Patents by Inventor Stephan Kleppner

Stephan Kleppner 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: 7303378
    Abstract: The fuel supply apparatus according to the invention is improved in a simple manner in that it is provided with short fuel lines. According to the invention, the drive line of the suction jet pumps is connected to a pressure line downstream of the fuel supply pump and has at least one check valve or a siphon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Kleppner, Hans-Peter Braun, Wolfgang Gabauer, Oliver Wahl, Thomas Wieland, Erich Eiler, Ludger Kuermann, Juergen Weikert
  • Patent number: 7080632
    Abstract: Known apparatuses for pumping fuel have at least two suction jet pumps, which each have one drive nozzle and one collection conduit and mixing conduit located downstream of the drive nozzle. A disadvantage is that the parallel suction jet pumps require a large amount of installation space, are embodied very massively, and therefore require a large amount of injection-molding compound for their manufacture. In the apparatus of the invention, the production costs and the required installation space for the suction jet pumps are reduced. According to the invention, the drive nozzles are surrounded by a single collection conduit, narrowing conically in the flow direction and located upstream of the mixing conduits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Kleppner, Hans-Peter Braun, Thomas Wieland, Ludger Kuermann, Winfried Eckart
  • Publication number: 20050279414
    Abstract: Known apparatuses for pumping fuel have at least two suction jet pumps, which each have one drive nozzle and one collection conduit and mixing conduit located downstream of the drive nozzle. A disadvantage is that the parallel suction jet pumps require a large amount of installation space, are embodied very massively, and therefore require a large amount of injection-molding compound for their manufacture. In the apparatus of the invention, the production costs and the required installation space for the suction jet pumps are reduced. According to the invention, the drive nozzles are surrounded by a single collection conduit, narrowing conically in the flow direction and located upstream of the mixing conduits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Publication date: December 22, 2005
    Inventors: Stephan Kleppner, Hans-Peter Braun, Thomas Wieland, Ludger Kuermann, Winfried Eckart
  • Publication number: 20040219029
    Abstract: The fuel supply apparatus according to the invention is improved in a simple manner in that it is provided with short fuel lines. According to the invention, the drive line of the suction jet pumps is connected to a pressure line downstream of the fuel supply pump and has at least one check valve or a siphon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: Stephan Kleppner, Hans-Peter Braun, Wolfgang Gabauer, Oliver Wahl, Thomas Wieland, Erich Eiler, Ludger Kuermann, Juergen Weikert
  • Patent number: 6802301
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine, having a unit such as a pressure regulator, mounted in electrically insulated fashion and including an electrically conductive housing, and the housing is connected via an electrical connection to a defined electrical potential. As a result, static charging of the unit, which could become dangerous, is precluded. The fuel supply system is intended in particular for pumping fuel to an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Edwin Fauser, Stephan Kleppner, Kurt Frank, Hans-Peter Braun, Wolfgang Bueser, Klaus-Dieter Hufnagel, Willi Strohl, Jochen Rose, Wolfgang Hiller, Erich Eiler, Frantisek Buric, Jaroslav Moucka
  • Publication number: 20040037713
    Abstract: The fuel feed system has a feed unit (22), which has having an electric motor (32) as a drive mechanism and a pumping part (34) driven by the electric motor; the pumping part (34) is disposed offset from the electric motor (32), in the direction of the pivot axis (33) of the electric motor. A filter (24) is disposed beside the feed unit (22) and fuel pumped by the pumping part (34) flows through it. The feed unit (22) and the filter (24) are disposed in separate chambers (10, 20) of a common housing (16), between which chambers there is an overflow opening (60) for the fuel pumped by the pumping part (34). The housing (16) is tightly closed by means of a cap (26). The electric motor (32) and the pumping part (34) are inserted as separate structural units into a chamber (10) of the housing (16) and are braced against one another by at least one resilient element (58) in the direction of the pivot axis (33) of the electric motor (32).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: Peter Schelhas, Asta Reichl, Stephan Kleppner, Michael Kuehn, Mathias Rollwagen, Hans-Peter Braun, Hans-Joerg Fees, Dieter Schreckenberger, Thomas Wieland, Jochen Rose
  • Patent number: 6474374
