Patents by Inventor Thomas Kreuzer

Thomas Kreuzer 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: 10994269
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and a corresponding apparatus for coating open-pored bodies with at least one coating suspension, the coating suspension having solids and solutes in a liquid medium in a quantity in wet state which is to correspond to at least a required target quantity, and the coating operation having a variation in the applied wet coating quantity from one body to the other. The method includes steps of: coating the body with an actual quantity of the coating suspension, which is always larger than the required target quantity taking the variation of the coating operation into account, determining the difference between the actual quantity and the required target quantity, and reducing the difference between actual quantity and target quantity by removing still wet coating suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: UMICORE AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Michael Harris, Dieter Detterbeck, Egbert Lox, Thomas Kreuzer
  • Publication number: 20190358619
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and a corresponding apparatus for coating open-pored bodies with at least one coating suspension, the coating suspension having solids and solutes in a liquid medium in a quantity in wet state which is to correspond to at least a required target quantity, and the coating operation having a variation in the applied wet coating quantity from one body to the other. The includes steps of: coating the body with an actual quantity of the coating suspension, which is always larger than the required target quantity taking the variation of the coating operation into account, determining the difference between the actual quantity and the required target quantity, and reducing the difference between actual quantity and target quantity by removing still wet coating suspension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Applicant: UMICORE AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Michael HARRIS, Dieter DETTERBECK, Egbert LOX, Thomas KREUZER
  • Patent number: 10441949
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method and a corresponding apparatus for coating open-pored bodies with at least one coating suspension. In particular, the coating suspension has solids and solutes in a liquid medium in a quantity in wet state which is to correspond to at least a required target quantity. The coating operation has a variation in the applied wet coating quantity from one body to the other. The method according to the invention is characterized by the steps of: coating the body with an actual quantity of the coating suspension, which is always larger than the required target quantity taking the variation of the coating operation into account, determining the difference between the actual quantity and the required target quantity, and reducing the difference between actual quantity and target quantity by removing still wet coating suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: UMICORE AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Michael Harris, Dieter Detterbeck, Egbert Lox, Thomas Kreuzer
  • Publication number: 20160380418
    Abstract: A device for receiving at least one cable harness is indicated, which has a housing composed of mechanically stable insulation material, on which at least one ring shaped undulated pipe is attached, that in the mounted position, is secured in an opening of the housing. In the mounted position, a bolder composed of combinable parts guided through an opening in the wall of the housing by which each two parts in the combined state with dimensions to be secured in the opening of the housing, ring shaped undulated pipes, a corresponding central passage locked therebetween, is attached. In the mounted position each two parts of the holder engage with two sides of the pipe lying diametrically opposite each other, in at least one trough of the ring shaped undulation of the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas Kreuzer, Erhard Walter
  • Patent number: 9484663
    Abstract: A device for dividing at least one bundle of insulated electrical conductors is provided, where in the housing, is arranged a contact part, consisting of metal, which protrudes outwardly beyond the profile of the housing and has at its end projecting out of the housing at least one throughhole and at its end located in the housing a connecting element for electrically conductively connecting a conductor. In the assembly position at least one electrical individual line extends through one of the openings into the housing. The line has at least two conductors, wherein one of the conductors is electrically conductively connected to the contact part, while the other conductor of the individual line projects through one of the openings out of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: NEXANS
    Inventors: Thomas Kreuzer, Andreas Linner, Roland Fischer, Jurgen Dittrich
  • Patent number: 9278347
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for coating ceramic honeycomb bodies with a coating suspension containing, in a carrier liquid, catalyst components as solids and/or in dissolved form. The honeycomb bodies have parallel flow channels running through them. The walls of the flow channels generally have an open pore structure. To coat the channel walls and in particular also the interior surfaces of the pores with the coating suspension, it is proposed that the flow channels be temporarily alternately closed and the coating suspension be forced through the open pore structure of the channel walls. The coating is subsequently dried and calcined. To close the flow channels, it is possible to use thermally or chemically decomposable or soluble compositions which are decomposed or dissolved either during calcination or by means of a subsequent chemical treatment. The coated honeycomb bodies are preferably used for the purification of exhaust gases from automobiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: UMICORE AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Marcus Pfeifer, Paul Spurk, Markus Koegel, Egbert S. J. Lox, Thomas Kreuzer
  • Publication number: 20150349453
    Abstract: A device for dividing at least one bundle of insulated electrical conductors is provided, where in the housing, is arranged a contact part, consisting of metal, which protrudes outwardly beyond the profile of the housing and has at its end projecting out of the housing at least one throughhole and at its end located in the housing a connecting element for electrically conductively connecting a conductor. In the assembly position at least one electrical individual line extends through one of the openings into the housing. The line has at least two conductors, wherein one of the conductors is electrically conductively connected to the contact part, while the other conductor of the individual line projects through one of the openings out of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas Kreuzer, Andreas Linner, Roland Fischer, Jurgen Dittrich
