Patents by Inventor Thomas Lorenz

Thomas Lorenz 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: 9863348
    Abstract: A system for filtering and oxidizing particulate matter produced by a gasoline direct injection engine is disclosed. In one embodiment, engine cylinder air-fuel is adjusted to allow soot to oxidize at an upstream particulate filter while exhaust gases are efficiently processed in a downstream catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Carolyn Parks Hubbard, Robert Walter McCabe, Eva Thanasiu, David Karl Bidner, James Michael Kerns, Nian Xiao, Helmut Hans Ruhland, Moritz Klaus Springer, Thomas Lorenz, Georg Louven, Jeffrey Scott Hepburn
  • Publication number: 20180003140
    Abstract: Examples are directed to a fuel injection device positioned in a cylinder liner. In one example, a cylinder includes a combustion chamber which is jointly formed by a piston crown of a piston, by a cylinder barrel which laterally delimits the combustion chamber, and by a cylinder head. The cylinder includes an injection device positioned in the cylinder barrel for direct introduction of fuel into the combustion chamber, which injection device has at least one opening which, during a course of an injection process, is configured to be activated to introduce fuel into the combustion chamber, the injection device terminating flush, at a combustion chamber side, with the cylinder barrel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Albert Breuer, Thomas Lorenz, Maziar Khosravi, Helmut Hans Ruhland
  • Patent number: 9835111
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders, the method comprising, during one working cycle, distributing fuel for each cylinder of the plurality of cylinders among a plurality of injection processes according to settable split factors which respectively define a setpoint fuel mass and/or injection duration and time setting of each respective injection process for the plurality of individual injection processes, wherein random variation is carried out for at least one injection process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Georg Louven, Jens Wojahn, Klemens Grieser, Marco Marceno, Helmut Hans Ruhland, Thomas Lorenz, Moritz Klaus Springer
  • Patent number: 9822678
    Abstract: A lubrication system in an internal combustion engine is provided. The lubrication system includes a crankshaft bearing supporting a crankshaft, a supply line including an outlet flowing oil to the crankshaft bearing and an inlet receiving oil from an oil gallery, and thermal insulation at least partially surrounding at least a portion of an inner wall of the supply line and/or the oil gallery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bernd Steiner, Thomas Lorenz, Jan Mehring
  • Publication number: 20170331212
    Abstract: The subject matter of the invention relates to a method for producing an electrical connection part, in which an electrical conductor (2) is provided, the electrical conductor (2) is electroplated and a contact area (4)of the conductor (2) is exposed by removing the electroplating (6). A method is to be specified with the subject matter of the invention which enables an electroplating (6) provided on the connection part (22) to be removed in a way which is particularly cost-effective and reliable. This is achieved according to the subject matter of the invention by removing the electroplating (6) in the contact area (4) using a beaming source (8).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Jens DÖREN, Thomas LORENZ
  • Patent number: 9759138
    Abstract: A system is provided for an internal combustion engine including at least two cylinders, wherein the at least two cylinders form at least two groups, wherein each group has at least one cylinder, the at least one cylinder of at least one group being formed as a cylinder which can be activated in a load-dependent manner and which is deactivated if a predefined load is undershot. The at least two groups are characterized by different cylinder volumes, the at least one cylinder of a first group having a lesser cylinder volume and the at least one cylinder of a second group having a greater cylinder volume and configured as an activatable cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Moritz Klaus Springer, Helmut Hans Ruhland, Albert Breuer, Thomas Lorenz, Jan Linsel
  • Publication number: 20170226904
    Abstract: A method for operating an engine system is provided. The method includes during a first operating condition, flowing oil from an oil sump to a heat exchanger attached to a reductant tank and transferring heat from oil flowing through the heat exchanger to reductant stored in the reductant tank. The method further includes during a second operating condition, flowing oil from the oil sump to the heat exchanger and transferring heat from the reductant stored in the reductant tank to oil flowing through the heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Jan Mehring, Thomas Lorenz, Hans Guenter Quix, Jan Linsel, Moritz Klaus Springer, Florian Huth
  • Publication number: 20170211456
    Abstract: An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine is provided. The exhaust system includes an exhaust manifold receiving exhaust gas from a cylinder, an emission control device positioned downstream of the exhaust manifold, an electric heating device positioned in an exhaust line upstream of the emission control device and downstream of the exhaust manifold, the electric heating device including a frame at least partially surrounding a heating element, and an adjustment device configured to, during operation of the internal combustion engine, adjust the drag generated by the electric heating device in an exhaust gas flow through the exhaust line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Moritz Klaus Springer, Thomas Lorenz, Albert Breuer, Jan Linsel, Jan Mehring
  • Publication number: 20170114750
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders, the method comprising, during one working cycle, distributing fuel for each cylinder of the plurality of cylinders among a plurality of injection processes according to settable split factors which respectively define a setpoint fuel mass and/or injection duration and time setting of each respective injection process for the plurality of individual injection processes, wherein random variation is carried out for at least one injection process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventors: Georg Louven, Jens Wojahn, Klemens Grieser, Marco Marceno, Helmut Hans Ruhland, Thomas Lorenz, Moritz Klaus Springer
  • Patent number: 9534556
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders, the method comprising, during one working cycle, distributing fuel for each cylinder of the plurality of cylinders among a plurality of injection processes according to settable split factors which respectively define a setpoint fuel mass and/or injection duration and time setting of each respective injection process for the plurality of individual injection processes, wherein random variation is carried out for at least one injection process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Georg Louven, Jens Wojahn, Klemens Grieser, Marco Marceno, Helmut Hans Ruhland, Thomas Lorenz, Moritz Klaus Springer
