Patents by Inventor Christoph Bank

Christoph Bank 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: 8302945
    Abstract: A cover assembly for an air spring for vehicles includes a cover (1) and a buffer (2) in the cover (1). The cover (1) is made from plastic and has reinforcing ribs (3) on the inside. The stop buffer (2) has slots on the side thereof facing the cover (1) in a manner corresponding to the reinforcing ribs (3) of the cover (1). The ribs (3) of the cover (1) are inserted into the slots (8). Damage to the buffer (2) by impact of the ribs (3) on the buffer (2) is thus avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: ContiTech Luftfedersysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Hubertus Gawinski, Christoph Bank, Hans Werner Kopplow, Rolf Steinbach
  • Patent number: 8220785
    Abstract: A flexible member air spring has an end section of the flexible member attached to a connecting part by a clamp ring. The connecting part has a slot having a truncated cone-shaped cross section. The base of the slot is cylindrical and a flank of the slot has a linear conical form. The inner surface of the clamp ring extends parallel to the base surface. In the clamped state, the inner radius of the clamp ring is less than or equal to at least one of the radii of the slot upper edges. The flexible member is not compressed between the base surface of the slot and the inner side of the clamp ring. The clamp ring, with at least one slot flank, forms a constriction clamping the flexible member wall of the end section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: ContiTech Luftfedersteme GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Bank, Paul Cerny, Hubertus Gawinski
  • Publication number: 20110266728
    Abstract: An air spring (1) for commercial vehicles has a first connecting part (2), in particular in the form of a cover, a second connecting part (3) in the form of a roll-off piston, a rolling lobe flexible member (4) made from elastomeric material, wherein a first end (4a) thereof can be fastened seal tight to the first part (2) by a first fastening device (5a) and a second end (4b) of the flexible member (4) can be fastened seal tight to the roll-off piston (3) by a second fastening device (5b). The roll-off piston (3) is made of plastic and the second fastening device (5b) is not made from metal, and/or the first part (2) is made of plastic and the first fastening device (5a) is not made from metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventor: Christoph Bank
  • Patent number: 7926794
    Abstract: An air spring rolling-lobe flexible member, which is made of elastomeric material, has a reinforcement arrangement which is embedded in the flexible member wall (1). The reinforcement arrangement extends along the entire length of the flexible member and is of rubber-coated cord fabric layers (3, 4). The flexible member has a non-symmetric reinforcement arrangement wherein the one outer fabric layer (3) or the several outer fabric layers has/have a stress-elongation characteristic which is different from that of the one inner fabric layer (4) or the several inner fabric layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: ContiTech Luftfedersysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Thurow, Hubertus Gawinski, Christoph Bank, Paul Cerny
  • Patent number: 7837181
    Abstract: An air spring (2) essentially includes two end elements (4, 6) and an electrically conductive rolling-lobe flexible member which is pressure-tightly arranged therebetween and is made of a flexible elastomeric electroconductive material (14). A reinforcement (16) formed by two cord fiber plies (16a, 16b), which are made of fibers (18), are vulcanized into the flexible member. In order to determine the height (h) of the spring, preferably, the two cord fabric plies (16a, 16b) are provided with a number of highly conductive fibers (18a) which are arranged at the beginning and the end of each ply in a parallel direction to each other, thereby forming two conductive strips (24a, 24b). The conductive strips (24a, 24b) are disposed oppositely to each other and are electrically connected at the end of the rolling-lobe flexible member (8) in such a way that a conductive loop (24) is formed and each strip is used as an element in a branch for an alternating-current measuring bridge (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: ContiTech Luftfedersysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Siegfried Reck, Thomas Pehmuller, Christoph Bank
  • Publication number: 20090278289
    Abstract: A cover assembly for an air spring for vehicles includes a cover (1) and a buffer (2) in the cover (1). The cover (1) is made from plastic and has reinforcing ribs (3) on the inside. The stop buffer (2) has slots on the side thereof facing the cover (1) in a manner corresponding to the reinforcing ribs (3) of the cover (1). The ribs (3) of the cover (1) are inserted into the slots (8). Damage to the buffer (2) by impact of the ribs (3) on the buffer (2) is thus avoided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventors: Hubertus Gawinski, Christoph Bank, Hans Werner Kopplow, Rolf Steinbach
  • Publication number: 20080290570