  • Patent number: 8863507
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification system (method and device) for the treatment of diesel exhaust gases containing nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons is disclosed, which comprises the addition of ammonia or of a compound decomposable to ammonia into the exhaust gas stream and the subsequent leading of the exhaust gas stream over two successively arranged SCR catalysts with different properties and compositions. Both SCR catalysts are free of vanadium compounds and only the downstream SCR catalyst contains zeolite compounds. The exhaust gas purification system according to the invention is characterized by good “kick-off” behavior at low temperatures and a simultaneously high conversion performance over a wide temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Katja Adelmann, Nicola Soeger, Marcus Pfeifer, Wolfgang Schneider, Gerald Jeske, Thomas Kreuzer
  • Patent number: 8678813
    Abstract: A stream of exhaust gases from the combustion of hydrocarbon-containing fuels with a variable temperature can be produced by dividing the exhaust gases into two separate part-streams, cooling one part-stream and then combining the two part-streams again. The temperature of the exhaust-gas stream which has been combined again can be set to between the temperature of the combustion of the hydrocarbon-containing fuels and the temperature of the cooled exhaust-gas part-stream by corresponding throttling of the two part-streams before they are brought together again. The exhaust-gas stream produced in this way is preferably used for the defined ageing of automotive exhaust catalysts. In this context, it is particularly advantageous that the change in the temperature of the exhaust-gas stream has no influence on its air/fuel ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Juergen Gieshoff, Hartmut Finkbeiner, Thomas Kreuzer
  • Patent number: 8383544
    Abstract: Nitrogen oxide storage catalysts are used to remove the nitrogen oxides present in the lean exhaust gas of lean-burn engines. As a result of the stress due to high temperatures in vehicle operation, they are subject to thermal aging processes which affect both the nitrogen oxide storage components and the noble metals present as catalytically active components. The present invention provides a process with which the catalytic activity of a nitrogen oxide storage catalyst which comprises, in addition to platinum as a catalytically active component, basic compounds of strontium and/or barium on a support material comprising cerium oxide, said catalytic activity being lost owing to the thermal aging process, can be at least partly restored. The two-stage process is based on the fact that strontium and/or barium compounds formed during the thermal aging with the support material, which also comprise platinum, are recycled to the catalytically active forms by controlled treatment with specific gas mixtures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co., KG
    Inventors: Stephan Eckhoff, Meike Wittrock, Ulrich Goebel, Ina Grisstede, Ruediger Hoyer, Wilfried Mueller, Thomas Kreuzer, Maria Cristina Casapu, Jan-Dierk Grunwaldt, Marek Maciejewski, Aflons Baiker
  • Patent number: 8341938
    Abstract: When a nitrogen oxide storage catalyst is being regenerated, the regeneration may be terminated for example as a result of a premature load change in the engine, which can lead to incomplete emptying of the storage catalyst. The residual filling level which remains in the catalyst following an incomplete regeneration of this nature is used as the starting value for calculation of the filling level during the next storage phase. After incomplete regeneration, the nitrogen oxide conversion rate is initially greater than would be expected, on account of the residual filling level. By taking this increased conversion rate into account when calculating the filling level during the storage phase, it is possible to further improve the accuracy of the calculation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Votsmeier, Juliane Theis, Ulrich Goebel, Jürgen Gieshoff, Thomas Kreuzer
  • Publication number: 20120321842
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for coating ceramic honeycomb bodies with a coating suspension containing, in a carrier liquid, catalyst components as solids and/or in dissolved form. The honeycomb bodies have parallel flow channels running through them. The walls of the flow channels generally have an open pore structure. To coat the channel walls and in particular also the interior surfaces of the pores with the coating suspension, it is proposed that the flow channels be temporarily alternately closed and the coating suspension be forced through the open pore structure of the channel walls. The coating is subsequently dried and calcined. To close the flow channels, it is possible to use thermally or chemically decomposable or soluble compositions which are decomposed or dissolved either during calcination or by means of a subsequent chemical treatment. The coated honeycomb bodies are preferably used for the purification of exhaust gases from automobiles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: UMICORE AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Marcus PFEIFER, Paul SPURK, Markus KOEGEL, Egbert S.J. LOX, Thomas KREUZER
  • Patent number: 8327625
    Abstract: To adhere to legal exhaust-gas regulations, the exhaust gases of a lean-burn engine must be freed from soot particles and nitrogen oxides. It is proposed that the cylinders of the lean-burn engine be divided into two groups which discharge their exhaust gases into two associated exhaust lines which each comprise a soot filter and which are merged at an opening-in point into a common exhaust line. The common exhaust line comprises the catalytic converter for the removal of the nitrogen oxides. By regenerating the two soot filters at different times, the exhaust-gas temperature in the common exhaust line is limited to a mean temperature between the exhaust-gas temperature of normal operation and that of regeneration operation, and the catalytic converter for the removal of the nitrogen oxides is preserved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Stephan Eckhoff, Ina Grisstede, Wilfried Mueller, Thomas Kreuzer