    Abstract: The device for filling the reservoir (2) of a fuel supply module (1) is arranged in the reservoir (2), which is connected on a low-pressure side with an interior of a fuel tank (11) and on a high-pressure side with an internal combustion engine. The reservoir (2) including a fuel feed unit (5) is arranged in a fuel tank and is provided with an opening (10) in a lower portion thereof for admission of the fuel from the fuel tank. The device for filling the reservoir (2) includes a pivotable lever arm (15) pivotally mounted in the reservoir (2), a movable closure element (8) arranged in the reservoir (2) and mounted on one end of the lever arm (15) and a float element (16) arranged in the reservoir on another end of the lever arm (15) so as to close the opening or to open the opening (10) according to a fuel level (20) of fuel contained in the reservoir (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Stephan Kleppner
  • Patent number: 6457945
    Abstract: A fuel feeding module for a motor vehicle has a fuel supply tank, a storage container arranged in the fuel supply tank, a feeding aggregate arranged in the storage container and feeding fuel from the storage container to an internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle, the feeding aggregate having a driving part and a pump part which is formed as a flow pump and has a rotatably driven impeller cooperating with at least one flow passage for feeding the fuel, a jet pump which is connected with the flow passage of the pump part of the feeding aggregate and through which the fuel is fed from the fuel supply tank into the storage container, the jet pump being arranged laterally near the feeding aggregate and connected with the flow passage of the pump part by a passage which extends along the bottom of the storage container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Kleppner, Michael Kuehn, Wolfgang Gabauer, Oliver Wahl, Dieter Schreckenberger
  • Publication number: 20020124833
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine, having a unit such as a pressure regulator, mounted in electrically insulated fashion and including an electrically conductive housing, and the housing is connected via an electrical connection to a defined electrical potential. As a result, static charging of the unit, which could become dangerous, is precluded. The fuel supply system is intended in particular for pumping fuel to an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Edwin Fauser, Stephan Kleppner, Kurt Frank, Hans-Peter Braun, Wolfgang Bueser, Klaus-Dieter Hufnagel, Willi Strohl, Jochen Rose, Wolfgang Hiller, Erich Eiler, Frantisek Buric, Jaroslav Moucka
  • Patent number: 6435163
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine, having a unit, such as a pressure regulator, mounted in electrically insulated fashion and including an electrically conductive housing, and the housing is connected via an electrical connection to a defined electrical potential. As a result, static charging of the unit, which could become dangerous, is precluded. The fuel supply system is intended in particular for pumping fuel to an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Edwin Fauser, Stephan Kleppner, Kurt Frank, Hans-Peter Braun, Wolfgang Bueser, Klaus-Dieter Hufnagel, Willi Strohl, Jochen Rose, Wolfgang Hiller, Erich Eiler, Frantisek Buric, Jaroslav Moucka
  • Patent number: 6305417
    Abstract: A reservoir for feeding module has a tubular cylinder part, and a bottom part joined to the tubular cylinder part, the tubular cylinder part and the bottom part having joining surfaces on which functional surfaces and feeding passages are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Kleppner, Dieter Schreckenberger
  • Publication number: 20010026760
    Abstract: A fuel feeding module for a motor vehicle has a fuel supply tank, a storage container arranged in the fuel supply tank, a feeding aggregate arranged in the storage container and feeding fuel from the storage container to an internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle, the feeding aggregate having a driving part and a pump part which is formed as a flow pump and has a rotatably driven impeller cooperating with at least one flow passage for feeding the fuel, a jet pump which is connected with the flow passage of the pump part of the feeding aggregate and through which the fuel is fed from the fuel supply tank into the storage container, the jet pump being arranged laterally near the feeding aggregate and connected with the flow passage of the pump part by a passage which extends along the bottom of the storage container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Inventors: Stephan Kleppner, Michael Kuehn, Wolfgang Gabauer, Oliver Wahl, Dieter Schreckenberger
  • Patent number: 6293256
    Abstract: The fuel delivery device (12) has a receptacle (16) arranged in a storage tank (10) and a delivery unit (20) delivering fuel from the receptacle (16) to the internal combustion engine (14) of a motor vehicle. Further, there is provided at least one suction jet pump (40) which delivers fuel from the storage tank (10) into the receptacle (16). The suction jet pump (40) is fastened to an upper edge area (17) of the receptacle (16) as a separate constructional unit. The suction jet pump (40) is formed by a constructional unit having a propelling nozzle (41), a connection (43) for a propelling line (44), which connection (43) opens into the propelling nozzle (41), a mixing pipe (42) following the propelling nozzle (41), and a connection (45) for a suction line (46), which connection (45) opens into the mixing pipe (42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Kleppner, Kurt Frank, Steffen Mihatsch, Klaus-Dieter Hufnagel, Guenter-Paul Ballier, Albert Gerhard, Gerhard Jauch
  • Patent number: 6273131
