Patents by Inventor Thomas ZENNER

Thomas ZENNER 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: 20230094716
    Abstract: A coupling system includes a vehicle cable having a plug configured to engage a vehicle charging port of a plug-in hybrid or battery electric vehicle, an electrical outlet configured to receive a plug of an AC powered appliance, a voltage converter, an energy store, and a controller configured to provide power from the vehicle charging port to the electrical outlet. The controller may provide a signal to the charging port of a connected electrified vehicle identifying the coupling system as a charging station to enable the electrified vehicle to provide power to the charging port. The controller may control the voltage converter to charge the energy store using power form a connected electrified vehicle. The controller may control the voltage converter and energy store to stabilize power from the vehicle provided to the electrical outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas ZENNER, Thomas BIRKENBEIL
  • Patent number: 11597252
    Abstract: An electrified vehicle and method for heating a passenger cabin of an electrified vehicle that may include an internal combustion engine in addition to an electric machine and a traction battery for supplying the electric machine control an electric heating element to store thermal energy while the vehicle is connected to an external power source that is also used to charge the traction battery, and to extract stored thermal energy during operation of the vehicle with the electric heating element turned off to extend the electric driving range of the vehicle while also providing heat to the passenger cabin. The electric heating element may positioned and controlled to heat one or more elements directly by mechanical contact, or indirectly by heating a circulating liquid coolant to a temperature above a current or anticipated external ambient temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Zenner, Daniel Benjamin Kok, Timothy Noah Blatchley, Mark G. Smith
  • Publication number: 20220379752
    Abstract: Electrified vehicle charging equipment includes a charging cable having a cable body including insulated conductors surrounded by a sheath, the cable body including alternating first and second regions, the first regions containing a bistable resilient strip having a first extended stable state and a second curved stable state, the bistable resilient strip resisting an external force to move the first regions away from the first or second stable states and to move the first regions toward one of the first and second stable states when the first regions are not in the first or second stable states, a first plug connected to a first end of the cable body and configured to connect the plurality of insulated conductors to an electrified vehicle, and a second plug connected to a second end of the cable body and configured to connect the plurality of insulated conductors to a charging source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas ZENNER, Paul FRATTER
  • Patent number: 11059351
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an oil-cooling system arranged to circulate oil through an electric machine and an oil-to-coolant heat exchanger. A coolant system has conduit arranged to circulate coolant through an inverter, a heater core, and the heat exchanger. A climate control system is arranged to circulate an airstream through the heater core to heat a passenger cabin with waste heat from the electric machine and the inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Zenner, Daniel Benjamin Kok, Serdar Hakki Yonak, Kenneth J. Jackson
  • Patent number: 11027589
    Abstract: An example cooling system for an electric includes an electric motor having a supply opening for receiving coolant and a discharge opening for expelling coolant. The discharge opening is connected to the supply opening via a coolant circuit including a first return line in which a heat exchanger is arranged, a bypass line, and a second return line. The discharge opening is connected to the supply opening by both the first return line and the bypass line, and the bypass line bypasses the heat exchanger arranged in the first return line. A battery is arranged in the second return line, and the second return line is selectively connected to a short-circuit line which causes coolant to flow from a point downstream of the battery and return to the second return line upstream of the battery. Further, a heat accumulator is arranged in the short-circuit line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hans Guenter Quix, Lars Kaufmann, Thomas Zenner, Mehmet Toeremis
  • Patent number: 11007894
    Abstract: An operating method for an electrified motor vehicle having an electric drive while being coupled to a towing vehicle by a connecting device in such a manner that the pulling forces and pushing forces between the vehicles are transmitted. The towing vehicle may communicate data to the motor vehicle used to control the motor vehicle to provide a controlled force exerted on the towing vehicle by the motor vehicle during towing. The controlled force exerted on the towing vehicle may vary based on the prevailing force direction between the vehicles, acceleration, and battery state of charge (SOC) of the motor vehicle. The controlled force may include a driving force or a braking force. The braking force may be provided by regenerative braking of the motor vehicle and/or by friction braking of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Zenner, Mazen Hammoud
