Patents by Inventor Michael Drabek

Michael Drabek 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: 8464602
    Abstract: A shifting rocker (2) for a transmission comprises two arms (4, 6), between which a mount for a sliding sleeve is provided. The shifting rocker (2) is mounted in a transmission housing at two bearing points (20, 22) such that it can pivot. Further, a lever arm (16) is positioned on the shifting rocker (2), via which force is applied to the shifting rocker (2) for the purpose of pivoting the shifting rocker (2) about the bearing points (20, 22). The lever arm (16) is positioned on the shifting rocker (2) in the area (24) between the two bearing points (20, 22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen
    Inventors: Uwe Beer, Michael Drabek
  • Patent number: 8387754
    Abstract: A method for oiling the axial stops (10) on components (6, 17, 18) fixed on a shaft (1), provided for loose wheels (2, 3) arranged on the shaft. According to the method, oiling of the axial stops (10) occurs by supplying oil through an axially extending bore or oil duct (5) of the shaft (1) and through grooves (11, 12) formed on the axial stop (10) with the grooves being in fluid flow connection with the oil duct (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Jan-Peter Konig, Michael Drabek, Harald Klose
  • Patent number: 8272287
    Abstract: A device for latching and locking of shift rockers (1, 1?) of a shift device of a transmission. The device has a lock part (3, 3?), for each shift rocker (1, 1?), which resides in a receptacle (2) of the shift rocker (1, 1?), which interacts with a lock contour (5, 5?), positioned in a non-moving area of the transmission, for the latching purpose, whereby the lock part (3, 3?) also serves, in addition to the latching, as an interlock for the shift rocker (1, 1?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Michael Drabek, Matthias Retsch
  • Publication number: 20120103748
    Abstract: A synchronizer device (100) for a manual transmission which comprises a synchronizer hub (1) and at least one synchronizer ring (2) which can be fixed relative to one another in the circumferential direction by indexing (3). The indexing (3) is formed by at least one projection (4) disposed on the synchronizer ring (2) and which extends substantially in the axial direction and engages in at least one recess (5) of the synchronizer hub (1). The recess (5) on the synchronizer hub (1) comprises at least one oblique surface section (6; 7) on which the projection (4) rests, in a sliding manner, when the synchronizer ring (2) rotates relative to the synchronizer hub (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: Michael Drabek
  • Patent number: 8082815
    Abstract: An arrangement of a hydraulically actuated shift actuator including a shift cylinder (3), arranged outside the hydraulic control unit of a transmission. The shift cylinder (3) of the shift actuator is fixed on a flat or circular machined area (2) on the inside of a housing (1). The side of the housing (1) facing away from the shift cylinder (3) has a flat surface (4) on which the hydraulic control unit (5) is fixed in a hydraulically leak-proof manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Michael Drabek
  • Patent number: 7950323
    Abstract: A shifting device (1) for shifting a motor vehicle transmission with a shift selector shaft on which a plurality of shift elements (2) such as shift forks or shift rockers (3) are arranged and can be displaced to carry out a shifting operation. The shifting device (1) includes one hydraulic shift cylinder (5, 11, 18, 25), that can be actuated from both sides, with a piston (9, 15, 16, 19, 26) that can be displaced within a cylinder housing (6) and which is actively connected with a shift element (2) to be actuated. To simplify a shifting device (1) of this type, the piston (9, 15, 16, 19, 26) has a piston rod (10, 17, 23, 29) that follows the movement of the piston (9, 15, 16, 19, 26) and can be connected directly to the shift element (2) in a detachable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Rudolf Kauffeldt, Hans-Joachim Martin, Gerhard Gumpoltsberger, Michael Ebenhoch, Wolfgang Rieger, Michael Drabek, Stefan Csajagi
  • Publication number: 20110048155
    Abstract: A device is proposed for latching and locking of shift rockers (1, 1?) of a shift device of a transmission. The device has a lock part (3, 3?), for each shift rocker (1, 1?), which resides in a receptacle (2) of the shift rocker (1, 1?), which interacts with a lock contour (5, 5?), positioned in a non-moving area of the transmission, for the latching purpose, whereby the lock part (3, 3?) also serves, in addition to the latching, as an interlock for the shift rocker (1, 1?).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Michael Drabek, Matthias Retsch
  • Publication number: 20100234113