    Abstract: The device for conveying fuel from a fuel tank (10) to an engine (18) of a motor vehicle has a conveying unit (14), communicating on the intake side with the fuel tank (10) and, on the pressurized side, with the engine (18), and a return line (22), which leads to a jet pump (24), located near a tank bottom (11), that pumps excess fuel via a mixing region into a reserve pot (12), from which the conveying unit (14) draws fuel. According to the invention a siphon-like mixing region (29) is provided between the reserve pot (12) and the tank bottom (11). An opening (32) or a filter element (48) is provided in a transitional region (31) of the mixing region (29) to the reserve pot (12). The opening (32) or filter element (48) which extends parallel to the tank bottom is closable by an axially movable closing element (44,51) so that a fuel flow can occur into the reserve pot (12) but not back from the reserve pot (12) into the mixing region (29).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Stephan Kleppner
  • Patent number: 6227242
    Abstract: A pressure limiting valve for the fuel return line connected to a tank of a motor vehicle is positioned in a flange which connects the fuel return line to the tank. The pressure limiting valve closes an outlet opening which branches off from a fuel passage of the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Stephan Kleppner
  • Patent number: 6152114
    Abstract: The invention relates to a overflow valve for a device (1) for pumping fuel, in which the device (1) has a supply container for fuel for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, a catchment (6) disposed in the supply container, a fuel pumping assembly (19) that aspirates from the catchment (6) and communicates on the pressure side with the engine, a return line (2) from the engine or a direct branch (33) from the pressure line (20) to the supply container, and a fluid entrainment pump (3) communicating with the return line (2) or the branch and disposed in the supply container, by which pump fuel is pumped into the catchment (6), and the overflow valve (22) closes or opens a overflow opening (4) to the fluid entrainment pump (3). The overflow valve has a spirally shaped spring (12), which holds a closing member (7) and presses it vertically in the direction onto the overflow opening (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Stephan Kleppner
  • Patent number: 6073614
    Abstract: A fuel-feeding unit for supplying a fuel from a fuel tank is described which has a particularly compact structure. The described fuel-feeding unit has a fuel pump driven by an electrical motor, a low pressure side preliminary fuel filter and a high pressure side main fuel filter arranged in a housing. The housing has a central compartment for the electrical motor and a circular compartment surrounding the central compartment in which the main fuel filter is located. The housing is closed and sealed by means of a housing cover that has a fuel outlet connector and an E-connector for electrical power lines. The pump impeller of the fuel pump arranged in a pump compartment inside the housing has a diameter which is larger than the diameter of the central compartment and the fuel is fed from the fuel pump directly into the circular compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Stephan Kleppner
  • Patent number: 5901742
    Abstract: A pressure control valve in which the mass to be moved by the diaphragm is reduced by providing that a valve seat body having a valve seat face is placed in a middle region of the diaphragm. When the valve seat face lifts away from the valve closing body, fuel to be diverted flows from the pressure control side of the diaphragm to the return side of the diaphragm, via the valve seat face and a return conduit The pressure control valve is especially suitable for use in fuel supply systems of internal combustion engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Kleppner, Helmut Schwegler, Kurt Frank, Wolfgang Bueser, Uwe Liskow, Lorenz Drutu
  • Patent number: 5699773
    Abstract: An arrangement for pumping fuel out of a supply tank to an internal combustion engine having an electrically driven pumping unit which is disposed in a ram pot inserted into the supply tank. The ram pot is filled with fuel from the tank by means of a jet pump provided on its bottom; the intake opening of the jet pump is preceded by a filter that is formed by at least one ring of teeth axially protruding from the bottom of the ram pot, which enclose an intake chamber into which the intake opening of the jet pump protrudes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Kleppner, Ansgar Seitz
  • Patent number: 5669359
    Abstract: A fuel supply unit for mounting in a fuel supply container to supply fuel to an internal combustion engine has a tank flange arrangeable on the fuel supply container and provided with at least one hydraulic connection, a fuel supply aggregate arrangeable in the fuel supply container, a longitudinal and rotatably movable mechanical connection provided in the tank flange and the fuel supply aggregate, and a reservoir which receives the fuel supply aggregate, the movable connection being arranged on the tank flange and on the reservoir so that it receives the flow cap movable relative to the tank flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Kleppner, Kurt Frank