Patents by Inventor Patrick Opel

Patrick Opel 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: 9611854
    Abstract: A washer fluid pump (2) for a windshield washer system (3) of a motor vehicle has ventilation ducts (25, 25?) which are arranged in a housing (17) parallel to the longitudinal axis. The ventilation ducts (25, 25?) open out behind bulkheads (21, 22) which are likewise arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis. The bulkheads (21, 22) bridge a constriction (20), which is arranged between an electric motor (15) and a pump stage (16), of the housing (17). In this way, the electric motor (15) is reliably protected against spray water. The washer fluid pump (2) can also be produced in a particularly cost-effective manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Patrick Opel, Dirk Ringler, Thomas Werner
  • Patent number: 9333950
    Abstract: In the case of a window cleaning system for a motor vehicle, a washing fluid line (6) is manufactured integrally with plug-type coupling parts (8). Movable components and a sealing ring (15) are arranged on bushing-type coupling parts (9). The bushing-type coupling parts (9) are arranged on a washing fluid pump (2), on washing nozzles (4) and on a T connector (7). By this means, the window cleaning system is constructed in a particularly simple manner and can be manufactured cost-effectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Patrick Opel, Nico Schmidt, Thomas Werner
  • Patent number: 8714949
    Abstract: In a washer fluid pump (2) for a window cleaning system (3) of a motor vehicle, a ventilation duct (21) of an electric motor (9) is guided in a labyrinth from a first plane (22) arranged in the electric motor (9) into the environment via a second plane (24) arranged in a collecting space (23). For this purpose, the ventilation duct (21) has two first sections (20) which lead vertically from the electric motor (9) into the collecting space (23), and two second sections (26) which open out vertically from the collecting space (23) into the environment. The first and the second sections (20, 26) are offset with respect to one another by 90°, so as to prevent an infiltration of spray water into the electric motor (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Patrick Opel, Dirk Ringler
  • Patent number: 8430108
    Abstract: In a device (1) for cleaning a window (2) or a lens of a motor vehicle, a wash nozzle (5) is of spherical design and is held in a ball socket (13) of a nozzle stem (4). The wash nozzle (5) produces a fan-type jet (6) and can be adjusted by an angle of inclination ? and a tilting angle ? in relation to the nozzle stem (4). The device can be freely adjusted to different designs of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Bettenhausen, Patrick Opel, Dirk Ringler, Heiko Weitzel
  • Patent number: 8408885
    Abstract: A washer fluid pump (2) for a window cleaning system includes two ventilation openings (13, 14) arranged in a housing (5) and linked with a single opening (15) arranged on the inside. A ventilation duct (18) has two sections (16, 17) arranged tangentially to the housing (5). The ventilation openings (13, 14) are separated from each other by a partition (19). This design makes it possible for the housing (5) to have a large ventilation cross section and avoids splashed water penetrating the housing (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Heinrich Hoffmann, Patrick Opel, Thomas Werner
  • Publication number: 20100163079
    Abstract: In a device (1) for cleaning a window (2) or a lens of a motor vehicle, a wash nozzle (5) is of spherical design and is held in a ball socket (13) of a nozzle stem (4). The wash nozzle (5) produces a fan-type jet (6) and can be adjusted by an angle of inclination ? and a tilting angle ? in relation to the nozzle stem (4). The device can be freely adjusted to different designs of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventors: Jens Bettenhausen, Patrick Opel, Dirk Ringler, Heiko Weitzel
  • Publication number: 20090139551
    Abstract: In the case of a window cleaning system for a motor vehicle, a washing fluid line (6) is manufactured integrally with plug-type coupling parts (8). Movable components and a sealing ring (15) are arranged on bushing-type coupling parts (9). The bushing-type coupling parts (9) are arranged on a washing fluid pump (2), on washing nozzles (4) and on a T connector (7). By this means, the window cleaning system is constructed in a particularly simple manner and can be manufactured cost-effectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventors: Patrick Opel, Nico Schmidt, Thomas Werner
  • Publication number: 20090114254
    Abstract: In a window cleaning system for a motor vehicle, having a dual pump (2) and having a valve (7) which is switched by the dual pump (2), a pressure surge which is generated during the switching of the valve (7) is conducted into the dual pump (2). For this purpose, valve seats (22, 23) are connected to inlets (25, 26) of the valve (7). Conducting the pressure surge into the dual pump (2) prevents that, during the switching of the valve (7), washer fluid passes onto a window (15, 16) which is not to be sprayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventors: Manuel Jeppe, Winfried Munk, Patrick Opel, Dirk Ringler, Thomas Werner
  • Publication number: 20080260555
    Abstract: In a washer fluid pump (2) for a window cleaning system (3) of a motor vehicle, a ventilation duct (21) of an electric motor (9) is guided in a labyrinth from a first plane (22) arranged in the electric motor (9) into the environment via a second plane (24) arranged in a collecting space (23). For this purpose, the ventilation duct (21) has two first sections (20) which lead vertically from the electric motor (9) into the collecting space (23), and two second sections (26) which open out vertically from the collecting space (23) into the environment. The first and the second sections (20, 26) are offset with respect to one another by 90°, so as to prevent an infiltration of spray water into the electric motor (9).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: Patrick Opel, Dirk Ringler
  • Publication number: 20080253908
    Abstract: A washer fluid pump (2) for a windshield washer system (3) of a motor vehicle has ventilation ducts (25, 25?) which are arranged in a housing (17) parallel to the longitudinal axis. The ventilation ducts (25, 25?) open out behind bulkheads (21, 22) which are likewise arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis. The bulkheads (21, 22) bridge a constriction (20), which is arranged between an electric motor (15) and a pump stage (16), of the housing (17). In this way, the electric motor (15) is reliably protected against spray water. The washer fluid pump (2) can also be produced in a particularly cost-effective manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Inventors: Patrick Opel, Dirk Ringler, Thomas Werner
  • Publication number: 20080219858
    Abstract: In the case of a washer fluid pump (2) for a window cleaning system, two ventilation openings (13, 14) arranged in a housing (5) are linked with a single opening (15) arranged on the inside. A ventilation duct (18) has two sections (16, 17) arranged tangentially to the housing (5). The ventilation openings (13, 14) are separated from each other by a partition (19). This design makes it possible for the housing (5) to have a large ventilation cross section and avoids splashed water penetrating the housing (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventors: Heinrich Hoffmann, Patrick Opel, Thomas Werner