Patents by Inventor Tobias Ritsch

Tobias Ritsch 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: 11448149
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and a device for predicting the failure time of the pressure limiting valve of a high-pressure fuel pump of a motor vehicle. The method includes measuring a characteristic parameter of the pressure limiting valve each time the motor vehicle has been switched off, determining and storing a variable determined by using the measured characteristic parameter, determining the time profile of the variable determined from the characteristic parameter, predicting the future profile of the variable determined from the characteristic parameter, and comparing the predicted future profile of the variable determined from the characteristic parameter with a predetermined wear limiting value. The comparison is to predict the time at which the predicted future profile of the variable determined from the characteristic parameter reaches the predetermined wear limiting value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Wirkowski, Tobias Ritsch, Claus Stephani
  • Patent number: 11261819
    Abstract: A method operates a fuel-supply system for an internal combustion engine. The fuel-supply system contains a high-pressure fuel pump, a high-pressure fluid accumulator having a fuel-injection valve, and a high-pressure sensor. A measurement signal of the sensor is representative of a pressure within the high-pressure fluid accumulator. The high-pressure fuel pump is fluidically connected on the outlet side to the high-pressure fluid accumulator. A respective maximum injection quantity of the fuel-injection valve is determined depending on the measurement signal of the high-pressure sensor. The injection quantity is determined depending on an efficiency characteristic representing the efficiency of the high-pressure fuel pump, the efficiency characteristic depending on the measurement signal of the high-pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Klesse, Tobias Ritsch
  • Patent number: 11029229
    Abstract: A method according to the invention for checking the plausibility of the function of a pressure sensor in an injection system of an internal combustion engine includes acquiring a calibrated actuation profile, by which peak current values for opening at least one electrically actuatable injection valve are assigned to existing internal pressures. An existing internal pressure is measured in the form of an actual sensor pressure value by the pressure sensor. The method includes obtaining the electrical peak current value corresponding to the measured sensor pressure value from a calibrated actuation profile, such that the corresponding electrical peak current value acquired in this way is applied to the injection valve. Subsequently, an opening state of the injection valve is monitored in reaction to the applied electrical peak current value, and a functional state of the pressure sensor is assigned as a function of the opening state of the injection valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Klesse, Tobias Ritsch, Claus Stephani, Thomas Uliana
  • Patent number: 10865729
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine having a high-pressure fuel injection system stops and starts the engine independently of an intervention by the motor vehicle operator and then restarted. A high-pressure fuel pump is used to pump fuel to a high-pressure reservoir to which at least one high-pressure fuel injector is connected in order to inject fuel into the at least one cylinder of the internal combustion engine. Fuel pressure can be adjusted on the high-pressure side using an electrically actuated pressure reduction valve (PDV).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Erwin Achleitner, Christoph Klesse, Tobias Ritsch
  • Publication number: 20200309052
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and a device for predicting the failure time of the pressure limiting valve of a high-pressure fuel pump of a motor vehicle. The method includes measuring a characteristic parameter of the pressure limiting valve each time the motor vehicle has been switched off, determining and storing a variable determined by using the measured characteristic parameter, determining the time profile of the variable determined from the characteristic parameter, predicting the future profile of the variable determined from the characteristic parameter, and comparing the predicted future profile of the variable determined from the characteristic parameter with a predetermined wear limiting value. The comparison is to predict the time at which the predicted future profile of the variable determined from the characteristic parameter reaches the predetermined wear limiting value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: Vitesco Technologies GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Wirkowski, Tobias Ritsch, Claus Stephani
  • Patent number: 10781766
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to an operating method for operating a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine, wherein, upon a detection of a fault in the fuel injection system, and wherein a predefined pressure is overshot in a high-pressure region of the fuel injection system, an overrun mode of the internal combustion engine is deactivated, such that the internal combustion engine is operated exclusively in an injection mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Seegmüller, Tobias Ritsch
  • Patent number: 10662889
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a control method for controlling at least one injector valve in a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine. An opening time of the injector valve is selected such that, in a fault situation in the fuel injection system, an opening time of the injector valve is situated in a pressure valley of a pressure oscillation prevailing in a high-pressure region of the fuel injection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Ritsch, Heiko Zabich, Matthias Bauer
  • Patent number: 10337439
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control method for controlling a fuel injection system (10) of an internal combustion engine, wherein, wherein, in a fault situation of the fuel injection system (10), a camshaft angle of a camshaft (34) which drives a pump piston (32) of a high-pressure fuel pump (14) of the fuel injection system (10) is adjusted such that an injection time (tI) of injector valve (42) which injects the fuel from the fuel injection system (10) into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine lies in a pressure trough (50) of a pressure oscillation in a high-pressure region (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: CPT Group GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Seegmüller, Tobias Ritsch
  • Patent number: 10309335
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for operating a fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine, and to a corresponding device. The fuel supply system of an internal combustion engine may include: an outlet of a high-pressure pump coupled to a pressure-limiting valve and a high-pressure fluid accumulator. The method may include, when the internal combustion engine is set into a deactivated state, actuating the high-pressure pump such that, at the outlet side of the high-pressure pump, a pressure is increased such that the pressure-limiting valve is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Christoph Klesse, Thomas Riedel, Hans Riepl, Tobias Ritsch, Michael Wirkowski
  • Patent number: 10215143
    Abstract: A pressure-limiting valve for a fuel injection system includes a housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a sealing seat, and a sealing body configured to move between a closed position in which the sealing body is in contact with the sealing seat, which blocks fluid flow from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet, and additional positions that permit such fluid flow, and a holding device for keeping the sealing body in one of the additional positions if the sealing body is moved at least a specified distance away from the sealing seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Christoph Klesse, Tobias Ritsch, Robert Wiench, Michael Wirkowski
