Patents by Inventor Paul Lenz

Paul Lenz 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: 11850928
    Abstract: An electric drive axle for a vehicle includes at least one first electric vehicle drive system (1) for driving at least one vehicle wheel (11, 12) and at least one connection interface (8) for at least one power take-off (PTO). The vehicle drive system (1, 13) is coupled at least to one first double shift element (6) such that, at least in a first engagement position of the first double shift element (6), the vehicle drive system (1, 13) is drivingly coupled to at least one vehicle wheel (11, 12) and, in a second engagement position of the first double shift element (6), the vehicle drive system (1, 13) is decoupled from the at least one vehicle wheel (11, 12) and is drivingly coupled to the connection interface (8) for the power take-off (PTO). A vehicle with an electric drive axle is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignees: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG, ZF DRIVETECH (SUZHOU) CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Frank Seemann, Paul Lenz, Andreas Grossl, Werner Hechberger, Kai Borntraeger, Maik Woerl, Marco Di Sarno, Cong Ren
  • Patent number: 11807091
    Abstract: An axle drive (1) for a motor vehicle axle includes at least a first drive unit (2), a second drive unit (2), and an output axle (6). The first and second drive units (2) are arranged such that an overall center of gravity (7) of the axle drive (1) is situated proximate to a center of the output axle (6) and/or an axis of rotation of a vehicle wheel of the motor vehicle driven by the axle drive (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignees: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG, ZF DRIVETECH (SUZHOU) CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Frank Seemann, Paul Lenz, Andreas Grossi, Werner Hechberger, Kai Borntraeger, Maik Woerl, Marco Di Sarno, Cong Ren
  • Patent number: 11780328
    Abstract: A drive device for an electrically driven axle of a motor vehicle may include at least one electric machine, a shiftable transmission connected downstream from the at least one electric machine, and a differential coupled to the transmission for distributing drive torque to the axle. The transmission has first and second planetary gear sets connected in series. The at least one electric machine engages with an external toothing of a ring gear of the first planetary gear set. A carrier of the first planetary gear set is rotationally fixed to a sun gear of the second planetary gear set. A sun gear of the first planetary gear set is detachably couplable to a housing. A ring gear of the second planetary gear set is coupled to the housing. A carrier of the second planetary gear set is an output of the transmission. The first planetary gear set is interlockable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignees: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG, ZF DRIVETECH (SUZHOU) CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Frank Seemann, Paul Lenz, Andreas Grossl, Werner Hechberger, Kai Bornträger, Maik Wörl, Marco Di Sarno, Cong Ren
  • Patent number: 11719317
    Abstract: An electric vehicle transmission (7) has a drive input shaft (10), a drive output shaft (11), a first planetary gearset (P1), a second planetary gearset (P2), and a third planetary gearset (P3). The drive input shaft (10) is designed to be coupled to an electric machine (6). In addition, at least functionally a first shifting element (A), a second shifting element (B), a third shifting element (C), and a fourth shifting element (D) are provided. Also disclosed is a drive system (4), a vehicle drive-train (5), and an electric vehicle incorporating an electric vehicle transmission of this type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: David Rittler, Stefan Renner, Stefan Spühler, Johannes Glückler, Michael Trübenbach, Paul Lenz
  • Patent number: 11697342
    Abstract: A portal axle drive for a vehicle axle of an electric vehicle with driving wheels includes a drive shaft (AN) with an input axis (a) and an output shaft (AB) with an output and wheel axis (b). The input axis (a) and the output axis (b) have an axial or portal offset (c). A first gear stage (Ü1) is arranged between the drive shaft (AN) and the output shaft (AB). In an axial direction, a second gear stage (Ü2) is arranged next to the first gear stage (Ü1) and an engagement device (SE) is arranged next to the second gear stage (Ü2). The first gear stage (Ü1) and the second gear stage (Ü2) are engageable via the engagement device (SE).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Johannes Luka, Paul Lenz
  • Publication number: 20230139069
    Abstract: An electric vehicle transmission (7) has a drive input shaft (10), a drive output shaft (11), a first planetary gearset (P1), a second planetary gearset (P2), and a third planetary gearset (P3). The drive input shaft (10) is designed to be coupled to an electric machine (6). In addition, at least functionally a first shifting element (A), a second shifting element (B), a third shifting element (C), and a fourth shifting element (D) are provided. Also disclosed is a drive system (4), a vehicle drive-train (5), and an electric vehicle incorporating an electric vehicle transmission of this type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: David Rittler, Stefan Renner, Stefan Spühler, Johannes Glückler, Michael Trübenbach, Paul Lenz
