Patents by Inventor Thomas Zapp

Thomas Zapp 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).

  • Publication number: 20070095840
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fastening device for components to be mounted in a fuel tank of a motor vehicle. The fastening device comprises a fastening element, a head part, which is joined to a base part such as the wall of the fuel tank, and a head part that is placed on a component. Respective head parts which are provided for fastening a line to be lead through the wall of the fuel tank, have a continuous duct. A head part on a base part and a head part on a component are pressed together and are made from a material that swells when brought into contact with fuel. This enables the line to be easily fastened to a wall of the fuel tank whereby being sealed with regard thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Inventors: Marc Gerhardt, Thomas Zapp
  • Patent number: 7047948
    Abstract: A fuel tank for a motor vehicle having a chamber delimited by a wall and having an activated carbon filter located to ventilate the volume of the fuel chamber located above the level of fuel in the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Marc Gerhardt, Thomas Zapp
  • Publication number: 20050028885
    Abstract: In a device for connecting a line (1), produced using the gas-assisted injection molding process, of a fuel tank to a further component, a connection piece (2) is joined cohesively to the line (1). The connection piece (2) includes a nonreturn valve (3) which can be moved into an open position by a tube piece (8?) arranged at the component. This allows the device to be manufactured at particularly low cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Publication date: February 10, 2005
    Inventor: Thomas Zapp
  • Publication number: 20040154670
    Abstract: A fuel tank for a motor vehicle having a chamber delimited by a wall and having an activated carbon filter located to ventilate the volume of the fuel chamber located above the level of fuel in the tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventors: Marc Gerhardt, Thomas Zapp
  • Patent number: 6696186
    Abstract: The humidifying device for a fuel cell has a membrane, one side of which is exposed to cathode exhaust gas of a fuel cell for extracting water vapor from the exhaust gas. A connecting element connects the other side of the membrane to an anode or cathode gas supply to the fuel cell. In operation, water vapor permeates through the membrane and passes on through the connecting elements to humidify the gas being supplied to the fuel cell. A vacuum pump may additionally be provided to enhance the extraction of water vapor from the exhaust gas. A no metering unit allows accurate metering of the humidity of the cathode or anode gas supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignees: Mannesmann AG, Siemens AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Herdeg, Holger Klos, Martin Sattler, Sabine Hess, Hans-Dieter Wilhelm, Jürgen Habrich, Karl Eck, Markus Keutz, Thomas Zapp
  • Patent number: 6610433
    Abstract: A fuel tank, in particular for fuel-cell systems, which can feed fuel into a system via a mechanism without a pump or the like. This is achieved by a fuel tank with a fuel cavity of variable size and a mechanism for compressing the fuel cavity. The fuel cavity is preferably bounded by a cylindrical inner wall of the fuel tank, by a circular end surface of the fuel tank and by a circular, displaceable intermediate wall. The intermediate wall is forced essentially in the direction of the fuel cavity by a spring and has a form fit with the cylindrical inner wall. A feed device and a discharge device allow incorporation in a fuel line. The system also includes a control device and a method for this fuel container, which is thus enabled to have the following operating states: A. fuel-cell system is switched on: discharge valve open, feed valve closed; B. fuel-cell system is in operation: discharge valve open, feed valve open; C. fuel-cell system is switched off: discharge valve closed, feed valve open; and D.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, P 21 GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Herdeg, Holger Klos, Martin Sattler, Hans-Dieter Wilhelm, Jürgen Habrich, Karl Eck, Thomas Zapp, Markus Keutz
  • Patent number: 6591866
    Abstract: A fuel tank for a motor vehicle is described and has a collector tank disposed in its interior for extracting air from it. The collector tank is connected to a pressure-equalizing device that is disposed outside the fuel tank and has an activated carbon filter. Fuel penetrating into the collector tank is extracted by suction by a pump configured as a suction jet pump. As a result, the fuel tank has particularly low levels of fuel emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Markus Distelhoff, Stefan Fühling, Helmut Reischl, Thomas Zapp
