Patents by Inventor Bernd Janz

Bernd Janz 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: 9120501
    Abstract: A rack-and-pinion steering system and a method for producing the same including a pinion, a toothed rack, and a bearing point for the toothed rack, wherein the toothed rack includes a toothed first part and a non-toothed second part, wherein at least the first part and the pinion form a steering gear, and the steering gear is enclosed by a steering gear housing, and wherein the bearing point is enclosed by a bearing housing ensuring permanent lubrication. The second part of the toothed rack is exposed in at least one section between the steering gear housing and the bearing housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bernd Janz, Paul Hein
  • Patent number: 8353382
    Abstract: A power steering assembly (20) for a hydraulic power steering system of motor vehicles having at least one hydraulic servo valve with a control element (26) for controlling the steering support dependent upon the relative rotation of the input shaft (22) relative to the output shaft (28), at least two planetary gear trains (30, 40) for transmitting the rotary movement of the input shaft (22) or the output shaft (28) onto the control element (26), and at least one actuator (50) for the relative adjustment of the control element (26) relative to the input shaft (22) or the output shaft (28) in order to influence the steering support characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bernd Janz, Jens-Hauke Müller, Sven Kirschbaum
  • Publication number: 20120240712
    Abstract: A rack-and-pinion steering system and a method for producing the same including a pinion, a toothed rack, and a bearing point for the toothed rack, wherein the toothed rack includes a toothed first part and a non-toothed second part, wherein at least the first part and the pinion form a steering gear, and the steering gear is enclosed by a steering gear housing, and wherein the bearing point is enclosed by a bearing housing ensuring permanent lubrication. The second part of the toothed rack is exposed in at least one section between the steering gear housing and the bearing housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Bernd JANZ, Paul HEIN
  • Publication number: 20120080256
    Abstract: A power steering assembly (20) for a hydraulic power steering system of motor vehicles having at least one hydraulic servo valve with a control element (26) for controlling the steering support dependent upon the relative rotation of the input shaft (22) relative to the output shaft (28), at least two planetary gear trains (30, 40) for transmitting the rotary movement of the input shaft (22) or the output shaft (28) onto the control element (26), and at least one actuator (50) for the relative adjustment of the control element (26) relative to the input shaft (22) or the output shaft (28) in order to influence the steering support characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Bernd Janz, Jens-Hauke Müller, Sven Kirschbaum