    Abstract: In a sleeve rolling-lobe flexible member air spring (2) at least one end section (4a, 4b) of the sleeve rolling-lobe flexible member (4) is to be attached in a reliable manner form tight, pull tight and pressure tight to a connecting part (air spring cover, 8 and/or roll-off piston, 10) by means of a clamp ring (6). The connecting part (8, 10) has an attachment slot (12) having the following characteristics: (a) the slot (12) has a truncated cone-shaped cross section, (b) the base (14) of the slot (12) is cylindrical, and (c) at least one of the flanks (16a, 16b) of the slot (12) forms a linear conical form with an opening angle (?); (d) in relation to the height (Hs) of the clamp ring (6), the height (HN) of the base surface (14) of the slot (12) is in the region of ?15% to +15%, that is, 0.85?HN/HS?1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: CONTITECH LUFTFEDERSYSTEME GMBH
    Inventors: Christoph Bank, Paul Cerny, Hubertus Gawinski
  • Publication number: 20070205545
    Abstract: An air spring rolling-lobe flexible member, which is made of elastomeric material, has a reinforcement arrangement which is embedded in the flexible member wall (1). The reinforcement arrangement extends along the entire length of the flexible member and is of rubber-coated cord fabric layers (3, 4). The flexible member has a non-symmetric reinforcement arrangement wherein the one outer fabric layer (3) or the several outer fabric layers has/have a stress-elongation characteristic which is different from that of the one inner fabric layer (4) or the several inner fabric layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Inventors: Gerhard Thurow, Hubertus Gawinski, Christoph Bank, Paul Cerny
  • Publication number: 20060117843
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic spring (2) essentially comprising two terminal elements (4, 6), a pressure-tight roll bellows which is arranged therebetween and made of a flexible elastomeric electroconductive material (14), a strengthening carrier (16) formed by two cord-fibre plies (16a, 16b) which are made of threads (18), crossed at an angle (?) and vulcanised inside said bellows. In order to determine the height (h) of the spring, in a preferred embodiment, said two cord-carcass plies (16a, 16b) are provided with a certain number of highly conductive threads (18a) which are arranged at the beginning and the end of each ply in a parallel direction to each other, thereby forming two conductive strips (24a, 24b). Said conductive strips (24a, 24b) are disposed oppositely to each other and electrically connected at the end of the roll bellows (8) in such a way that a conductive loop (24) is formed and each strip is used as a branch for an alternating current measuring bridge (28).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Inventors: Siegfried Reck, Thomas Pehmoller, Christoph Bank
  • Patent number: 6905113
    Abstract: A double rolling-lobe flexible member spring arrangement (2) includes two coaxial spring components (4a and 4b) which are arranged opposed to each other. The spring components essentially each include a rolling-lobe flexible member (6a and 6b) and respective roll-off pistons (8a and 8b). The two rolling-lobe flexible members (6 and 6b) define a common double rolling-lobe flexible member (6) and the two spring components (4a and 4b) have a common outer jacket (10). A reliable effective fixing of the flexible member (6) to the inner side of the outer jacket (10) is ensured. To provide this fixation, the double rolling-lobe flexible member (6) has a support ring (14) lying centrally on the inner side thereof and this support ring has a radial recess (16) on its periphery. The outer jacket (10) has a peripherally-extending raised portion at its inner periphery which engages into the recess (16) of the support ring (14) and defines a clamp contour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: ContiTech Luftfedersysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Bank, Paul Cerny, Gerhard Thurow, Peter Gönnheimer, Joachim Frey
  • Patent number: 6827341
    Abstract: The invention relates to a spring system (2) having two spring units (4a, 4b) arranged coaxially with respect to each other. Each spring unit essentially includes a flexible member (6a, 6b) and a roll-off piston (8a, 8b). The two flexible members (6a, 6b), the roll-off pistons (8a, 8b) and a common outer jacket (10) enclose a common pressure space (14) filled with compressible gas or with a hydraulic liquid. A contamination flexible member (16) is mounted between the roll-off piston (8) and the outer jacket (10) in order to prevent a contamination of the flexible member roll-off surfaces. The contamination flexible member (16) is clamped, on the one hand, in the region of the roll-off piston (8) and, on the other hand, on the outer jacket (10). The effective length of the contamination flexible member (16) is somewhat less than the effective length of the shorter of the two work flexible members (6a, 6b). In this way, the contamination flexible member (16) functions additionally as an end stop (pull stop).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: ContiTech Luftfedersysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Bank, Gerhard Thurow, Paul Cerny, Helmut Luncz, Andreas Zeltlitz
  • Patent number: 6817597
