Patents Assigned to ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
  • Patent number: 8731779
    Abstract: A method for aligning a steer angle, which is determined continuously in a processor for controlling a steering system, with a second steer angle which is measured continuously by a sensor of the steering system, the steer angles varying over time in such a way as to deviate negatively and positively from a neutral value. A first time profile of the varying first steer angle is monitored continuously, and a second time profile of the varying second steer angle is monitored continuously. If no alignment of the first steer angle with the second steer angle has yet been carried out, the first steer angle is set to the present value of the second steer angle. If at least one alignment of the first steer angle with the second steer angle has already been carried out previously, and if a change of sign occurs in the first profile, the first steer angle is varied by a corrective value which is determined as a function of a hysteresis occurring in the second profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Rainer Biegert
  • Patent number: 8720639
    Abstract: In an electric auxiliary power steering system a rotating component driven by a servomotor includes a rolling bearing for axially and radially supporting the component. At least one inner race or one outer race of the rolling bearing is split into two race parts along a parting plane that runs approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the rotating component. The two parts are axially spring-loaded against one another. The ends of the race parts facing one another are aligned at an angle from the radial outer side thereof to the radial inner side thereof. The element with a conical cross section and having a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the outer ring or the inner ring is placed between the ends so that when heat is introduced, the element expands and the race parts are able to move toward one another. When the element cools the race parts can move apart axially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Froehlich
  • Publication number: 20140126976
    Abstract: A device for securing a unit in a housing, in particular for securing a fixed bearing of a pinion in a steering gear of a motor vehicle, comprises a securing element which is inserted into a bore in the housing. The securing element is provided with at least one latching lever, wherein the at least one latching lever latches into toothing gaps of a toothing geometry in the bore of the housing via a latching lug disposed at the free end of the latching lever, or wherein at least one latching lug is disposed in the bore, which latches into toothing gaps of a toothing geometry in the securing element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: ZF LENKSYSTEME GMBH
    Inventors: Jochen Schmid, Richard Kaisser, Juergen Bieber, Rainer Schaenzel
  • Patent number: 8684128
    Abstract: A steering gear comprises a helical pinion and a helical gear which are mounted in the gear housing and driven by an electric motor, wherein a control unit and a sensor system connected thereto are also disposed in or on the steering gear so as to detect and control the rotor position and/or rotation of the rotor of the electric motor. A section of the shaft of the worm located on the drive side extends in the axial direction and protrudes from the gear housing, wherein the protruding end of the section on the drive side is designed as a rotor shaft of the electric motor, and the control unit and/or the sensor system are disposed on the gear housing. The control unit and the sensor system are preferably disposed on differing sections of the gear housing. This allows a very compact, cost-saving and flexible implementation of the design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Bieber, Martin Budaker, Thomas Kuehnhoefer
  • Patent number: 8667858
    Abstract: A steering gear comprises a shaft bearing configuration which comprises a mounting which is installed in a housing section of the steering gear and has openings that enable a pivoting movement by an annular section of the mounting which is assembled with a first rolling bearing, and the mounting comprises a disk-shaped section, which is provided with the openings and relative to which the annular section can be pivoted, wherein the annular section is either assembled with the outer ring of the first rolling bearing and the disk-shaped section is attached to the housing section, or the annular section is assembled with the inner ring of the first rolling bearing and the disk-shaped section is attached to the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Dennis Fuechsel, Jens Hafermalz
  • Publication number: 20140052338
    Abstract: An operating device for steering a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, and a method for steering the vehicle by way of the operating device. The operating device comprises a control stick, in particular for operation by a human hand The control stick has at least one degree of freedom. A steering angle can be specified by way of the control stick. The operating device comprises a control element. The specifiable steering angle can be determined as a function of a state of the control stick and as a function of a state of the control element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: ZF LENKSYSTEME GMBH
    Inventor: Alexander GAEDKE
  • Patent number: 8646351
