Patents by Inventor Klaus Steinhauser
Klaus Steinhauser 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: 8128530Abstract: A method of automatically controlling a neutral position and parking lock of an motor-vehicle transmission to immobilize the vehicle depending on a drive position of the transmission selected by the driver with a selector device and subject to other operating parameters of the motor vehicle. Only when simultaneously the vehicle is essentially stationary, an ignition circuit is electrically interrupted and the selector device is in a “Neutral” position, can an Neutral-holding phase be activated, in which the transmission is in a non-frictionally engaged neutral position as long as the parking lock of the transmission has not yet been engaged. If the Neutral-holding phase has not been activated, the transmission remains non-frictionally connected in the Neutral position until the driver at least intends to exit the vehicle, at which time the parking lock of the transmission is automatically engaged.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2008Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Walter Hecht, Armin Gierling, Klaus Steinhauser, Frank Worms, Bernd Zänglein, Stéphane Klein
-
Publication number: 20120022752Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle drive-train with an engine and a transmission during a gearshift in which an interlocking shift element is disengaged and a frictional shift element is engaged. Upon a shift command, the shifting time and a transmission input speed are monitored. If the input speed deviates from a synchronous speed equivalent to the gear ratio being disengaged, recognizing disengagement of the interlocking shifting element. If an engaged operating condition of the interlocking shifting element to be disengaged is detected, after the lapse of a time interval beginning with the shift command, a current drive torque of the drive machine is brought by motor actuation to a level that corresponds to a difference between the current transmission input torque and a torque that can be transmitted by the frictional shifting element to be engaged, operating with slip, plus a torque offset value.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2010Publication date: January 26, 2012Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Jorg Arnold, Klaus Steinhauser, Valentine Herbeth, Christian Popp
-
Patent number: 8088040Abstract: A process for actuating a transmission mechanism having hydraulic shifting elements for changing gear ratios by using electric actuators to adjust the actuating pressures of the shifting elements. Upon a request from an engine start/stop function for shutdown of an engine, the flow of electrical current to the actuators is changed from an operating level to a standby level depending upon the operating pressure of the shifting elements. Upon the request for startup of the engine, the flow or electrical current is changed from the standby level to the operating level. A system pressure in the hydraulic system is zero when the engine is shutdown, and the power consumption in the transmission mechanism is lower at the standby level than the operating level.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2008Date of Patent: January 3, 2012Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Peter Schiele, Klaus Steinhauser
-
Patent number: 8083641Abstract: A method for operating an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle, in particular a variable-speed transmission. The automatic transmission includes at least five shift elements and to transfer torque or force transfer in a forward gear and a reverse gear at least three shift of the at least five elements are engaged. When shifting the automatic transmission from a neutral position to a forward or a reverse gear, at least one of the three shift elements of the automatic transmission that are engaged in the respective forward or reverse gear, is engaged in a controlled manner.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2007Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Christian Popp, Klaus Steinhauser, Peter Schiele, Bernd Allgaier, Thilo Schmidt
-
Publication number: 20110284335Abstract: A method of operating a transmission of a vehicle drive train with at least one drive machine. The transmission is formed with at least one interlocking shift element and a plurality of frictional shift elements in order to obtain various gear ratios. During an engaging process of the interlocking shift element, starting from a disengaged operating condition, in which halves of the interlocking shift element are out of engagement, to an engaged operating condition, in which the shift element halves are interlocked in a rotationally fixed manner, when interlock between the shift element halves is obstructed, a rotational speed difference is produced at least temporarily between the shift element halves, at which the interlock in the area of the interlocking shift element can be engaged. To produce the speed difference between the shift element halves, the transmission capacity of at least one frictional shift element is increased.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2010Publication date: November 24, 2011Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Jorg Arnold, Klaus Steinhauser, Valentine Herbeth, Christian Popp
-
Patent number: 8062176Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the automatic control of a neutral position and a parking lock of an automatic or automated motor vehicle transmission, such that the neutral position and the parking lock of the transmission provided in order to immobilize the motor vehicle can be engaged as a function of a drive setting selected by the driver of the motor vehicle using a selector device, and as a function of other operating parameters of the vehicle. In addition, the invention concerns a motor vehicle controlled by the method.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2008Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Walter Hecht, Armin Gierling, Klaus Steinhauser, Frank Worms, Bernd Zänglein, Stéphane Klein
-
Patent number: 8062177Abstract: A method of selecting a neutral position of an automatic or automated transmission and a parking gear to immobilize a motor vehicle. The neutral position and parking device can be set or activated, depending on a gear selected by the driver with a selector device and depending on other vehicle operating parameters. Only when the motor vehicle is at least substantially stationary, an ignition circuit acting on the drive motor vehicle is electrically interrupted and a “Neutral” (N) gear is selected by a selector device occur simultaneously, can an N-holding phase, in which the transmission is in a friction-free neutral position, be activated by a separate control device provided in addition to the selector device, as long as an energy management system of the motor vehicle allows activation of the N-holding phase.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2008Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Walter Hecht, Armin Gierling, Klaus Steinhauser, Frank Worms, Bernd Zänglein, Stéphane Klein
