Patents by Inventor Uwe Folchert

Uwe Folchert 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: 10391830
    Abstract: The invention relates to an integrated air-supply unit, in particular for air-suspension systems for motor vehicles, said unit comprising an air compressor having an electric motor and an air dryer. The air compressor together with the electric motor, air dryer and a number of pneumatic connections form a functional unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Joachim Bohn, Christian Courth, Uwe Folchert, Christoph Voss, Michael Zydek, Dierk Hein, Hinz Axel, Christian Witala
  • Patent number: 9829248
    Abstract: A dryer circuit for a pneumatic regulating device of a vehicle, comprising an air dryer, and a first compressor, wherein the first compressor is designed to compress system air present in the pneumatic regulating device, wherein the air dryer, the first compressor and subsystems, which can be connected to the first compressor, of the pneumatic regulating device are arranged in such a way that, in the operating mode of a closed air supply, air delivered between the components of one of the subsystems by the first compressor is delivered so as to bypass the air dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Uwe Folchert, Dierk Hein, Christian Witala
  • Publication number: 20170036505
    Abstract: The invention relates to an integrated air-supply unit, in particular for air-suspension systems for motor vehicles, said unit comprising an air compressor having an electric motor and an air dryer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Applicant: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Joachim Bohn, Christian Courth, Uwe Folchert, Christoph Voss, Michael Zydek, Dierk Hein, Hinz Axel, Christian Witala
  • Publication number: 20140059876
    Abstract: A dryer circuit for a pneumatic regulating device of a vehicle, comprising an air dryer, and a first compressor, wherein the first compressor is designed to compress system air present in the pneumatic regulating device, wherein the air dryer, the first compressor and subsystems, which can be connected to the first compressor, of the pneumatic regulating device are arranged in such a way that, in the operating mode of a closed air supply, air delivered between the components of one of the subsystems by the first compressor is delivered so as to bypass the air dryer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Uwe Folchert, Dierk Hein, Christian Witala
  • Patent number: 8490991
    Abstract: A method for controlling the regeneration cycles for an air dryer in a closed ride height control system for vehicles. Compressed air chambers and a compressed air storage reservoir are charged with compressed air and ventilated via a compressed air line, or are charged via a compressed air intake line connected to the compressor and ventilated via the compressed air line. Compressed air quantity delivered through the dryer by the compressor, and temperature and/or the humidity of the air sucked in from the atmosphere are measured. The dryer is considered saturated under the assumption that air sucked in by the compressor and delivered through the air dryer is at the highest possible ambient temperature and humidity. Regeneration air quantity required for the compressed air quantity for the dryer to attain the desired dew point is determined as a function of the ambient temperature and/or the humidity of the intake air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & CO oHG
    Inventors: Uwe Folchert, Heike Ilias, Christian Witala, Dierk Hein
  • Publication number: 20110278804
    Abstract: A method for controlling the regeneration cycles for an air dryer in a closed ride height control system for vehicles. Compressed air chambers and a compressed air storage reservoir are charged with compressed air and ventilated via a compressed air line, or are charged via a compressed air intake line connected to the compressor and ventilated via the compressed air line. Compressed air quantity delivered through the dryer by the compressor, and temperature and/or the humidity of the air sucked in from the atmosphere are measured. The dryer is considered saturated under the assumption that air sucked in by the compressor and delivered through the air dryer is at the highest possible ambient temperature and humidity. Regeneration air quantity required for the compressed air quantity for the dryer to attain the desired dew point is determined as a function of the ambient temperature and/or the humidity of the intake air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: Continental Teves AG & Co., oHG
    Inventors: Uwe Folchert, Heike Ilias, Christian Witala, Dierk Hein
  • Patent number: 7912603
    Abstract: The damper force in vehicles having a ride level control system is controlled by, when the leveling system is activated, a signal that is generated and transmitted to a damper force control device (5). When the level control system is activated, the damper force is adapted, and especially reduced for a rapid control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., OHG
    Inventors: Alexander Stiller, Andreas Rieckmann, Uwe Folchert
  • Patent number: 7731203
    Abstract: According to a method for controlling the air volume in a closed pneumatic spring system of a vehicle, an air-powered pump supplies at least two pneumatic springs and/or a compressed air reservoir with a specific air volume as needed such that the air pressure prevailing in the respective pneumatic spring and/or the compressed air reservoir is at a level which causes a vehicle body resting on the pneumatic spring to be positioned at a desired distance from the roadway or the vehicle axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Continental Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Heike Ilias, Uwe Folchert
  • Patent number: 7590478
    Abstract: In order to simplify air flow control in a self-contained air supply system, an average control speed is calculated on the basis of a defined movement of the air springs (3, 4) and compared with an optimum control speed. The result of the comparison of the control speeds is used to determine the need for or the excess of an amount of compressed air. There are at least three possibilities for calculating the average control speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems US, Inc.
