Patents Assigned to ZF Friedrichshafen
  • Patent number: 11982310
    Abstract: A ball joint for a chassis of a vehicle. The ball joint has an inner joint portion (2) and a slide bearing (7). The inner joint portion (2) is movably fitted in the slide bearing (7). The ball joint further has a closure element (5) for closing a joint housing. The slide bearing (7) and the closure element (5) are connected to one another. To reduce the number of components and/or the number of assembly steps, the ball joint (1) is characterized in that the slide bearing (7), for the inner joint portion (2), is made as a single, one-piece plastic component (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Thomas Kramer, Josef Holtheide
  • Patent number: 11981092
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for producing a fiber preform, wherein: at least one dry and textile fiber material is provided; the fiber material is assembled into a plurality of individual layers; the plurality of individual layers is provided with a binder; the plurality of individual layers is layered to form a package; and a plurality of interconnected fiber preforms is formed by pressing the package. A separation of the plurality of interconnected fiber preforms and activation of the binder occur in a common process step. The disclosure furthermore relates to a corresponding system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Konrad Buettner, Ignacio Lobo Casanova
  • Patent number: 11981273
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electric motor for operating shift elements in an automatic transmission for a vehicle that has an actuator for operating the electric motor mounted thereon. The actuator can be coupled to a data bus for communication. The actuator also has a communication module for communicating with at least one other actuator that can be coupled to the data bus for communication in at least one other electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen
    Inventor: Josef Loibl
  • Patent number: 11981194
    Abstract: A method for operating a drive train for a mobile machine, including a first electric motor driving a working drive of the mobile machine via a first transmission arrangement, and a second electric motor driving a propulsion drive of the mobile machine via a second transmission arrangement, wherein a rotational speed of the second electric motor increases during a shifting operation of the second transmission arrangement out of a higher gear stage into a lower gear stage, and wherein during the shifting operation, a drive connection is established via a first clutch between the first electric motor and the propulsion drive, such that the propulsion drive is driven by the first electric motor during the shifting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Rico Glöckner, Lukas Jäger
  • Publication number: 20240149905
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a vehicle (1) having a vehicle superstructure (2), a chassis (3) connected to the vehicle superstructure (2), and a monitoring unit (11) which monitors the chassis (3) for damage. In the event that chassis damage is detected, the monitoring unit produces a warning signal (S) by means of a warning signal generator, where the warning signal generator has at least one drive unit (10) by means of which the warning signal (S) is produced in the form of a tactile mechanical vibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Christoph Müller, Stefan Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20240140248
    Abstract: A method for characterizing energy stored in a vehicle, where the energy is delivered from an energy source to an energy store of the vehicle, the method includes acquiring information on energy supplied, processing information on the energy in order to establish an energy class of the energy, and assigning the energy that is delivered to the energy store to an energy class. A charging device, a control unit, and a vehicle are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Stephan Demmerer, Christian Gürlich, Otmar Scharrer, Gerhard Müller, Johannes Ochsenreiter
  • Publication number: 20240141973
    Abstract: A differential lock for locking compensation movements between drive output shafts (4) in a differential gearbox of a vehicle is disclosed. In the locking condition, at least one of the drive output shafts (4) is connected with interlock to a differential cage (2) connected to a drive input, where a sliding sleeve (5) is arranged coaxially relative to the drive output shaft (4) and connected rotationally fixed to the drive output shaft (4). The sliding sleeve can be moved by means of a piston element (6) in such manner that radial-side external teeth (7) of the sliding sleeve (7) can be brought into engagement with radial-side internal teeth (8) of the differential cage (2). In addition, a differential gearbox with the differential lock is proposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Julian Lüftl
  • Publication number: 20240140443