-
Publication number: 20110263382Abstract: A method is described for the operation of a transmission device (1) with a plurality of frictional shift elements (A, D, E, F) and at least one interlocking shift element (B, C) for obtaining various gear ratios. When a command is received for a gearshift during which the interlocking shift element (C) has to be changed from an open to a closed operating condition, the interlocking shift element (C) is at least approximately synchronized by increasing the transmission capacity of at least one frictional shift element (A) which does not have to be engaged in the force flow either to obtain the gear ratio that is to be disengaged or to obtain the gear ratio that is to be engaged.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2010Publication date: October 27, 2011Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Jorg Arnold, Klaus Steinhauser, Valentine Herbeth, Christian Popp, Thilo Schmidt, Peter Ziemer, Gabor Diosi, Christoph Margraf
-
Publication number: 20110237390Abstract: A method of operating of a drivetrain, having at least a drive motor and an automatic transmission with at least five shift elements, to improve a shift speed such that during a first upshift or a first downshift, at least one required shift element is prepared such that, when a synchronization point is reached, the successive upshift or the successive downshift can be immediately carried out. The method comprises the steps of requiring, at most, two of the at least five shift elements be disengaged and a remainder of the shift elements be disengaged for each gear for transferring one of torque and force; and one of increasing and decreasing a torque of the drive motor, relative to a torque of the drive motor derived from a driver's wish, during one of the first upshift or downshift and the successive upshift or downshift to assist with an overlapped implementation of the successive upshifts or the successive downshifts.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2011Publication date: September 29, 2011Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Klaus STEINHAUSER, Christian POPP
-
Publication number: 20110231074Abstract: A method of operating of a drivetrain, having a drive motor and an automatic transmission with at least five shift elements, to improve a shift speed of at least one of a successive upshift and a successive downshift, such that at least one required shift element is prepared so that, when a synchronization point is reached, the successive upshift or downshift can be immediately carried out. The method comprises the steps of requiring, at most, two of the at least five shift elements be disengaged and a remainder of the shift elements be engaged, in each of the gears; and preparing a shift element, to be engaged before reaching the synchronization point, by a first time interval, that is applied in a time-controlled manner or an event-controlled manner for engagement, while the first upshift or the first downshift is being carried out while giving consideration to the successive upshift or the successive downshift.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2011Publication date: September 22, 2011Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Klaus STEINHAUSER, Christian POPP
-
Patent number: 8016719Abstract: A method for selecting a neutral position of a transmission and for selecting a parking device intended for immobilizing a vehicle, wherein the neutral position and the parking device can be engaged or actuated as a function of a position chosen by the driver on a selector device and as a function of other vehicle operating parameters. It is proposed that only if the vehicle has come approximately to a stop and simultaneously an ignition circuit acting on a driving motor of the vehicle is electrically interrupted and simultaneously a “Neutral” position is specified by way of the selector device, an N-holding phase, in which the transmission is in a neutral position having no frictional connection, can be activated by way of a separate control device provided in addition to the selector device, as long as an energy management system of the motor vehicle allows the activation of the N-holding phase.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2008Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Walter Hecht, Armin Gierling, Klaus Steinhauser, Frank Worms, Bernd Zänglein, Stéphane Klein
-
Patent number: 8002669Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle drivetrain comprising at least an automatic transmission and a drive assembly. The automatic transmission includes at least five shifting elements to transmit torque and/or power. In each forward and reverse gear, three shifting elements are engaged and the remaining two shifting elements are disengaged. Two consecutive gearshifts are carried out through selection of the five shifting elements. During a first gearshift, implemented as a multiple gearshift, a subsequent second gearshift, implemented as either a single or multiple gearshift, is prepared. During the first gearshift, a first shifting element is disengaged, a second shifting element is engaged, a third shifting element is prepared for disengagement in a subsequent second gearshift and a fourth shifting element is prepared for engagement. Further, during the first gearshift and the subsequent second gearshift, a fifth shifting element is retained in at least a substantially engaged state.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2007Date of Patent: August 23, 2011Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Klaus Steinhauser, Christian Popp
-
Publication number: 20110198190Abstract: A vehicle transmission parking lock system comprising a parking lock for locking or releasing the transmission, an operating device of the vehicle which is electrically connected to the parking lock, a spring for engaging the parking lock, a pressure-controlled release device for disengaging the parking lock, a holding device for securing the parking lock in a released and/or engaged condition, and an emergency release device of the parking lock. When the vehicle drive assembly is static due to the occurrence of a defined event, the emergency release device actuates a device to release the parking lock under pressure control. The holding device retains the parking lock in the released condition for as long as the emergency release device is activated, and the defined event which triggers actuation of the pressure-controlled release device of the parking lock occurs when at least two operating devices are actuated in a defined manner.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2011Publication date: August 18, 2011Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Klaus STEINHAUSER, Thilo SCHMIDT, Jens WAGNER, Herbert KIEBLER
