Patents by Inventor Rolf Brück

Rolf Brück 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: 12092004
    Abstract: A device for the aftertreatment of exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, with an exhaust gas line, which is configured to feed the exhaust gas expelled from the internal combustion engine to at least one component for exhaust gas aftertreatment. The at least one adsorber for the temporary storage of hydrocarbons contained in the exhaust gas, a catalytic converter for the catalytic aftertreatment of the exhaust gas, an electrically heatable catalytic converter and a cracking catalytic converter for cracking long-chain hydrocarbons into shorter-chain hydrocarbons are arranged in the exhaust gas line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Rolf Brück, Peter Hirth, Ines Lienou Lzeutchi
  • Patent number: 12085003
    Abstract: A device for aftertreatment of exhaust gases, having a flow section which is able to be flowed through by exhaust gas and has at least one honeycomb body, acting as a catalytic converter, and has at least one heating element. The heating element is formed from a ceramic material which is able to be flowed through along a plurality of flow channels from an inflow side to an outflow side. The heating element is electrically conductive along the walls delimiting the flow channels and, by an electrical contact, is connectable to a voltage source, wherein the heating element runs in a meandering manner over a through-flowable cross section of the flow section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Peter Hirth, Rolf Brück
  • Publication number: 20240282477
    Abstract: A segmented electrical feedthrough for electrically contacting a heater conductor through a housing, having a contact portion and an insulation portion. The insulation portion has an electrical conductor, an insulation, and an outer sleeve, wherein the electrical conductor and the insulation are arranged within the outer sleeve and the electrical conductor is electrically insulated in relation to the outer sleeve by the insulation, wherein the contact portion is attached to the electrical conductor on a first end side, and the electrical conductor on the second end side thereof opposite the first end side is connectable to a heater conductor. The contact portion and the insulation portion are formed from two different elements which are durably connected to one another by a joining method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Publication date: August 22, 2024
    Inventors: Rolf BRÜCK, Stefan AHLERS
  • Publication number: 20240102411
    Abstract: A device for aftertreatment of exhaust gases, having a flow section which is able to be flowed through by exhaust gas and has at least one honeycomb body, acting as a catalytic converter, and has at least one heating element. The heating element is formed from a ceramic material which is able to be flowed through along a plurality of flow channels from an inflow side to an outflow side. The heating element is electrically conductive along the walls delimiting the flow channels and, by an electrical contact, is connectable to a voltage source, wherein the heating element runs in a meandering manner over a through-flowable cross section of the flow section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Peter HIRTH, Rolf BRÜCK
  • Publication number: 20230407777
    Abstract: A device for the aftertreatment of exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, with an exhaust gas line, which is configured to feed the exhaust gas expelled from the internal combustion engine to at least one component for exhaust gas aftertreatment. The at least one adsorber for the temporary storage of hydrocarbons contained in the exhaust gas, a catalytic converter for the catalytic aftertreatment of the exhaust gas, an electrically heatable catalytic converter and a cracking catalytic converter for cracking long-chain hydrocarbons into shorter-chain hydrocarbons are arranged in the exhaust gas line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Rolf BRÜCK, Peter HIRTH, Ines LIENOU LZEUTCHI
  • Publication number: 20230349310
    Abstract: In a device for the aftertreatment of exhaust gases from an emission source, in particular an internal combustion engine, with an exhaust tract through which an exhaust gas can flow in a direction of flow, with at least one catalytic converter, the catalytic converter having a ceramic honeycomb body has: a catalytically active surface coating, and with an electrically heatable heater, the heater having a metallic electrical conductor, the honeycomb body further having a plurality of flow channels which can be flowed through from a gas inlet side to a gas outlet side, wherein the conductor is integrated in the ceramic honeycomb body, and is arranged downstream of the gas inlet side and upstream of the gas outlet side, as viewed in the direction of flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Peter HIRTH, Rolf BRÜCK, Holger STOCK
  • Publication number: 20230332528
    Abstract: A device includes an exhaust gas turbocharger and an annular catalytic converter, which is mounted downstream of the turbocharger in the flow direction, wherein the annular catalytic converter has a first tubular flow section, a deflecting region, and a second annular flow section, wherein the tubular flow section is formed by an inner tube, and the annular flow section is formed between an outer tube, running substantially parallel to the inner tube, and the inner tube, and the deflecting region is designed to deflect the exhaust gas flow out of the tubular flow section into the annular flow section, wherein the tubular flow section of the annular catalytic converter comprises the same components as the gas outlet of the turbocharger mounted upstream in the flow direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Peter HIRTH, Rolf BRÜCK