    Abstract: A combined spring-and-shock-absorber system for supporting wheel suspensions or axles on a vehicle body has a tubular roll bellows (U-bellows) arranged between a wheel-bearing or wheel-controlling connection and a connection on the vehicle body side, the bellows being arranged between an outer bell and a rolling piston, the outer bell and the rolling piston, in each case, having at least partially varying diameters over the height of the corresponding component, and having walls that contact the tubular roll bellows. Both ends of the tubular roll bellows being sealingly secured on the rolling piston at segments having different diameters, the lower mounting section having a larger diameter than the upper mounting section. For this purpose, a tubular roll bellows is used, which is configured as a differential roll bellows, whose interior is filled with a fluid and communicates with a hydraulic accumulator supported on the chassis and/or vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignees: DaimlerChrysler AG, ContiTech Luftfedersysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Thurow, Martin Winkler, Bernd Acker, Christoph Bank, Paul Cerny, Peter Gönnheimer, Hans-Peter Klander, Darko Meljnikov, Matthias Römer, Karl-Heinz Röss, Rüdiger Rutz
  • Patent number: 6783121
    Abstract: The sleeve-shaped rolling-lobe flexible member (4) of a rolling-lobe spring (2) is made of elastomeric material and is provided with a reinforcement layer. The ends of the sleeve-shaped rolling-lobe flexible member (4) include neither beads nor cores. The rolling-lobe flexible member (4) is attached pressure-tightly to a cover (8) functioning as a connecting part and/or to a roll-off piston (10) of the spring (2). This pressure-tight attachment is achieved in that each clamping region (18, 20) of the connecting part (cover 8 and/or roll-off piston 10) is provided with a drawn-in connecting surface having at least one peripherally-extending raised portion (22, 24). Clamp rings (12, 14) are assigned to corresponding clamping regions (18, 20) of the connecting parts (8, 10). The clamp rings (12, 14) have respective peripherally-extending recesses (26, 28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: ContiTech Luftfedersysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Bank, Paul Cerny, Gerhard Thurow, Peter Gönnheimer, Joachim Frey
  • Publication number: 20040012131
    Abstract: The invention relates to a spring system (2) having two spring units (4a, 4b) arranged coaxially with respect to each other. Each spring unit essentially includes a flexible member (6a, 6b) and a roll-off piston (8a, 8b). The two flexible members (6a, 6b), the roll-off pistons (8a, 8b) and a common outer jacket (10) enclose a common pressure space (14) filled with compressible gas or with a hydraulic liquid. A contamination flexible member (16) is mounted between the roll-off piston (8) and the outer jacket (10) in order to prevent a contamination of the flexible member roll-off surfaces. The contamination flexible member (16) is clamped, on the one hand, in the region of the roll-off piston (8) and, on the other hand, on the outer jacket (10). The effective length of the contamination flexible member (16) is somewhat less than the effective length of the shorter of the two work flexible members (6a, 6b). In this way, the contamination flexible member (16) functions additionally as an end stop (pull stop).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventors: Christoph Bank, Gerhard Thurow, Paul Cerny, Helmut Luncz, Andreas Zettlitz
  • Publication number: 20030160368
    Abstract: The sleeve-shaped rolling-lobe flexible member (4) of a rolling-lobe spring (2) is made of elastomeric material and is provided with a reinforcement layer. The ends of the sleeve-shaped rolling-lobe flexible member (4) include neither beads nor cores. The rolling-lobe flexible member (4) is attached pressure-tightly to a cover (8) functioning as a connecting part and/or to a roll-off piston (10) of the spring (2). This pressure-tight attachment is achieved in that each clamping region (18, 20) of the connecting part (cover 8 and/or roll-off piston 10) is provided with a drawn-in connecting surface having at least one peripherally-extending raised portion (22, 24). Clamp rings (12, 14) are assigned to corresponding clamping regions (18, 20) of the connecting parts (8, 10). The clamp rings (12, 14) have respective peripherally-extending recesses (26, 28).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: Christoph Bank, Paul Cerny, Gerhard Thurow, Peter Gonnheimer, Joachim Frey
  • Publication number: 20030151177
    Abstract: A double rolling-lobe flexible member spring arrangement (2) includes two coaxial spring components (4a and 4b) which are arranged opposed to each other. The spring components essentially each include a rolling-lobe flexible member (6a and 6b) and respective roll-off pistons (8a and 8b). The two rolling-lobe flexible members (6 and 6b) define a common double rolling-lobe flexible member (6) and the two spring components (4a and 4b) have a common outer jacket (10). A reliable effective fixing of the flexible member (6) to the inner side of the outer jacket (10) is ensured. To provide this fixation, the double rolling-lobe flexible member (6) has a support ring (14) lying centrally on the inner side thereof and this support ring has a radial recess (16) on its periphery. The outer jacket (10) has a peripherally-extending raised portion at its inner periphery which engages into the recess (16) of the support ring (14) and defines a clamp contour.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventors: Christoph Bank, Paul Cerny, Gerhard Thurow, Peter Gonnheimer, Joachim Frey