Patents by Inventor Thomas Heckenberger
Thomas Heckenberger 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).
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Patent number: 9833959Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing frame elements for a frame for holding and arranging electrochemical cells in an electrochemical energy-storage unit. The present invention also relates to the use of certain plastics mixtures for producing said frame elements. The frame elements or frames of the invention are particularly preferably used in electrochemical energy-storage units with high power density. Electrochemical energy-storage units of this type with high power density are more particularly used for the operation of motor vehicles with electrical drive, for example in vehicles which are driven on the “hybrid” principle (electrical drive and internal combustion engine), and are also preferably used for exclusively or primarily electrically operated vehicles. It is preferable here to use, as electrochemical energy-storage units with high power density, lithium-ion batteries or lithium-polymer batteries.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2011Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: MAHLE INTERNATIONAL GMBHInventors: Thomas Heckenberger, Fan Jin, Alexandra Schnaars
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Patent number: 9291375Abstract: A thermoelectric heat exchanger for heating or cooling a medium, that includes at least one first tube for carrying a first medium and at least one second tube for carrying the first medium. The second tube being arranged substantially parallel to the first tube. The thermoelectric heat exchanger also has a casing element that is interposed between the first and the second tube, the casing element comprising a first casing part that is connectable to the first tube and at least one second casing part that forms a fluid channel for a second medium. A thermoelectric element for heating or cooling the first or second medium is interposed between the first and second casing part, the thermoelectric element being closed relative to the first and/or the second medium in a fluid-tight manner via the casing element.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2012Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: MAHLE International GmbHInventors: Holger Brehm, Thomas Heckenberger, Thomas Himmer, Rudolf Riedel
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Patent number: 9283826Abstract: A device for cooling a heat source of a motor vehicle, including a cooling body (7) which is in thermal contact with the heat source, a first fluid stream for the discharge of heat being capable of flowing to the cooling body (7), wherein at least one second fluid stream for the discharge of heat can flow selectably to the cooling body (7).Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2008Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: MAHLE International GmbHInventors: Thomas Heckenberger, Conrad Pfender, Dirk Neumeister, Guenther Feuerecker, Manuel Wehowski, Roland Burk, Hans-Georg Herrmann, Tobias Isermeyer, Florian Moldovan, Martin Steinbach
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Patent number: 9126282Abstract: A method for connecting two components in a fluid-tight manner for producing a fluid-tight unit is provided. The method includes a step of providing at least one first component that is solder-plated on one side, wherein the first component has a cutting burr on a side facing away from the solder-plated surface. The method further includes a step of connecting, in particular soldering, the first component to a second component in a fluid-tight manner, in order to produce the fluid-tight unit, wherein the solder-plated surface of the first component faces the second component when connecting the first and second components in a fluid-tight manner.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2012Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: MAHLE Behr GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Thomas Heckenberger, Stefan Hirsch, Florin Moldovan, Christoph Fehrenbacher, Hans-Georg Herrmann
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Patent number: 9083009Abstract: A method comprising a step of providing a cooling plate having at least one exposed cooling channel designed for guiding a cooling fluid. The method further comprises a step of providing a mounting unit designed for receiving and fixing at least one energy storage unit. The method finally comprises a step of connecting the cooling plate to the mounting unit, whereby the at least one cooling channel is closed.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2012Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: MAHLE Behr GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Thomas Heckenberger, Tobias Isermeyer, Markus Kohlberger, Thomas Schiehlen, Hans-Georg Herrmann, Christoph Fehrenbacher
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Patent number: 8863543Abstract: A device for cooling a heat source of a motor vehicle is provided that includes a cooling body which has a plurality of feed flow channels and a plurality of return flow channels. At least a multiplicity of the feed flow channels and return flow channels are arranged adjacent to one another in an alternating fashion in the cooling body.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2011Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Thomas Heckenberger, Stefan Hirsch, Heiko Neff, Tobias Isermeyer, Caroline Schmid, Jalal Mohamed-Ali, Hans-Georg Herrmann, Achim Wiebelt