    Abstract: An electric power-assisted steering system of a motor vehicle comprises a helical pinion which engages into a helical gear. A reloading device comprises a reloaded pressure piece which presses the helical pinion into the toothing of the helical gear. The requirements of assembly are reduced and the elastically urging of the helical pinion or the worm need not be adjusted during assembly since the necessary elastically urging is automatically adjusted such that friction in the gearing is minimized, improved efficiency is achieved and the spring force can be held as constant as possible throughout the service life and unwanted noise development in the gearing can be largely reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Dennis Fuechsel, Ekkehard Kneer, Jens Hafermalz, Arne Kuhlen, Marco Grau
  • Publication number: 20140007738
    Abstract: A device for exposing at least one opening in a housing part of a steering gear in a vehicle steering system is provided with a closure element, which closes the opening, and an operating element. At least one of the properties of the operating element changes when coming in contact with a liquid so that the opening can be exposed by the closure element after cooperation of the operating element with the closure element. The closure element is at least partially covered by a cover part and is designed as a buoyant body, or is provided with one or more buoyant bodies, wherein the cover part completely exposes the opening when liquid makes contact with the cover part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: ZF LENKSYSTEME GMBH
    Inventor: Stefan FROEHLICH
  • Patent number: 8626393
    Abstract: In order to transmit reliable and precise information, to as great an extent as possible, on current driving conditions and driving situations, and also achieve disturbance-free behavior of the steering system in the center point range, in a steering device in a vehicle, a target steering torque (torSSW) is determined by determining an actual toothed rack force (forRT), determining at least one first component for the target steering torque (torSSW) as a function of the actual toothed rack force (forRT), and determining at least one additional component for the target steering torque (torSSW) from a calculated toothed rack force (forRS), wherein the calculated toothed rack force (forRS) is determined from a wheel steering angle and a vehicle speed (velV).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Joerg Strecker, Thomas Werner, Stephan Hiegler, Manuel Diez Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 8539849
    Abstract: Disclosed is a bearing system for a worm engaging with a worm wheel as part of a steering gear, wherein the bearing system comprises at least one bearing with an outer ring, an inner ring, and rolling bodies that are movably accommodated between the outer an inner rings, the bearing being pivotally arranged in a bearing seat for accommodating the outer ring of the bearing, and wherein the inner ring accommodates one of the two shaft ends of the worm in order to seat said shaft end of the worm radially in the housing of the steering gear. For an improved dampening of the worm at least one spring element, which exerts a spring force on a region of the outer ring of the bearing, is provided at the bearing, said spring force supporting a pivotal motion of the worm toward the worm wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Bernhard, Marco Grau, Ekkehard Kneer, Jens-Uwe Hafermalz, Dennis Fuechsel, Juergen Bieber, Rainer Schaenzel
  • Publication number: 20130228026
    Abstract: A power steering system, and more particularly a power-assisted steering system for a vehicle, comprises a lead screw which is driven by a servo motor and is composed of a nut, which is mounted axially non-displaceably in a frame, and an axially displaceable component, the thread of which is engaged with a thread of the nut, and further comprising a belt pulley, which is non-rotatably connected to the nut and forms part of a traction mechanism gear between the servo motor and the nut, wherein the nut is mounted in the frame by a rolling bearing. So as to provide a power steering system which produces little noise and is easy to install, very precise in operation and also cost-effective to produce, the belt pulley is produced from plastic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Arthur Rupp, Steffen Truthmann
  • Publication number: 20130213727
    Abstract: A steering gear comprises a helical pinion and a helical gear which are mounted in the gear housing and driven by an electric motor, wherein a control unit and a sensor system connected thereto are also disposed in or on the steering gear so as to detect and control the rotor position and/or rotation of the rotor of the electric motor. A section of the shaft of the worm located on the drive side extends in the axial direction and protrudes from the gear housing, wherein the protruding end of the section on the drive side is designed as a rotor shaft of the electric motor, and the control unit and/or the sensor system are disposed on the gear housing. The control unit and the sensor system are preferably disposed on differing sections of the gear housing. This allows a very compact, cost-saving and flexible implementation of the design.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: ZF LENKSYSTEME GMBH
    Inventor: ZF Lenksysteme GMBH
  • Publication number: 20130118291
    Abstract: A bearing bushing assembly for a telescopic steering shaft comprises an outer tube and an inner tube, wherein the bearing bushing assembly comprises a bearing bushing, which is seated against the inner tube and made of an inflexible plastic material, and a sealing element, which is molded onto the bearing bushing and made of an elastic plastic material so as to connect the inner tube to the outer tube in an axially movable and sealing manner, the bearing bushing being enclosed by an elastic bushing, which in turn is enclosed by an end section of the outer tube, the outer circumference of the elastic bushing comprising outwardly extending rib-shaped elements, the elastic bushing comprises at least one sealing lip extending in the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred HEINTSCHEL, Ralf URBAN, Sebastian KUBISCH, Achim KRAUS
