Patents by Inventor Michael Tobergte

Michael Tobergte 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: 9951664
    Abstract: A method for operation of a lubrication circuit in an internal combustion engine is provided herein. The method comprises during a first operating condition, operating an oil agitation device to increase the turbulence of oil in the lubrication circuit, the oil agitation device positioned downstream of an oil pump in a supply line in fluidic communication with a lubricant receiving component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bert Pingen, Hans Guenter Quix, Michael Tobergte, Kay Hohenboeken, Jan Mehring
  • Patent number: 9784172
    Abstract: A selector guide valve in cooling system of an internal combustion engine is provided. The selector guide valve includes a first control drum independently rotatable and including an inlet receiving engine coolant from a pump and a plurality of coolant openings extending through the first control drum and a second control drum independently rotatable, circumferentially surrounding the first control drum, and including a plurality of coolant openings extending through the second control drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Tobergte, Bernd Steiner, Kay Hohenboeken, Bert Pingen, Stefan Quiring, Jan Mehring
  • Patent number: 9556804
    Abstract: A method for partial cylinder cutoff is provided. The method comprises operating a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine with applied ignition, in which an odd number n of cylinders is arranged in line, and during partial-load operation when engine load is below threshold, enabling a partial cutoff of the cylinders, the partial cutoff comprising operating each cylinder only intermittently such that each cylinder is fired and cut off in turn at an interval of (2*720° CA)/n.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Tobergte, Carsten Weber, Kay Hohenboeken, Helmut Hans Ruhland, Bert Pingen
  • Patent number: 9222398
    Abstract: A cooling system for an engine is provided. In one embodiment, an internal combustion engine comprises a cabin heat exchanger circuit including a connecting line opening on an inlet side into a cylinder block coolant jacket, a main coolant pump arranged in the cabin heat exchanger circuit, an auxiliary coolant pump arranged in the connecting line, and a check valve. In this way, additional cooling and/or heating may be provided to the engine and associated components by the auxiliary coolant pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jan Mehring, Kai Sebastian Kuhlbach, Bernd Steiner, Michael Tobergte, Hans Guenter Quix
  • Patent number: 9194279
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a control valve for a medium circuit of an internal combustion engine, in particular to a thermostat of a coolant circuit of the internal combustion engine. The control valve includes a valve housing, an expansible material element arranged in a valve body, an energy accumulator having an abutment element, a valve seat, and at least one locking element arranged on the abutment element, each locking element having a counter-latching face. The control valve has a first position wherein the counter-latching face of each locking element is in a non-positive connection with a corresponding latching face of the valve housing in order to force the control valve into a mechanically blocked, forced-open position, the latching face being formed by means of an opening edge in the valve housing. This position may enable a quick and reliable initial filling or refilling of the coolant circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kay Hohenboeken, Bert Pingen, Michael Tobergte, Stefan Quiring, Richard Fritsche
  • Patent number: 9169834
    Abstract: A coolant pump includes a drive wheel, a driven wheel, and a coupling-control pump. The driven wheel is connected to a coolant impeller and coupled by a variable degree to the drive wheel, the degree of coupling responsive to an amount of fluid confined between the drive wheel and the driven wheel. The coupling-control pump is configured to change the amount of fluid confined between the drive wheel and the driven wheel based on a variable control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Tobergte, Bert Pingen, Bernd Schumacher, Jan Mehring, Kay Hohenboeken
  • Patent number: 9121335
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided. The internal combustion engine includes an oil circuit and a pump in fluidic communication with a supply line and at least one lubricant receiving component and a liquid cooling system including a coolant circuit having an oil pressure actuated coolant valve and a coolant valve control line in fluidic communication with the pump and having a first configuration in which coolant may flow therethrough and a second configuration in which coolant is inhibited from flowing therethrough, the first and second configurations triggered in response to a change in oil pressure in the coolant valve control line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stefan Quiring, Michael Tobergte, Hans Guenter Quix, Kai Sebastian Kuhlbach, Bernd Steiner, Jan Mehring
  • Publication number: 20150198079
    Abstract: A selector guide valve in cooling system of an internal combustion engine is provided. The selector guide valve includes a first control drum independently rotatable and including an inlet receiving engine coolant from a pump and a plurality of coolant openings extending through the first control drum and a second control drum independently rotatable, circumferentially surrounding the first control drum, and including a plurality of coolant openings extending through the second control drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Tobergte, Bernd Steiner, Kay Hohenboeken, Bert Pingen, Stefan Quiring, Jan Mehring
  • Publication number: 20150142296
    Abstract: A method for partial cylinder cutoff is provided. The method comprises operating a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine with applied ignition, in which an odd number n of cylinders is arranged in line, and during partial-load operation when engine load is below threshold, enabling a partial cutoff of the cylinders, the partial cutoff comprising operating each cylinder only intermittently such that each cylinder is fired and cut off in turn at an interval of (2*720° CA)/n.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Tobergte, Carsten Weber, Kay Hohenboeken, Helmut Hans Ruhland, Bert Pingen
  • Patent number: 9032915
    Abstract: Various systems are provided for liquid-cooling of an internal combustion engine. In one example, an internal combustion engine includes a cylinder head, a cylinder block coupled to the cylinder head, a first return line fluidically coupled to the cylinder head and to a coolant valve and including a heat exchanger configured to remove heat from coolant, a second return line fluidically coupled to the cylinder block and to the coolant valve, a bypass line branching off from the first return line and fluidically coupled to the coolant valve, and an originating supply line fluidically coupled to the cylinder head, the cylinder block, and the coolant valve, the originating supply line including a pump configured to supply coolant. The coolant valve is configured to control coolant flow through the coolant lines via rotational selection of one of a plurality of working positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Tobergte, Bert Pingen, Bernd Schumacher, Jan Mehring
