Patents by Inventor Wolfgang Layher

Wolfgang Layher 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: 7621176
    Abstract: The absolute crankshaft angle of an internal combustion engine of a hand-held power tool is to be determined. The engine has a cylinder with a combustion chamber delimited by a piston that drives a crankshaft in a crankcase. The crankcase is connected by a transfer passage to the combustion chamber and the transfer port of the transfer passage is piston-controlled. Ignition takes place at an adjusted crankshaft angle. The energy supply unit of the engine is driven by the crankshaft and provides electric energy for ignition. The crankshaft angle is determined in that a signal generator is provided as an energy supply unit and generates an alternating voltage signal caused by a crankshaft revolution. An operating pressure signal of the engine is detected by a pressure sensor. The output signals of the pressure sensor and of the signal generator are linked with one another for determining the absolute crankshaft angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Layher, Georg Maier, Christine Halle, Arno Kinnen, Uwe Theimer
  • Patent number: 7591378
    Abstract: A manually guided apparatus for collecting objects, especially fruits and nuts, including a pick-up drum rotatably mounted in the drum chamber of a housing. The drum is disposed approximately transverse to the direction of operation, and is rotationally driven by a drive unit. The housing has a wall section extending over the width of the drum approximately at the level of the outer diameter thereof. A ground support is disposed in the region of ends of the drum. A collection channel provides communication for picked-up objects between the drum chamber and a collection receptacle for receiving the objects. The wall section of the housing and the drum cooperate with one another such that objects are accelerated along the wall section toward the collection channel and are ejected out of the drum chamber along a trajectory into the collection receptacle. A handle is operatively connected to the housing for moving the housing in the direction of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Harald Mang, Georg Maier, Wolfgang Layher, Alexander Erkert, Marc Mildner
  • Publication number: 20090178648
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine (8) has an ignition device, a device for supplying fuel and a device for detecting the rpm of the engine (8). The engine (8) includes a permissible limit rpm (ng) and a control range (A) of the rpm (n) above the limit rpm (ng). A method for operating the engine (8) provides that the rpm of the engine (8) is limited in the control range (A) because of suppression of the ignition in individual engine cycles wherein the rpm (n) lies above a control rpm (na) lying in the control range (A). In the control range, and to improve the exhaust-gas values, the noncombustion engine cycle ratio (NECR) is adjusted. The NECR indicates the ratio of the number of engine cycles wherein the ignition is suppressed to the total number of ignitions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventors: Tim Gegg, Manuel Dangelmaier, Andreas Neubauer, Wolfgang Layher
  • Patent number: 7552714
    Abstract: An ignition device for a motor unit with an internal combustion engine provided with a piston, a combustion chamber with a spark plug, a crankshaft driven by the piston, an intake port supplying combustion air to the combustion chamber, an exhaust for removing combustion gases from the combustion chamber, a signal generator driven by the crankshaft and emitting for one crankshaft revolution an alternating voltage signal, has an ignition unit that triggers a spark at the spark plug at a preselectable timing. The ignition unit is a module separate from the motor unit. An alternating voltage signal generated by the signal generator is supplied to the ignition unit as an information signal sufficient for operating the internal combustion engine. The alternating voltage signal is supplied to a first unit for energy processing and to a second unit for processing information for control of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Georg Maier, Wolfgang Layher, Thomas Neumaier, Eberhard Schieber, Mohamed Abou-Aly
  • Patent number: 7536983
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has a cylinder with a combustion chamber delimited by a reciprocating piston that drives a crankshaft rotatably supported in a crankcase. The internal combustion engine has an intake passage, an exhaust connected to the combustion chamber, a device supplying fuel, and a control device controlling at least one operating parameter of the internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine is operated in that a pressure is measured in operation of the internal combustion engine, an adjustable value for at least one operating parameter of the internal combustion engine is deteremined based on the measured pressure, and the determined adjustable value is set for optimized running of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Layher, Georg Maier, Martin Rieber, Tobias Flämig-Vetter, Jens Reimer, Andreas Krups, Dieter Bächle, Helmut Visel
  • Publication number: 20080264388