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Patent number: 8790808Abstract: A device for cooling a vehicle battery is provided that includes a plurality of electrical storage elements, and a cooling element having ducts for a fluid to flow through, wherein the electrical storage elements are in thermal contact with the cooling elements and heat can be transmitted from the storage elements to the fluid, and wherein the cooling element which comprises the ducts is embodied as at least one extruded profile.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2010Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Hans-Georg Herrmann, Florian Moldovan, Caroline Schmid, Thomas Schiehlen, Tobias Isermeyer, Martin Steinbach, Juergen Eckstein, Christoph Fehren-Bacher, Achim Wiebelt, Markus Kohlberger, Conrad Pfender, Thomas Heckenberger
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Publication number: 20130313754Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing frame elements for a frame for holding and arranging electrochemical cells in an electrochemical energy-storage unit. The present invention also relates to the use of certain plastics mixtures for producing said frame elements. The frame elements or frames of the invention are particularly preferably used in electrochemical energy-storage units with high power density. Electrochemical energy-storage units of this type with high power density are more particularly used for the operation of motor vehicles with electrical drive, for example in vehicles which are driven on the “hybrid” principle (electrical drive and internal combustion engine), and are also preferably used for exclusively or primarily electrically operated vehicles. It is preferable here to use, as electrochemical energy-storage units with high power density, lithium-ion batteries or lithium-polymer batteries.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2011Publication date: November 28, 2013Applicant: BEHR GMBH & CO. KGInventors: Thomas Heckenberger, Fan Jin, Alexandra Schnaars
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Publication number: 20130309545Abstract: The invention relates to a device for pressing a cooler against a battery, said cooler having at least one cooling surface for absorbing or dissipating thermal energy, and the battery having at least one contact surface for the cooling surface of the cooler to rest on. The device comprises a pressure part having at least one spring-elastic pressure element for transmitting a contact pressure onto a section of the surface of the cooler facing away from the battery. The device further comprises at least one suspension unit for suspending the pressure part on the battery, said suspension unit being designed such as to generate a suspension force which is counter to the contact force when the cooler is arranged on the battery and the suspension unit is suspended on the battery.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2012Publication date: November 21, 2013Applicant: BEHR GMBH & CO. KGInventors: Nikolaus Daubitzer, Martin Engelhardt, Thomas Heckenberger, Thomas Himmer, Lars Ludwig, Florian Moldovan, Michael Moser, Heiko Neff, Rudolf Riedel, Caroline Schmid, Holger Schroth, Martin Steinbach
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Publication number: 20120324909Abstract: A heat exchanger for exchanging heat between two media in a vehicle is provided. The heat exchanger includes at least one tube, especially a double-walled tube for carrying a first medium of a first temperature, a thermoelectric material being disposed on an inner wall of the tube, and at least one guide sheet, connected to the at least one tube, for carrying a second medium of a second temperature. The at least one guide sheet is designed to carry the second medium to the outer wall of the at least one tube to allow the exchange of heat between the first and the second medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2012Publication date: December 27, 2012Inventors: Holger BREHM, Thomas Heckenberger, Thomas Himmer, Stéphanie Larpent, Julie Paterson, Rudolf Riedel
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Publication number: 20120312029Abstract: A thermoelectric heat exchanger for heating or cooling a medium, that includes at least one first tube for carrying a first medium and at least one second tube for carrying the first medium. The second tube being arranged substantially parallel to the first tube. The thermoelectric heat exchanger also has a casing element that is interposed between the first and the second tube, the casing element comprising a first casing part that is connectable to the first tube and at least one second casing part that forms a fluid channel for a second medium. A thermoelectric element for heating or cooling the first or second medium is interposed between the first and second casing part, the thermoelectric element being closed relative to the first and/or the second medium in a fluid-tight manner via the casing element.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2012Publication date: December 13, 2012Inventors: Holger BREHM, Thomas HECKENBERGER, Thomas HIMMER, Rudolf RIEDEL
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Publication number: 20120301771Abstract: The present invention relates to an energy store device, comprising a plurality of cooling channels, which are disposed in a plane spaced apart from each other substantially parallel to each other and designed for a cooling fluid to flow through them, at least one collection box, which is disposed in the plane with and substantially perpendicular to the plurality of cooling channels and is connected thereto to take up the cooling fluid therefrom or release it therein, and with a stack composed of a plurality of electrochemical energy store units, which are disposed such that between two adjacent cooling channels of the plurality of cooling channels at least one energy store unit from the plurality of electrochemical energy store units is disposed, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2010Publication date: November 29, 2012Inventors: Michael Moser, Tobias Isermeyer, Christoph Fehrenbacher, Thomas Heckenberger, Hans-Georg Herrmann, Dirk Neumeister, Rudolf Riedel, Christian Zahn
