Patents Assigned to ZF Friedrichshafen AG
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Publication number: 20240116617Abstract: The present invention relates to a mounting device (30) for a joystick (10), the mounting device (30) comprising a first and second mounting element (32, 34), a spring element (36) and a ball element (38). The two mounting elements (32, 34) are rotatably attached to allow rotation of the joystick (10) about a central axis (22) of yaw rotation. The spring element (36) is mounted to the first mounting element (32) and urges the ball element (38) against a ball support surface (50) of the second mounting element (34). The ball support surface (50) is inclined such that rotation of the stick element (16) about the central axis (22) away from a neutral yaw position causes increase of tension in the spring element (36), biasing the joystick (10) towards the neutral yaw position. Further, the invention relates to a joystick (10) and a marine vessel.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2023Publication date: April 11, 2024Applicants: ZF Friedrichshafen AG, ZF Padova S.r.l.Inventors: Paolo Moruzzi, Massimo Tranquillini, Ferruccio Basurto, Gianluca Straccio, Danilo Selvaggi
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Publication number: 20240119838Abstract: A method for parameterization of a vehicle collision includes obtaining a first outline of a first vehicle; obtaining a second outline of a second object participating in the collision with the first vehicle; modeling a collision between the first vehicle and the second object on the basis of the relative movement of the first and second outlines, wherein in the relative movement, the first and second outlines overlap at least along part of the relative movement; determining the parameterization on the basis of the overlapping extent of the outlines.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2023Publication date: April 11, 2024Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Arun Muthu Balavendra Raj, Wolfgang Kampe, Bernhard Grotz, Kilian Hachmann, Jürgen Metzger, Philipp Straßburger, Parthasarathy Nadarajan
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Publication number: 20240116616Abstract: The present invention relates to a mounting device (30) for a lever (10) configured for controlling a marine vessel. The mounting device (30) is configured to hold a lever element (14) rotatably about a rotation axis (32) and to adjust an amount of resistance against moving the lever element (14) depending on an angular lever position. In a first angular lever position range, the amount of resistance against further angular deflection increases with an increased deflection of the lever element (14) beyond a neutral position. The present invention further relates to a lever (10) configured for controlling a marine vessel and to a marine vessel.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2023Publication date: April 11, 2024Applicants: ZF Friedrichshafen AG, ZF Padova S.r.l.Inventors: Paolo Moruzzi, Massimo Tranquillini, Ferruccio Basurto, Gianluca Straccio, Danilo Selvaggi
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Patent number: 11956895Abstract: The disclosure relates to a printed circuit board having at least two current-conducting layer plies, wherein the current-conducting layer plies extend in an axial direction of the printed circuit board and are arranged in succession in a thickness direction of the printed circuit board. A component fastened by THT is arranged on one side of the printed circuit board. At least one connecting element extends through the printed circuit board through a passage opening in the thickness direction. The current-conducting layer ply is adjacent to the component fastened by THT reaches as far as the connecting element and the current-conducting layer ply that is remote from the component fastened by THT is at a distance from the connecting element.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2021Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventor: Michael Sperber
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Patent number: 11954261Abstract: A swipe gesture detection device may determine a swipe gesture performed on a moving surface element of a vehicle component. The swipe gesture detection device includes a spring, which applies a pre-loading between the moving surface element and a housing element of the vehicle component. The swipe gesture detection device also includes a contactless measuring distance sensor having at least three sensor elements arranged in different positions for detecting a respective distance between the surface element and the housing element.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2020Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Vitali Fribus, Nico Ruess
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Publication number: 20240110849Abstract: A tire test stand includes a frame, a tire holder, and a hexapod assembly having six linear drive elements, each of the six linear drive elements being attached at a first end to the frame and at a second end to the tire holder. A tire can be attached to the tire holder so as to be rotatable about its axis of rotation. The test stand also has two rotatably mounted deflection pulleys that are partially looped around by a belt such that the belt forms a flat belt portion between the deflection pulleys. When the tire is rotatably attached to the tire holder, the tire can be brought into a contact position in which the tread of the tire contacts the flat belt portion. When in the contact position and the belt is moved in relation to the tire, the tire rolls on the flat belt portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2021Publication date: April 4, 2024Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Jens Eisenbeiss, Roland Bösl
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Patent number: 11945292Abstract: An electric drive axle of a vehicle with a parking lock and with at least one electric drive with a drive gear of a drive shaft. The drive gear is coupled via at least one intermediate gear of an intermediate shaft to an output gear of a differential gear unit for driving at least one output shaft. For decoupling the electric drive, at least one claw shift element is associated with the drive shaft and/or with the intermediate shaft in such a way that the claw shift element is arranged upstream of the parking lock in power flow direction from electric drive to differential gear unit.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2019Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Kim Führer, Stephan Demmerer, Matthias Winkel, Johannes Winkler, Martin Ruider