    Abstract: A device for determining driver alertness includes a gas sensor for continuously monitoring a driver's exhalations and/or volatile organic compounds emitted from the skin, and an analyzer for extracting at least one volatile biomarker in the exhalations and/or the emitted volatile organic compounds, wherein the biomarker is isoprene, and wherein the analyzer is configured to determine the isoprene concentration over the course of a predefined time period to obtain an isoprene concentration profile, determine peaks in the isoprene concentration profile, such that the alertness of the driver can be determined on the basis of the number of peaks within the predefined time period, and/or determine the driver's alertness on the basis of a frequency analysis of isoprene concentrations within the predefined time period, and/or determine the driver's alertness on the basis of random distributions of isoprene concentrations within the predefined time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Julian King, Rene Seidemann
  • Publication number: 20240141974
    Abstract: A differential lock is configured for locking compensation movements between drive output shafts (4) in a differential gearbox of a vehicle. In the locking condition, at least one of the drive output shafts (4) is connected with interlock to a differential cage (2) connected to a drive input, by means of a sliding sleeve (5) which is connected rotationally fixed to the drive output shaft (4) and can be displaced axially. For axial movement of the sliding sleeve (5), which is prestressed against at least one spring element (7), the action of a pressure (6) is provided. The spring element (7) is arranged, at least partially, radially inside the sliding sleeve (5). In addition a differential gearbox with the differential lock is proposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Julian Lüftl
  • Publication number: 20240146181
    Abstract: A method for driving two mutually complementary topological switches of a half-bridge in a power module of an inverter includes detecting a bridge short circuit at one of the topological switches, de-energizing the topological switch complementary to the topological switch at which the bridge short circuit was detected, and, temporally switching off the short-circuit current in the topological switch at which the bridge short circuit was detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Marc Rasch, Sebastian Besold
  • Patent number: 11971264
    Abstract: A method for determining a route (100) for a vehicle. When selecting a route segment (110, 112) of the route (100), a condition value assigned to the route segment (110, 112) and a default value associated with the route (100) are taken into account. The condition value represents a road condition of the route segment (110, 112) and the default value represents a road quality that is preferred for the route (100) and is independent of a road category.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Henrik Stegmann
  • Patent number: 11973406
    Abstract: A rotor (1) for an electric machine (25) which comprises a rotor support (2). The rotor support has cylindrical inner and outer shells (3, 4). A magnetic flux-carrying rotor component has first and second end faces (6, 7) and carries the cylindrical outer shell (4). A rotationally shaft section (8) is arranged in an inside space (9) of the rotor support and mounted coaxially with the rotor support. At least in the area of the first end face (6) the outer shell has first teeth which face toward the magnetic flux-carrying rotor component and a first tooth base between respective pairs of first teeth, and at least in the area of the second end face (7) the outer shell (4) has second teeth which face toward the magnetic flux-carrying rotor component and a second tooth base between respective pairs of second teeth. The invention also relates to an electric machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Rayk Gersten, Stefan Spühler, David Wörzler, Martin Christians, Martin Jelinewski, Alexander Baur
  • Patent number: 11973372
    Abstract: An electric machine (1) for driving a motor vehicle includes a stator (2) having at least one winding overhang (9, 10). Cooling fluid is flowable in the area of the at least one winding overhang (9, 10) to receive heat from the at least one winding overhang (9, 10). Air is flowable in the area of the at least one winding overhang (9, 10) to receive heat from the cooling fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Martin Lang, Thomas Auer, Maria Lang
  • Patent number: 11971103
    Abstract: A seal device (3) for a rotating shaft (1). The seal device has a shaft seal (4), a shaft grounding connection (6) and a holding feature (9) for holding the shaft seal (4) and the shaft grounding connection (6). The holding feature (9) has at least one opening (10), between the shaft seal (4) and the shaft grounding connection (6), for clearing particles away from the shaft seal (4) and the shaft grounding connection (6). An electric machine with a rotor shaft (1) that can be driven in rotation and with a seal device (3) of the above type for sealing the rotor shaft (1) and, therefore, also sealing an inside space of the electric machine. Furthermore, a drive unit for electrically driving a motor vehicle, including an electric machine of the above type for providing drive power of the drive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Vyacheslav Brushkivskyy, Gerhard Höring
  • Publication number: 20240132046
