Patents by Inventor Gerhard Waibel

Gerhard Waibel 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: 11014598
    Abstract: A steering column may include an outer casing unit in which an inner casing tube that rotatably mounts a steering shaft is received such that the inner casing tube is displaceable and fixable in an axial direction. An energy absorption device operatively disposed between the casing tube and the casing unit may absorb at least some energy in a crash event where the casing tube is telescopically displaced relative to the casing unit. The energy absorption device may include a deformation strip fastened to but spaced apart from the casing tube, fixed in a radial direction by a spacer on the casing tube, to which deformation strip a deformation slide that is connected to the casing unit is disposed. The deformation slide may encompass and jam outer narrow sides of the deformation strip such that the deformation slide deforms the deformation strip in a crash event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignees: thyssenkrupp Presta AG, thysseukrupp AG
    Inventors: Markus Domig, Gerhard Waibel
  • Publication number: 20200039570
    Abstract: A steering column may include an outer casing unit in which an inner casing tube that rotatably mounts a steering shaft is received such that the inner casing tube is displaceable and fixable in an axial direction. An energy absorption device operatively disposed between the casing tube and the casing unit may absorb at least some energy in a crash event where the casing tube is telescopically displaced relative to the casing unit. The energy absorption device may include a deformation strip fastened to but spaced apart from the casing tube, fixed in a radial direction by a spacer on the casing tube, to which deformation strip a deformation slide that is connected to the casing unit is disposed. The deformation slide may encompass and jam outer narrow sides of the deformation strip such that the deformation slide deforms the deformation strip in a crash event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicants: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG, thyssenkrupp AG
    Inventors: Markus DOMIG, Gerhard WAIBEL
  • Patent number: 7963561
    Abstract: A steering column for a motor vehicle is adjustable at least in its longitudinal direction. The steering column includes a support unit chassis of the motor vehicle, a setting unit and a clamping mechanism which comprises a clamp bolt and at least one arrest element cooperating with at least one securement element. At least one arrest element during the closing of the clamping mechanism is displaced in the axial direction of the clamp bolt with respect to the support unit and clamped with a securement element connected with the setting unit, and at least one securement element is connected with the setting unit so that in normal operation it is held nondisplaceably in the longitudinal direction of the steering column with respect to the setting unit and in the event of a crash is displaceable with respect to the setting unit under energy absorption. The support unit includes on both sides of the setting unit side jaws, through which penetrates the clamp bolt through openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Thyssenkrupp Presta Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerhard Waibel, Rene Allgäuer, Maximilian Auer, Martin Jenny
  • Patent number: 7845460
    Abstract: A superimposed steering system of a vehicle steering system, has an input shaft and an output shaft that are at least partially rotationally mounted on a support system fixed to the vehicle body, a servodrive comprising a rotor arranged in a coaxial manner in relation to one of the shafts and is connected in a rigid manner to a first transmission element and a locking device for selectively coupling the shafts. The first transmission element transmits the rotational speed of the rotor to the rotational speed of the input shaft, and the rotor is rotationally connected to a ferromagnetic or permanently magnetic first contact element. The coupling which is rotationally connected to the shafts can be obtained by a friction connection of a first contact element to a second contact element which is rotationally connected to the support system. The pressure force can be magnetically produced and at least one of both contact elements is arranged in a displaceable manner in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Thyssenkrupp Presta AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Waibel, Rene Allgäuer
  • Patent number: 7770688
    Abstract: A rotational speed superimposing device for a vehicle steering system has an input shaft with an output shaft, which is oriented toward the input shaft in the axial direction thereof, and has a supporting arrangement, which positions the input shaft and the output shaft so that they are at least, in part, rotationally mounted. An auxiliary drive provided with a rotor, which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a wave generator, such as an oval disk on whose periphery an external toothed flexible ring is directly or indirectly mounted, this external toothing engaging in an internal gear at least at two opposite peripheral points. The supporting arrangement is fixed to the vehicle body. The output shaft is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the internal gear, and the input shaft is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the external toothed flexible ring. The input shaft and the output shaft are mounted so they freely rotate independently of one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Thyssenkrupp Presta AG