  • Patent number: 6541143
    Abstract: A fuel cell system which has a fuel cell is described. Also provided is a device for producing/preparing the fuel, for example hydrogen, which is connected on its outlet side to a fuel supply line and on its inlet side to a device for supplying fuel. The device for supplying fuel has a dual pump, in which a starting material for the fuel, stored in the motor-fuel tank, and water fed in via a water supply line, which is for example process water produced during the fuel cell process, are mixed to form a fuel/water mixture. This fuel/water mixture is intermediately stored in an intermediate tank before it is fed to the device for producing/preparing the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Atecs Mannesmann AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Herdeg, Holger Klos, Martin Sattler, Franz Reichenbach, Sabine Hess, Hans-Dieter Wilhelm, Jürgen Habrich, Karl Eck, Thomas Zapp
  • Patent number: 6527008
    Abstract: The invention relates to a ventilation device for fuel tanks, wherein the ventilation device comprises a compensator reservoir arranged in the interior of the fuel tank and at least two ventilation lines. The ventilation lines run from below the upper tank wall to the compensator reservoir and extend in the latter toward an opposite tank wall. The apparatus according to the invention is particularly well suited under all static and dynamic stresses for ventilating fuel tanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Knut Meyer, Stefan Fühling, Thomas Zapp, Markus Distelhoff
  • Patent number: 6516964
    Abstract: In a fuel tank (1) with a plug which is to be opened, in particular, during maintenance work, a plugging part (6) is fastened in a trough-like depression (2) of the wall of the fuel tank (1) by means of a nut (7). The nut (7) has a thread (9) intended for tapping into a bead (5) of the fuel tank (1). As a result, the fuel tank (1) can be manufactured particularly cost-effectively from geometrically simple parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Marc Gerhardt, Christian Kochsmeier, Peter Andreas Löw, Thomas Zapp, Dieter Keller
  • Patent number: 6510958
    Abstract: A plastic container comprising two half-shells which are produced by means of injection molding and have parts of the components integrally formed on them during the injection molding. This does away with the need for fastening said components in the plastic container, with the result that the installation process is simplified to a considerable extent. At the same time, installation errors are largely ruled out. The plastic container is suitable for use in motor vehicles, preferably as a fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Peter Andreas Löw, Christian Kochsmeier, Thomas Zapp, Wolfgang Pfahl, Jerome Coulton
  • Patent number: 6497335
    Abstract: A filler neck for the introduction of fuel into a fuel tank of a motor vehicle is constructed of at least two interconnected injection-molded half shells, each half shell having outwardly curved regions which form a filler pipe and vent lines. Also, receptacles for valves and filters are integrally formed in the outwardly curved regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Peter Andreas Löw, Christian Kochsmeier, Thomas Zapp, Wolfgang Pfahl
  • Patent number: 6491030
    Abstract: A ventilation device for a fuel tank, including lines situated outside the fuel tank, which include a line intended for operational ventilation and a line intended for refuelling ventilation. These lines are arranged such that the line intended for operational ventilation is located within the line for refuelling ventilation, so that the line for the operational ventilation is prevented from having direct contact with the environment. This keeps the escape of fuel vapors into the environment at a particularly low level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventor: Thomas Zapp
  • Patent number: 6463965
    Abstract: A fuel tank having an inlet and an outlet is connected to a separate pressure vessel by means of a pump. Fuel vapors are pumped out of the tank and into the pressure vessel while the tank is being filled via the inlet, so that fuel vapors cannot escape during filling. After filling, the inlet is closed and the pressure in the tank is increased to about 4 bar by means of a pressure regulator in a line connecting the pressure vessel to the fuel tank. The pump is then switched off and the fuel can be delivered to the engine via the outlet under the increased fuel pressure in the tank, the pressure being reduced to fuel system pressure by a pressure regulator in the outlet line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignees: Siemens AG, Vodafone AG
    Inventors: Christian Rasche, Bernd Wiemann, Holger Klos, Hans-Dieter Wilhelm, Karl Eck, Thomas Zapp, Bernd Rumpf