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine having a fuel system which feeds fuel at a given pressure to a metering valve provides that a controller defines the opening time and the closing time of the metering valve and correspondingly actuates the metering valve so that the metering valve opens and closes at the defined times. In order to permit precise metering of fuel even in high-speed internal combustion engines there is provision for the controller to define at least one of the times for the opening or closing of the metering valve while taking into account the counterpressure actually prevailing at the outlet opening of the metering valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Heiko Rosskamp, Georg Maier, Tim Gegg, Wolfgang Layher, Arno Kinnen, Christine Halle
  • Patent number: 7441304
    Abstract: A vacuum arrangement has a vacuum pipe having a vacuum opening facing a ground surface and adapted to pick up from the ground surface a material to be collected. The vacuum pipe conveys the material to be collected into a collecting container connected to the vacuum pipe. The vacuum pipe has a working area located within the area of the vacuum opening. At least one blower nozzle having a blower air exit is arranged such that a blower air flow exiting from the blower air exit is directed onto the ground surface into the working area. The blower air exit and the vacuum opening are positioned at a spacing relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Georg Maier, Harald Mang, Klaus Langhans, Wolfgang Layher, Uwe Gaese, Jorg Schutt
  • Publication number: 20080053407
    Abstract: An ignition device for a motor unit with an internal combustion engine provided with a piston, a combustion chamber with a spark plug, a crankshaft driven by the piston, an intake port supplying combustion air to the combustion chamber, an exhaust for removing combustion gases from the combustion chamber, a signal generator driven by the crankshaft and emitting for one crankshaft revolution an alternating voltage signal, has an ignition unit that triggers a spark at the spark plug at a preselectable timing. The ignition unit is a module separate from the motor unit. An alternating voltage signal generated by the signal generator is supplied to the ignition unit as an information signal sufficient for operating the internal combustion engine. The alternating voltage signal is supplied to a first unit for energy processing and to a second unit for processing information for control of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: ANDREAS STIHL AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Georg Maier, Wolfgang Layher, Thomas Neumaier, Eberhard Schieber, Mohamed Abou-Aly
  • Publication number: 20080041144
    Abstract: The absolute crankshaft angle of an internal combustion engine of a hand-held power tool is to be determined. The engine has a cylinder with a combustion chamber delimited by a piston that drives a crankshaft in a crankcase. The crankcase is connected by a transfer passage to the combustion chamber and the transfer port of the transfer passage is piston-controlled. Ignition takes place at an adjusted crankshaft angle. The energy supply unit of the engine is driven by the crankshaft and provides electric energy for ignition. The crankshaft angle is determined in that a signal generator is provided as an energy supply unit and generates an alternating voltage signal caused by a crankshaft revolution. An operating pressure signal of the engine is detected by a pressure sensor. The output signals of the pressure sensor and of the signal generator are linked with one another for determining the absolute crankshaft angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Applicant: ANDREAS STIHL AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Layher, Georg Maier, Christine Halle, Arno Kinnen, Uwe Theimer
  • Publication number: 20080042643
    Abstract: In a method for detecting an operating parameter of a power tool having an internal combustion engine with a cylinder, a piston delimiting a combustion chamber in the cylinder and driving a crankshaft supported rotatably in a crankcase, an intake supplying combustion air to the combustion chamber, an exhaust removing combustion gases from the combustion chamber, and a signal generator driven in rotation by the crankshaft emitting sequential alternating voltage signals, a period duration of the voltage signal is selected to correspond to the n-th portion of a crankshaft revolution with n greater 2. The n-th portion of the crankshaft revolution provides a crankshaft angle interval. For each crankshaft angle interval at least one information is detected that represents a course plotted against the crankshaft angle. The course is scanned with regard to characteristic features that are correlated with an operating parameter of the power tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Applicant: ANDREAS STIHL AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Georg Maier, Wolfgang Layher, Mohamed Abou-Aly, Heinrich Leufen, Eberhard Schieber
  • Publication number: 20070240313
    Abstract: A device for supplying water to a cutting wheel of a hand-held cut-off machine has a water-conducting line and a valve arrangement arranged in the line. The valve arrangement has a shut-off valve for controlling the water flow flowing through the line. The shut-off valve is actuated as a function of an operating signal of the cut-off machine such that in operation of the cut-off machine the water flow through the line is released by the shut-off valve. The shut-off valve interrupts the water flow through the line when the operating signal is absent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Applicant: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Layher, Frank Berbig, Georg Maier, Harald Mang, Daniel Herbst