    Abstract: A rotary feed-through is proposed to supply oil to a transmission shaft (1), in an axial extending borehole or oil passage (2), respectively, comprising a stator, positioned at the enclosure, and a rotor, turning with the shaft, in which the bearing cover (4), connected with the enclosure, or the holding plate of the bearing (3), respectively, of the shaft (1) which needs to be supplied with oil, serves as a stator, and the hub (6) of an already present part (5), axial viewed at the side of the bearing (3), facing away from the enclosure and positioned before the bearing (3), and rotationally linked torque-free with the shaft (1), serves as the rotor of the rotary feed-through.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Michael Drabek, Uwe Beer, Jens Patzner
  • Publication number: 20100200335
    Abstract: A method for oiling the axial stops (10) on components (6, 17, 18) fixed on a shaft (1), provided for loose wheels (2, 3) arranged on the shaft. According to the method, oiling of the axial stops (10) occurs by supplying oil through an axially extending bore or oil duct (5) of the shaft (1) and through grooves (11, 12) formed on the axial stop (10) with the grooves being in fluid flow connection with the oil duct (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Jan-Peter Konig, Michael Drabek, Harald Klose
  • Patent number: 7730799
    Abstract: A gear transmission mechanism (2) for motor vehicles having a main shaft (10, 12) and a countershaft (14) parallel to one another, on which different gears for different gear ratios are arranged. The countershaft (14) is arranged above a horizontal plane (X-Y axis) containing a main shaft axis (16) with respect to the axle system of the vehicle so that installation space for the functional components (gearshift elements 18, a hydraulic system 20) of the transmission is available below the gearset formed by the gearbox wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Michael Drabek
  • Publication number: 20090301242
    Abstract: Arrangement of a hydraulically actuated shift actuator, comprising a shift cylinder (3), arranged outside the hydraulic control unit of a transmission is proposed, in which the shift cylinder (3) of the shift actuator is fixed on a flat or circular machined area (2) on the inside of a housing, and the side of the housing (1) facing away from the shift cylinder (3) has a flat surface (4) on which the hydraulic control unit (5) is fixed in a hydraulically leak-proof manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: ZF FRIENDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: Michael Drabek
  • Patent number: 7467563
    Abstract: A switching mechanism of a multiple change-over gear with an axially displaceable and pivoted gearshift lever shaft having a shift finger formed on the gearshift lever shaft with switching wings which are operatively connected with a synchronization and coupling device for wheels supported on a wheel set shaft of the gearing unit, and with cams formed on the switching wings with which the shift finger can mesh for the execution of a process of gear ratio modification and, over the cams, can axially displace the switching wings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Michael Drabek, Jan-Peter König
  • Publication number: 20080296112
    Abstract: A shifting device (1) for shifting a motor vehicle transmission with a shift selector shaft on which a plurality of shift elements (2) such as shift forks or shift rockers (3) are arranged and can be displaced to carry out a shifting operation. The shifting device (1) includes one hydraulic shift cylinder (5, 11, 18, 25), that can be actuated from both sides, with a piston (9, 15, 16, 19, 26) that can be displaced within a cylinder housing (6) and which is actively connected with a shift element (2) to be actuated. To simplify a shifting device (1) of this type, the piston (9, 15, 16, 19, 26) has a piston rod (10, 17, 23, 29) that follows the movement of the piston (9, 15, 16, 19, 26) and can be connected directly to the shift element (2) in a detachable manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Rudolf Kauffeldt, Hans-Joachim Martin, Gerhard Gumpoltsberger, Michael Ebenhoch, Wolfgang Rieger, Michael Drabek, Stefan Csajagi
  • Patent number: 7444898
    Abstract: In a shifting assembly for a multiple-gear variable speed motor vehicle transmission, a central selector or shifting shaft (2) is mounted in the transmission housing (12) such that it can be rotated and displaced axially. By rotating the selector or shifting shaft (2) a coupling to be actuated in a shift gate can be selected, and by subsequently axially displacing the shaft, the gears can be engaged. At least two roller arms (4), spaced somewhat from one another, are positioned on the selector or shifting shaft (2), bearing a rod (6) between them. The rod (6) is mechanically linked with a contoured element or lever (16) that is mounted in the transmission housing (12) such that it can swivel. The contoured edge (20) of the contoured element or lever (16) mirrors the selection patterns and is spring loaded against the rod (6) by a spring element (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Uwe Beer, Michael Drabek
  • Patent number: 7353726