  • Patent number: 8418576
    Abstract: A device for pressing a steering rack onto a pinion engaged with the steering rack, in particular for a steering system of a motor vehicle, comprises a pressure piece which can be loaded in the direction of the steering rack and is displaceably guided in a housing and an adjustment unit for compensating for play occurring in the steering system. A spring washer is disposed between the adjustment unit and the pressure piece, wherein the adjustment unit comprises a projection and the pressure piece comprises a recess, or the pressure piece comprises a projection and the adjustment unit comprises a recess, in the region of the spring washer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Bareis
  • Patent number: 8360910
    Abstract: A power-steering drive for a steering system in a motor vehicle includes a motor driving a motor shaft and a transmission situated between the motor shaft and an output shaft. The transmission takes the form of a combined worm-belt transmission. Furthermore, in a method for adjusting the transmission of a power-steering drive, the adjustment is performed by solely adjusting the intermediate shaft relative to the motor shaft and/or the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Wilfried Leutner
  • Patent number: 8352125
    Abstract: Provided is a way of using an estimator to determine a force (Fz), which acts from the outside on a steering gear of a steering device in a vehicle by way of a steering linkage, wherein a motor for generating a steering torque is assigned to the steering device. This is achieved by estimating the force (Fz) acting from the outside as a function of an effective motor torque (tor_RAeff), wherein the effective motor torque (tor_RAeff) is determined as a function of a motor torque and an efficiency, the efficiency being determined as a function of the estimated force (Fz).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Gruener, Thomas Werner
  • Patent number: 8348009
    Abstract: A steering device, in particular an electric power-steering device for a motor vehicle, comprising an axially parallel drive which has a steering gearbox housing, a steering axle, a steering element, and at least one axle steering mechanism connected to the steering element, having a motor unit disposed on the steering gearbox housing, having a servo gearbox disposed in a gearbox cover and having a control unit for the motor unit, which is disposed in a control device housing. The control device housing of the control unit is disposed on one axially parallel side of the servo gearbox, and a motor housing of the motor unit is disposed on the other axially parallel side of the servo gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Knoedler, Michael Ochs, Hans Koehnle
  • Patent number: 8335613
    Abstract: So as to provide, with high accuracy, an actuating variable for actuating a torque control element in an electric vehicle steering system and achieve this with reduced complexity as compared to the known methods and devices, an actual torsion-bar torque (MD) is detected, a differential torque is found from a predefined target torsion-bar torque (MD,ref) and the actual torsion-bar torque (MD), and the actuating variable is determined by means of an output feedback controller, as a function of the differential torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Gruener
  • Patent number: 8307939
    Abstract: Disclosed is a steering gear for a power steering system of a vehicle, comprising a component that is mounted axially displaceably in a housing of the steering gear, a tie rod fixed in an articulated manner on at least one axial end of the component by way of a joint, wherein a rotational center of the joint is disposed on a radially directed adapter part laterally offset with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the axially displaceable component, and the adapter part is fixed to the axially displaceable component by way of a shaft-hub connection, which is fastened on the axial end of the axially displaceable component using a nut on an external thread so as to provide a steering gear that has a high-strength, play-free connection between the axially displaceable component thereof and the adapter part, and which is easy to produce, the shaft-hub connection being formed by a play-free, conical serrated connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Hauck, Helmut Bareis, Wilfried Doster
  • Patent number: 8249777
    Abstract: In order to achieve a steering feel for SbW systems and EPS systems having a control design for controlling the steering torque by generating a target steering torque (torTB) that can be adapted to various steering systems, vehicle types, or requirements, in which the resulting steering feel is a steering feel, in all driving conditions and driving situations, which is equivalent to, or better than, hydraulic and electromechanical steering systems available on the market today, according to the invention: a base steering torque (torB) is determined as a function of an externally acting force (torR) and a vehicle speed (velV); a damping torque (torD) is determined as a function of a steering speed (anvSW) and the vehicle speed (velV); a hysteresis torque (torF) is determined as a function of the steering speed (anvSW) and the vehicle speed (velV); a centering torque (torCF; torC) in the direction of the straight-ahead position is determined as a function of a steering wheel angle (angSW) and the vehicle speed
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Roland Greul, Thomas Werner