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Publication number: 20120298163Abstract: A thermoelectric unit for electrically interconnecting a plurality of thermoelectric modules. The thermoelectric unit includes a first thermoelectric module having a plurality of interconnected thermoelectric elements, the first thermoelectric module being interposed between a main surface of an inner flat tube and a main surface of an outer flat tube of a double-walled cooling tube, a second thermoelectric module being interposed between a second main surface of the inner flat tube and a second main surface of the outer flat tube of the double-walled cooling tube and/or between a main surface of an inner flat tube and a main surface of an outer flat tube of a second double-walled cooling tube, and an electrical connector designed to connect the first thermoelectric module to the second thermoelectric module in an electrically conducting manner.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2012Publication date: November 29, 2012Inventors: Holger BREHM, Thomas Himmer, Thomas Heckenberger, Rudolf Riedel
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Publication number: 20120251865Abstract: A heat sink for an electrochemical cell, the heat sink comprises a cell region which is designed to be coupled to the electrochemical cell, a connecting region which is designed to be connected mechanically and thermally to a cooling plate, and a fold region which is arranged between the cell region and the connecting region and comprises a flexible fold of the heat sink.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 29, 2012Publication date: October 4, 2012Inventors: Thomas HECKENBERGER, Hans-Georg HERRMANN, Tobias ISERMEYER, Roman LORENZ, Michael MOSER
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Publication number: 20120227931Abstract: A method comprising a step of providing a cooling plate having at least one exposed cooling channel designed for guiding a cooling fluid. The method further comprises a step of providing a mounting unit designed for receiving and fixing at least one energy storage unit. The method finally comprises a step of connecting the cooling plate to the mounting unit, whereby the at least one cooling channel is closed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2012Publication date: September 13, 2012Inventors: Thomas HECKENBERGER, Tobias ISERMEYER, Markus KOHLBERGER, Thomas SCHIEHLEN, Hans-Georg HERRMANN, Christoph FEHRENBACHER
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Publication number: 20120174402Abstract: A method for connecting two components in a fluid-tight manner for producing a fluid-tight unit is provided. The method includes a step of providing at least one first component that is solder-plated on one side, wherein the first component has a cutting burr on a side facing away from the solder-plated surface. The method further includes a step of connecting, in particular soldering, the first component to a second component in a fluid-tight manner, in order to produce the fluid-tight unit, wherein the solder-plated surface of the first component faces the second component when connecting the first and second components in a fluid-tight manner.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2012Publication date: July 12, 2012Inventors: Thomas HECKENBERGER, Stefan Hirsch, Florian Moldovan, Christoph Fehrenbacher, Hans-Georg Herrmann
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Publication number: 20110308771Abstract: An exhaust cooler for a combustion motor is provided that includes a flow path for guidance of the exhaust from a combustion motor, wherein the flow path has a wall to separate the exhaust gas flow from a cooling fluid and wherein heat is exchangeable via the wall between the exhaust and the cooling fluid, wherein the wall is covered at least partially by a flexible thermoelectric film.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2011Publication date: December 22, 2011Inventors: Thomas HECKENBERGER, Peter GESKES, Holger BREHM, Dirk NEUMEISTER
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Patent number: 8061334Abstract: A device for recycling and cooling exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine is disclosed, comprising a first exhaust-gas heat exchanger and a second exhaust-gas heat exchanger, wherein the first and second exhaust gas heat exchangers are combined in a structural unit and form a module.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2006Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Jochen Eitel, Markus Flik, Peter Geskes, Thomas Heckenberger, Dieter Heinle, Jens Ruckwied, Andreas Thumm
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Publication number: 20110174004Abstract: A device for cooling a heat source of a motor vehicle is provided that includes a cooling body which has a plurality of feed flow channels and a plurality of return flow channels. At least a multiplicity of the feed flow channels and return flow channels are arranged adjacent to one another in an alternating fashion in the cooling body.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2011Publication date: July 21, 2011Inventors: Thomas Heckenberger, Stefan Hirsch, Heiko Neff, Tobias Isermeyer, Caroline Schmid, Jalal Mohamed-Ali, Hans-Georg Herrmann, Achim Wiebelt
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Publication number: 20110132580Abstract: A device for cooling a vehicle battery is provided that includes a plurality of electrical storage elements, and a cooling element having ducts for a fluid to flow through, wherein the electrical storage elements are in thermal contact with the cooling elements and heat can be transmitted from the storage elements to the fluid, and wherein the cooling element which comprises the ducts is embodied as at least one extruded profile.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2010Publication date: June 9, 2011Inventors: Hans-Georg HERRMANN, Florian Moldovan, Caroline Schmid, Thomas Schiehlen, Tobias Isermeyer, Martin Steinbach, Juergen Eckstein, Christoph Fehren-Bacher, Achim Wiebelt, Markus Kohlberger, Conrad Pfender, Thomas Heckenberger