Patents by Inventor Bernd Allgaier

Bernd Allgaier 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: 8113309
    Abstract: A method for operating a drivetrain of a motor vehicle. The drivetrain includes at least a hybrid drive with an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, a clutch arranged between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor, and a transmission arranged between the hybrid drive and a drive output. When the vehicle is at rest, the clutch arranged between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor is filled at least with filling pressure and then, when the vehicle is started, if the starting torque desired by the driver is above a limit value, the internal combustion engine is immediately turned over and started up by the electric motor, whereas, when starting, if the starting torque desired by the driver is below the limit value, then on starting, the internal combustion engine is not turned over by the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Bernd Allgaier
  • Patent number: 8083641
    Abstract: A method for operating an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle, in particular a variable-speed transmission. The automatic transmission includes at least five shift elements and to transfer torque or force transfer in a forward gear and a reverse gear at least three shift of the at least five elements are engaged. When shifting the automatic transmission from a neutral position to a forward or a reverse gear, at least one of the three shift elements of the automatic transmission that are engaged in the respective forward or reverse gear, is engaged in a controlled manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Christian Popp, Klaus Steinhauser, Peter Schiele, Bernd Allgaier, Thilo Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8062173
    Abstract: A method for controlling a hybrid drivetrain of a motor vehicle such that, during a thrust operation of the vehicle, a change takes place from a combustion-powered driving mode, in which the combustion engine is in a thrust operation, the separator clutch is engaged and the electric machine contributes no force, or from a combined driving mode in which the engine is in a thrust operation, the clutch is engaged and the electric machine operates as a generator, to an electric driving mode in which the engine is switched off, the clutch is disengaged and the electric machine operates as a generator. To efficiently change driving modes, the clutch is partially disengaged to a slip limit; the clutch is then completely disengaged; and when the clutch reaches the slip limit, the generator torque of the electric machine is increased inversely to the torque that can be transmitted by the clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Bernd Allgaier, Friedrich Tenbrock, Thomas Lemp, Michael Gromus
  • Publication number: 20110281685
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle hybrid drive train comprising an internal combustion engine and electric machine whose torque is applicable to a drive output of the drive train. The drive train comprises a clutch arranged between the internal combustion engine and electric machine, an oil pump connected in the drive train downstream of the clutch in relation to the internal combustion engine, and the oil pump can be driven by the internal combustion engine and the electric machine, and a transmission which comprises a shifting elements for producing various gear ratios and which is supplied with hydraulic fluid by the oil pump in an operating-status-dependent manner. The speed of the electric machine is set independently of the speed of the internal combustion engine, in order to supply the transmission with a flow of a volume hydraulic fluid required for the operating point of the transmission present at the time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Bernd Allgaier, Michael Sohler, Peter Schiele
  • Publication number: 20110144846
    Abstract: A method for operating a hydraulic system of an automatic transmission, in particular in a hybrid drivetrain, in which the hydraulic system comprises a main pump that is powered by an internal combustion engine and/or an electric drive motor, an electric auxiliary pump and a system pressure valve for setting a system pressure, to ensure various operating functions. In addition to the main pump, the electric auxiliary pump also supplies the hydraulic system with a volume flow of an operating medium. The loading of the electric auxiliary pump is determined in an electronic control unit with regard to the value of the system pressure and the loading of the electric auxiliary pump is limited, by the electronic control unit, with regard to the selected operating function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Tobias Zöllner, Bernd ALLGAIER, Christian SCHWEMER
  • Patent number: 7957869
    Abstract: A method of operating an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle, in particular a variable-speed transmission. The automatic transmission includes at least five shift elements, at least three of which are engaged in a forward and a reverse gear to transfer torque or force. When disengaging gears for shifting the automatic transmission from a forward or reverse gear to a neutral position, at least one of the at least three shift elements that are engaged in the respective forward or reverse gear is completely disengaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Christian Popp, Klaus Steinhauser, Peter Schiele, Bernd Allgaier, Thilo Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20110130911
    Abstract: A method of operating a drivetrain of a motor vehicle which comprises a hybrid drive with a combustion engine coupled by a clutch to an electric motor. To start the combustion engine with the electric motor, the clutch is partially engaged to a slipping condition to deliver electric motor torque from a starting value, the torque transmitted by the clutch is increased to a first final value. If during this, the combustion engine begins turning, the break-away torque of the internal combustion engine is determined. If the combustion engine does not begin turning, the clutch is further engaged to a slipping condition starting from a second initial value, such that torque transmitted by the clutch increases linearly until the combustion engine begins turning, and the break-away torque of the internal combustion engine is determined from the clutch torque at which the combustion engine begins turning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Bernd Allgaier, Friedrich Tenbrock, Michael Gromus