-
Patent number: 7983824Abstract: A method for operation of a drivetrain including a drive motor and an automatic transmission having at least five shift elements, of which, at least two elements are disengaged in each forward and reverse gear and the other shift elements are engaged. Two successive shifts are accomplished by two overlapped single gear shifts such that: a) during the first shift, a first shift element is engaged or disengaged while a second shift element is disengaged or engaged; b) during the first shift, second and third shift elements are prepared for either engagement or disengagement; and c) during the first and the second shifts at least one fourth shift element is kept engaged or nearly engaged.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2007Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Klaus Steinhauser, Christian Popp
-
Patent number: 7972241Abstract: A drive control device of an automatic transmission of a vehicle. The transmission having a main oil pump driven by an internal combustion engine, an electrically driven auxiliary oil pump and a hydraulic control device; a device for determining the required volumetric flow rate needed to determine the oil/hydraulic target volumetric flow rate during current operating conditions, based on the transmission oil temperature; a device for determining the volumetric flow rate to determine the actual volumetric flow rate that can be delivered during the current operating conditions by the main and/or auxiliary oil pump, and a device for controlling the target volumetric flow rate to reduce the target volumetric flow rate to at least the currently deliverable actual volumetric flow rate, if the currently deliverable actual volumetric flow rate is below the current target volumetric flow rate.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2006Date of Patent: July 5, 2011Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Peter Schiele, Thilo Schmidt, Klaus Steinhauser
-
Patent number: 7957869Abstract: A method of operating an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle, in particular a variable-speed transmission. The automatic transmission includes at least five shift elements, at least three of which are engaged in a forward and a reverse gear to transfer torque or force. When disengaging gears for shifting the automatic transmission from a forward or reverse gear to a neutral position, at least one of the at least three shift elements that are engaged in the respective forward or reverse gear is completely disengaged.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2007Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Christian Popp, Klaus Steinhauser, Peter Schiele, Bernd Allgaier, Thilo Schmidt
-
Publication number: 20110087386Abstract: A method for shifting an automatic or an automated transmission of a motor vehicle to a “neutral” position such that the shift position of the transmission and a parking lock, provided for keeping the motor vehicle stationary, are engaged as a function of a shift position selected with a driver operated selector device and as a function of other operating parameters of the motor vehicle. A holding phase, in which the transmission is in the neutral position, free from friction force locking, can be activated by a separate operating device which is provided, in addition to the selector device, but only when the motor vehicle is simultaneously at least approximately stationary, an ignition current circuit that acts on a drive engine of the motor vehicle is electrically interrupted, and the “neutral” (N) shift position is specified by a selector device.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2008Publication date: April 14, 2011Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Klaus Steinhauser, Frank Worms, Stephane Klein, Walter Hecht, Bernd Zaenglein
-
Patent number: 7892144Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle drivetrain with at least an automatic transmission and a drive motor. The automatic transmission includes at least five shifting elements to transmit torque and/or power. In each forward and reverse gear a maximum of two shifting elements are disengaged while the remaining shifting elements are engaged. Two consecutive gearshifts are carried out through selection of the five shifting elements. During a first gearshift, implemented as a multiple gearshift, a subsequent second gearshift, implemented as either a single or multiple gearshift, is prepared. During the first gearshift, a first shifting element is disengaged, a second shifting element is engaged, a third shifting element is prepared for disengagement in a subsequent second gearshift and a fourth shifting element is prepared for engagement. Further, during the first gearshift and the subsequent second gearshift, a fifth shifting element is retained in at least a substantially engaged state.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2007Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Klaus Steinhauser, Christian Popp
-
Patent number: 7871354Abstract: A procedure for increasing the readiness of crossover gearshifts in an automatic transmission which, with the switching command or immediately thereafter, a motor fueling is provided through which a snatch operation of the disengaging switching element and/or an increase of the rotational speed gradient (turbine revolution speed) is achieved.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2004Date of Patent: January 18, 2011Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Klaus Steinhauser, Christian Popp, Peter Schiele
-
Patent number: 7867137Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle drivetrain with at least an automatic transmission and a drive motor. The automatic transmission includes at least five shift elements to transmit torque and/or power. In each of the forward and reverse gears, at least three shift elements are engaged and the remaining shift elements are disengaged. Two consecutive gearshifts are carried out through selection of the five shift elements. During a first gearshift, implemented as a multiple gearshift, a subsequent second gearshift, implemented as either a single or multiple gearshift, is prepared. During the first gearshift, a first shift element is disengaged, a second shift element is engaged, a third shift element is prepared for disengagement in a subsequent second gearshift and a fourth shift element is prepared for engagement. Further, during the first gearshift and the subsequent second gearshift, a fifth shift element is retained in at least a substantially engaged state.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2007Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Klaus Steinhauser, Christian Popp