Patents by Inventor Rainer Friedfeldt

Rainer Friedfeldt 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: 10557387
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for cylinder valves of an internal combustion engine. In one example, a valve assembly may include a poppet valve and a valve spring. The valve spring includes a plurality of legs adapted to engage with an annular groove of the valve spring in order to couple the valve spring to the poppet valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rainer Friedfeldt, Peter Borkenhagen, Ulrich Heiter
  • Patent number: 10316741
    Abstract: An engine combustion system is disclosed which includes: a cylinder head having at least two cylinders; an exhaust duct adjoining each cylinder with the exhaust ducts of at least two cylinders converging to form an exhaust manifold within the cylinder head and two turbines arranged downstream of the exhaust manifold. In one embodiment, the two turbines are arranged in parallel with a control element disposed upstream of one of the turbines to close off flow to the one turbine. Alternatively, a first of the turbines has a first bypass duct having a first valve. Flow exiting the turbine and the bypass path converge and are provided to a second of the turbines that has a second bypass duct having a second valve. By controlling positions of each valve, flow can be provided solely to the associated turbine, the associated bypass duct, or a combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kai Sebastian Kuhlbach, Dirk Borrmann, Rainer Friedfeldt
  • Publication number: 20180291774
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for cylinder valves of an internal combustion engine. In one example, a valve assembly may include a poppet valve and a valve spring. The valve spring includes a plurality of legs adapted to engage with an annular groove of the valve spring in order to couple the valve spring to the poppet valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: Rainer Friedfeldt, Peter Borkenhagen, Ulrich Heiter
  • Patent number: 9822712
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine is provided. The method includes during a first operating condition, operating two primary cylinders and two secondary cylinders to perform combustion, the two primary and secondary cylinders arranged in an inline configuration, the two primary cylinder adjacent to one another, the two secondary cylinders adjacent to one another, and the secondary cylinders positioned 175°-185° out of phase relative to the two primary cylinders and during a second operating condition, selectively deactivating the two secondary cylinders to perform combustion in only the two primary cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Carsten Weber, Martin Wirth, Rainer Friedfeldt, Guenter Bartsch
  • Patent number: 9435254
    Abstract: A supercharged internal combustion engine having at least two exhaust-gas turbochargers is provided. The engine includes a first exhaust manifold and a second exhaust manifold which are permanently connected to one another upstream of the two turbines of the turbochargers via at least one connecting duct which cannot be closed off. In this way, overflow of exhaust from the one exhaust manifold may be transferred to the other exhaust manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kai Sebastian Kuhlbach, Norbert Andreas Schorn, Rainer Friedfeldt, Guenter Bartsch
  • Patent number: 9394835
    Abstract: An engine method, comprising turning off a second cylinder group in response to engine load falling below a first threshold, the second cylinder group including a first outer most cylinder and its immediately adjacent cylinder and turning on the second cylinder group in response to engine load raising above a second threshold and operating a first cylinder group constantly throughout engine operation; the first cylinder group including a second outer most cylinder and its immediately adjacent cylinder. By this method, engine efficiency may increase during partial load operating conditions from low engine loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Carsten Weber, Martin Wirth, Rainer Friedfeldt, Guenter Bartsch
  • Patent number: 9068500
    Abstract: An engine includes a first turbine fluidically coupled to a first group of adjacent cylinders, and a second turbine fluidically coupled to a second group of adjacent cylinders. In this engine, the cylinders of the first and second groups are arranged along a line. The engine also includes a variable valve-lift system configured to admit at least air to the first group of cylinders during reduced engine-load conditions, but to stop admitting air to the second group of cylinders during the reduced engine-load conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Carsten Weber, Martin Wirth, Rainer Friedfeldt, Guenter Bartsch
  • Publication number: 20140245993
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine is provided. The method includes during a first operating condition, operating two primary cylinders and two secondary cylinders to perform combustion, the two primary and secondary cylinders arranged in an inline configuration, the two primary cylinder adjacent to one another, the two secondary cylinders adjacent to one another, and the secondary cylinders positioned 175°-185° out of phase relative to the two primary cylinders and during a second operating condition, selectively deactivating the two secondary cylinders to perform combustion in only the two primary cylinders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Carsten Weber, Martin Wirth, Rainer Friedfeldt, Guenter Bartsch
  • Publication number: 20140053806
    Abstract: An engine method, comprising turning off a second cylinder group in response to engine load falling below a first threshold, the second cylinder group including a first outer most cylinder and its immediately adjacent cylinder and turning on the second cylinder group in response to engine load raising above a second threshold and operating a first cylinder group constantly throughout engine operation; the first cylinder group including a second outer most cylinder and its immediately adjacent cylinder. By this method, engine efficiency may increase during partial load operating conditions from low engine loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Carsten Weber, Martin Wirth, Rainer Friedfeldt, Guenter Bartsch
  • Publication number: 20140041382
    Abstract: An engine includes a first turbine fluidically coupled to a first group of adjacent cylinders, and a second turbine fluidically coupled to a second group of adjacent cylinders. In this engine, the cylinders of the first and second groups are arranged along a line. The engine also includes a variable valve-lift system configured to admit at least air to the first group of cylinders during reduced engine-load conditions, but to stop admitting air to the second group of cylinders during the reduced engine-load conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC.
