Patents by Inventor Thomas Werner STEINKOPF

Thomas Werner STEINKOPF 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: 11524572
    Abstract: A pressurized gas tank for a motor vehicle includes a cylindrical axially extending housing with two end pieces axially connected thereto connected together by one or more tie rods configured for axial transmission of tensile force. The tie rods include an axially continuous through-channel configured to be connected to a vehicle cooling system including a circulating liquid coolant to cool the pressurized gas at least during refueling of the pressurized gas tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Guenter Hans Grosch, Bert Hobein, Thomas Werner Steinkopf, Rolf Lorenz Loeffler, Julio Orozco Santos Coy, Stefan Kaimer, Florian Huth
  • Publication number: 20220009342
    Abstract: A pressurized gas tank for a motor vehicle includes a cylindrical axially extending housing with two end pieces axially connected thereto connected together by one or more tie rods configured for axial transmission of tensile force. The tie rods include an axially continuous through-channel configured to be connected to a vehicle cooling system including a circulating liquid coolant to cool the pressurized gas at least during refueling of the pressurized gas tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Guenter Hans GROSCH, Bert HOBEIN, Thomas Werner STEINKOPF, Rolf Lorenz LOEFFLER, Julio OROZCO SANTOS COY, Stefan KAIMER, Florian HUTH
  • Publication number: 20220009343
    Abstract: A method for producing a compressed gas tank for a motor vehicle includes inserting a bundle of heat-conducting elements through an opening in a housing of the compressed gas tank and exerting a force on the bundle that radially expands the bundle within the housing beyond the size of the opening. The heat-conducting elements may be helically wound about a central axis when inserted through the opening with a torsional force applied to unwind the elements while radially expanding and reducing axial length of the bundle. A compressed gas tank for a motor vehicle includes a plurality of heat-conducting elements including at least one tube within a tank housing that extend axially along the tank and radially within the housing to a size exceeding an opening of the housing. The tube is configured to circulate coolant to cool compressed gas within the tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Guenter Hans GROSCH, Bert HOBEIN, Thomas Werner STEINKOPF, Rolf Lorenz LOEFFLER, Julio OROZCO SANTOS COY, Stefan KAIMER, Florian HUTH
  • Patent number: 10957923
    Abstract: A hydrogen fuel cell vehicle system and method inhibit formation of black ice on road surfaces at low temperatures as a result of exhaust water by treating the exhaust water prior to discharge with a deicing or antifreeze substance to lower the freezing point of the water. A metering device may meter a deicing or antifreeze substance, such as sodium chloride, calcium chloride, urea, or the like to be dissolved in the exhaust water that is produced during the production of energy. The vehicle may include a bypass valve that selectively bypasses the water treatment system when ambient conditions are not conducive to ice formation. The bypass valve is operated to direct exhaust flow to a condenser and water treatment system when ambient conditions are favorable to ice formation, with the deicing or antifreeze substance metered based on current or predicted ambient or road surface conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Guenter Hans Grosch, Thomas Werner Steinkopf, Stephan Strahl, Rainer Lach, Rolf Lorenz Loeffler
  • Publication number: 20190305342
    Abstract: A hydrogen fuel cell vehicle system and method inhibit formation of black ice on road surfaces at low temperatures as a result of exhaust water by treating the exhaust water prior to discharge with a deicing or antifreeze substance to lower the freezing point of the water. A metering device may meter a deicing or antifreeze substance, such as sodium chloride, calcium chloride, urea, or the like to be dissolved in the exhaust water that is produced during the production of energy. The vehicle may include a bypass valve that selectively bypasses the water treatment system when ambient conditions are not conducive to ice formation. The bypass valve is operated to direct exhaust flow to a condenser and water treatment system when ambient conditions are favorable to ice formation, with the deicing or antifreeze substance metered based on current or predicted ambient or road surface conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Guenter Hans GROSCH, Thomas Werner STEINKOPF, Stephan STRAHL, Rainer LACH, Rolf Lorenz LOEFFLER