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Patent number: 11946521Abstract: A stop assembly for damper masses of a damper system has a stop device and a stop device carrier which holds the stop device. The stop device has at least one shoulder, which is intended to engage in at least one associated receiving portion of the stop device carrier. In at least one support region, the shoulder is oversized relative to the associated receiving portion to facilitate captive engagement in the receiving portion, and, at a distance from the at least one support region, the shoulder is undersized relative to the associated receiving portion to facilitate assembly-simplifying engagement in the receiving portion.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2020Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Jörg Bender, Michael Wirachowski, Matthias Kram, Kyrill Siemens, Volker Stampf, Reinhold Fischer
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Patent number: 11946527Abstract: A vibration damper comprising a working cylinder, which is subdivided by an axially movable piston on a piston rod into a first and a second working chamber filled with a damping medium is disclosed. The vibration damper has at least one compensating reservoir for receiving the damping medium displaced by the piston rod. There is a flow connection between the two working chambers, in which connection there is incorporated a pump assembly. The pump assembly has a fluctuation in the delivery volume with a constant power supply. At least one pulsation accumulator is arranged within the flow connection, wherein the volume and spring rate of the pulsation accumulator are matched to a frequency of a fluctuation of the delivery volume of the pump assembly.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2021Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventor: Andreas Förster
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Publication number: 20240105468Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a power module, comprising: providing an insulating substrate, composed of a first metal layer, a second metal layer, and an insulating layer placed between the first metal layer and second metal layer; formation of numerous contact wires located on a first side of the insulating substrate facing away from the second metal layer and on a second side of the insulating substrate facing away from the first metal layer; applying an electrically conductive layer to the first side, which comes in contact with numerous power switches, and applying a heatsink to the second side.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2021Publication date: March 28, 2024Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Michael FÜGL, Torsten SCHELLER, Michael LORENZ, Sigrid ZISCHLER
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Publication number: 20240106342Abstract: A half-bridge power device includes a module substrate, the upper surface of which includes a first half-bridge area, a second half-bridge area, a first half-bridge lead-out area, and a second half-bridge lead-out area, which are separate, the first and second half-bridge lead-out areas being located at the ends of the module substrate. The first and second half-bridge power chips are connected to the first half-bridge area and the second half-bridge area, respectively. The first, second, and third power connector terminals are connected to the first and second half-bridge areas, and the first and second half-bridge power chips to form a power loop.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2023Publication date: March 28, 2024Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Zhiwu Hu, Tianyuan Dong, Zhao Li
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Publication number: 20240102549Abstract: A vehicle transmission has at least one lubrication point, a power take-off, a lubricant tapping point for a power take-off module, and a lubrication system for supplying the lubrication point(s) and the lubricant tapping point with lubricant. The lubrication system includes a lubricant reservoir, a main line section emerging from the lubricant reservoir, a first supply line section leading to the lubrication point(s), a second supply line section leading to the lubricant tapping point, and a return line section leading to the lubricant reservoir. A valve has a first valve port associated with the main line section, a second valve port associated with the lubricant tapping point, a third valve port associated with the return line section, and a bypass duct that acts between the first valve port and the second valve port. A vehicle with such a vehicle transmission and a working machine arrangement are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2023Publication date: March 28, 2024Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Julius Döpfert, Sascha Fiesel, Horst Leichsenring, Frank Sauter
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Patent number: 11940807Abstract: A method for controlling a utility vehicle includes detecting, via a sensor, an elevation profile of a region located in front of the utility vehicle in the direction of travel. The method also includes initializing a grid comprising a plurality of grid cells. The grid extends at least in a longitudinal direction and in a vertical direction of the region. The method further includes assigning the detected elevation profile to associated grid cells by writing elevation profile data into grid cells and controlling the vehicle based on the elevation profile data.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2020Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventor: Markus Birk
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Patent number: 11942836Abstract: A shaft grounding arrangement (X) includes a housing (GG), a shaft (W, GW2, DS1, DS2) supported in the housing (GG), a shaft grounding device (E) for establishing an electrically conductive contact (SK) between the shaft (W, GW2, DS1, DS2) and the housing (GG), and a covering element (C) fixedly connected to the shaft (W, GW2, DS1, DS2) for protecting the shaft grounding device (E) against environmental influences. The covering element (C) at least partially surrounds the shaft grounding device (E). The shaft grounding device (E) is fixedly connected to the housing (GG). The electrically conductive contact (SK) is formed by a sliding contact between contact elements (EK) of the shaft grounding device (E) and a surface of the covering element (C). A transmission (G) may include the shaft grounding arrangement (X) of this type, and an electric axle drive (EA) may include the transmission (G).Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2021Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventor: Michael Griesbach