    Inventors: Carsten Weber, Martin Wirth, Rainer Friedfeldt, Guenter Bartsch
  • Publication number: 20120285164
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a turbocharged internal combustion engine are provided herein. One example system includes a cylinder head with at least two cylinders, at least two exhaust openings per cylinder, at least one of which is engageable. The system further includes a first exhaust manifold integrated in the cylinder head and connecting the engageable openings with a first turbocharger turbine, and a second, separate exhaust manifold integrated in the cylinder head and connecting the non-engageable openings with a second turbocharger turbine in parallel with the first turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Kai Sebastian Kuhlbach, Norbert Andreas Schorn, Guenter Bartsch, Rainer Friedfeldt
  • Publication number: 20120240572
    Abstract: Embodiments for a turbocharged engine including two turbochargers are provided. In one example, a turbocharger engine includes two turbochargers arranged in parallel, each coupled to a separate exhaust manifold. Bypass of exhaust around both turbochargers may be provided via a single wastegate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Norbert Andreas Schorn, Rainer Friedfeldt, Guenter Bartsch, Kai Sebastian Kuhlbach
  • Publication number: 20120240573
    Abstract: A supercharged internal combustion engine having at least two exhaust-gas turbochargers is provided. The engine includes a first exhaust manifold and a second exhaust manifold which are permanently connected to one another upstream of the two turbines of the turbochargers via at least one connecting duct which cannot be closed off. In this way, overflow of exhaust from the one exhaust manifold may be transferred to the other exhaust manifold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Kai Sebastian Kuhlbach, Norbert Andreas Schorn, Rainer Friedfeldt, Guenter Bartsch
  • Publication number: 20120240574
    Abstract: Embodiments for controlling exhaust flow are provided. Example embodiments include a cylinder head having two integrated exhaust manifolds, wherein each exhaust manifold is coupled to a turbine of a turbocharger. After passing over the turbines, the exhaust gas may exit through a shared balcony-like projection arranged between the exhaust manifolds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Rainer Friedfeldt, Bernd Steiner, Kai Sebastian Kuhlbach
  • Publication number: 20120180476
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a supercharged internal combustion engine having at least one liquid-cooled cylinder head with at least two cylinders, each cylinder having at least one exhaust gas outlet opening with an exhaust line attached to each outlet. The exhaust lines from each outlet merge to form an integrated exhaust manifold within the cylinder head and an overall exhaust line directing exhaust gas outside of the cylinder head, and the at least one liquid-cooled turbine having a turbine housing arranged in said overall exhaust line. Further, a bypass line, separate from the exhaust lines forming the integrated exhaust manifold, branches off upstream of the turbine conducting blown-off exhaust gas past the turbine and outside of the turbine housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Bernd Steiner, Kai Sebastian Kuhlbach, Rainer Friedfeldt
  • Publication number: 20120090320
    Abstract: An engine combustion system is disclosed which includes: a cylinder head having at least two cylinders; an exhaust duct adjoining each cylinder with the exhaust ducts of at least two cylinders converging to form an exhaust manifold within the cylinder head and two turbines arranged downstream of the exhaust manifold. In one embodiment, the two turbines are arranged in parallel with a control element disposed upstream of one of the turbines to close off flow to the one turbine. Alternatively, a first of the turbines has a first bypass duct having a first valve. Flow exiting the turbine and the bypass path converge and are provided to a second of the turbines that has a second bypass duct having a second valve. By controlling positions of each valve, flow can provided solely to the associated turbine, the associated bypass duct, or a combination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kai Sebastian Kuhlbach, Dirk Borrmann, Rainer Friedfeldt