  • Patent number: 11002172
    Abstract: A exhaust-gas heat management system includes a catalytic converter in the exhaust-gas train of an internal-combustion engine, a cover enclosing the catalytic converter, and thereby realizing a cavity for holding a latent-heat storage PCM, at least two fluid connections between the cavity and the collecting vessel, and a pump device for activating and deactivating a PCM circuit between the cavity and the collecting vessel by means of the fluid connections. A method comprises determining an operating state of the internal combustion engine, determining the catalytic converter temperature, determining the PCM temperature, activating the PCM circuit if the PCM temperature is above a phase transition temperature of the PCM, and the internal combustion engine is in a switched-on operating state or the internal combustion engine is in a switched-off operating state and the catalytic converter temperature is below a light-off temperature of the catalytic converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Zenner, Martin Wirth, Lars Kaufmann, Mehmet Toeremis, Daniel Benjamin Kok
  • Patent number: 11001163
    Abstract: An electrified vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a battery including a first strand of cells and a second strand of cells, an electric machine selectively powered by the battery, and at least one auxiliary component selectively powered by the battery. The battery is configurable such that the at least one auxiliary component is able to draw power from the first strand of cells but not the second strand of cells. A method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Zenner, Daniel Benjamin Kok
  • Patent number: 10994587
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a passenger cabin, an inverter, and a coolant system having conduit arranged to circulate coolant through the inverter and an evaporator. A refrigerant system includes a condenser and conduit arranged to circulate refrigerant through the condenser and through the evaporator to absorb heat generated by the inverter. A climate control system is arranged to circulate an airstream through the condenser and into the cabin to heat the cabin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Zenner, Daniel Benjamin Kok, Kenneth J. Jackson, Serdar Hakki Yonak
  • Patent number: 10906377
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an inverter, a climate control system, and a coolant system. The climate control system includes a housing, and a heater core and an electric heater disposed within the housing. The coolant system includes conduit arranged to circulate coolant through the inverter and the heater core. The inverter is disposed upstream of the heater core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Zenner, Daniel Benjamin Kok, Kenneth J. Jackson, Serdar Hakki Yonak
  • Patent number: 10899248
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an assembly that cools a traction battery of a vehicle, in particular a hybrid electric vehicle. The assembly can include at least one fuel tank and at least one traction battery that is arranged outside the fuel tank and is thermally connected to the fuel tank. The assembly can further include at least one cooling rib that is arranged inside the fuel tank. The cooling rib can be thermally connected to a connection portion of the fuel tank, which is thermally connected to the traction battery and is constructed in such a manner that it extends almost completely or completely as far as a base wall portion of the fuel tank. The fuel tank can be arranged to be lower than the connection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Zenner, Daniel Kok, Caroline Born
  • Patent number: 10894486
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to an assembly that cools a traction battery of a vehicle, in particular a hybrid electric vehicle. The assembly can include at least one fuel tank, and at least one traction battery that is arranged outside the fuel tank and is thermally connected to the fuel tank. The assembly can further include at least one fuel pump that is arranged in the fuel tank and at least one fuel line that is connected and/or can be connected to a pressure side of the fuel pump. A connection portion of the fuel tank is thermally connected to the traction battery. Fuel can be used to cool the connection portion, which cools the traction battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Zenner, Caroline Born, Daniel Kok
  • Publication number: 20200338953
    Abstract: An electrified vehicle and method for heating a passenger cabin of an electrified vehicle that may include an internal combustion engine in addition to an electric machine and a traction battery for supplying the electric machine control an electric heating element to store thermal energy while the vehicle is connected to an external power source that is also used to charge the traction battery, and to extract stored thermal energy during operation of the vehicle with the electric heating element turned off to extend the electric driving range of the vehicle while also providing heat to the passenger cabin. The electric heating element may positioned and controlled to heat one or more elements directly by mechanical contact, or indirectly by heating a circulating liquid coolant to a temperature above a current or anticipated external ambient temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas ZENNER, Daniel Benjamin KOK, Timothy Noah BLATCHLEY, Mark G. SMITH
