Patents by Inventor Thomas Sprengel
Thomas Sprengel 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: 11524545Abstract: A switching valve for an air spring arrangement of a motor vehicle, which switching valve has a valve housing arrangement which, in the installed state, is arranged between a first air volume and a second air volume. A valve closing member arrangement is actuatable by an actuator is provided such that the valve closing member arrangement, in a first position, fluidically connects the first air volume to the second air volume and, in a second position, fluidically separates the first air volume from the second air volume. The valve closing member arrangement is designed as a rotary slide arrangement. A rotary slide member with first openings is provided between two valve closing bodies, wherein, in the first position, the first openings correspond with second openings of the valve closing body such that a fluidic connection can be produced between the first and the second air volume.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2020Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Inventor: Thomas Sprengel
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Publication number: 20210016622Abstract: A switching valve for an air spring arrangement of a motor vehicle, which switching valve has a valve housing arrangement which, in the installed state, is arranged between a first air volume and a second air volume. A valve closing member arrangement is actuatable by an actuator is provided such that the valve closing member arrangement, in a first position, fluidically connects the first air volume to the second air volume and, in a second position, fluidically separates the first air volume from the second air volume. The valve closing member arrangement is designed as a rotary slide arrangement. A rotary slide member with first openings is provided between two valve closing bodies, wherein, in the first position, the first openings correspond with second openings of the valve closing body such that a fluidic connection can be produced between the first and the second air volume.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2020Publication date: January 21, 2021Applicant: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AktiengesellschaftInventor: Thomas Sprengel
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Patent number: 10394258Abstract: A pressure-maintaining valve for a reversible connection to an air line, having a basic body with an inlet opening, an outlet opening for accommodating the air line, and a fluid chamber which connects the inlet opening to the outlet opening in a fluid-communicating manner. A piston which is mounted movably between a sealing position, an equalizing position and a release position is arranged in the inlet opening, and the piston has an annular groove with a piston sealing surface and a piston release surface. In the sealing position, a sealant is arranged in a sealing manner between the piston sealing surface and a basic body sealing surface. In the equalizing position an equalizing line arranged in the sealing piston bypasses the sealant in a fluid-communicating manner. In the release position, the piston release surface lifts off the sealant from the basic body sealing surface.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2017Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AktiengesellschaftInventor: Thomas Sprengel
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Publication number: 20170357276Abstract: A pressure-maintaining valve for a reversible connection to an air line, having a basic body with an inlet opening, an outlet opening for accommodating the air line, and a fluid chamber which connects the inlet opening to the outlet opening in a fluid-communicating manner. A piston which is mounted movably between a sealing position, an equalizing position and a release position is arranged in the inlet opening, and the piston has an annular groove with a piston sealing surface and a piston release surface. In the sealing position, a sealant is arranged in a sealing manner between the piston sealing surface and a basic body sealing surface. In the equalizing position an equalizing line arranged in the sealing piston bypasses the sealant in a fluid-communicating manner. In the release position, the piston release surface lifts off the sealant from the basic body sealing surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2017Publication date: December 14, 2017Applicant: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AktiengesellschaftInventor: Thomas SPRENGEL
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Patent number: 8770361Abstract: A residual pressure holding valve (1) for a hydropneumatic suspension strut (2) of a motor vehicle has a valve housing (3) with an air inlet (4) and an air outlet (5). A valve body (6) is arranged displaceably in the valve housing (3) and a valve element (7) is arranged displaceably in the valve body (6). Air pressure applied to the air inlet (4) can lift the valve body (6) off a valve body seat (8) of the valve housing (3) to allow air to flow past the valve body (6) to the air outlet (5). Air pressure applied to the air outlet (5) can lift the valve element (7) off a valve element seat (9) of the valve body (6) to allow air to flow past the valve element (7) to the air inlet (4).Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2011Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AktiengesellschaftInventors: Francesco Germano, Steffen Lang, Claus Blattner, Thomas Sprengel
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Patent number: 8761999Abstract: A level control system for a vehicle includes a pressure generator (10) for generating a pressure difference between a reservoir (11) containing a pressurized medium and at least one pressure-controlled actuating mechanism (12i) in order to adjust a predefined vehicle chassis level (di,soll), and a valve unit (13) for performing an overflow process between the reservoir (11) containing the pressurized medium and the at least one pressure-controlled actuating mechanism (12i). An evaluation unit (24) decides whether and to what extent the predefined vehicle chassis level (di, soll) can be adjusted by exclusively actuating the valve unit (13) based on a vehicle chassis level (di,erw) that is to be expected in case the overflow process is performed.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2006Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Continental AktienesellschaftInventors: Heike Ilias, Marc Nettelmann, Thomas Sprengel
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Patent number: 8712638Abstract: A control unit of a pneumatic ride level control system of a motor vehicle, the control unit deactivating at least one function of the pneumatic ride level control system and/or activating at least one function of the pneumatic ride level control system if a limiting value of at least one dynamic-movement variable is exceeded or undershot, keeping the or each deactivated function deactivated for a defined holding time and/or keeping the or each activated function activated for a defined holding time duration after a subsequent undershooting or exceeding of the limiting value, and subsequently ending the deactivation of the or each deactivated function and/or the activation of the or each activated function after the respective holding time duration has elapsed, and the control unit defining the respective holding time duration as a function of the magnitude of the exceeding or undershooting of the respective limiting value.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2012Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: Dr. Ing. H.C.F. Porsche AktiengesellschaftInventors: Thomas Sprengel, Claus Blattner
