Patents by Inventor Martin Steigerwald

Martin Steigerwald 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: 7506623
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for the electrical adjustment of the relative rotary-angle position between a camshaft (2) and a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, with an adjusting gear (3) which has a driving part (4) fixed with respect to the crankshaft, a driven part (5) fixed with respect to the camshaft and an adjusting shaft (8) connected fixedly in terms of rotation to an adjustment-unit shaft (6) of an electrical adjustment unit (7). In order to achieve a simpler type of construction which, moreover, is distinguished by quiet running, there is provision, according to the invention, for the adjusting shaft (8) to be arranged in a radially floating manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Jens Schäfer, Martin Steigerwald, Jonathan Heywood
  • Publication number: 20090050088
    Abstract: A camshaft adjuster for adjusting the relative angular positions of a camshaft and a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine in accordance with a setting shaft is provided. In which the setting shaft is driven by a setting assembly and has a driving connection with an adjusting gear through a coupling. The drive moment is transmitted in the coupling by a radial extension (21) of a first coupling half (19), which contacts a second coupling half (25) without play in a circumferential direction and which is movable in a direction of a Y-Y axis relative to a second coupling half (25). This permits compensation of eccentricities between the setting shaft of the setting assembly and the adjusting gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Jens Schafer, Martin Steigerwald, Jonathan Heywood
  • Publication number: 20080314345
    Abstract: An adjustment device (1) for adjusting the relative rotational angle position of a camshaft (2) in relation to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine is provided, with the device having an adjustment mechanism (3), which is embodied as a triple-shaft transmission and provided with an input part (4) fixed to the crankshaft, an output part fixed to the camshaft, and an adjusting shaft (7) connected to an adjusting motor shaft (5) of an adjusting motor (6). The motor (6) is provided as an electric motor and is spatially separated from the adjusting shaft (7), and the torque produced thereby is transmitted to the adjusting shaft (7), either mechanically via a flexible shaft (8), pneumatically via a compressor (9) operating a pneumatic motor (13) using pressurized air, or hydraulically via a hydraulic motor (16) and a pump (14) providing the hydraulic medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Jens Schafer, Martin Steigerwald, Jonathan Heywood
  • Publication number: 20080236530
    Abstract: An adjustment device (1) for adjusting the relative rotational angle position of a camshaft (2) in relation to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine is provided, with the device having an adjustment mechanism (3), which is embodied as a triple-shaft transmission and provided with an input part (4) fixed to the crankshaft, an output part fixed to the camshaft, and an adjusting shaft (7) connected to an adjusting motor shaft (5) of an adjusting motor (6). The motor (6) is provided as an electric motor and is arranged parallel to the camshaft (2). The motor generates an adjustment torque that is transmitted to the adjustment shaft (7) via a secondary drive (18) that has a belt drive, a chain drive, a cardan drive, or an additional spur gear stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Jens Schafer, Martin Steigerwald, Jonathan Heywood
  • Publication number: 20080210182
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electric camshaft adjuster for adjusting and securing the phase angle of a camshaft of an internal combustion engine with respect to its crankshaft, having a three shaft gearing which is embodied as a harmonic drive (19, 19?) of sleeve design, and a drive wheel (1) which is fixed to the crankshaft and has a first ring gear (2) as well as an output component (4) which is fixed to the camshaft and has a second ring gear (5) arranged next to the first ring gear (2) and an adjustment shaft (10, 10?, 10?, 10??) which can be driven by an electric adjustment motor, with a wave generator (17, 17?, 17?) which has means for elliptically deforming a flexurally elastic, externally toothed sleeve (18).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Jens Schaefer, Martin Steigerwald, Jonathan Heywood
  • Publication number: 20080053389
    Abstract: Adjustment device (1) for adjusting a relative rotational angle position of a camshaft (3) relative to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine is provided. The adjusting device includes a crankshaft-fixed drive part (4) and a camshaft-fixed driven part (5). The adjustment device (1) has an adjustment motor (2) as a primary adjustment device and an auxiliary drive (11) as a secondary adjustment device. When the adjusting motor fails, the camshaft (3) can be moved into a fixed rotational angle position, an emergency running position, by the auxiliary drive (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Jens Schafer, Mike Kohrs, Martin Steigerwald, Jonathan Heywood
  • Publication number: 20080047513
    Abstract: A camshaft adjusting device for an internal combustion engine is provided. A functionally reliable camshaft adjusting device designed for a long-lasting operation is obtained when the camshaft adjuster (13) has a lifelong lubrication located in the housing (28, 36, 37) sealed from the surrounding area be sealing covers (36, 37). The camshaft adjuster is not required to be mounted inside the cylinder head (33), but can be mounted as a separate unit on the cylinder head (33) of the internal combustion engine independent of the lubricating oil circuit. This expands, in particular, the range of possibilities for use of the camshaft adjuster (13) with a belt drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Jens Schafer, Martin Steigerwald, Andreas Tholke