  • Publication number: 20200341472
    Abstract: A system for receiving an electric charge from a charge-providing vehicle (CPV) and a method of using the system. A method includes: receiving, at a target vehicle, a message from a charge-providing vehicle (CPV), the message identifying a rendezvous location; operating in an autonomous follow mode at or after the location; and receiving, at a battery, an electrical charge from the CPV.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas ZENNER, Mazen HAMMOUD, Kevin LAYDEN
  • Patent number: 10780794
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an assembly for a vehicle, in particular for a hybrid electric vehicle. The assembly includes at least one fuel tank having the form of a saddle tank. The assembly further includes at least one traction battery that is arranged outside the fuel tank and is thermally connected to the fuel tank, and at least one fuel pump arranged in the fuel tank. The fuel pump can convey a fuel from within the fuel tank to an internal-combustion engine of the hybrid electric vehicle. To provide a cooling system for the traction battery, the traction battery can be thermally connected to an active tank portion of the fuel tank, in which the fuel pump is arranged. The traction battery can be connected to the active tank portion via a bridge portion of the fuel tank, which is connected in a communicating manner to a passive tank portion of the fuel tank. Fuel in the passive tank portion can be conveyed into the active tank portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Zenner, Daniel Kok, Caroline Born
  • Patent number: 10749229
    Abstract: A system and method for heating or cooling a battery include a controller and a tempering circuit containing an auxiliary medium configured to exchange heat with a container having a latent heat storage medium, and a vehicle traction battery, a pump configured to circulate the auxiliary medium, and an activation device having a sealing element moveable to selectively expose a nucleation surface to the latent heat storage medium to trigger a phase change process and exchange heat with the auxiliary medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Zenner, Mazen Hammoud, Daniel Benjamin Kok
  • Publication number: 20200079179
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a passenger cabin, an inverter, and a coolant system having conduit arranged to circulate coolant through the inverter and an evaporator. A refrigerant system includes a condenser and conduit arranged to circulate refrigerant through the condenser and through the evaporator to absorb heat generated by the inverter. A climate control system is arranged to circulate an airstream through the condenser and into the cabin to heat the cabin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas ZENNER, Daniel Benjamin KOK, Kenneth J. JACKSON, Serdar Hakki YONAK
  • Patent number: 10493819
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a passenger cabin, an inverter, and a coolant system having conduit arranged to circulate coolant through the inverter and an evaporator. A refrigerant system includes a condenser and conduit arranged to circulate refrigerant through the condenser and through the evaporator to absorb heat generated by the inverter. A climate control system is arranged to circulate an airstream through the condenser and into the cabin to heat the cabin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Zenner, Daniel Benjamin Kok, Kenneth J. Jackson, Serdar Hakki Yonak
  • Publication number: 20190329628
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an oil-cooling system arranged to circulate oil through an electric machine and an oil-to-coolant heat exchanger. A coolant system has conduit arranged to circulate coolant through an inverter, a heater core, and the heat exchanger. A climate control system is arranged to circulate an airstream through the heater core to heat a passenger cabin with waste heat from the electric machine and the inverter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas ZENNER, Daniel Benjamin KOK, Serdar Hakki YONAK, Kenneth J. JACKSON
  • Publication number: 20190308486
    Abstract: An example cooling system for an electric includes an electric motor having a supply opening for receiving coolant and a discharge opening for expelling coolant. The discharge opening is connected to the supply opening via a coolant circuit including a first return line in which a heat exchanger is arranged, a bypass line, and a second return line. The discharge opening is connected to the supply opening by both the first return line and the bypass line, and the bypass line bypasses the heat exchanger arranged in the first return line. A battery is arranged in the second return line, and the second return line is selectively connected to a short-circuit line which causes coolant to flow from a point downstream of the battery and return to the second return line upstream of the battery. Further, a heat accumulator is arranged in the short-circuit line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Hans Guenter Quix, Lars Kaufmann, Thomas Zenner, Mehmet Toeremis