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Patent number: 8474797Abstract: An air spring system is disclosed. The air spring system has a compressor, which has a suction side and a delivery side, a pressure reservoir, a first valve device and a second valve device. Each valve device is connected between the compressor and the pressure reservoir. In order to provide the air spring system, which is of simple construction and can be produced economically, the first valve device and the second valve device are each embodied as 3/2-way valves.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2011Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignee: Dr. Ing h.c. F. Porsche AktiengesellschaftInventors: Thomas Sprengel, Claus Blattner
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Publication number: 20130046440Abstract: A control unit of a pneumatic ride level control system of a motor vehicle, the control unit deactivating at least one function of the pneumatic ride level control system and/or activating at least one function of the pneumatic ride level control system if a limiting value of at least one dynamic-movement variable is exceeded or undershot, keeping the or each deactivated function deactivated for a defined holding time and/or keeping the or each activated function activated for a defined holding time duration after a subsequent undershooting or exceeding of the limiting value, and subsequently ending the deactivation of the or each deactivated function and/or the activation of the or each activated function after the respective holding time duration has elapsed, and the control unit defining the respective holding time duration as a function of the magnitude of the exceeding or undershooting of the respective limiting value.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2012Publication date: February 21, 2013Applicant: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AktiengesellschaftInventors: Thomas Sprengel, Claus Blattner
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Publication number: 20110278775Abstract: A residual pressure holding valve (1) for a hydropneumatic suspension strut (2) of a motor vehicle has a valve housing (3) with an air inlet (4) and an air outlet (5). A valve body (6) is arranged displaceably in the valve housing (3) and a valve element (7) is arranged displaceably in the valve body (6). Air pressure applied to the air inlet (4) can lift the valve body (6) off a valve body seat (8) of the valve housing (3) to allow air to flow past the valve body (6) to the air outlet (5). Air pressure applied to the air outlet (5) can lift the valve element (7) off a valve element seat (9) of the valve body (6) to allow air to flow past the valve element (7) to the air inlet (4).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2011Publication date: November 17, 2011Applicant: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Francesco Germano, Steffen Lang, Claus Blattner, Thomas Sprengel
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Publication number: 20110203687Abstract: An air spring system is disclosed. The air spring system has a compressor, which has a suction side and a delivery side, a pressure reservoir, a first valve device and a second valve device. Each valve device is connected between the compressor and the pressure reservoir. In order to provide the air spring system, which is of simple construction and can be produced economically, the first valve device and the second valve device are each embodied as 3/2-way valves.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2011Publication date: August 25, 2011Applicant: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AktiengesellschaftInventors: Thomas Sprengel, Claus Blattner
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Publication number: 20080258413Abstract: A level control system for a vehicle includes a pressure generator (10) for generating a pressure difference between a reservoir (11) containing a pressurized medium and at least one pressure-controlled actuating mechanism (12i) in order to adjust a predefined vehicle chassis level (di,soll), and a valve unit (13) for performing an overflow process between the reservoir (11) containing the pressurized medium and the at least one pressure-controlled actuating mechanism (12i). An evaluation unit (24) decides whether and to what extent the predefined vehicle chassis level (di, soll) can be adjusted by exclusively actuating the valve unit (13) based on a vehicle chassis level (di,erw) that is to be expected in case the overflow process is performed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2006Publication date: October 23, 2008Inventors: Heike Ilias, Marc Nettelmann, Thomas Sprengel
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Patent number: 6845988Abstract: In a process for controlling the quantity of air in a closed, chargeable and estimable pneumatic level control system of a vehicle, which level control system comprises at least one pressure sensor, one pump, an actuator, a storage reservoir and pressure lines interconnecting these components, at least one vehicle body level sensor, and a temperature sensor, which measures the ambient temperature, from the values measured an air mass of the level control system is calculated on the basis of the air pressures in the components, the level of the vehicle and the ambient temperature. Furthermore, the level of the vehicle, the ambient temperature and a maximum possible change in level from a particular vehicle level are used to calculate a vehicle-specific desired air mass and a desired air pressure in the system. The air mass is increased if the actual air pressure drops below the desired air pressure, and the air mass is reduced if the actual air pressure exceeds the desired air pressure.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2002Date of Patent: January 25, 2005Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AGInventors: Matthias R{hacek over (o)}mer, Hans Scheerer, Frank Schweickhardt, Thomas Sprengel
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Publication number: 20030107191Abstract: In a process for controlling the quantity of air in a closed, chargeable and emptiable pneumatic level control system of a vehicle, which level control system comprises at least one pressure sensor, one pump, an actuator, a storage reservoir and pressure lines interconnecting these components, at least one vehicle body level sensor, and a temperature sensor, which measures the ambient temperature, from the values measured an air mass of the level control system is calculated on the basis of the air pressures in the components, the level of the vehicle and the ambient temperature. Furthermore, the level of the vehicle, the ambient temperature and a maximum possible change in level from a particular vehicle level are used to calculate a vehicle-specific desired air mass and a desired air pressure in the system. The air mass is increased if the actual air pressure drops below the desired air pressure, and the air mass is reduced if the actual air pressure exceeds the desired air pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2002Publication date: June 12, 2003Inventors: Matthias Romer, Hans Scheerer, Frank Schweickhardt, Thomas Sprengel