  • Publication number: 20160296715
    Abstract: The invention relates to an access device comprising: a base (1) for aligning the access device with the skin of a patient; a needle for puncturing the skin, the needle comprising a hub (2) and a cannula (10), and the needle being movably mounted in the base (1) such that it can move between a first, fully retracted, and a second, maximally extended, position; and a locking mechanism which engages when the needle retracts from the second position and reaches a discrete third position, inhibiting the needle from further retracting to the first position. According to the invention, the access device is actuatable to disengage the locking mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Markus Clemenz, Thomas Lorenz, Michael Kegel
  • Publication number: 20160242677
    Abstract: A measurement device for determining the dimensions of a specific user in order to optimally configure a slatted bedframe for the user. The device has a plurality of cross members, each cross member measuring the height of a specific measuring point on the user, such as shoulders, waist, hips. The cross members are coupled to each other by a height-adjustment system that is based on the standard height proportions of the human body. Manually adjusting the height of one cross member, for example, the shoulder height, results in the hip and waist cross members automatically being adjusted to the appropriate heights. Pairs of calipers are provided on each cross member that are adjustable in width, for measuring the widths at the selected measuring points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventor: THOMAS LORENZ
  • Patent number: 9394844
    Abstract: A system for filtering and oxidizing particulate matter produced by a gasoline direct injection engine is disclosed. In one embodiment, engine cylinder air-fuel is adjusted to allow soot to oxidize at an upstream particulate filter while exhaust gases are efficiently processed in a downstream catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Carolyn Parks Hubbard, Robert Walter McCabe, Eva Thanasiu, Jeffrey Scott Hepburn, Helmut Hans Ruhland, Moritz Klaus Springer, Thomas Lorenz, Georg Louven, David Karl Bidner
  • Patent number: 9376967
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for optimizing the operation of a multi-cylinder auto-ignition internal combustion engine. In one example, cylinders of the auto-ignition internal combustion engine may form two groups of cylinders, where one group of cylinders has a larger compression ratio, smaller width, and smaller volume than the other group of cylinders, and where at least one cylinder of the other group is configured as a switchable cylinder that is deactivated in a load-dependent manner. By configuring the cylinders in multiple groups based on compression ratios, and operating the cylinders in a load-dependent manner, fuel consumption may be optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Moritz Klaus Springer, Albert Breuer, Thomas Lorenz, Helmut Hans Ruhland, Jan Linsel
  • Publication number: 20160157624
    Abstract: A support body for fastening a spring bed slat to a frame rail of a slatted frame. The support body is a vertically elongated closed ring that has connector means at a lower portion for mounting the support body on the frame rail, at least one slat retainer on an upper portion for securing an end of the bed slat to the support body, and sidewalls that extend between the upper and lower portions and that form spring sections that allow the support body to deform under load and spring back when the load is removed. Each spring section includes two or more spring elements. The slat retainer supports the bed slat above the upper portion of the body, such that end of the slat remains free to move in a spring action under various load conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventor: THOMAS LORENZ
  • Patent number: 9316188
    Abstract: A direct-injection engine having a cylinder in which a combustion chamber is jointly formed by a piston crown of a piston, which is movable along the longitudinal axis of the cylinder, and a cylinder head, and an injection nozzle, which is arranged in the cylinder head on the opposite side of the piston crown eccentrically, spaced apart from the longitudinal axis of the cylinder, for the direct injection of fuel, which injection nozzle has a nozzle needle movable in a nozzle body, wherein the needle in the open position of the nozzle is moved into the combustion chamber, opening up an annular gap arranged between the nozzle body and needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Oliver Berkemeier, Thomas Lorenz, Helmut Hans Ruhland, Stefan Quiring, Maziar Khosravi
  • Patent number: 9297327
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for accurately measuring an air-fuel-ratio of an engine. During a first condition of decreased scavenging, adjusting fuel injection based on a more-upstream air-fuel ratio, and during a second condition of increased scavenging, adjusting fuel injection based on one or more more-downstream air-fuel ratios and not based on the more-upstream air-fuel ratio. During the first condition, adjusting fuel injection may be further based on the one or more more-downstream air-fuel ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Helmut Hans Ruhland, Albert Breuer, Thomas Lorenz, Moritz Klaus Springer
  • Patent number: 9238982
    Abstract: Embodiments for an exhaust gas aftertreatment device are provided. In one example, an exhaust gas aftertreatment device for a gasoline engine comprises a filter body with porous filter walls through which exhaust gas flows to remove soot, the porous filter walls containing a first catalyst material and having a coating of a second catalyst material on partial areas of the filter walls. In this way, a particulate filter and catalyst may be provided in a common aftertreatment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Moritz Klaus Springer, Helmut Hans Ruhland, Thomas Lorenz
  • Patent number: 9169801
    Abstract: Embodiments for selectively filling a cylinder block cooling jacket with oil are provided. In one example, a control unit may be rotated among a plurality of working positions to open up and/or block flow of oil into and out of the cylinder block cooling jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jan Mehring, Thomas Lorenz, Bernd Steiner, Moritz Klaus Springer
  • Patent number: 9115659
    Abstract: A method for reducing the particle emissions of a spark-ignition, direct-injection internal combustion engine is provided. The method comprises operating at least one cylinder superstoichiometrically, responsive to an injector coking level and sufficiently high cylinder temperature, for a duration to increase oxidation of coking residues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Lorenz, Moritz Klaus Springer, Helmut Hans Ruhland, Jan Mehring