Patents by Inventor Wolfgang Pfister

Wolfgang Pfister 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: 11162680
    Abstract: A fuel-operated vehicle heater includes a burner area (12) with a combustion chamber (14); a fuel pump (24); and a combustion air blower (28). A pressure sensor (38) detects a feed back pressure. An actuating unit (36) actuates the fuel pump (24) with a predefined value of a pump operating variable, and actuates the combustion air blower with a predefined value of a blower operating variable. A heater process includes detecting the feed back pressure in case of a feed operating state set during the combustion operation and comparing the detected feed back pressure (Pe) with an expected feed back pressure (PE) for the set feed operating state. If the detected feed back pressure deviates from the expected feed back pressure the pump operating variable is changed such that the feed back pressure changes toward the expected feed pressure and/or essentially corresponds to the expected feed back pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Eberspächer Climate Control Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Blaschke, Michael Humburg, Wolfgang Pfister, Hans Jensen
  • Patent number: 11142041
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating a fuel-operated vehicle heater (10) during a start phase of combustion operation. The heater includes a combustion air feed device (26) feeding air and a fuel feed device (22) feeding fuel (B) to a burner area (12) with a combustion chamber (16). An electrically energizable ignition element (32) ignites a fuel/air mixture formed. The method includes energizing the ignition element (32) in a preheating phase prior to the fuel feed, at a time of entry into an ignition phase, detecting electrical resistance of the ignition element (32) and determining a desired resistance based on the electrical resistance of the ignition element (32) detected and operating the ignition element (32) in a resistance-regulating operating mode during the ignition phase such that an actual resistance of the ignition element (32) is in the range of the determined desired resistance of the ignition element (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Eberspächer Climate Control Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Pfister, Walter Blaschke
  • Patent number: 11072222
    Abstract: A combustion chamber assembly unit for a fuel-operated vehicle heater includes a combustion chamber housing (14) elongated in a direction of a housing longitudinal axis (L), with a combustion chamber (16) radially outwardly bounded by a circumferential wall (18), and with a combustion chamber bottom (20) axially delimiting the combustion chamber (16). A combustion air feed volume (36) is provided that is open to the combustion chamber (16) via a plurality of passage openings (38). A cooling medium feed device (46) is provided for feeding a liquid cooling medium to the combustion air feed volume (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Eberspächer Climate Control Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Humburg, Wolfgang Pfister, Walter Blaschke
  • Publication number: 20200055373
    Abstract: A combustion chamber assembly unit for a fuel-operated vehicle heater includes a combustion chamber housing (14) elongated in a direction of a housing longitudinal axis (L), with a combustion chamber (16) radially outwardly bounded by a circumferential wall (18), and with a combustion chamber bottom (20) axially delimiting the combustion chamber (16). A combustion air feed volume (36) is provided that is open to the combustion chamber (16) via a plurality of passage openings (38). A cooling medium feed device (46) is provided for feeding a liquid cooling medium to the combustion air feed volume (36).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Michael HUMBURG, Wolfgang PFISTER, Walter BLASCHKE
  • Publication number: 20190264915
    Abstract: A fuel-operated vehicle heater includes a burner area (12) with a combustion chamber (14); a fuel pump (24); and a combustion air blower (28). A pressure sensor (38) detects a feed back pressure. An actuating unit (36) actuates the fuel pump (24) with a predefined value of a pump operating variable, and actuates the combustion air blower with a predefined value of a blower operating variable. A heater process includes detecting the feed back pressure in case of a feed operating state set during the combustion operation and comparing the detected feed back pressure (Pe) with an expected feed back pressure (PE) for the set feed operating state. If the detected feed back pressure deviates from the expected feed back pressure the pump operating variable is changed such that the feed back pressure changes toward the expected feed pressure and/or essentially corresponds to the expected feed back pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Walter BLASCHKE, Michael HUMBURG, Wolfgang PFISTER, Hans JENSEN
  • Patent number: 10359190
    Abstract: A catalytic burner, especially for a vehicle heater, for the catalytically supported combustion of a fuel/combustion air mixture, includes a mixing chamber (24) and a combustion air feed device (36), for feeding combustion air to the mixing chamber (24) and a fuel feed device (28, 34), for feeding fuel to the mixing chamber (24), upstream of the mixing chamber (24). A catalyzer device (46) is provided with at least one catalyzer unit (48, 50, 52, 70), through which the fuel/combustion air mixture can flow. The fuel feed device (28, 34) includes an evaporator device (28) receiving liquid fuel from a fuel feed line (34) and releasing fuel vapor into the mixing chamber (24) or/and the at least one catalyzer unit (48, 50, 52, 70) includes a grid-like support with catalyst material on a surface of the a grid-like support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: EBERSPÄCHER CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEMS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Günter Eberspach, Klaus Beetz, Wolfgang Pfister
  • Publication number: 20180037088