  • Patent number: 10174735
    Abstract: An injection device for an internal combustion engine includes a fuel delivery pump and a high-pressure pump which are connected to one another via a low-pressure fuel line. A high-pressure accumulator is connected to the high-pressure pump. At least one injector is connected via a high-pressure fuel line to the high-pressure accumulator. The injection device also has at least one fuel return line which is connected to the high-pressure accumulator and/or to the at least one injector. The fuel return line issues into the low-pressure fuel line which connects the fuel delivery pump and the high-pressure pump to one another. At least one air bleed valve is arranged in the course of the low-pressure fuel line or on the high-pressure pump or on a filter housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Ritsch, Daniel Anetsberger, Christoph Klesse, Uwe Lingener
  • Publication number: 20180238260
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control method for controlling a fuel injection system (10) of an internal combustion engine, wherein, wherein, in a fault situation of the fuel injection system (10), a camshaft angle of a camshaft (34) which drives a pump piston (32) of a high-pressure fuel pump (14) of the fuel injection system (10) is adjusted such that an injection time (tI) of injector valve (42) which injects the fuel from the fuel injection system (10) into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine lies in a pressure trough (50) of a pressure oscillation in a high-pressure region (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Oliver Seegmüller, Tobias Ritsch
  • Publication number: 20180209372
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine having a high-pressure fuel injection system stops and starts the engine independently of an intervention by the motor vehicle operator and then restarted. A high-pressure fuel pump is used to pump fuel to a high-pressure reservoir to which at least one high-pressure fuel injector is connected in order to inject fuel into the at least one cylinder of the internal combustion engine. Fuel pressure can be adjusted on the high-pressure side using an electrically actuated pressure reduction valve (PDV).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Applicant: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Erwin ACHLEITNER, Christoph KLESSE, Tobias RITSCH
  • Publication number: 20180179983
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a control method for controlling at least one injector valve in a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine. An opening time of the injector valve is selected such that, in a fault situation in the fuel injection system, an opening time of the injector valve is situated in a pressure valley of a pressure oscillation prevailing in a high-pressure region of the fuel injection system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2018
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Tobias Ritsch, Heiko Zabich, Matthias Bauer
  • Publication number: 20180171923
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to an operating method for operating a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine, wherein, upon a detection of a fault in the fuel injection system, and wherein a predefined pressure is overshot in a high-pressure region of the fuel injection system, an overrun mode of the internal combustion engine is deactivated, such that the internal combustion engine is operated exclusively in an injection mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2018
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Oliver Seegmüller, Tobias Ritsch
  • Publication number: 20180149543
    Abstract: A method according to the invention for checking the plausibility of the function of a pressure sensor in an injection system of an internal combustion engine includes acquiring a calibrated actuation profile, by which peak current values for opening at least one electrically actuatable injection valve are assigned to existing internal pressures. An existing internal pressure is measured in the form of an actual sensor pressure value by the pressure sensor. The method includes obtaining the electrical peak current value corresponding to the measured sensor pressure value from a calibrated actuation profile, such that the corresponding electrical peak current value acquired in this way is applied to the injection valve. Subsequently, an opening state of the injection valve is monitored in reaction to the applied electrical peak current value, and a functional state of the pressure sensor is assigned as a function of the opening state of the injection valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Christoph Klesse, Tobias Ritsch, Claus Stephani, Thomas Uliana
  • Patent number: 9816473
    Abstract: An injection system for an internal combustion engine may include a high-pressure pump for delivering fuel at high pressure into a high-pressure region, wherein the high-pressure pump includes an inlet valve and an electrically switched, digitally actuated outlet valve. The outlet valve is designed as a normally-open outlet valve. In this way, it is possible to dispense with a pressure relief valve for the high-pressure region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Kraft, Tobias Ritsch, Christoph Klesse
  • Publication number: 20170241367
    Abstract: A method operates a fuel-supply system for an internal combustion engine. The fuel-supply system contains a high-pressure fuel pump, a high-pressure fluid accumulator having a fuel-injection valve, and a high-pressure sensor. A measurement signal of the sensor is representative of a pressure within the high-pressure fluid accumulator. The high-pressure fuel pump is fluidically connected on the outlet side to the high-pressure fluid accumulator. A respective maximum injection quantity of the fuel-injection valve is determined depending on the measurement signal of the high-pressure sensor. The injection quantity is determined depending on an efficiency characteristic representing the efficiency of the high-pressure fuel pump, the efficiency characteristic depending on the measurement signal of the high-pressure sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: CHRISTOPH KLESSE, TOBIAS RITSCH
  • Patent number: 9739209
    Abstract: A method for operating a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The fuel injection system comprises a high pressure accumulator (rail) and a high-pressure fuel pump with a digital inlet valve and which guides fuel into the high pressure accumulator. The number of the control pulses for the digital inlet valve and thus the number of the pump delivery strokes is reduced with respect to the number of the injection steps of an injector of the injection system, in order to thereby reduce the noise and the energy consumption of the high-pressure pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Hans Riepl, Tobias Ritsch
  • Publication number: 20170211504
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for operating a fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine, and to a corresponding device. The fuel supply system of an internal combustion engine may include: an outlet of a high-pressure pump coupled to a pressure-limiting valve and a high-pressure fluid accumulator. The method may include, when the internal combustion engine is set into a deactivated state, actuating the high-pressure pump such that, at the outlet side of the high-pressure pump, a pressure is increased such that the pressure-limiting valve is opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Klesse, Thomas Riedel, Hans Riepl, Tobias Ritsch, Michael Wirkowski