  • Publication number: 20220032893
    Abstract: An electrically driven axle with electrical drive units (4) arranged symmetrically around the axle body (1). The drive units having an electric machine and a transmission, and at least one spring-loaded brake (3) as a parking brake. The spring-loaded brakes (3) are arranged radially, thus enabling the spring-loaded brake (3) to be released by removing a release spindle (7) from brake cylinders of the spring-loaded brakes (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Frank SEEMANN, Paul LENZ, Andreas GROSSL, Werner HECHBERGER, Kai BORNTRAEGER, Maik WOERL, Marco DI SARNO, Cong REN
  • Publication number: 20220032756
    Abstract: An axle drive (1) for a motor vehicle axle includes at least a first drive unit (2), a second drive unit (2), and an output axle (6). The first and second drive units (2) are arranged such that an overall center of gravity (7) of the axle drive (1) is situated proximate to a center of the output axle (6) and/or an axis of rotation of a vehicle wheel of the motor vehicle driven by the axle drive (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Frank Seemann, Paul Lenz, Andreas Grossl, Werner Hechberger, Kai Borntraeger, Maik Woerl, Marco Di Sarno, Cong Ren
  • Publication number: 20220032755
    Abstract: An electric drive axle for a vehicle includes at least one first electric vehicle drive system (1) for driving at least one vehicle wheel (11, 12) and at least one connection interface (8) for at least one power take-off (PTO). The vehicle drive system (1, 13) is coupled at least to one first double shift element (6) such that, at least in a first engagement position of the first double shift element (6), the vehicle drive system (1, 13) is drivingly coupled to at least one vehicle wheel (11, 12) and, in a second engagement position of the first double shift element (6), the vehicle drive system (1, 13) is decoupled from the at least one vehicle wheel (11, 12) and is drivingly coupled to the connection interface (8) for the power take-off (PTO). A vehicle with an electric drive axle is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Frank Seemann, Paul Lenz, Andreas Grossl, Werner Hechberger, Kai Borntraeger, Maik Woerl, Marco Di Sarno, Cong Ren
  • Patent number: 11220149
    Abstract: A rear axle assembly designed to fit within a predefined rear axle envelope of a transportation vehicle. The rear axle assembly comprising first and second double wheel hubs each supporting a pair of tires, a rear axle offset with respect to a central axis of the rear axle assembly, a rear axle input for receiving a drive input, first and second portal housings which facilitate respectively connecting the rear axle with the first and the second double wheel hubs, a four-point control arm for connecting the rear axle to a chassis, first and second spring carriers each carrying smaller and larger diameter air bellows, first and second longitudinal arms which interconnected the rear axle to the chassis, and first and second shock absorbers each located generally at or adjacent to the central axis and radially between the first double wheel hub and the first spring carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Thiago Feriani, Paul Lenz
  • Publication number: 20210347254
    Abstract: A portal axle drive for a vehicle axle of an electric vehicle with driving wheels includes a drive shaft (AN) with an input axis (a) and an output shaft (AB) with an output and wheel axis (b). The input axis (a) and the output axis (b) have an axial or portal offset (c). A first gear stage (Ü1) is arranged between the drive shaft (AN) and the output shaft (AB). In an axial direction, a second gear stage (Ü2) is arranged next to the first gear stage (Ü1) and an engagement device (SE) is arranged next to the second gear stage (Ü2). The first gear stage (Ü1) and the second gear stage (Ü2) are engageable via the engagement device (SE).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Johannes Luka, Paul Lenz
  • Publication number: 20210347253
    Abstract: A drive device for an electrically driven axle of a motor vehicle may include at least one electric machine, a shiftable transmission connected downstream from the at least one electric machine, and a differential coupled to the transmission for distributing drive torque to the axle. The transmission has first and second planetary gear sets connected in series. The at least one electric machine engages with an external toothing of a ring gear of the first planetary gear set. A carrier of the first planetary gear set is rotationally fixed to a sun gear of the second planetary gear set. A sun gear of the first planetary gear set is detachably couplable to a housing. A ring gear of the second planetary gear set is coupled to the housing. A carrier of the second planetary gear set is an output of the transmission. The first planetary gear set is interlockable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Frank Seemann, Paul Lenz, Andreas Grossl, Werner Hechberger, Kai Bornträger, Maik Wörl, Marco Di Sarno, Cong Ren