  • Patent number: 11549421
    Abstract: An apparatus for heating an exhaust gas after-treatment unit in a vehicle has, as a drive source, both a combustion engine and an electric motor. The apparatus includes: a honeycomb body configured for exhaust gas to flow therethrough, the honeycomb body having a hollow, through which hollow the exhaust gas flows; and at least one electric heating element arranged in the hollow so as to heat the honeycomb body. The honeycomb body includes a plurality of metal foils stacked one on top of the other, which metal foils form between them a plurality of flow channels, through which a flow can pass along an axial direction, wherein the hollow of the honeycomb body extends in a radial direction, in which the at least one heating element is accommodated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventor: Rolf Brück
  • Publication number: 20220136422
    Abstract: A current feed-through for an electrically heatable catalytic converter, wherein the catalytic converter has in the interior thereof at least one electrical conductor, which is electrically contactable by the current feed-through, having a central electrically conductive element, which is guided from the interior of the catalytic converter through the outer housing wall thereof, having an electrical insulation layer, which surrounds the electrically conductive element on its radial outer face, and having a metallic sleeve, in which the electrically conductive element and the electrical insulation layer is received, wherein at the current feed-through or directly adjacently to the current feed-through there is arranged a device for reducing the heat conduction from the interior of the catalytic converter along the current feed-through to a contact face arranged outside the catalytic converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: Vitesco Technologies GMBH
    Inventors: Rolf Brück, Philipp Langenfeld, Marc Brugger, Katrin Konieczny, Lorenzo Pace, Stefan Ahlers
  • Publication number: 20220106899
    Abstract: A device for exhaust-gas aftertreatment, having a first, tubular flow path, having a diverting region and having a second, annular flow path. The tubular flow path is formed by an inner pipe and the annular flow path is, by an outer pipe running substantially parallel to the inner pipe, formed between the inner pipe and the outer pipe, and the diverting region is designed to divert the exhaust-gas flow from the tubular flow path into the annular flow path. The device has an annular catalytically active substrate body and an annular particle filter, wherein the substrate body and the particle filter are arranged in the annular flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Applicant: Vitesco Technologies GMBH
    Inventors: Rolf Brück, Peter Hirth, Sven Schepers, David Odenthal
  • Publication number: 20220105465
    Abstract: A device for exhaust-gas aftertreatment, such as an annular catalytic converter, having a first, tubular flow path, having a diverting chamber and having a second, annular flow path, wherein the tubular flow path is delimited outwardly in the radial direction by an inner pipe and the second, annular flow path is delimited inwardly in the radial direction by the inner pipe and outwardly in the radial direction by an outer pipe, and the diverting chamber is designed to divert the exhaust-gas flow from the tubular flow path (8) into the annular flow path, wherein the annular catalytic converter has at least one annular substrate body which has a catalytically active coating applied to it and which is arranged in the annular flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Applicant: Vitesco Technologies GMBH
    Inventors: Rolf Brück, Peter Hirth, Sven Schepers, David Odenthal
  • Publication number: 20220072474
    Abstract: The invention relates to an annular catalytic converter, having a first, tubular flow path, having a diverting region (4) and having a second, annular flow path, wherein the tubular flow path is formed by an inner pipe (1), wherein the annular flow path is formed between the inner pipe (1) and an outer pipe (2) surrounding the inner pipe, and the diverting region (4) is of pot-shaped form for the purposes of diverting the exhaust-gas flow from the tubular flow path into the annular flow path, wherein the inner pipe (1) and/or the outer pipe (2) has a conical cross section (D1, D2, D1, D4) that widens or narrows along the flow direction of the exhaust gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Applicant: Vitesco Technologies GMBH
    Inventors: Rolf Brück, Peter Hirth, Sven Schepers, David Odenthal, Marat Karibayev, Ferdi Kurth
  • Publication number: 20210068205
    Abstract: A heating element for heating a component for exhaust gas aftertreatment using ohmic resistance includes: an unheated end region; an intermediate region; and a heated end region. The unheated end region and the heated end region are separated by the intermediate region, and the intermediate region consists of a thermally insulating material configured to minimize heat flow from the heated end region to the unheated end region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventor: Rolf BRÜCK
  • Patent number: 10934916
