to a pressure medium reservoir (4) and a second hy
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2022
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Courth, Harald Biller, Michael Hitzel
  • Publication number: 20250042381
    Abstract: A brake system for a motor vehicle includes a first electrically actuatable pressure source, a first control device, a second electrically actuatable pressure source, an electrically actuatable inlet valve for each wheel brake, an electrically actuatable outlet valve for each wheel brake, a second control device, and a pressure medium reservoir. The first and second pressure sources are connected to a brake supply line to which the inlet valves are connected. An electrically actuatable circuit separation valve is arranged in the brake supply line such that when the circuit separation valve is closed, the brake supply line is separated into a first line section and a second line section. The first line section is connected to the second pressure source and at least two inlet valves, and the second line section is connected to the first pressure source and the other inlet valves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2022
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Courth, Harald Biller, Michael Hitzel
  • Patent number: 10953858
    Abstract: A method for operating a brake system, wherein two switching valves arranged on the suction side of pumps are opened and closed in an alternating manner in order to reduce current consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Hitzel, Ulfilas Hoffmann, Tobias Scheller, Daniel Kosshof, Ansgar Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 10913437
    Abstract: A method for operating a dual-circuit hydraulic brake system of a vehicle having an ABS function to feed back pressure medium from low-pressure reservoirs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Inventors: Andreas Neu, Michael Hitzel, Michael Jung, Tobias Scheller
  • Patent number: 10875514
    Abstract: A method for operating a dual-circuit hydraulic brake system of a vehicle having an ABS function to feed back pressure medium from low-pressure reservoirs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Inventors: Andreas Neu, Michael Hitzel, Michael Jung, Tobias Scheller
  • Publication number: 20190283723
    Abstract: A method for operating a brake system, wherein two switching valves arranged on the suction side of pumps are opened and closed in an alternating manner in order to reduce current consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Hitzel, Ulfilas Hoffmann, Tobias Scheller, Daniel Kosshof, Ansgar Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20190248352
    Abstract: A method for operating a dual-circuit hydraulic brake system of a vehicle having an ABS function to feed back pressure medium from low-pressure reservoirs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Andreas Neu, Michael Hitzel, Michael Jung, Tobias Scheller
  • Patent number: 9205819
    Abstract: An electronic control device for a pressure controller, by way of which solenoid valves for pressure control are actuated with current via an actuating electronic system, and having a pump assembly is actuated as a function of a pressure request, which generates a volumetric flow with a periodically fluctuating amplitude. The wheel brake circuit isolating valve, during an active pressure build-up, discharging part of the delivery volume into a reservoir volume, at least in the case of a control operation which performs an intervention for driving stability which is not critical to safety, if the pressure which is built up by the assembly is higher than the pressure which is to be set, the electric coil current for the actuation of the isolating valve is modulated and the periodic actuation being interrupted at least when the control device has to carry out an intervention for driving stability which is critical to safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. OHG
    Inventors: Robert Schmidt, Joachim Bohn, Michael Hitzel
  • Patent number: 8840196
    Abstract: A brake system for a motor vehicle which simplifies the hydraulic design and avoids a vacuum prevailing over a relatively long period of time. The first hydraulic unit has a suction volume, which is connected to the suction side of the pump and which, in the event of a change in the pressure on the suction side of the pump, provides a pressure and volume equalization by means of the brake fluid stored in the suction volume, with an elastic element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Michael Hitzel, Michael Jung, Bernhard Hauke, Ronald Kley, Stefan A. Schmitt
  • Patent number: 8573712
    Abstract: An electronically controllable brake system includes an electronic controller installed within the motor vehicle for actuating electrohydraulic components of the brake system and for operating the electrohydraulic components during the process of filled with hydraulic fluid and for removing air from hydraulic components of the brake system. A filling sequence is performed according to a predetermined filling profile that utilizes on-board sensors that detect brake system pressure and identify a defined pressure in conformity with a desired filling profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Teces AG & Co., oHG
    Inventors: Martin Bächle, Axel Wagner, Michael Hitzel, Thorsten Ullrich, Jens Lerchenberger
  • Publication number: 20130026818
    Abstract: An electronic control device for a pressure controller, by way of which solenoid valves for pressure control are actuated with current via an actuating electronic system, and having a pump assembly is actuated as a function of a pressure request, which generates a volumetric flow with a periodically fluctuating amplitude. The wheel brake circuit isolating valve, during an active pressure build-up, discharging part of the delivery volume into a reservoir volume, at least in the case of a control operation which performs an intervention for driving stability which is not critical to safety, if the pressure which is built up by the assembly is higher than the pressure which is to be set, the electric coil current for the actuation of the isolating valve is modulated and the periodic actuation being interrupted at least when the control device has to carry out an intervention for driving stability which is critical to safety.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. OAG