  • Patent number: 6440595
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell which includes a feed line for a fuel and a feed line for an oxidant. To ensure adequate moistening of the fuel cell membrane even during the start-up phase of the fuel cell, a fluid reservoir containing a fluid is provided, via which the fuel and/or the oxidant are humidified before entering the fuel cell. Thus adequate moistening of the fuel cell membrane is ensured even during the start-up phase of the fuel cell. To prevent the fluid from freezing at low temperatures, mixing of the fluid with an antifreeze is provided for. To ensure that the antifreeze will not pass into the fuel cell, the fluid drawn from the fluid reservoir is heated sufficiently by a heating means for evaporation of the antifreeze and separation from the fluid to take place. The heating means can include a flow conduit designed as a closed system. The flow conduit has a heating medium flowing through it which, prior to giving off heat to the fluid, is heated via a burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignees: Siemens AG, Vodafone AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Herdeg, Thomas Zapp
  • Publication number: 20020108604
    Abstract: A venting device for a fuel tank of a motor vehicle includes a compressor for sucking gases out of the fuel tank and delivering them into a pressure vessel. When the motor vehicle is stationary, the pressure inside the fuel tank can be regulated by suitably controlling of the compressor. Gases that have collected in the pressure vessel are fed to an internal-combustion engine of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2001
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventors: Markus Distelhoff, Stefan Fuhling, Justus Kloker, Knut Meyer, Thomas Zapp
  • Publication number: 20020088439
    Abstract: A fuel tank for a motor vehicle is described and has a collector tank disposed in its interior for extracting air from it. The collector tank is connected to a pressure-equalizing device that is disposed outside the fuel tank and has an activated carbon filter. Fuel penetrating into the collector tank is extracted by suction by a pump configured as a suction jet pump. As a result, the fuel tank has particularly low levels of fuel emission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventors: Markus Distelhoff, Stefan Fuhling, Helmut Reischl, Thomas Zapp
  • Patent number: 6403243
    Abstract: A fuel cell system which has a fuel cell with a supply line and a discharge line for a fuel as well as a supply line and a discharge line for an oxidizing agent. Also provided is a fuel tank which contains, for example, benzene or methanol for producing the fuel for the fuel cell. To avoid the release of hydrocarbons from the fuel contained in the tank, a filter element, for example an active carbon filter, is connected to the fuel tank. To be able to regenerate the filter element, the filter element is connected to the discharge line for the oxidizing agent and/or the discharge line for the fuel. The filter element is regenerated by the flow of exhaust gas from the fuel cell. The filter element is preferably connected via a connecting line to a burner, with the result that the hydrocarbons taken up by the flow of exhaust gas can be burned in the burner. Furthermore, by designing the fuel cell system appropriately, a leakage diagnosis can also be performed in the fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Mannesman AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Herdeg, Holger Klos, Martin Sattler, Franz Reichenbach, Hans-Dieter Wilhelm, Jürgen Habrich, Karl Eck, Markus Keutz, Thomas Zapp
  • Patent number: 6378549
    Abstract: In the case of a fuel tank for a motor vehicle, a filling pipe (2), which is welded to a tank chamber (1), has a section (3) provided for the separation. The section (3) provided for the separation is adjoined by regions for the attachment of a connecting part. This enables the tank chamber (1) to be taken out of the motor vehicle and to be subsequently refitted without removing the entire filling pipe (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventor: Thomas Zapp
  • Publication number: 20020023923
    Abstract: A ventilation device for a fuel tank, including lines situated outside the fuel tank, which include a line intended for operational ventilation and a line intended for refuelling ventilation. These lines are arranged such that the line intended for operational ventilation is located within the line for refuelling ventilation, so that the line for the operational ventilation is prevented from having direct contact with the environment. This keeps the escape of fuel vapors into the environment at a particularly low level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Inventor: Thomas Zapp