Patents by Inventor Andreas Ritz

Andreas Ritz 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: 11971083
    Abstract: A chain for a chain drive includes alternating inner chain links and outer chain links, which are connected together in an articulated manner by means of a respective chain joint. Each outer chain link includes two outer plates, each of which comprises two openings and two pins, and the pins and openings are connected together by means of a respective compression connection such that the pins hold the outer plates at a distance from each other. The chain for a chain drive prevents the disadvantages known from the prior art and leading in particular to a higher fatigue strength. This is achieved in that a beveled joint is formed in the region of the compression connection between the pins and the openings in the outer plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: IWIS MOTORSYSTEME GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Urbanek, Andreas Ritz, Bahram Khani
  • Patent number: 11598227
    Abstract: An articulated chain with alternating inner chain links and outer chain links which are each connected to each other by means of a chain joint, wherein each outer chain link comprises at least two outer link plates and two chain studs connecting them to each other, each inner chain link comprises at least two inner link plates and two joint sleeves connecting them to each other, and for forming a chain joint, one chain stud each of the outer chain link extends through a joint sleeve of the inner chain link. The joint sleeves of the inner chain links are embodied as winding sleeves and firmly connected to the inner link plates, wherein the sleeve joints of the two winding sleeves are positioned on the same side of a link plate's longitudinal axis and face each other, and the sleeve joints are arranged at a distance to the link plate's longitudinal axis and at a distance to an upper apex or to a lower inflection point of the winding sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: IWIS MOTORSYSTEME GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Ritz, Andreas Urbanek
  • Publication number: 20220333669
    Abstract: A method for controlling the length of a sprocket chain of a chain type includes alternately arranged inner chain links and outer chain links that are connected together by, means of a chain joint, wherein each outer chain link has two outer plates, each of which comprises two openings and two pins that are pressed into the openings of the outer plates, each pin of the outer chain links having a joint region, which contacts the inner chain link and has a joint diameter, and two joining regions, which are pressed into the openings of the outer plates and have a joining diameter. The method prevents the disadvantages known from the prior art and in particular leads to a simple chain length control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Andreas RITZ, Bahram KHANI, Andreas URBANEK
  • Publication number: 20220325779
    Abstract: A chain for a chain drive includes alternating inner chain links and outer chain links, which are connected together in an articulated manner by means of a respective chain joint. Each outer chain link includes two outer plates, each of which comprises two openings and two pins, and the pins and openings are connected together by means of a respective compression connection such that the pins hold the outer plates at a distance from each other. The chain for a chain drive prevents the disadvantages known from the prior art and leading in particular to a higher fatigue strength. This is achieved in that a beveled joint is formed in the region of the compression connection between the pins and the openings in the outer plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Andreas URBANEK, Andreas RITZ, Bahram KHANI
  • Publication number: 20220010690
    Abstract: An articulated chain with alternating inner chain links and outer chain links which are each connected to each other by means of a chain joint, wherein each outer chain link comprises at least two outer link plates and two chain studs connecting them to each other, each inner chain link comprises at least two inner link plates and two joint sleeves connecting them to each other, and for forming a chain joint, one chain stud each of the outer chain link extends through a joint sleeve of the inner chain link. The joint sleeves of the inner chain links are embodied as winding sleeves and firmly connected to the inner link plates, wherein the sleeve joints of the two winding sleeves are positioned on the same side of a link plate's longitudinal axis and face each other, and the sleeve joints are arranged at a distance to the link plate's longitudinal axis and at a distance to an upper apex or to a lower inflection point of the winding sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: Andreas RITZ, Andreas URBANEK
  • Publication number: 20160348755
    Abstract: An articulated chain includes alternate outer chain links and inner chain links interconnected by respective chain joints. The outer chain links comprise two outer link plates that are spaced apart in parallel, the outer link plates having two pin holes, which are spaced apart in the link-plate longitudinal direction and which each have fixedly arranged therein a respective joint pin of the chain joints. The inner chain links comprise two inner link plates that are spaced apart in parallel, and the joint pin being pivotably arranged in a joint opening of the inner chain links. The outer link plates comprise at least one expansion opening between the pin holes in order to reduce the bending of the joint pin and the surface pressure in the joint opening of the inner chain links, so as to improve the sliding behavior and the wear properties of the chain joints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Andreas RITZ, Erwin FELD, Karim ELWAN
  • Publication number: 20140171246