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating a fuel-operated vehicle heater (10) during a start phase of combustion operation. The heater includes a combustion air feed device (26) feeding air and a fuel feed device (22) feeding fuel (B) to a burner area (12) with a combustion chamber (16). An electrically energizable ignition element (32) ignites a fuel/air mixture formed. The method includes energizing the ignition element (32) in a preheating phase prior to the fuel feed, at a time of entry into an ignition phase, detecting electrical resistance of the ignition element (32) and determining a desired resistance based on the electrical resistance of the ignition element (32) detected and operating the ignition element (32) in a resistance-regulating operating mode during the ignition phase such that an actual resistance of the ignition element (32) is in the range of the determined desired resistance of the ignition element (32).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Wolfgang PFISTER, Walter BLASCHKE
  • Patent number: 9863640
    Abstract: A bottom assembly unit for a vaporizing burner combustion chamber assembly unit, especially for a vehicle heater, includes a bottom part (24) with a bottom wall. A porous evaporator medium (44) at least partially covers the bottom wall on a front side (42) positioned such that it faces a combustion chamber (20). A ring-shaped holding part (34) has a contact area (40) touching the porous evaporator medium (44). The contact area has a holding section (62) extending radially inwardly from a holding part circumferential wall (36) and extends over the porous evaporator medium (44) in a radially outer area (66). A plurality of contact projections (68) are arranged at spaced locations from one another about the longitudinal axis and extend in the direction of the porous evaporator medium. The porous evaporator medium (44) is pressed by the contact projections (68) in a radially outer area (66) against the bottom wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Eberspächer Climate Control Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Pfister, Walter Blaschke, Valerij Hermann
  • Patent number: 9388818
    Abstract: A side channel blower for a vehicle heater includes a blower housing area (14) with a delivery channel (18), which extends in a ring-shaped pattern around a central axis (A) and is open on an axial side (16). A motor housing area (26) integral with the blower housing area (14) accommodates an electric drive motor (30) with a drive shaft (36). A first delivery wheel covers the delivery channel on a first axial side of the blower housing area and is carried at a first end of the drive shaft. A control device housing area is integral with the blower housing area or/and the motor housing area and is provided with a circumferential wall and with a bottom wall and with an opening located opposite the bottom wall. A partial area of the bottom wall of the control device housing area is formed by the motor housing area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Eberspächer Climate Control Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Wetzl, Michael Haefner, Andreas Collmer, Wolfgang Pfister
  • Patent number: 9121603
    Abstract: A combustion chamber assembly, especially for a vehicle heater, includes a combustion chamber housing (12) with a housing wall (16) surrounding a combustion chamber. At least one ignition element opening (28) is provided in the area of the housing wall (16) and an ignition element (30) is fixed in a fastening area (44) in at least one ignition element opening (28). The at least one ignition element opening (28) is designed with a circular wedge inner profile (54) and the fastening area of the ignition element fastened in this opening is designed with a circular wedge outer profile and fasteningly meshes with the circular wedge inner profile (54).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Eberspaecher Climate Control Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Wetzl, Wolfgang Pfister
  • Publication number: 20150102116
    Abstract: A bottom assembly unit for a vaporizing burner combustion chamber assembly unit, especially for a vehicle heater, includes a bottom part (24) with a bottom wall. A porous evaporator medium (44) at least partially covers the bottom wall on a front side (42) positioned such that it faces a combustion chamber (20). A ring-shaped holding part (34) has a contact area (40) touching the porous evaporator medium (44). The contact area has a contact section (62) extending radially inwardly from a holding part circumferential wall (36) and extends over the porous evaporator medium (44) in a radially outer area (66). A plurality of contact projections (68) are arranged at spaced locations from one another about the longitudinal axis and extend in the direction of the porous evaporator medium. The porous evaporator medium (44) is pressed by the contact projections (68) in a radially outer area (66) against the bottom wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Wolfgang PFISTER, Walter BLASCHKE, Valerij HERMANN
  • Publication number: 20140186782
    Abstract: A catalytic burner, especially for a vehicle heater, for the catalytically supported combustion of a fuel/combustion air mixture, includes a mixing chamber (24) and a combustion air feed device (36), for feeding combustion air to the mixing chamber (24) and a fuel feed device (28, 34), for feeding fuel to the mixing chamber (24), upstream of the mixing chamber (24). A catalyzer device (46) is provided with at least one catalyzer unit (48, 50, 52, 70), through which the fuel/combustion air mixture can flow. The fuel feed device (28, 34) includes an evaporator device (28) receiving liquid fuel from a fuel feed line (34) and releasing fuel vapor into the mixing chamber (24) or/and the at least one catalyzer unit (48, 50, 52, 70) includes a grid-like support with catalyst material on a surface of the a grid-like support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Eberspächer Climate Control Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: GÜNTER EBERSPACH, Klaus BEETZ, Wolfgang PFISTER
  • Publication number: 20120241529