    Inventors: Robert Schmidt, Joachim Bohn, Michael Hitzel
  • Patent number: 8215464
    Abstract: A hydraulic unit for a motor vehicle brake system operating on the recirculation principle, in which each brake circuit has in the region of the hydraulic unit a prefilling location which opens into the pump suction conduit between the pressure-retaining valve and the change-over valve for the purpose of receiving brake fluid. The hydraulic unit can thereby be prefilled with lower complexity and cost in terms of time and processes prior to installation in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Contential Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Axel Wagner, Martin Baechle, Michael Hitzel
  • Publication number: 20100213757
    Abstract: A hydraulic unit for a motor vehicle brake system operating on the recirculation principle, in which each brake circuit has in the region of the hydraulic unit a prefilling location which opens into the pump suction conduit between the pressure-retaining valve and the change-over valve for the purpose of receiving brake fluid. The hydraulic unit can thereby be prefilled with lower complexity and cost in terms of time and processes prior to installation in the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Axel Wagner, Martin Baechle, Michael Hitzel
  • Publication number: 20100206673
    Abstract: A brake system for a motor vehicle which simplifies the hydraulic design and avoids a vacuum prevailing over a relatively long period of time. The first hydraulic unit has a suction volume, which is connected to the suction side of the pump and which, in the event of a change in the pressure on the suction side of the pump, provides a pressure and volume equalization by means of the brake fluid stored in the suction volume, with an elastic element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventors: Michael Hitzel, Michael Jung, Bernhard Hauke, Ronald Kley, Stefan A. Schmitt
  • Patent number: 7461906
    Abstract: The invention solves the problem of supplying fresh fluid, in particular in electrohydraulic brake systems, to all areas of the conduit systems that are not reached in a conventional brake fluid change. Therefore, the invention provides that a change of the pressure fluid be assisted by a hydraulic pump, during which change among others pressure fluid is delivered by means of the pump out of the pressure fluid reservoir through the inlet valves and out of the system through opened wheel bleeder connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Continental Teves Ag & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Martin Baechle, Axel Wagner, Michael Hitzel
  • Patent number: 7374253
    Abstract: The invention discloses a method for determining the air content of the brake fluid in a hydraulic braking system. This method also permits determining the quality of the bleeding of the braking system. The principle of the method is a comparison of the volume intake with the respectively achieved pressure. The correlation is compared to nominal values. As the volume intake is determined by the clearance, the system is set by means of a pre-actuation to an initial condition before each actual measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Gunther Buschmann, Martin Baechle, Axel Wagner, Michael Hitzel
  • Patent number: 7204565
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrohydraulic assembly for an electronically controlled brake system with an accommodating member which includes accommodating bores for electrohydraulic valves, accommodating bores for hydraulic supply devices and an accommodating bore for at least one roller bearing, and with hydraulic channels and pressure fluid ports, as well as with an electric motor comprising a rotor with a shaft that is mounted with the roller bearing in the associated accommodating bore in the accommodating member and used to drive the supply devices, and with an electronic control unit being connected to the electric motor by means of a plug penetrating a through-bore in the accommodating member. The objective is to provide a safe and comfortable operating characteristics even in consideration of extreme environmental influences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Axel Hinz, Stefan A. Schmitt, Martin Baechle, Uwe Greiff, Ronald Kley, Michael Hitzel
  • Publication number: 20060192426
    Abstract: The problem underlying the invention resides in that in particular in electrohydraulic brake systems certain areas in the conduit system are not reached during conventional bleeding. This especially occurs if, during repair work carried out on the system, the intake conduit of the pump of the system is detached. Accordingly, in the practice of the invention, a pump-operated bleeding is provided wherein, among other things, pressure fluid from the pressure fluid reservoir, with the outlet valves opened, is returned, by means of the outlet valves, by the pump to the reservoir. To that effect, the pump and the outlet valves, respectively, can be actuated in clockwise manner, thereby producing pressure pulses capable to remove adhering air bubbles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2003
    Publication date: August 31, 2006
    Inventors: Martin Baechle, Axel Wagner, Michael Hitzel
  • Publication number: 20060152072
    Abstract: The invention solves the problem of supplying fresh fluid, in particular in electrohydraulic brake systems, to all areas of the conduit systems that are not reached in a conventional brake fluid change. Therefore, the invention provides that a change of the pressure fluid be assisted by a hydraulic pump, during which change among others pressure fluid is delivered by means of the pump out of the pressure fluid reservoir through the inlet valves and out of the system through opened wheel bleeder connections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Publication date: July 13, 2006
    Inventors: Martin Baechle, Axel Wagner, Michael Hitzel