  • Patent number: 7308876
    Abstract: The invention relates to a camshaft adjuster (1) for adjusting and fixing the relative position of the angle of rotation of a camshaft (8) in relation to a crankshaft of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine. The adjusting device comprises a high transmission and friction-reduced adjusting gear mechanism (2), comprising a drive shaft which is rotationally fixed to the crankshaft, a driven shaft which is rotationally fixed to the camshaft (8) and an adjusting shaft (9) which is connected to an adjusting motor shaft (10) of an adjusting motor. A camshaft adjuster (1), which is economical to run, can be produced such that the adjusting gear mechanism (2) and the adjusting motor (3) are embodied as separate units and are connected together by a rotational backlash-free, disengaging coupling (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Jens Schäfer, Martin Steigerwald, Jörg Degelmann, Jon Heywood
  • Publication number: 20070251473
    Abstract: A camshaft adjuster including an electric servo motor (21) that is mounted in a first housing (14) and an electronics module (37), which supplies the servo motor (21) with electricity is provided. A second housing (26), which is separate from the first housing (14), is allocated to the electronics module and is attached by its exterior to the first housing (14). A wall (29) of the second housing (26) separates the servo motor (21) and the electronics module (37) to be mounted separately. A power supply and a logic element are integrated into the electronics module, allowing the camshaft adjuster to be operated as an autonomous unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2005
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Jens Schafer, Martin Steigerwald
  • Patent number: 7275506
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for the variable setting of the control times of gas-exchange valves of an internal combustion engine, with a driving element (12), with a driven element (8) and with an adjusting gear (11) designed as a triple-shaft gear, the driving element (12) being mounted rotatably with respect to the driven element (8) on the latter or on the camshaft (9). The relative phase position of the driven element (8) with respect to the driving element (12) can be selectively varied or held by means of the adjusting gear (11). According to the invention, it is proposed to mount the driving element (12) on the driven element (8) by means of rolling bearings (19, 21). Radial and/or axial forces can thereby be supported in an optimized way in terms of friction, as a result of which the efficiency of the device (1) is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Schaeffler-KG
    Inventors: Jens Schäfer, Martin Steigerwald, Jonathan Heywood
  • Publication number: 20070194649
    Abstract: An electric camshaft adjuster for adjusting and fixing the phase angle of a camshaft of an internal combustion engine relative to a crankshaft thereof is provided. The camshaft adjuster is provided with a triple-shaft gear drive having a driving pinion that is fixed to the crankshaft, an output part which is fixed to the camshaft, and an adjusting shaft. The adjusting shaft is connected to a motor shaft (5, 5?, 5?) of an electric adjusting motor that is provided as a pancake motor (1, 1?, 1?, 1??) including a pancake (3, 3?, 3?) and a stator (15, 15?, 15?, 15??) which is disposed in a housing (8, 8?, 8?) with an associated cover (9, 9?, 9?). In order to create a camshaft adjuster that is inexpensive to produce and operate, the pancake motor (1, 1?, 1?, 1??) is configured as a brushless DC motor (BLDC motor) whose housing (8, 8?, 8?) and cover (9, 9?, 9?) are arranged to be fixed to the cylinder head and whose motor shaft (5, 5?, 5?) is connected to the adjusting shaft by a releasable coupling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Jens Schäfer, Martin Steigerwald
  • Publication number: 20070101956
    Abstract: A device and a method for determining an angle of rotation between a camshaft (5) and a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine is provided, the device including a camshaft regulator provided with an electronic regulator, and a device for determining the position of the angle of rotation of the camshaft and the crankshaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Publication date: May 10, 2007
    Applicant: INA-Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Jens Schafer, Martin Steigerwald
  • Publication number: 20070074692
    Abstract: An adjustment device (1) for adjusting the relative rotational angle position of a camshaft (2) in relation to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine is provided, with the device having an adjustment mechanism (3), which is embodied as a triple-shaft transmission and provided with an input part (4) fixed to the crankshaft, an output part fixed to the camshaft, and an adjusting shaft (7) connected to an adjusting motor shaft (5) of an adjusting motor (6). The motor (6) is provided as an electric motor and is spatially separated from the adjusting shaft (7), and the torque produced thereby is transmitted to the adjusting shaft (7), either mechanically via a flexible shaft (8), pneumatically via a compressor (9) operating a pneumatic motor (13) using pressurized air, or hydraulically via a hydraulic motor (16) and a pump (14) providing the hydraulic medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2004
    Publication date: April 5, 2007
    Inventors: Jens Schafer, Martin Steigerwald, Jonathan Heywood
  • Publication number: 20070031267