    Abstract: A side channel blower for a vehicle heater includes a blower housing area (14) with a delivery channel (18), which extends in a ring-shaped pattern around a central axis (A) and is open on an axial side (16). A motor housing area (26) integral with the blower housing area (14) accommodates an electric drive motor (30) with a drive shaft (36). A first delivery wheel covers the delivery channel on a first axial side of the blower housing area and is carried at a first end of the drive shaft. A control device housing area is integral with the blower housing area or/and the motor housing area and is provided with a circumferential wall and with a bottom wall and with an opening located opposite the bottom wall. A partial area of the bottom wall of the control device housing area is formed by the motor housing area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Andreas WETZL, Michael Haefner, Andreas Collmer, Wolfgang Pfister
  • Publication number: 20120104109
    Abstract: A combustion chamber assembly, especially for a vehicle heater, includes a combustion chamber housing (12) with a housing wall (16) surrounding a combustion chamber. At least one ignition element opening (28) is provided in the area of the housing wall (16) and an ignition element (30) is fixed in a fastening area (44) in at least one ignition element opening (28). The at least one ignition element opening (28) is designed with a circular wedge inner profile (54) and the fastening area of the ignition element fastened in this opening is designed with a circular wedge outer profile and fasteningly meshes with the circular wedge inner profile (54).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Andreas WETZL, Wolfgang Pfister
  • Patent number: 6755622
    Abstract: A fuel metering pump (1) has a solenoid coil (2), an armature (3), a delivery piston (4) and spring-loaded valves. The spring-loaded valves are embodied as an electrically controlled suction valve (5) and an electrically controlled pressure valve (6). A solenoid coil (2) is provided for the armature (3) of the delivery piston (4), the armature (7) of the suction valve (5) and the armature of the pressure valve (6). The masses, springs and hydraulic cross-sections of the component parts are configured in such a way that the valves switch more quickly than the delivery piston moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: J. Eberspächer GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Rolf Hartnagel, Wolfgang Pfister, Thomas Görtler
  • Patent number: 6164554
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a present atomizing type burner (1) for an engine independent heating system in a vehicle, comprising a pump (2) for feeding liquid fuel (4) through the fuel pipe (5) to the spray nozzle (3), a ventilator (6) for feeding combustion air (7) to the combustion chamber, an electric motor (9) for driving both the fuel pump (2) and the ventilator (6), and an igniting device (10) for firing the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber (8). The invention suggests that the system be fitted with a voltage and speed regulator (11) for the electric motor (9), as well as a device for regulating the fuel pump (2) pressure after the heating system has ignited and the flame has become stable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: J. Eberspacher GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Pfister, Hans-Jurgen Schmid, Heinrich Wacker, Adolf Schodt, Dieter Gotz, Gunther Eberspach
  • Patent number: 6006997
    Abstract: The invention concerns a heating appliance which is protected against overheating in that the temperature increase during operation of the appliance is monitored. If the temperature increases too rapidly, the heating operation is stopped. According to the invention, temperature increase values are determined in a close chronological succession and/or a mean value is calculated in order to compensate signal noise from the temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: J. Eberspacher GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Pfister, Jurgen Epple, Stefan Ottenbacher, Andreas Alber
  • Patent number: 5993197
    Abstract: A combustion chamber of a burner for a vehicle heater or for thermal regeneration of an exhaust gas particle filter having a frontal boundary wall, a circumferential boundary wall, a connector for fitting a glow plug and a connector for conveying combustion air which projects from the frontal boundary wall into the combustion chamber and has at least combustion air outlets through the connector wall, in which the combustion chamber with the frontal boundary wall, the circumferential boundary wall, the glow plug connector and with or without the air supply connector takes the form of a one-piece precision-cast component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: J. Eberspacher GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Andreas Alber, Walter Blaschke, Dirk Brenner, Michael Humburg, Wolfgang Pfister, Peter Steiner
  • Patent number: 5918803
    Abstract: A power regulating system make it possible to switch on a plurality of power stages with different air flow rates and different fuel flow rates on the burner of the heater. In addition, noise level is optimized, since the blower that maintains the air flow rate turns with a constant output and only the fuel flow rate is modified to regulate the heating power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: J. Eberspacher GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Pfister, Peter Reiser
  • Patent number: 5894988
    Abstract: A burner for a vehicle heater of a particle filter regenerator including a combustion air blower, a combustion chamber with a fuel evaporator, a fuel supply with a fuel metering pump by which the fuel is proportionately fed to the evaporator, a glow-plug to ignite a mixture of combustion air and vaporized fuel and a control device, in which the control device switches the flow-plug on to ignite the mixture, starts the fuel metering pump after a first period following the switch-on of the glow-plug and substantially simultaneously with the starting of the fuel metering pump or a second period thereafter initiates a gradual increase in the speed of the combustion gas blower from a standstill or low speed rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: J. Eberspacher GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Dirk Brenner, Erwin Burner, Jurgen Epple, Stefan Ottenbacher, Jurgen Peschke, Wolfgang Pfister, Monika Sigle, Peter Steiner