    Inventors: Uwe Folchert, Heike Ilias
  • Publication number: 20080288138
    Abstract: In order to simplify air flow control in a self-contained air supply system, an average control speed is calculated on the basis of a defined movement of the air springs (3, 4) and compared with an optimum control speed. The result of the comparison of the control speeds is used to determine the need for or the excess of an amount of compressed air. There are at least three possibilities for calculating the average control speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Uwe Folchert, Heike Ilias
  • Publication number: 20080054576
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling air flow in a level control system for a motor vehicle. Two air flow intervals are indicated for controlling air flow. The first air flow interval I1 is located entirely within air flow interval I2. If the air flow in the level control system is located outside air flow interval I2, an automatic adjustment is made in air flow interval I2. If the air flow is still located outside air flow interval I1 and within second air flow interval I2, the air flow is adjusted to the first air flow interval I1 exclusively when the motor vehicle is in operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventors: Heike Ilias, Uwe Folchert, Dierk Hein
  • Publication number: 20070251575
    Abstract: According to a method for controlling the air volume in a closed pneumatic spring system of a vehicle, an air-powered pump supplies at least two pneumatic springs and/or a compressed air reservoir with a specific air volume as needed such that the air pressure prevailing in the respective pneumatic spring and/or the compressed air reservoir is at a level which causes a vehicle body resting on the pneumatic spring to be positioned at a desired distance from the roadway or the vehicle axle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Inventors: Heike Ilias, Uwe Folchert
  • Publication number: 20070241487
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to simplify the method for controlling the air volume in a closed air supply installation. To this end, the pressure of the pneumatic springs (3, 4) is first determined when air is let out of the pneumatic springs (3, 4) into a defined control chamber, the average volume flow of a defined controlling process between the air chamber (5) and the pneumatic springs (3, 4) is determined, and the pressure in the air chamber (5) is calculated from a functional dependency in relation to the determined pressure in the pneumatic springs (3, 4), the determined average volume flow and the measured external temperature. The pressurised air volume of the air supply installation is then calculated from the calculated or determined pressures, the known or determined volumes of the air chamber (5) and the pneumatic springs (3, 4), and compared with an optimum pressurised air volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Inventors: Heike Ilias, Uwe Folchert
  • Publication number: 20070150143
    Abstract: The damper force in vehicles having a ride level control system is controlled by means of a method, according to which, when the leveling system is activated, a signal is generated and transmitted to a damper force control device (5). When the level control system is activated, the damper force is adapted, and especially reduced for a rapid control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2005
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Inventors: Alexander Stiller, Andreas Rieckmann, Uwe Folchert
  • Publication number: 20070068182
    Abstract: In a method for controlling a compressor (2) in a closed level adjustment system, the actual compressor temperature is continuously determined, at least during operation of the compressor, and the compressor (2) is disconnected when it reaches a threshold temperature. Admission pressure and counter-pressure of the compressor are taken into account in order to determine the actual compressor temperature. Preferably, the actual compressor temperature t is adapted by a value dT after each unit of time has elapsed while the compressor is operating, said value depending upon the difference between counter pressure and admission pressure (pcounter?padmission).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Inventors: Uwe Folchert, Dierk Hein
  • Patent number: 7179064
    Abstract: A reciprocating piston compressor for a gaseous medium is provided having a reduced structural height. The compressor is especially for a level control system in a motor vehicle. The maximum pivot angle of the piston ring longitudinal axis relative to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder running path is smaller during the upward movement of the piston than for the downward movement of the piston. The longitudinal axis of the cylinder running path is offset relative to the first spatial axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Continental Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Uwe Folchert
  • Patent number: 7097166
    Abstract: In addition to the consumers of a closed loop, known air supply systems also can supply an external consumer with fresh pressurized air. These systems are very complex with respect to apparatus and furthermore have the disadvantage that already improved pressurized air can escape from the pressurized air store during the supply of the external consumer. A switchable 3/2-directional valve (31) is arranged in the first consumer pressure line (19) of the drive unit (1) and a switchable 3/2-directional valve (32) is mounted in the store pressure line (11) of the drive unit (1) and a switchable check valve is mounted in the bypass line (16) of the store pressure line (11). This check valve disables the throttle function of the bypass throttle (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Continental Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Uwe Folchert
  • Patent number: 7032895
    Abstract: In a closed level control system for vehicles, a vehicle body is suspended relative to at least one vehicle axle. The level control system includes pressurized medium chambers, a compressor, an air dryer and a pressurized medium supply vessel which is partitioned into first and second pressurized medium spaces. The two pressurized medium spaces have no direct connection. Either the first pressurized medium space or the second pressurized medium space can be connected to the compressor input or the compressor output via at least one common controllable directional valve so that the pressurized medium from the pressurized medium chambers can be transferred into the first or into the second pressurized medium space or pressurized medium can be transferred from the first or the second pressurized medium space into the pressurized medium chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Continental Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Uwe Folchert
  • Publication number: 20040262986
    Abstract: In addition to the consumers of a closed loop, known air supply systems also can supply an external consumer with fresh pressurized air. These systems are very complex with respect to apparatus and furthermore have the disadvantage that already improved pressurized air can escape from the pressurized air store during the supply of the external consumer. A switchable 3/2-directional valve (31) is arranged in the first consumer pressure line (19) of the drive unit (1) and a switchable 3/2-directional valve (32) is mounted in the store pressure line (11) of the drive unit (1) and a switchable check valve is mounted in the bypass line (16) of the store pressure line (11). This check valve disables the throttle function of the bypass throttle (17).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventor: Uwe Folchert
  • Publication number: 20040228737
    Abstract: Known compressors are matched to a predetermined power range and therefore cannot supply consumers of a closed air supply system as well as an external consumer with an adequate quantity of air. The invention is directed to a method for limiting the power of a multi-stage compressor wherein at least one compressor stage is switched off when a predetermined power limit is reached. In this way, the lowest compressor stage can be so selected that the external consumer obtains an adequate volume flow. The compressor for the method includes a bypass line (22) which bypasses the inlet valve (19) of a low-pressure chamber (11) and thereby connects the low-pressure chamber (11) to its upstream intake space (16). A controllable control valve (23) is disposed in the bypass line (22) and realizes the connection of the low-pressure chamber (11) to the intake space (16) at a predetermined opening pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Inventor: Uwe Folchert