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Publication number: 20240094065Abstract: A method for determining a semiconductor temperature Tj of a semiconductor element of a semiconductor module comprises ascertaining an estimated value of the semiconductor temperature Tj using an optimizable model of a thermal behavior of the semiconductor module, reading a measured value of the semiconductor temperature Tj, optimizing the optimizable model using the measured value, providing the estimated value of the semiconductor temperature Tj, if the measured value is not available, and the measured value if the measured value is available for the point in time, and repeating the steps of the method for further points in time.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2023Publication date: March 21, 2024Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Michael Meiler, Johannes Hager
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Publication number: 20240092440Abstract: A tractor-trailer combination (10) includes a tractor machine (12), a trailer (14; 40; 50; 60; 70; and an inverter (30; 100, 102). The trailer (14; 40; 50; 60; 70; 90) comprises a driven axle (18; 42; 72, 74; 92, 94), a clutch (46; 54, 56; 78; 104, 106), and an electric traction motor (24; 96, 98). The traction motor (24; 96, 98) drives the respective wheels of the driven axle (18; 42; 72, 74; 92, 94) via the clutch (46; 54, 56; 78; 104, 106). The tractor machine (12) comprises an electrical energy source (26) for supplying the traction motor (24; 96, 98) via the inverter (30; 100, 102). In addition, the invention relates to a trailer (14; 40; 50; 60; 70; 90) for a tractor-trailer combination (10).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2021Publication date: March 21, 2024Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Rico Glöckner, Migen Bebeti
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Publication number: 20240093760Abstract: A gearwheel arrangement (1) for the quieter transmission of a mechanical rotary power, the gearwheel arrangement (1) having a first intermediate gearwheel (2) and a second intermediate gearwheel (3), where the first intermediate gearwheel (2) and the second intermediate gearwheel (3) can rotate together about a common rotation axis (10), where at least one of the intermediate gearwheels (2, 3) has helical teeth (14, 15), the intermediate gearwheels (2, 3) can move axially relative to one another to a limited extent, and at least one of the intermediate gearwheels (2, 3) is acted upon axially by a spring force. Also disclosed is an auxiliary power take-off module for a vehicle transmission having an input gearwheel (12) and a gearwheel arrangement (1) of the above type, and a vehicle transmission with an auxiliary output gearwheel (13) and a gearwheel arrangement (1) of the said type.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2023Publication date: March 21, 2024Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: László Mikulás, Pál Csaba Németh
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Publication number: 20240097167Abstract: A compressor arrangement for a fuel cell system, such as a vehicle fuel cell system, has at least one compressor stage configured to draw in a mass-flow of air, compress it, and deliver the compressed mass-flow. A compressor control system is configured to control the compressor stage, to be connected for signal exchange with a fuel cell control system, and to receive from the fuel cell control system control commands in the form of one or more reference variable signals. The reference variable signal contains a mass-flow target value signal, the compressor arrangement comprises a sensor arrangement with a mass-flow sensor for detecting the air mass-flow as a control variable. The compressor control system is connected for signal exchange with the sensor arrangement and is configured to generate a control signal for the compressor stage as a function of the control variable and the reference variable.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2022Publication date: March 21, 2024Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventor: Raphael Zwick
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Patent number: 11933394Abstract: Disclosed is a drive unit (10) with a housing (12), an electric motor (14) arranged in the housing with a rotor shaft (26). At least two oil chambers (30) are arranged in the housing (12). In each case the oil chambers include an oil zone (38) and an air zone (40) with an oil capture pocket (46). The oil chambers are flow-connected to one another via an overflow channel (42). Axial end areas of the rotor shaft (26) project into the oil chambers (30), and the rotor shaft defines a connecting channel (34) which flow-connects the oil chambers (30) to one another. A transmission is coupled to one axial end area or the rotor shaft (26) and an impulse disk (32) is coupled to the opposite axial end area, where each axial end area conveys oil to the respective oil capture pocket (46).Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2022Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Andreas Holzlöhner, Vyacheslav Brushkivskyy
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Patent number: 11933388Abstract: A powershift transmission has a split group with a plurality of powershift stages and an input shaft that can be rotatably driven by a drive shaft of a motorized drive. The input shaft transmits in a stepped-up manner to an output shaft of the split group a rotational movement corresponding to a selected powershiftable stage transmission. A synchromesh transmission group has at least four gear stages and can be rotatably driven by the output shaft of the split group via an intermediate group located therebetween, and via the output shaft of the synchromesh transmission group an axle transmission of the motor vehicle can be rotatably driven. The intermediate group has first and second switching elements each having an output shaft that can be coupled by means of a switchable clutch to an idler. First and second output gears are arranged on the output shaft of the synchromesh transmission group.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2022Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Michael Haas, Martin Dankesreiter, Thomas Oberbuchner, Thomas Pauli, Stefan Igl