Patents by Inventor Gerhard Thurow

Gerhard Thurow 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: 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Patent number: 6752388
    Abstract: A spring arrangement includes two coaxial spring components (4a, 4b) which are mounted so as to oppose each other. Each of the spring components includes a rolling-lobe flexible member (6a, 6b) and a roll-off piston (8a, 8b) corresponding thereto. The two rolling-lobe flexible members (6a, 6b) define a common double rolling-lobe flexible member (6) and the two spring components (4a, 4b) have a common outer jacket (10). A simple assembly and a reliable fixation of the double rolling-lobe flexible member (6) on the outer jacket (10) is provided. For this purpose, the double rolling-lobe flexible member (6) has a clamp ring (18 or 26) mounted internally. The outer jacket (10) includes two parts (10a and 10b) having respective ends. The double rolling-lobe flexible member (6) is clamped between these ends with the aid of the clamp ring (18 and 26). The air spring arrangement is especially applicable in the forward wheel fork (16) of a two-wheel vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: ConiTech Luftfedersysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Gerhard Thurow
  • 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
  • Patent number: 6676115
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a spring system for a vehicle including a two-wheel vehicle. The spring system includes first and second spring units mounted coaxially to each other. The first spring unit includes a first roll-off piston and a first rolling-lobe resilient member coacting with the first roll-off piston during operation of the spring system. The second spring unit includes a second roll-off piston and a second rolling-lobe resilient member coacting with the second roll-off piston during operation of the spring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: ContiTech Luftedersysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Thurow, Roland Altsinger
  • Publication number: 20030164584
    Abstract: A spring arrangement includes two coaxial spring components (4a, 4b) which are mounted so as to oppose each other. Each of the spring components includes a rolling-lobe flexible member (6a, 6b) and a roll-off piston (8a, 8b) corresponding thereto. The two rolling-lobe flexible members (6a, 6b) define a common double rolling-lobe flexible member (6) and the two spring components (4a, 4b) have a common outer jacket (10). A simple assembly and a reliable fixation of the double rolling-lobe flexible member (6) on the outer jacket (10) is provided. For this purpose, the double rolling-lobe flexible member (6) has a clamp ring (18 or 26) mounted internally. The outer jacket (10) includes two parts (10a and 10b) having respective ends. The double rolling-lobe flexible member (6) is clamped between these ends with the aid of the clamp ring (18 and 26). The air spring arrangement is especially applicable in the forward wheel fork (16) of a two-wheel vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Inventor: Gerhard Thurow
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20020109276
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a spring system for a vehicle including a two-wheel vehicle. The spring system includes first and second spring units mounted coaxially to each other. The first spring unit includes a first roll-off piston and a first rolling-lobe resilient member coacting with the first roll-off piston during operation of the spring system. The second spring unit includes a second roll-off piston and a second rolling-lobe resilient member coacting with the second roll-off piston during operation of the spring system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Applicant: ContiTech Luftfedersysteme GmbH.
    Inventors: Gerhard Thurow, Roland Altsinger
  • Patent number: 6375170
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a spring system for a vehicle including a two-wheel vehicle. The spring system includes first and second spring units mounted coaxially to each other. The first spring unit includes a first roll-off piston and a first rolling-lobe resilient member coacting with the first roll-off piston during operation of the spring system. The second spring unit includes a second roll-off piston and a second rolling-lobe resilient member coacting with the second roll-off piston during operation of the spring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Contitech Luftfedersysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Thurow, Roland Altsinger
  • Patent number: 6173946
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system having an air spring flexible member (6) which is clamped between a cover plate (4) and a rolloff piston (10). The movement of the rolloff piston (10) is pregiven by a curved path (16). The rolloff piston (10) is curved with the curvature being at least segmentwise of the same orientation as the curvature of the curved path (16). Because of the curvature of the rolloff piston (10), a lateral offset of the flexible member (6) to the cover plate (4) can be substantially avoided when the rolloff piston (10) plunges into the flexible member (6). The formation of a rolling lobe (20) having a different width over its periphery is also avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Continental Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Wode, Gerhard Thurow, Bernhard Kirsten, Joachim Jeischik
  • Patent number: 5975506
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air spring having a composite flexible member 4 in which cords 22 are embedded as a reinforcement. The cords 22 have cord angles to the peripheral direction of the flexible member 4 over the longitudinal length of the flexible member. The flexible member 4 comprises two flexible-member components (12a, 12b). The cord angle a in the first flexible-member component 12a is different from the cord angle .beta. in the second flexible-member component 12b. A method for making such an air spring is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Continental Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerhard Thurow, Paul Cerny
  • Patent number: 5566929
    Abstract: A rolling-lobe air spring is made of elastomeric material and includes a reinforcement layer made of rubberized textile cord fabric layers. The reinforcement layer extends over the length of the flexible member of the air spring. The cord threads of the textile cord fabric layers are arranged so that they are inclined relative to the peripheral direction of the flexible member. During operation, a rolling lobe is formed which changes during spring operation. The reinforcement layer includes three rubberized cord fabric layers (21, 22, 23) one atop the other. This provides a rolling-lobe air spring having a longer service life at higher internal pressures and smaller roll-off radii in the rolling lobe. The threads of the middle cord fabric layer 22 are arranged so as to cross the threads of the first and third layers. The middle cord fabric layer 22 has a strength which corresponds to the sum of the strengths of the first and third layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Continental Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Gerhard Thurow
  • Patent number: 5196258
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a vulcanizable composite material which can be dynamically stressed. The material is made of an elastomeric matrix having a reinforcement layer made of a textile fabric embedded therein. The fabric is prepared with an aqueous dispersion of synthetic resin and latex before being embedded in the elastomeric matrix and then dried. An adhesive interface coating is applied to the dried fabric with the coating being vulcanizable polar rubber present in an organic solution. The dried fabric provided with the adhesive interface coating is rubberized with a thin coating of rubber stock and embedded in the elastomeric matrix. An organic solution of toluene which contains chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSM) as a vulcanizable polar rubber is used to apply the adhesive interface coating in order to produce a composite material which provides a good adhesion between the reinforcement layer and the elastomeric matrix even in the presence of high alternating flexural stresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: Continental Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Keller, Klaus Schreck, Siegfried Dietrich, Gerhard Thurow
  • Patent number: 4718649
    Abstract: A rolling bellows for pneumatic cushioning or shock absorption of a vehicle. Such rolling bellows are stressed particularly severely during telescoping in the pressureless state during assembly and also under emergency condititions. In order to avoid the occurrence of tension cracks from such causes, the rolling bellows are provided in the region of the cylindrical curvature, and on the inner surface, with integrally formed-on raised surface portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1988
    Assignee: Continental Gummi-Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Klaus Pohlmann, Konrad Muller, Hartwig Voss, Gunter Drescher, Gerhard Thurow
  • Patent number: 4657229
    Abstract: A pneumatic shock absorber, especially for road vehicles. The rolling bellows of the shock absorber is made of a simple hose body which has no end beads, and is mounted with the aid of metal clamping rings on vehicle parts which are cushioned relative to one another. To simplify mounting, the mounting regions of these parts are provided with reduced-diameter engagement surfaces. To improve this mounting system, the support piston which is associated with the lower end portion of the rolling bellows is provided with circumferential ribs which are disposed in at least one axial portion of the reduced-diameter mounting region thereof. These circumferential ribs preferably have a triangular cross-sectional shape. The frictional mounting is thus supplemented and reinforced in a simple manner by a positive connection, so that the rolling bellows is reliably secured relative to every disadvantageous axial movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1987
    Assignee: Continental Gummi-Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Gerhard Thurow