    Abstract: An articulated bushing chain comprises inner and outer chain links alternately connected to each other by a chain joint, the inner chain link comprising at least one inner plate and two joint bushings and the outer chain link comprising at least two outer plates and two joint pins interconnecting the same, each chain joint being defined by a joint bushing of the inner chain link and a joint pin of the outer chain link and the chain joint being configured as a rocker joint in which a rocking surface of the joint pin rolls on a convex inner rocker contour of the joint bushing during a movement of the joint. The rocking surface of the joint pin has a rocking radius larger than a limit value calculated according to a given formula. The rocking surface of the joint pin is prevented from slipping on the rocker contour of the joint bushing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Inventor: Andreas RITZ
  • Patent number: 8550946
    Abstract: A round-pin-joint toothed chain is provided that comprises alternating outer and inner chain links which are pivotably interconnected via a chain joint including round pins that are circular in cross-section, the outer chain links comprising two parallel, spaced-apart outer plates and at least one centered toothed extension plate disposed between the outer plates, and the inner chain links comprising at least two inner toothed plates, said at least two inner toothed plates and said at least one toothed extension plate having each two joint openings, which are arranged in spaced relationship with one another on the longitudinal axis of the inner toothed plate and of the toothed extension plate, respectively, and which are associated with the end faces of the inner toothed plates and of the toothed extension plate, respectively, and a respective round pin extending through one of the joint openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: IWIS Motorsysteme GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Andreas Ritz
  • Patent number: 8353796
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sprocket (1) with a circular gear ring (3) comprising a plurality of alternating teeth (4) and tooth spaces (5) with different pitch spacings (T) distributed around the periphery of the gear ring (3), a plurality of successive pitch spacings (T) increasing continuously over a first region of the gear ring (3), and a plurality of successive pitch spacings (T) decreasing continuously in a subsequent region. The invention additionally relates to a chain drive (20), in particular a timing chain drive, comprising a driving chain (14) and at least one sprocket (1) of the type in question.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: iwis motorsysteme GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Andreas Ritz
  • Patent number: 8113975
    Abstract: The invention relates to a chain wheel (2, 3), especially for a timing chain drive, with a rotary shaft, a sprocket wheel (7) positioned around the rotary shaft featuring multiple alternating teeth (17) and tooth gaps (16) distributed around its circumference, as well as at least one chain guide (8), the sprocket wheel (7) and the chain guide (8) are rigidly joined, the chain guide (8) incorporates a contoured surrounding support cage (9) causing it to bear on contact faces of link plates (13, 14) and the support cage (9) or raised regions of the support cage (9) extend along a curved circumference that constitutes the perimeter of the chain guide (8), said perimeter of the chain guide (8) having a non-circular profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: IWIS Motorsysteme GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Ritz, Lutz Welke, Volker Hirschmann
  • Publication number: 20110287883
    Abstract: A round-pin-joint toothed chain is provided that comprises alternating outer and inner chain links which are pivotably interconnected via a chain joint including round pins that are circular in cross-section, the outer chain links comprising two parallel, spaced-apart outer plates and at least one centered toothed extension plate disposed between the outer plates, and the inner chain links comprising at least two inner toothed plates, said at least two inner toothed plates and said at least one toothed extension plate having each two joint openings, which are arranged in spaced relationship with one another on the longitudinal axis of the inner toothed plate and of the toothed extension plate, respectively, and which are associated with the end faces of the inner toothed plates and of the toothed extension plate, respectively, and a respective round pin extending through one of the joint openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: IWIS MOTORSYSTEME GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Andreas Ritz
  • Publication number: 20100048337
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sprocket (1) with a circular gear ring (3) comprising a plurality of alternating teeth (4) and tooth spaces (5) with different pitch spacings (T) distributed around the periphery of the gear ring (3), a plurality of successive pitch spacings (T) increasing continuously over a first region of the gear ring (3), and a plurality of successive pitch spacings (T) decreasing continuously in a subsequent region. The invention additionally relates to a chain drive (20), in particular a timing chain drive, comprising a driving chain (14) and at least one sprocket (1) of the type in question.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: iwis motorsysteme GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Andreas Ritz
  • Publication number: 20090275434
    Abstract: The invention relates to a chain wheel (2, 3), especially for a timing chain drive, with a rotary shaft, a sprocket wheel (7) positioned around the rotary shaft featuring multiple alternating teeth (17) and tooth gaps (16) distributed around its circumference, as well as at least one chain guide (8), the sprocket wheel (7) and the chain guide (8) are rigidly joined, the chain guide (8) incorporates a contoured surrounding support cage (9) causing it to bear on contact faces of link plates (13, 14) and the support cage (9) or raised regions of the support cage (9) extend along a curved circumference that constitutes the perimeter of the chain guide (8), said perimeter of the chain guide (8) having a non-circular profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: IWIS MOTORSYSTEME GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Ritz, Lutz Welke, Volker Hirschmann