  • Patent number: 8944026
    Abstract: A method for partial cylinder cutoff is provided. The method comprises operating a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine with applied ignition, in which an odd number n of cylinders is arranged in line, and during partial-load operation when engine load is below threshold, enabling a partial cutoff of the cylinders, the partial cutoff comprising operating each cylinder only intermittently such that each cylinder is fired and cut off in turn at an interval of (2*720° CA)/n.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Tobergte, Carsten Weber, Kay Hohenboeken, Helmut Hans Ruhland, Bert Pingen
  • Publication number: 20140026829
    Abstract: Various systems are provided for liquid-cooling of an internal combustion engine. In one example, an internal combustion engine includes a cylinder head, a cylinder block coupled to the cylinder head, a first return line fluidically coupled to the cylinder head and to a coolant valve and including a heat exchanger configured to remove heat from coolant, a second return line fluidically coupled to the cylinder block and to the coolant valve, a bypass line branching off from the first return line and fluidically coupled to the coolant valve, and an originating supply line fluidically coupled to the cylinder head, the cylinder block, and the coolant valve, the originating supply line including a pump configured to supply coolant. The coolant valve is configured to control coolant flow through the coolant lines via rotational selection of one of a plurality of working positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Tobergte, Bert Pingen, Bernd Schumacher, Jan Mehring
  • Publication number: 20140017091
    Abstract: A coolant pump includes a drive wheel, a driven wheel, and a coupling-control pump. The driven wheel is connected to a coolant impeller and coupled by a variable degree to the drive wheel, the degree of coupling responsive to an amount of fluid confined between the drive wheel and the driven wheel. The coupling-control pump is configured to change the amount of fluid confined between the drive wheel and the driven wheel based on a variable control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Tobergte, Bert Pingen, Bernd Schumacher, Jan Mehring, Kay Hohenboeken
  • Publication number: 20120285401
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided. The internal combustion engine includes an oil circuit and a pump in fluidic communication with a supply line and at least one lubricant receiving component and a liquid cooling system including a coolant circuit having an oil pressure actuated coolant valve and a coolant valve control line in fluidic communication with the pump and having a first configuration in which coolant may flow therethrough and a second configuration in which coolant is inhibited from flowing therethrough, the first and second configurations triggered in response to a change in oil pressure in the coolant valve control line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Stefan Quiring, Michael Tobergte, Hans Guenter Quix, Kai Sebastian Kuhlbach, Bernd Steiner, Jan Mehring
  • Publication number: 20120285413
    Abstract: A method for operation of a lubrication circuit in an internal combustion engine is provided herein. The method comprises during a first operating condition, operating an oil agitation device to increase the turbulence of oil in the lubrication circuit, the oil agitation device positioned downstream of an oil pump in a supply line in fluidic communication with a lubricant receiving component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Bert Pingen, Hans Guenter Quix, Michael Tobergte, Kay Hohenboeken, Jan Mehring
  • Publication number: 20120103283
    Abstract: A cooling system for an engine is provided. In one embodiment, an internal combustion engine comprises a cabin heat exchanger circuit including a connecting line opening on an inlet side into a cylinder block coolant jacket, a main coolant pump arranged in the cabin heat exchanger circuit, an auxiliary coolant pump arranged in the connecting line, and a check valve. In this way, additional cooling and/or heating may be provided to the engine and associated components by the auxiliary coolant pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jan Mehring, Kai Sebastian Kuhlbach, Bernd Steiner, Michael Tobergte, Hans Guenter Quix
  • Publication number: 20120055444
    Abstract: A method for partial cylinder cutoff is provided. The method comprises operating a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine with applied ignition, in which an odd number n of cylinders is arranged in line, and during partial-load operation when engine load is below threshold, enabling a partial cutoff of the cylinders, the partial cutoff comprising operating each cylinder only intermittently such that each cylinder is fired and cut off in turn at an interval of (2*720° CA)/n.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Tobergte, Carsten Weber, Kay Hohenboeken, Helmut Hans Ruhland, Bert Pingen
  • Publication number: 20110303295
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a control valve for a medium circuit of an internal combustion engine, in particular to a thermostat of a coolant circuit of the internal combustion engine. The control valve includes a valve housing, an expansible material element arranged in a valve body, an energy accumulator having an abutment element, a valve seat, and at least one locking element arranged on the abutment element, each locking element having a counter-latching face. The control valve has a first position wherein the counter-latching face of each locking element is in a non-positive connection with a corresponding latching face of the valve housing in order to force the control valve into a mechanically blocked, forced-open position, the latching face being formed by means of an opening edge in the valve housing. This position may enable a quick and reliable initial filling or refilling of the coolant circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Kay Hohenboeken, Bert Pingen, Michael Tobergte, Stefan Quiring, Richard Fritsche
  • Publication number: 20030056772
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for cooling the charge air of an internal combustion engine. The charge-air cooler is arranged with a pump and a heat exchanger in a coolant circuit. The temperature of the charge air is detected via a temperature sensor and passed on to a regulating unit. As a function of this temperature and, if appropriate, of further engine operating parameters, the regulating unit controls the pump and, if included, the fan of the heat exchanger. Thus, in particular, when the engine is started cold or at a partial load, a higher charge-air temperature can be permitted by switching off or throttle the pump and/or the fan. This not only better matches the charge-air temperature to the engine operation, but also saves on energy for the operation of the pump and/or the fan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Dirk Borrmann, Franz-Josef Schneider, Klemens Grieser, Michael Tobergte