    Abstract: A device for cleaning exhaust gases includes: a housing configured such that exhaust gas is flowable through the housing in a main throughflow direction; an injector configured to dose a fluid into a region of the housing through which exhaust gas flows; an evaporator arranged in the housing, the evaporator having a plurality of surface elements extending along the main throughflow direction of the housing, and the fluid being dosable into the fluid along a direction extending perpendicularly to the main throughflow direction of the housing; and a heater configured to electrically heat the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Stock, Rolf Brück, Peter Hirth, Marc Brugger
  • Patent number: 10883490
    Abstract: A method for operating a device for dosed supply of a liquid, having a pump to deliver the liquid. The pump has an inlet and an outlet. An eccentric is arranged on the pump housing and a deformable diaphragm is arranged between a pump housing and the eccentric. The deformable diaphragm and the pump housing delimit a delivery path from the inlet to the outlet. The seal can be displaced along the delivery path by movement of the eccentric. A pressure sensor is connected to the outlet of the pump. A liquid is delivered by the pump. A time curve of the pressure at the outlet of the pump is monitored during delivery by the at least one pressure sensor. An angle position of the eccentric of the pump is detected using at least one characteristic feature of the time curve at the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Rolf Brück, Peter Bauer, Christian Vorsmann, Jan Hodgson
  • Publication number: 20200332695
    Abstract: An apparatus for heating an exhaust gas after-treatment unit in a vehicle has, as a drive source, both a combustion engine and an electric motor. The apparatus includes: a honeycomb body configured for exhaust gas to flow therethrough, the honeycomb body having a hollow, through which hollow the exhaust gas flows; and at least one electric heating element arranged in the hollow so as to heat the honeycomb body. The honeycomb body includes a plurality of metal foils stacked one on top of the other, which metal foils form between them a plurality of flow channels, through which a flow can pass along an axial direction, wherein the hollow of the honeycomb body extends in a radial direction, in which the at least one heating element is accommodated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventor: Rolf BRÜCK
  • Patent number: 10746070
    Abstract: A tank system for a reducing agent includes: a vessel storing the reducing agent and having: an upper vessel wall, lateral vessel walls, a lower vessel wall forming a base of the vessel, a base region of the vessel having at least one opening, and an outer side of the vessel; and a conveying device, arranged on the outer side of the vessel, that provides the reducing agent under pressure to exhaust gas. The conveying device is disposed on the outer side of the vessel such that the conveying device, with the outer side of the vessel, forms a space S outside the vessel. The space S, by the at least one opening, is connected to the vessel interior allowing the reducing agent to flow from the interior of the vessel into the space S and is suppliable by the conveying device from the space S to the exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Rolf Brück
  • Patent number: 10718244
    Abstract: A method for operating a device for providing a liquid additive includes feeding the liquid additive along a feeding path having at least one first portion which forms a heat conducting section from a heater of the device into a tank for the liquid additive. The feeding path also has at least one second portion in which a component susceptible to freezing is disposed. The liquid additive is first fed along the feeding path of the device. Subsequently, the feeding of liquid additive is stopped. Then, partial draining of the feeding path takes place, with liquid additive remaining in the at least one first portion of the feeding path while the at least one second portion is being drained. A device for providing a liquid additive is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Brueck, Jan Hodgson
  • Patent number: 10677133
    Abstract: A tank system for a reducing agent includes: a vessel configured to store the reducing agent, the vessel having: an upper vessel wall, lateral vessel walls, and a lower vessel wall; and a conveying device, the conveying device being configured to provide the reducing agent under pressure by way of an outlet to an exhaust gas. One or more openings are arranged in the lower vessel wall, the one or more openings forming a connection to a further volume (V) filled with reducing agent. At least one opening of the one or more openings has radially inwardly directed elements arranged on a circumference of the at least one opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Rolf Brück
  • Patent number: 10677129
    Abstract: A tank system for a reducing agent includes: a vessel storing the reducing agent and having: an upper vessel wall, lateral vessel walls, a lower vessel wall forming a vessel base, a base region of the vessel having an opening, and an outer side of the vessel; and a conveying device on the outer side of the vessel that provides the reducing agent under pressure via an outlet to an exhaust gas. The conveying device with the outer side of the vessel forms a space S outside the vessel, the space S, via the opening, is connected to an interior of the vessel allowing reducing agent to flow from the interior into the space S and, by the conveying device, is suppliable from the space S to the exhaust gas and suctionable from the space S. A support is provided on the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Rolf Brück