  • Publication number: 20110130912
    Abstract: A method of operating a drive train of a motor vehicle in which the drive train comprises at least a hybrid drive with an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, a clutch connected between the combustion engine and the electric motor, a transmission arranged between the hybrid drive and a drive output, and preferably a transmission-internal or -external starting element. When the combustion engine is entrained into motion with the help of the electric motor, the clutch connected between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor is partially engaged to a slipping condition where the clutch transmits a constant torque, and during this entrainment, and comparing an actual gradient of the combustion engine's speed produced with a nominal gradient of the combustion engine's speed. When the actual gradient is greater than the nominal gradient, the method concludes that the combustion engine is started and actively providing torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Bernd Allgaier, Friedrich Tenbrock, Michael Gromus
  • Publication number: 20110120790
    Abstract: A method for operating a drive train of a motor vehicle comprising a hybrid drive including a combustion engine and electric motor, a clutch connected between the engine and motor, a transmission arranged between the hybrid drive and a drive output, and a transmission starting element. The method comprises the steps of engaging the clutch, from its fully disengaged condition, into a slipping condition and disengaging the starting element, starting from a fully engaged condition, into a slipping condition. Once the engine begins rotation, the clutch is maintained in the slipping condition until the rotational speeds of the engine and the motor correspond with one another. Then the clutch is completely engaged; the transmission starting element, from the slipping condition, is completely re-engaged when a difference between the drive output speed and the engine or electric motor speed reaches or exceeds a specified value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Bernd Allgaier, Friedrich Tenbrock, Michael Gromus
  • Patent number: 7836988
    Abstract: A method for operating a parallel hybrid drive train of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, an electric engine and an output. The electric engine being located in the power drive between the output and the internal combustion engine. A second shifting element is located between the internal combustion engine and the electric engine and a first shifting element between the electric engine and the output. Output torque driving the output can be adjusted according to the transmitting capacities of the first and second shifting elements and according to the input torque of the electric engine and/or internal combustion engine. These adjustments are corrected according to standards derived from divergences found in parameters during operation of the drive train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ralf Dreibholz, Johannes Kaltenbach, Michael Gromus, Stefan Blattner, Bernd Allgaier, Stefan Kilian, Peter Schiele, Friedrich Tenbrock, Gerd Frotscher
  • Patent number: 7770676
    Abstract: A method for operating a parallel hybrid powertrain (1) of a vehicle having one internal combustion engine (2) and one electric motor (3). The electric motor is located in the drivetrain between an output and the internal combustion engine. Between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor, a frictionally engaged shifting element is provided, while between the electric motor and the output, a starting element (6) having a hydrodynamic torque converter (6A) and a converter lock-up clutch (6B) is disposed. A target output torque to be applied to the output is dependent on the slippage of the starting element. During a starting phase of the internal combustion engine via the electric motor, an input torque produced by the electric motor is directed at least in part via the torque converter and in part via the converter lock-up clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Friedrich Tenbrock, Peter Schiele, Johannes Kaltenbach, Bernd Allgaier, Christian Schwemer, Michael Gromus, Martin Neumann, Klaus Habe
  • Patent number: 7762922
    Abstract: A method is described for operating a parallel hybrid device train (1) of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine (2), an electric engine (3) and an output (5) wherein the electric engine (3) is disposed in the power train between the output (5) and the internal combustion engine (2) and both between the internal combustion engine (2) and the electric engine (3) and between the electric engine (3) and the output (5) is respectively provided a frictionally engaged shifting element (7, 8). In addition, a nominal output torque abutting on the output (5) can be adjusted according to the transmitting capacity of the first shifting element (8) located between the electric engine (3) and the output (5). According to the invention, the transmitting capacity of the first shifting element (8) is adjusted under control according to the nominal input torque required so that the first shifting element (8) has a transmitting capacity needed for producing the nominal output torque on the output (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ralf Dreibholz, Johannes Kaltenbach, Michael Gromus, Stefan Blattner, Bernd Allgaier, Stefan Kilian, Peter Schiele, Friedrich Tenbrock, Gerd Frotscher
  • Patent number: 7670257
    Abstract: A method of operating a motor vehicle drive train having a hybrid drive including an internal combustion engine, an electric motor and an automatic transmission. A clutch is located between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor, and a clutch or a torque converter is located between the electric motor and the automatic transmission such that, when the drive train is powered exclusively by the electric motor, the internal combustion engine can be started by engagement of the clutch located between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor. The clutch, arranged between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor, is engaged during the process of downshifting when the internal combustion engine is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Christian Popp, Bernd Allgaier
  • Patent number: 7664580