  • Patent number: 8278236
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for coating ceramic honeycomb bodies with a coating suspension containing, in a carrier liquid, catalyst components as solids and/or in dissolved form. The honeycomb bodies have parallel flow channels running through them. The walls of the flow channels generally have an open pore structure. To coat the channel walls and in particular also the interior surfaces of the pores with the coating suspension, it is proposed that the flow channels be temporarily alternately closed and the coating suspension be forced through the open pore structure of the channel walls. The coating is subsequently dried and calcined. To close the flow channels, it is possible to use thermally or chemically decomposable or soluble compositions which are decomposed or dissolved either during calcination or by means of a subsequent chemical treatment. The coated honeycomb bodies are preferably used for the purification of exhaust gases from automobiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Marcus Pfeifer, Paul Spurk, Markus Koegel, Egbert S. J. Lox, Thomas Kreuzer
  • Patent number: 8276438
    Abstract: The invention describes a method for determining the light-off temperature of a catalytic converter on board a vehicle. The aging condition of the catalytic converter is determined by means of the method. To test the catalytic converter, the latter is loaded for example with a CO/HC test pulse. During the combustion of the additional CO and HC on the catalytic converter, an axial temperature profile is generated. The position of the maximum of said temperature profile along the catalytic converter is dependent on the current light-off temperature. The temperature profile travels through the catalytic converter and can be measured at the outlet of the catalytic converter as a time-dependent profile. The original axial temperature profile can be inferred from the time-dependent profile. Using a calculation program, the current light-off temperature of the catalytic converter on the vehicle can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Votsmeier, Juergen Gieshoff, Thomas Kreuzer
  • Patent number: 8230674
    Abstract: Modern exhaust-gas purification systems in motor vehicles with a lean-burn engine include a starting catalyst fitted close to the engine and a main catalyst arranged in the underbody region, with both the starting catalyst and the main catalyst being formed by nitrogen oxide storage catalysts. The nitrogen oxide storage catalysts are in each case regenerated by the engine being briefly switched from lean-burn mode to rich-burn mode when the nitrogen oxide concentration in the exhaust gas downstream of the storage catalysts rises above a predetermined value. The starting catalyst is exposed to particularly high temperatures and is therefore prone to faster ageing of its nitrogen oxide storage capacity than the main catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Stephan Bremm, Christian Manfred Tomanik, Ulrich Goebel, Wilfried Mueller, Thomas Kreuzer
  • Patent number: 8226896
    Abstract: A catalytically active diesel particulate filter with ammonia trap action is presented, which, in addition to an oxidation-active coating (2), comprises a coating (1) which is catalytically active in the SCR reaction. By means of this inventive diesel particulate filter, it is possible to make exhaust gas aftertreatment systems for removing nitrogen oxides and particulates from the exhaust gas of lean engines considerably simpler and less expensive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Marcus Pfeifer, Markus Koegel, Wolfgang Schneider, Nicola Soeger, Katja Adelmann, Gerald Jeske, Thomas Kreuzer
  • Patent number: 8136349
    Abstract: The present invention describes an exhaust-gas purification system for an internal combustion engine made of an oxidation catalyst arranged close to the engine, a subsequent hydrocarbon adsorber and a particulate filter arranged downstream thereof and provided with another oxidation catalyst. The oxidation catalyst ensures that emission limits with respect to carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons are satisfied in normal driving mode. During operating states with exhaust-gas temperatures below about 200° C., the oxidation catalyst can no longer oxidize carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons. Instead, the hydrocarbons are adsorbed by the hydrocarbon adsorber during these operating phases. In order to initiate the periodical regeneration of the particulate filter, the exhaustgas temperature of the internal combustion engine is raised by engine modifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Umicore Galvanotechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Jürgen Gieshoff, Martin Votsmeier, Frank-Walter Schütze, Marcus Pfeifer, Egbert Lox, Thomas Kreuzer
  • Publication number: 20110258982
    Abstract: Nitrogen oxide storage catalysts are used to remove the nitrogen oxides present in the lean exhaust gas of lean-burn engines. Storage catalysts are thermally aged by high temperatures. Ageing is due to sintering of the catalytically active noble metal components of the catalyst and to formation of compounds of the storage components with the support materials. According to the invention, the formation of compounds of the storage materials can be largely reversed by treatment of the storage material with a gas mixture containing carbon dioxide, optionally water vapor and optionally nitrogen oxides at temperatures in the range from 200° C. to 950° C., preferably from 300° C. to 700° C. The reactivation can be carried out under emission-neutral conditions directly in the vehicle during driving operation by setting of suitable exhaust gas conditions and regulating the air/fuel ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: UMICORE AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Stephan Eckhoff, Meike Wittrock, Ulrich Goebel, Wilfried Mueller, Thomas Kreuzer
  • Publication number: 20110172448
    Abstract: A cost effective process is presented for carrying out catalytic, in particular also exothermic, endothermic or autothermal reactions with optimum yield and selectivity. The system used is a wall-flow monolith which forces a flow from the inlet channel through the porous wall into the outlet channel by reciprocal closure of the gas channels. This is operated such that mass transfer and heat transport are determined virtually exclusively by convection, and diffusion-related thermal conduction phenomena can be neglected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Martin Votsmeier, Susanne Ungermann, Juergen Gieshoff, Thomas Kreuzer