Patents by Inventor Christian Wutzler

Christian Wutzler 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: 11435253
    Abstract: A steering device for a motor vehicle is specified, having a housing and having a liquid sensor, comprising at least two electrical conductors, and at least one bridging element that is movably mounted and that is in a first position in the absence of liquid and is in a second position in the presence of liquid, a flow of current between the at least two electrical conductors being prevented in one of the two positions, and a flow of current between the at least two electrical conductors being enabled in the other of the two positions, and a tripping element made of a liquid-absorbing material that expands upon contact with a liquid and thereby moves the bridging element into the second position, the liquid sensor being arranged at least partially inside the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignees: ZF Automotive Germany GmbH, ZF Active Safety and Electronics US LLC
    Inventors: Christian Wutzler, Brian Urbach
  • Publication number: 20200393320
    Abstract: A steering device for a motor vehicle is specified, having a housing and having a liquid sensor, comprising at least two electrical conductors, and at least one bridging element that is movably mounted and that is in a first position in the absence of liquid and is in a second position in the presence of liquid, a flow of current between the at least two electrical conductors being prevented in one of the two positions, and a flow of current between the at least two electrical conductors being enabled in the other of the two positions, and a tripping element made of a liquid-absorbing material that expands upon contact with a liquid and thereby moves the bridging element into the second position, the liquid sensor being arranged at least partially inside the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Applicants: ZF Automotive Germany GmbH, ZF Active Safety and Electronics US LLC
    Inventors: Christian Wutzler, Brian Urbach
  • Patent number: 9610970
    Abstract: A steering gear mechanism has a steering housing and a steering input shaft. The steering housing is sealed and has a receptacle through which the steering input shaft passes into the steering housing. The receptacle is sealed against the steering input shaft. A first opening is provided on the steering input shaft within the steering housing, and a second opening is provided outside of the steering housing. The first and second openings are in fluid communication with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Jörg Merker, Christian Wutzler
  • Publication number: 20140360802
    Abstract: A steering gear mechanism has a steering housing and a steering input shaft. The steering housing is sealed and has a receptacle through which the steering input shaft passes into the steering housing. The receptacle is sealed against the steering input shaft. A first opening is provided on the steering input shaft within the steering housing, and a second opening is provided outside of the steering housing. The first and second openings are in fluid communication with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Jörg Merker, Christian Wutzler
  • Patent number: 5813789
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a ball-and-socket joint composed of a ball pivot (1) and a joint housing (3), in which the coupling ball (1a), is supported, such that it can be twisted and tilted to a limited extent, by a plastic bearing shell (2). The bearing shell (2) supports the coupling ball (1a) both above and below the equator (1b) of the ball, at least in the region of a bearing surface (2a',2c') in the form of an annular segment of a sphere. In order to create a mountable ball-and-socket joint, which guarantees the creation and retention of defined joint characteristics over the entire service life of the joint, at least the part of the bearing shell (2) supporting the surface of the coupling ball (1a) lying below the equator (1b) of the ball is divided into at least two sections (2a), each hinge delimited by a film hinge (2b), which together form a bearing surface (2a') in the form of an annular segment of a sphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: TRW Fahrwerksysteme GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Prickler, Matthias Kaussen, Christian Wutzler