    Abstract: A method for operating power train side components of a motor vehicle. Using a control device of a motor, at least one motor parameter is issued and delivered via a databus to at least one control device of one other power drive side component working independently of the motor control device in order to operate all or each one of the power drive side components dependent. in a first inventive aspect, a behavior of the respective other power drive side components that adjusts itself according to the motor torque actually made available by the motor is evaluated. In second inventive aspect, the motor torque issued by the motor control device is compared with a torque stored according to motor operation parameters in the control device working independently of the motor control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Christian Popp, Georg Gierer, Thilo Schmidt, Klaus Steinhauser, Peter Schiele, Bernd Allgaier, Christian Schwemer, Ruben Cüppers
  • Patent number: 7654931
    Abstract: A method of operating a drive train of a motor vehicle with a hybrid drive having an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, an automatic transmission. The drive train also having a clutch between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor, and a clutch or a torque converter between the electric motor and the automatic transmission. This arrangement enabling the internal combustion engine to be started by engaging the clutch arranged between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor, when the drive train is powered exclusively by the electric motor. The braking power, generated during an upshift in response to a drop in the rotational speed of the drive train components, is used to start the internal combustion engine, such that the energy required from the electric motor for starting the combustion engine is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Inventors: Christian Popp, Bernd Allgaier, Heinrich Zeller
  • Publication number: 20100018790
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for operating a drivetrain (1) of a motor vehicle, such that the drivetrain (1) comprises at least a hybrid drive with an internal combustion engine (2) and an electric motor (3), a clutch (4) arranged between the internal combustion engine (2) and the electric motor (3), and a transmission (5) arranged between the hybrid drive and a drive output (6). According to the invention, when the vehicle is at rest the clutch (4) between the internal combustion engine (2) and the electric motor (3) is filled at least to its filling pressure and then, if when the vehicle is started the starting torque desired by the driver is above a limit value the internal combustion engine (2) is immediately turned over and started up by the electric motor (3), whereas if, when starting, the starting torque desired by the driver is below the said limit value, then on starting the internal combustion engine (2) is not turned over by the electric motor (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: Bernd Allgaier
  • Publication number: 20100023231
    Abstract: A transmission control device (7) of a transmission (3) for a drivetrain which includes, in addition to the transmission (3), a hybrid drive with an internal combustion engine (1) and an electric motor (2). The transmission control device (7) stores parameters which form the basis of the manner with which gearshifts are controlled or regulated. At least some parameters are stored in duplicate, firstly, for operating the transmission (3) under purely electric-motor power using only the electric motor (2), and secondly for operating the transmission (3) during hybrid driving using both the internal combustion engine (1) and the electric motor (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Bernd ALLGAIER, Friedrich TENBROCK, Michael GROMUS
  • Publication number: 20090312143
    Abstract: A method for controlling a hybrid drivetrain of a motor vehicle such that, during a thrust operation of the vehicle, a change takes place from a combustion-powered driving mode, in which the combustion engine is in a thrust operation, the separator clutch is engaged and the electric machine contributes no force, or from a combined driving mode in which the engine is in a thrust operation, the clutch is engaged and the electric machine operates as a generator, to an electric driving mode in which the engine is switched off, the clutch is disengaged and the electric machine operates as a generator. To efficiently change driving modes, the clutch is partially disengaged to a slip limit; the clutch is then completely disengaged; and when the clutch reaches the slip limit, the generator torque of the electric machine is increased inversely to the torque that can be transmitted by the clutch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Bernd Allgaier, Friedrich Tenbrock, Thomas Lemp, Michael Gromus
  • Publication number: 20090312144
    Abstract: A method of controlling a hybrid drive train of a vehicle having, in series, an internal combustion engine, a clutch, an electric motor and a transmission with an output connected to the drive axle. During traction operation, the vehicle changes from an electric driving mode into a combination driving mode or a combustion engine driving mode, in that the clutch is engaged and the combustion engine torque is temporarily increased. The method includes regulating engagement of the clutch at least until reaching a starting rotational speed of the combustion engine such that the acceleration of the combustion engine occurs according to a predetermined progression of rotational speed and that the torque of the combustion engine is increased by the same amount as the transferable torque of the clutch is increased by the engagement process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Bernd Allgaier, Friedrich Tenbrock, Thomas Lemp, Michael Gromus
  • Publication number: 20090233764
    Abstract: A method for operating an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle, in particular a variable-speed transmission. The automatic transmission includes at least five shift elements and to transfer torque or force transfer in a forward gear and a reverse gear at least three shift of the at least five elements are engaged. When shifting the automatic transmission from a neutral position to a forward or a reverse gear, at least one of the three shift elements of the automatic transmission that are engaged in the respective forward or reverse gear, is engaged in a controlled manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: ZF Friedrechshafen AG
    Inventors: Christian Popp, Klaus Steinhauser, Peter Schiele, Bernd Allgaier, Thilo Schmidt