    Abstract: A device for model predictive control of a vehicle component includes a first input receiving sensor data, a second input receiving data regarding a topology in a vehicle's environment, a control unit for executing a predictive algorithm for generating a control value for the component, an output for outputting the control value, wherein the predictive algorithm comprises a vehicle model including a battery model, wherein the sensor and topology data are processed in the predictive algorithm, the predictive algorithm also including an optimization function including energy consumption predicted by the battery model, travel time predicted by the vehicle model, information regarding a charging station along a route of the vehicle predicted by the vehicle model in a prediction horizon, and information regarding the predicted charging state of the battery at the charging station, and the predictive algorithm generates the control value through minimization in the optimization function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Timon Busse
  • Patent number: 11964532
    Abstract: A chassis component (1) for a wheel suspension having at least two pivot points (3, 4), at least one connecting structure (7) which interconnects the pivot points (3, 4) with one another, and at least one sensor (9). The at least one sensor (9) is embodied as a piezoresistive thin film (19) arranged on a section of a surface (8) of the connecting structure (7). A thin film interconnects contact points (15, 16), of at least two conductive sections (13, 14) which are integrated in the connecting structure (7), to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Jonas Meier Zu Farwig, Alexander Lundberg, Michael Klank
  • Patent number: 11967100
    Abstract: A navigational system and method for guiding a boat onto a trailer, which comprises at least one marker mounted on the trailer; a camera located on the boat to assist the system with determining a longitudinal axis of the boat, and generating images of at least a front area of the boat and the at least one marker; an image processing unit for 1) receiving and processing the images to determine the at least one marker, 2) estimating the longitudinal axis of the trailer, 3) generating a desired boat trajectory for aligning the longitudinal axis of the boat with the longitudinal axis of the trailer; and 4) periodically generating guidance output commands to the user to assist the user with following the desired boat trajectory and facilitate loading of the boat on the trailer; and an image display for sequentially displaying the generated images of the camera to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignees: ZF Friedrichshafen AG, ZF Marine Propulsion Systems Miramar, LLC
    Inventors: Stefan Traub, Gabriela Jager, Lars Hoffmann, Andrew Orvieto
  • Patent number: 11968810
    Abstract: A power module for operating an electric vehicle drive may include one or more of the following: a plurality of semiconductor components; an intermediate circuit capacitor connected in parallel to the semiconductor components; a heatsink for the removal of heat generated by the semiconductor components, where the heatsink is located between the semiconductor components and the intermediate circuit capacitor; and an intermediate circuit line that electrically connects the intermediate circuit capacitor to the semiconductor components. The intermediate circuit line may extend perpendicular to a direction of flow for the coolant in the heatsink on a side of the semiconductor components facing away from the heatsink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Ake Ewald, Michael Sperber, Stefan Hain
  • Patent number: 11964675
    Abstract: A system for safely operating an automated vehicle includes a first network including a sensor set comprising a plurality of sensors configured to detect the surroundings of the vehicle. The sensor set is coupled to a high-performance electronic control unit (ECU) configured to process the signals of the sensors for orientation, control, and collision avoidance. The system further includes a secure motion-control ECU redundantly coupled to at least one drive element via at least two control signals for controlling the vehicle. The high-performance ECU is configured to output an object recognition indicator signal for orientation, control, and collision avoidance to the motion-control ECU. The system also includes a second, hierarchical, redundant network for safely operating the vehicle. The motion-control ECU is designed to securely evaluate the signals of a human/remote-machine interface (HMI/RMI), a ground truth sensing device, and a perception-safety ECU for the recognition of an emergency state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Marcus Hiemer, Sascha Heinrichs-Bartscher, Mark Mohr
  • Publication number: 20240123783
    Abstract: A load introduction element (3) for a chassis component (1) of a chassis, having a receiving opening (5) for receiving a joint arrangement (6) and a spline (8) with teeth (9A, 9B) extending substantially axially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the load introduction element (3), The load introduction element (3) is made from a fiber-reinforced plastic semifinished product, and has flat blanks (13, 14, 15) of the plastic semifinished product which are arranged one above the other in layers in an assembly direction (AR) and form a base body (11) of the load introduction element (3), wherein the blanks (13, 14, 15) of the base body (11) have at least two different geometries with different preferential fiber directions (20, 21).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Andre STIEGLITZ, Ingolf MÜLLER, Eva Sophie JURGELEIT, Paul NIEMÖLLER