    Abstract: A machine (1) has a rotor (3) located so that it can rotate in a housing (2). The rotor is located at least partly in fluid, such as coolant. To provide a machine which has lower losses with a higher cooling capacity, the housing pressure can be reduced so that the fluid transitions into the two-phase range. In one embodiment, the housing pressure can be reduced by a suction device (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Applicant: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Alexander Glaab, Martin Steigerwald, Bernward Welschof
  • Patent number: 7152561
    Abstract: A control structure for the adjusting motor of an electric camshaft adjuster in an internal combustion engine is provided. The control structure includes a controller which processes measuring signals of the internal combustion engine to control data for the adjusting motor. A controller which has meaningful values for the adjusted setpoint rotational speed of the adjusting motor, even when the input differential signal has a zero value, is obtained by applying the signal of an uncontrolled rotational speed to the output signal of a controlled setpoint rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: INA-Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Jens Schäfer, Martin Steigerwald, Martin Overberg
  • Publication number: 20060236966
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for the variable setting of the control times of gas-exchange valves of an internal combustion engine, with a driving element (12), with a driven element (8) and with an adjusting gear (11) designed as a triple-shaft gear, the driving element (12) being mounted rotatably with respect to the driven element (8) on the latter or on the camshaft (9). The relative phase position of the driven element (8) with respect to the driving element (12) can be selectively varied or held by means of the adjusting gear (11). According to the invention, it is proposed to mount the driving element (12) on the driven element (8) by means of rolling bearings (19, 21). Radial and/or axial forces can thereby be supported in an optimized way in terms of friction, as a result of which the efficiency of the device (1) is increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Jens Schafer, Martin Steigerwald, Jonathan Heywood
  • Publication number: 20060236965
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for the electrical adjustment of the relative rotary-angle position between a camshaft (2) and a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, with an adjusting gear (3) which has a driving part (4) fixed with respect to the crankshaft, a driven part (5) fixed with respect to the camshaft and an adjusting shaft (8) connected fixedly in terms of rotation to an adjustment-unit shaft (6) of an electrical adjustment unit (7). In order to achieve a simpler type of construction which, moreover, is distinguished by quiet running, there is provision, according to the invention, for the adjusting shaft (8) to be arranged in a radially floating manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Jens Schaefer, Martin Steigerwald, Jonathan Heywood
  • Publication number: 20060201462
    Abstract: The invention relates to a camshaft adjuster (1) for adjusting and fixing the relative position of the angle of rotation of a camshaft (8) in relation to a crankshaft of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine. The adjusting device comprises a high transmission and friction-reduced adjusting gear mechanism (2), comprising a drive shaft which is rotationally fixed to the crankshaft, a driven shaft which is rotationally fixed to the camshaft (8) and an adjusting shaft (9) which is connected to an adjusting motor shaft (10) of an adjusting motor. A camshaft adjuster (1), which is economical to run, can be produced such that the adjusting gear mechanism (2) and the adjusting motor (3) are embodied as separate units and are connected together by a rotational backlash-free, disengaging coupling (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Applicant: INA-Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Jens Schafer, Martin Steigerwald, Jorg Degelmann, Jon Heywood
  • Patent number: 7089897
    Abstract: An electrical adjusting device for changing an angle of rotation of a camshaft (3) relative to a crankshaft of an internal-combustion engine is provided. The device includes an adjusting gear unit (1), which is formed as a triple-shaft gear unit, including an input part (4) that is fixed to the crankshaft, an output part (5) that is fixed to the camshaft, and an adjusting shaft (6), which is connected in a torsion-proof manner to an electric adjusting motor (2) having a permanent magnet rotor and a stator (8) fixed to the housing. A stationary gear ratio (i0), the value of which defines the adjusting gear unit (1) as a positive or negative gear unit and deter-mines whether a direction of adjustment of the camshaft (3, 65, 69) is into an advanced or retarded base position, is located between the input part (4) and the output part (5) when the adjusting shaft is at rest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: INA-Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Jens Schäfer, Martin Steigerwald, Jonathan Heywood
  • Publication number: 20060124095
    Abstract: A control structure for the adjusting motor of an electric camshaft adjuster in an internal combustion engine is provided. The control structure includes a controller which processes measuring signals of the internal combustion engine to control data for the adjusting motor. A controller which has meaningful values for the adjusted setpoint rotational speed of the adjusting motor, even when the input differential signal has a zero value, is obtained by applying the signal of an uncontrolled rotational speed to the output signal of a controlled setpoint rotational speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Applicant: INA-Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Jens Schafer, Martin Steigerwald, Martin Overberg