    Inventors: Peter Kenéz, Christian Staudenmann, Gerhard Waibel, Rene Allgäuer
  • Patent number: 7766777
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for superimposing rotational speeds in a vehicle steering system. Said device comprises an input shaft (1) and an output shaft (2) that are arranged in a longitudinal direction relative to each other, a support system (IIa, IIb) which is fixed to the vehicle body and in which the input shaft (1) and the output shaft (2) are rotatably positioned so as to be mounted at least in part, a servodrive (6, 7) encompassing a stator (7) that is located on the support system (IIa, IIb) and a rotor (6) that is mounted so as to be rotatable parallel to the axis of the input shaft. The input shaft (1) is connected to a first toothed disk (3) while the output shaft (2) is joined to a second toothed disk (4). At least one additional toothed wheel (5) is mounted on the rotor (6) at a distance from the axis of rotation of the rotor (6) so as to be rotatable about its own axis around the input shaft (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Thyssenkrupp Presta AG
    Inventors: Peter Kenez, Gerhard Waibel, Rene Allgauer
  • Publication number: 20100016116
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for superimposing rotational speeds in a vehicle steering system. Said device comprises an input shaft (1) and an output shaft (2) that are arranged in a longitudinal direction relative to each other, a support system (IIa, IIb) which is fixed to the vehicle body and in which the input shaft (1) and the output shaft (2) are rotatably positioned so as to be mounted at least in part, a servodrive (6, 7) encompassing a stator (7) that is located on the support system (IIa, IIb) and a rotor (6) that is mounted so as to be rotatable parallel to the axis of the input shaft. The input shaft (1) is connected to a first toothed disk (3) while the output shaft (2) is joined to a second toothed disk (4). At least one additional toothed wheel (5) is mounted on the rotor (6) at a distance from the axis of rotation of the rotor (6) so as to be rotatable about its own axis around the input shaft (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventors: Peter Kenez, Gerhard Waibel, Rene Allgauer
  • Publication number: 20080251311
    Abstract: A superimposed steering system of a vehicle steering system, has an input shaft and an output shaft that are at least partially rotationally mounted on a support system fixed to the vehicle body, a servodrive comprising a rotor arranged in a coaxial manner in relation to one of the shafts and is connected in a rigid manner to a first transmission element and a locking device for selectively coupling the shafts. The first transmission element transmits the rotational speed of the rotor to the rotational speed of the input shaft, and the rotor is rotationally connected to a ferromagnetic or permanently magnetic first contact element. The coupling which is rotationally connected to the shafts can be obtained by a friction connection of a first contact element to a second contact element which is rotationally connected to the support system. The pressure force can be magnetically produced and at least one of both contact elements is arranged in a displaceable manner in the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Inventors: Gerhard Waibel, Rene Allgauer
  • Publication number: 20080229867
    Abstract: A steering column for a motor vehicle is adjustable at least in its longitudinal direction. The steering column includes a support unit chassis of the motor vehicle, a setting unit and a clamping mechanism which comprises a clamp bolt and at least one arrest element cooperating with at least one securement element. At least one arrest element during the closing of the clamping mechanism is displaced in the axial direction of the clamp bolt with respect to the support unit and clamped with a securement element connected with the setting unit, and at least one securement element is connected with the setting unit so that in normal operation it is held nondisplaceably in the longitudinal direction of the steering column with respect to the setting unit and in the event of a crash is displaceable with respect to the setting unit under energy absorption. The support unit includes on both sides of the setting unit side jaws, through which penetrates the clamp bolt through openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventors: Gerhard Waibel, Rene Allgauer, Maximilian Auer, Martin Jenny
  • Publication number: 20080035412
    Abstract: A rotational speed superimposing device for a vehicle steering system has an input shaft with an output shaft, which is oriented toward the input shaft in the axial direction thereof, and has a supporting arrangement, which positions the input shaft and the output shaft so that they are at least, in part, rotationally mounted. An auxiliary drive provided with a rotor, which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a wave generator, such as an oval disk on whose periphery an external toothed flexible ring is directly or indirectly mounted, this external toothing engaging in an internal gear at least at two opposite peripheral points. The supporting arrangement is fixed to the vehicle body. The output shaft is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the internal gear, and the input shaft is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the external toothed flexible ring. The input shaft and the output shaft are mounted so they freely rotate independently of one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Peter Kenez, Christian Staudenmann, Gerhard Waibel, Rene Allegauer