Patents by Inventor Franz Stelzeneder

Franz Stelzeneder 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: 6009969
    Abstract: A method for the automatic locking of the differentials of an all-wheel driven vehicle, slip signals being formed which, as soon as they exceed a threshold value, initiate the driving of the respective differentials. In order to take into account the influence of the steering rolling radius, the change in the steering value is ascertained. From this, using a function determined by the geometry of the vehicle, an apparent slip is ascertained. From the respective apparent slip, corrected threshold values are determined and measured slip signals are compared with the corrected threshold values and, if necessary, the driving of the respective differential is initiated. The method can also be used on a vehicle having articulated-vehicle steering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Steyr-Daimler-Puch Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Harald Salcher, Gerhard Fruhwirth, Franz Stelzeneder
  • Patent number: 5676219
    Abstract: In a system for the automatic control of form-locked clutches serving as differential lock in drive axles of a motor vehicle, in which control signals for a coupling actuator are formed by comparison of slippage signals with threshold values, both the engagement and the disengagement of the lock clutch are to be better adapted to the operating conditions which occur in practice. For this purpose, slippage sum signals (SSLR, SSFH) formed by integration of the speed differences (DFLR, DFVH) are compared with slippage sum thresholds (SSSLR1, SSSLR2, SSSVH1, SSSVH2) and the actuating time of the actuator is controlled as a function of further traveling conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Steyr-Daimler-Puck Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerhard Fruhwirth, Johann Deinhofer, Franz Stelzeneder
  • Patent number: 5570755
    Abstract: A system for the control of couplings in the locking mechanisms or differentials of a drive train in an all-wheel-drive vehicle is disclosed. The drive train of a vehicle having at least two drive axles (4.times.4 vehicle) comprises, starting from the engine and transmission block 1, a power take-off with switchable coupling 2, a front axle differential with locking coupling 3, a rear axle differential with locking coupling 5, steering angle sensor 10, rotational speed sensors 11, status sensors 12 and actuators 13, 14, 15. The rotational speed sensors 11 are installed in proximity to the wheels 4, 6. To be able to automatically switch all the couplings in keeping with terrain conditions, a control system 18 having individual modules (21,24,25) for each coupling (2,3,5) is provided. The control modules (24,25) of the hierarchically lower couplings (3,5) also emit control signals for one or several hierarchically higher coupling(s) (2,5) before they actuate their own couplings (3,5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG
    Inventors: Gerhard J. Fruhwirth, Johann Deinhofer, Franz Stelzeneder, Gunter Pichlbauer, Johann Hager, Johan P. Reif