Patents by Inventor Richard Bruemmer

Richard Bruemmer 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: 12214646
    Abstract: A cooling system for a vehicle may include a cooling circuit through which a coolant is flowable. The cooling circuit may include a first heat source, a first radiator, a second heat source, a second radiator, and a hydraulic switch. The first heat source may be coolable at a lower temperature level. The second heat source may be coolable at a higher temperature level. The first heat source, the first radiator, the second heat source, and the second radiator may be connected in series with one another in the cooling circuit. The hydraulic switch may divide the cooling circuit into (i) a first partial circuit with the first heat source and the first radiator and (ii) a second partial circuit with the second heat source and the second radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Richard Bruemmer, Gunther Hentschel, Rainer Lutz, Thomas Strauss
  • Patent number: 12018897
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for a fuel cell is disclosed. The heat exchanger includes at least two tube bodies that are arranged at a distance from one another and are in each case structured so that a fluid can flow through internally and so that air can flow around externally. A water channel, through which water can flow fluidically separated from the fluid, is arranged in or on at least one tube body. At least one opening, via which the water channel communicates fluidically with an external environment of the at least one tube body, is provided on the at least one tube body. The at least one opening is arranged in the at least one tube body so that at least one of the tube bodies can be wetter with water, which is guided through the water channel and escapes the water channel through the at least one opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Richard Bruemmer, Christian Buerck, Rainer Lutz, Jan Schultes, Thomas Strauss
  • Publication number: 20240120513
    Abstract: A freeze protection method for a fuel cell system is disclosed. The fuel cell system includes an evaporative cooler device equipped for cooling a heat exchanger of a fuel cell device of the fuel cell system having a feed line, through which during the operation of the fuel cell system, water is pumped to a sprinkling device of the evaporative cooler device and by way of the sprinkling device, the water is applied onto the heat exchanger equipped for temperature-controlling a fuel cell stack of the fuel cell device. The method includes blowing out the evaporative cooler device as part of a deactivation method of the fuel cell system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Markus Auer, Richard Bruemmer, Thomas Strauss
  • Patent number: 11929527
    Abstract: A fuel cell device of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The fuel cell device includes a fuel cell, a supply air path leading to the fuel cell for a cathode supply air flow, and an exhaust air path leading away from the fuel cell for a cathode exhaust air flow. The supply air path and the exhaust air path are routed through a humidifier that humidifies the supply air and dehumidifies the exhaust air. The exhaust air path is further routed through a water separator that removes water from the exhaust air to provide evaporation water. A heat exchanger for cooling the fuel cell is provided that has an evaporative cooler for cooling the heat exchanger. The evaporative cooler is assigned to the water separator in fluidic communication and is supplied with evaporation water by the water separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Baumann, Richard Bruemmer, Matthias Gaenswein, Sven Alexander Kaiser, Frank Von Luetzau, Jan Schultes, Thomas Strauss
  • Publication number: 20230311713
    Abstract: A cooling system for a fuel cell of a motor vehicle may include a closed coolant circuit through which a coolant is circulatable, a heat exchanger fluidically incorporated in the coolant circuit for cooling the coolant, an open sprinkler circuit through which a sprinkler fluid is flowable for cooling the heat exchanger, and a channel structure fluidically incorporated in the sprinkler circuit. The heat exchanger may include an air inlet surface, an air outlet surface, and a plurality of cooling tubes. The coolant may be flowable through the heat exchanger via the plurality of cooling tubes. Air may be flowable through the heat exchanger from the air inlet surface to the air outlet surface. The channel structure may include a plurality of channels, which may each include a plurality of outlet nozzles via which the sprinkler fluid is appliable to the plurality of cooling tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Richard Bruemmer, Christian Buerck, Achim Koppehel, Rainer Lutz, Jan Schultes, Thomas Strauss
  • Publication number: 20230194189
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for a fuel cell is disclosed. The heat exchanger includes at least two tube bodies that are arranged at a distance from one another and are in each case structured so that a fluid can flow through internally and so that air can flow around externally. A water channel, through which water can flow fluidically separated from the fluid, is arranged in or on at least one tube body. At least one opening, via which the water channel communicates fluidically with an external environment of the at least one tube body, is provided on the at least one tube body. The at least one opening is arranged in the at least one tube body so that at least one of the tube bodies can be wetter with water, which is guided through the water channel and escapes the water channel through the at least one opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Richard Bruemmer, Christian Buerch, Rainer Lutz, Jan Schultes, Thomas Strauss
  • Publication number: 20230191879