  • Publication number: 20070163557
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has a cylinder with a combustion chamber delimited by a reciprocating piston that drives a crankshaft rotatably supported in a crankcase. The internal combustion engine has an intake passage, an exhaust connected to the combustion chamber, a device supplying fuel, and a control device controlling at least one operating parameter of the internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine is operated in that a pressure is measured in operation of the internal combustion engine, an adjustable value for at least one operating parameter of the internal combustion engine is deteremined based on the measured pressure, and the determined adjustable value is set for optimized running of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Applicant: ANDREAS STIHL AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Layher, Georg Maier, Martin Rieber, Tobias Flamig-Vetter, Jens Reimer, Andreas Krups, Dieter Bachle, Helmut Visel
  • Publication number: 20070101534
    Abstract: A manually guided suction apparatus for suctioning up material via a suction air stream, comprising a suction fan having a fan housing surrounding a fan wheel and provided with an intake opening. A centrifugal separator is disposed upstream of the intake opening and produces a curved path of the suction air stream. The centrifugal separator has a curved peripheral wall in which is disposed a removal opening for material that is to be sucked up. The intake opening is disposed approximately in a central portion of the centrifugal separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Publication date: May 10, 2007
    Applicant: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Georg Maier, Wolfgang Layher, Markus Zwimpfer, Uwe Gaese, Marco Deuchert, Michael Hermann, Sebastian Gembardt, Jochen Keinath, Rolf Erhardt
  • Publication number: 20060260453
    Abstract: A water supplying device of a hand-held power tool has a water-conveying line and a valve arrangement arranged in the line for controlling the water flow through the line. The valve arrangement has a control valve with a valve body adjustable across a positioning travel. The opening cross-section of the control valve, as a function of the positioning travel, has a progressive characteristic line. An arrangement for actuating the water supplying device has an actuator that is separate from additional control elements of the power tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Publication date: November 23, 2006
    Applicant: ANDREAS STIHL AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Layher, Klaus-Martin Uhl, Sebastian Hansen, Frank Berbig, Daniel Herbst
  • Publication number: 20060179806
    Abstract: A carrying system for an implement, comprising a carrying arm and a receiving device held on the carrying arm for receiving the guide rod of the implement. In a first state, the receiving device is adapted to fix the guide rod in a longitudinal direction thereof. In a second state, the receiving device is displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the guide rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Applicant: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Georg Maier, Wolfgang Layher, Gunter Mayer, Christoph Winkler, Carl-Philipp Clarenbach, Tobias Leininger, Benjamin Lietz, Thomas Neumaier, Denys Oparin, Achim Seifermann
  • Publication number: 20060180513
    Abstract: A manually guided apparatus for collecting objects, especially fruits and nuts, including a pick-up drum rotatably mounted in the drum chamber of a housing. The drum is disposed approximately transverse to the direction of operation, and is rotationally driven by a drive unit. The housing has a wall section extending over the width of the drum approximately at the level of the outer diameter thereof. A ground support is disposed in the region of ends of the drum. A collection channel provides communication for picked-up objects between the drum chamber and a collection receptacle for receiving the objects. The wall section of the housing and the drum cooperate with one another such that objects are accelerated along the wall section toward the collection channel and are ejected out of the drum chamber along a trajectory into the collection receptacle. A handle is operatively connected to the housing for moving the housing in the direction of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Applicant: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Harald Mang, Georg Maier, Wolfgang Layher, Alexander Erkert, Marc Mildner
  • Publication number: 20050257510
    Abstract: A vacuum arrangement has a vacuum pipe having a vacuum opening facing a ground surface and adapted to pick up from the ground surface a material to be collected. The vacuum pipe conveys the material to be collected into a collecting container connected to the vacuum pipe. The vacuum pipe has a working area located within the area of the vacuum opening. At least one blower nozzle having a blower air exit is arranged such that a blower air flow exiting from the blower air exit is directed onto the ground surface into the working area. The blower air exit and the vacuum opening are positioned at a spacing relative to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Publication date: November 24, 2005
    Applicant: ANDREAS STIHL AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Georg Maier, Harald Mang, Klaus Langhans, Wolfgang Layher, Uwe Gaese, Jorg Schutt