    Abstract: A shifting device for a transmission, in which at least one gearshift package is allocated to two non-successive gears and each of these gearshift packages is coupled with a gearshift lever. An H- or a multiple H-shifting diagram is allocated to the gearshift lever, in which the gears that can be selected within a gearshift path are allocated to different gearshift packages. The gearshift lever and the gearshift packages are connected to a conversion device with which a gearshift lever movement to take out a previous gear in a gearshift path causes this gear to be taken out in a first gearshift package. A gearshift lever movement for putting in the new gear in the same gearshift path, a second gearshift package puts in this new gear. The conversion device functions in such a way that the gearshift lever is coupled with an axially displaceable and radially pivotable shift finger shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Uwe Beer, Michael Drabek
  • Publication number: 20070227285
    Abstract: A gear transmission mechanism (2) for motor vehicles having a main shaft (10, 12) and a countershaft (14) parallel to one another, on which different gears for different gear ratios are arranged. The countershaft (14) is arranged above a horizontal plane (X-Y axis) containing a main shaft axis (16) with respect to the axle system of the vehicle so that installation space for the functional components (gearshift elements 18, a hydraulic system 20) of the transmission is available below the gearset formed by the gearbox wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Michael Drabek
  • Publication number: 20070157753
    Abstract: A switching mechanism of a multiple change-over gear with an axially displaceable and pivoted gearshift lever shaft having a shift finger formed on the gearshift lever shaft with switching wings which are operatively connected with a synchronization and coupling device for wheels supported on a wheel set shaft of the gearing unit, and with cams formed on the switching wings with which the shift finger can mesh for the execution of a process of gear ratio modification and, over the cams, can axially displace the switching wings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Publication date: July 12, 2007
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Michael Drabek, Jan-Peter Konig
  • Publication number: 20060150761
    Abstract: A shifting device for a transmission, in which at least one gearshift package is allocated to two non-successive gears and each of these gearshift packages is coupled with a gearshift lever. An H- or a multiple H-shifting diagram is allocated to the gearshift lever, in which the gears that can be selected within a gearshift path are allocated to different gearshift packages. The gearshift lever and the gearshift packages are connected to a conversion device with which a gearshift lever movement to take out a previous gear in a gearshift path causes this gear to be taken out in a first gearshift package. A gearshift lever movement for putting in the new gear in the same gearshift path, a second gearshift package puts in this new gear. The conversion device functions in such a way that the gearshift lever is coupled with an axially displaceable and radially pivotable shift finger shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2003
    Publication date: July 13, 2006
    Inventors: Uwe Beer, Michael Drabek
  • Publication number: 20060060020
    Abstract: In a shifting assembly for a multiple-gear variable speed motor vehicle transmission, a central selector or shifting shaft (2) is mounted in the transmission housing (12) such that it can be rotated and displaced axially. By rotating the selector or shifting shaft (2) a coupling to be actuated in a shift gate can be selected, and by subsequently axially displacing the shaft, the gears can be engaged. At least two roller arms (4), spaced somewhat from one another, are positioned on the selector or shifting shaft (2), bearing a rod (6) between them. The rod (6) is mechanically linked with a contoured element or lever (16) that is mounted in the transmission housing (12) such that it can swivel. The contoured edge (20) of the contoured element or lever (16) mirrors the selection patterns and is spring loaded against the rod (6) by a spring element (18).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2003
    Publication date: March 23, 2006
    Inventors: Uwe Beer, Michael Drabek
  • Publication number: 20050199084
    Abstract: A shifting rocker (2) for a transmission comprises two arms (4, 6), between which a mount for a sliding sleeve is provided. The shifting rocker (2) is mounted in a transmission housing at two bearing points (20, 22) such that it can pivot. Further, a lever arm (16) is positioned on the shifting rocker (2), via which force is applied to the shifting rocker (2) for the purpose of pivoting the shifting rocker (2) about the bearing points (20, 22). The lever arm (16) is positioned on the shifting rocker (2) in the area (24) between the two bearing points (20, 22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2003
    Publication date: September 15, 2005
    Inventors: Uwe Beer, Michael Drabek