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cooling system (1) for a vehicle. The cooling system (1) comprises a cooling circuit (2) having a first and second heat source (3a, 3b) and a first and second radiator (4a, 4b). In the cooling circuit (2), the heat sources (3a, 3b) and the radiator (4a, 4b) are connected in series with one another. A hydraulic switch (6) divides the cooling circuit (2) into two partial circuits (2a, 2b). The respective partial circuit (2a, 2b) each includes the respective heat sources (3a, 3b) and the respective radiator (4a, 4b). The invention also relates to a method for operating the cooling system (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Richard Bruemmer, Gunther Hentschel, Rainer Lutz, Thomas Strauss
  • Publication number: 20230191899
    Abstract: A cooling system for a vehicle is disclosed. The cooling system includes a cooling circuit that is flowed through by a coolant. The cooling circuit includes a first heat source, a first radiator, a second heat source, and a second radiator. A first partial circuit is provided with the first heat source and the first radiator fluidically connected to one another. A second partial circuit is provided with the second heat source and the second radiator fluidically connected to one another. The first partial circuit and the second partial circuit can be hydraulically separated from one another at times such that the two partial circuits are flowed through by a part of the coolant, and hydraulically connected to one another at times such that the two partial circuits can be jointly flowed through by a common part of the coolant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Richard Bruemmer, Gunther Hentschel, Rainer Lutz, Thomas Strauss
  • Publication number: 20230182561
    Abstract: A motor vehicle may include a drive mechanism, a discharge system through which a gas mass flow containing liquid droplets may flow, a pressure-reducing mechanism incorporated in the discharge system, a cooling circuit through which a coolant may circulate to cool a drive component of the drive mechanism, a coolant radiator through with the coolant may flow, an air path extending through the coolant radiator, an evaporative cooling mechanism, a reservoir free of applied additional pressure, a liquid path, and a supply path. The pressure-reducing mechanism may be configured such that the gas mass flow downstream of the pressure-reducing mechanism is free of applied additional pressure. The evaporative cooling mechanism may be configured to introduce liquid into the air path. The liquid path may extend from the pressure-reducing mechanism to an inlet of the reservoir. The supply path may extend from the storage volume to the evaporative cooling mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Richard Bruemmer, Thomas Strauss
  • Publication number: 20230173951
    Abstract: A method for operating a fuel cell system may include at least one fuel cell, at least one rechargeable traction battery, at least one traction drive, and a power management device. The power management device may be electrically coupled to the at least one fuel cell, the at least one traction battery, and the at least one traction drive. The method may include providing electric primary power via the at least one fuel cell. The method may also include providing electric secondary power via the at least one traction battery. The at least one fuel cell may be profile-controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventor: Richard Bruemmer
  • Publication number: 20230024443
    Abstract: An evaporation water tank for a fuel cell device may include a tank bottom, a plurality of tank side walls, and a tank cover that collectively define a collection volume for evaporation water and tank air. The plurality of tank side walls may be arranged on and project away from the tank bottom. The tank cover may be arranged a distance away from the tank bottom and on the plurality of tank side walls. The tank may also include an evaporation water inlet via which an inflow of evaporation water is flowable into the collection volume and at least one evaporation water outlet via which an outflow of evaporation water is flowable from the collection volume. The evaporation water inlet may be arranged on at least one of the plurality of tank side walls. The at least one evaporation water outlet may be arranged on the tank bottom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Michael Baumann, Richard Bruemmer, Matthias Gaenswein, Sven Alexander Kaiser, Frank Von Luetzau, Jan Schultes, Thomas Strauss
  • Publication number: 20230026964
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel cell device (1) having a fuel cell (2) which, during operation, emits water as a product of cold combustion; a supply air path (3) leading to the fuel cell (2) for a cathode supply air flow (5), which defines a supply air flow direction (4), the cathode supply air flow coming from water-containing supply air supplied to the fuel cell (2); and an exhaust air path (7)leading away from the fuel cell (2), for a cathode exhaust air flow (9), which defines an exhaust air flow direction (8), the cathode exhaust air flow coming from water-containing exhaust air flowing out of the fuel cell (2). The supply air path (3) and the exhaust air path (7) are routed through a humidifier (10) of the fuel cell device (1), which humidifier communicates fluidically with the supply air and the exhaust air, to humidify the supply air and dehumidifying the exhaust air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Michael Baumann, Richard Bruemmer, Matthias Gaenswein, Sven Alexander Kaiser, Frank Von Luetzau, Jan Schultes, Thomas Strauss
  • Patent number: 11306634
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes an arrangement for a motor vehicle including an internal combustion engine, a heat exchanger for cooling exhaust gas present in the internal combustion engine, and an exhaust system for discharging the exhaust gas. The heat exchanger has a channel system including at least one exhaust gas channel, through which an exhaust path leads, and at least one coolant channel, through which a coolant path of a coolant leads, fluidically separate from the exhaust gas path and arranged in a heat-transferring manner with the exhaust gas path for heat exchange during operation. A cooling gas outlet, opening into the exhaust gas path upstream of the channel system, is provided for introducing a cooling gas into the exhaust gas path upstream of the channel system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Inventors: Richard Bruemmer, Klaus Irmler, Falk Schneider
  • Publication number: 20200362736
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes an arrangement for a motor vehicle including an internal combustion engine, a heat exchanger for cooling exhaust gas present in the internal combustion engine, and an exhaust system for discharging the exhaust gas. The heat exchanger has a channel system including at least one exhaust gas channel, through which an exhaust path leads, and at least one coolant channel, through which a coolant path of a coolant leads, fluidically separate from the exhaust gas path and arranged in a heat-transferring manner with the exhaust gas path for heat exchange during operation. A cooling gas outlet, opening into the exhaust gas path upstream of the channel system, is provided for introducing a cooling gas into the exhaust gas path upstream of the channel system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Richard Bruemmer, Klaus Irmler, Falk Schneider
  • Patent number: 10612453
    Abstract: A cooling circuit for controlling the temperature of at least two heat sources is provided that includes a heat exchanger for cooling a coolant, at least one thermostat, a first cooling branch, and a second cooling branch. The first heat source and the heat exchanger are arranged in the first cooling branch, and the second heat source is arranged in the second cooling branch. The thermostat has a mixing chamber through which the coolant can flow. The mixing chamber is fluidically connected to a coolant outlet of the heat exchanger and to a coolant outlet of the second heat source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventor: Richard Bruemmer
  • Publication number: 20200088477
    Abstract: A heat exchanger unit for a fluid circuit of a motor vehicle includes a plurality of fluid connections for a through-flow of a working fluid, a fluid distributor fluidically connected to the fluid connections, and a fluid connector fluidically connected to the fluid connections. The fluid distributor is structured and arranged to distribute the working fluid among the fluid connections, and the fluid collector is structured and arranged to collect the working fluid after flowing through the fluid connection. At least a portion of the fluid distributor and/or the fluid collector includes a surge tank for the working fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Richard Bruemmer, Michael Bucher, Christoph Fiala, Klaus Irmler, Hannes Marlok, Holger Oechslen
  • Patent number: 10487717
    Abstract: A cooling circuit including a combustion engine, a coolant cooler, a first thermostat, a first pump, a condenser, a second thermostat and a second pump, wherein a cooling agent can flow through the cooling circuit, wherein the combustion engine, first pump, coolant cooler and first thermostat are arranged in a first circuit, and the condenser, second thermostat and second pump are arranged in a second circuit, and wherein the first circuit and second circuit are in fluid communication with one another at at least one point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Richard Bruemmer, Annegret Srnik
  • Patent number: 10323889
    Abstract: A container for a waste heat utilization circuit may include a housing that defines a housing interior such that the housing interior can be flowed through by a working medium. A sheath may be arranged in the housing interior for accommodating an auxiliary medium. The sheath may be fluid-tight and heat-conductive at least in certain areas. The sheath may define a sheath interior of variable volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Richard Bruemmer, Eberhard Pantow
  • Publication number: 20180224224
    Abstract: A container for a waste heat utilization circuit may include a housing that defines a housing interior such that the housing interior can be flowed through by a working medium. A sheath may be arranged in the housing interior for accommodating an auxiliary medium. The sheath may be fluid-tight and heat-conductive at least in certain areas. The sheath may define a sheath interior of variable volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Richard Bruemmer, Eberhard Pantow
  • Patent number: 10006314
    Abstract: A device for recovering the waste heat energy having a Clausius-Rankine circuit with a line system conveying a working medium via which at least one vaporizer for vaporizing the working medium, an expansion device for expanding the vaporized working medium to produce mechanical work, a condenser for fluidizing the vaporized and expanded working medium as well as a delivery pump for condensing and conveying the working medium through the line system are fluidically connected to one another. A compensation tank supplies additional working medium volume and is connected to a fluid line and can be fluidically separated from the line system via a valve that is controllable via a control device connected to a sensor for detecting working medium temperature and/or pressure, such that a working medium volume is transferred from the compensation tank into the line system or from the line system into the compensation tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Lutz, Giovanna Motisi, Richard Bruemmer