  • Publication number: 20200317014
    Abstract: A rear axle assembly designed to fit within a predefined rear axle envelope of a transportation vehicle. The rear axle assembly comprising first and second double wheel hubs each supporting a pair of tires, a rear axial offset with respect to a central axis of the rear axle assembly, a rear axle input for receiving a drive input, first and second portal housings which facilitate respectively connecting the rear axial the first and the second double wheel hubs, a four-point control arm for connecting the rear axle to a chassis, first and second spring carriers each carrying a smaller and larger diameter air bellows, first and second longitudinal arms which interconnected the rear axle to the chassis, and first and second shock absorbers each located generally at or adjacent to the central axis and radially between the first double wheel hub and the first spring carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Thiago FERIANI, Paul LENZ
  • Patent number: 10752054
    Abstract: A vehicle axle includes, an axle gear unit housing and axle tubes adjoining the latter. The axle gear unit housing has an opening which is surrounded by a flange. Threaded blind bore holes extend beyond the thickness of the flange into the region of the wall of the axle gear unit housing which has radially outwardly on the side of the flange facing the axle gear unit housing a wall thickening which extends annularly radially circumferentially along the flange and which is configured in a continuously annular manner or so as to form spot faces partially in the areas of the threaded blind bore holes, wherein a joint flash extends in a central plane along the axle tubes and toward the flange 4 in the region of the axle gear unit housing and at the flange along the radially outer contour of the wall thickening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Manuel Bauer, Paul Lenz, Horst Sigl, Alexander Enderl, Rudolf Neumüller, Daniel Dudek, Stefan Brachmeier, Peter Haselberger, Daniela Wagner, Rainer Hildebrand
  • Publication number: 20200158169
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bearing arrangement for a bevel gear drive, comprising a housing (14), a pinion (12), which includes a pinion shaft (12a) and a bearing journal (12b), and a crown wheel (13), which is meshed with the pinion (12), wherein the pinion (12) is supported with respect to the housing (14) via the bearing journal (12b) and the pinion shaft (12a) with the aid of antifriction bearings (15, 16). It is provided that the pinion (12) is supported via two tapered roller bearings (15, 16) pitched with respect to one another, wherein the first tapered roller bearing (15) is arranged on the bearing journal (12b) and the second tapered roller bearing (16) is arranged on the pinion shaft (12a) and their pressure lines (d) form an X arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas Bergmann, Paul Lenz, Klaus Alesch, Alexander Enderl, Julian Haller, Rudolf Neumüller, Manuel Bauer, Peter Haselberger, Daniela Wagner, Daniel Dudek
  • Publication number: 20200040983
    Abstract: A vehicle axle includes, an axle gear unit housing and axle tubes adjoining the latter. The axle gear unit housing has an opening which is surrounded by a flange. Threaded blind bore holes extend beyond the thickness of the flange into the region of the wall of the axle gear unit housing which has radially outwardly on the side of the flange facing the axle gear unit housing a wall thickening which extends annularly radially circumferentially along the flange and which is configured in a continuously annular manner or so as to form spot faces partially in the areas of the threaded blind bore holes, wherein a joint flash extends in a central plane along the axle tubes and toward the flange 4 in the region of the axle gear unit housing and at the flange along the radially outer contour of the wall thickening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Manuel BAUER, Paul LENZ, Horst SIGL, Alexander ENDERL, Rudolf NEUMÜLLER, Daniel DUDEK, Stefan BRACHMEIER, Peter HASELBERGER, Daniela WAGNER, Rainer HILDEBRAND
  • Patent number: 10532655
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a portal axle for low-slung vehicles, comprising a portal housing 1, 1? into the interior 2 of which is guided proceeding from an axle bracket side a drive shaft 17 on which a drive wheel 3 is arranged so as to be fixed with respect to rotation relative to it, with intermediate wheels 4 which are rotatably mounted on bearing pins 12 in the portal housing 1, 1? and which can be rotatably driven by the drive wheel 3 and by means of which an output wheel 5 which is arranged in the portal housing 1, 1? on an output shaft so as to be fixed with respect to rotation relative to it can be rotatably driven, this output wheel 5 projecting into a hub carrier 6 which can be fixedly connected to the portal housing 1, 1?. The drive shaft 17 and the output shaft extend so as to be axially offset, and a brake caliper of a disk brake is arranged radially adjacent to the portal housing 1, 1?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Rudolf Neumüller, Paul Lenz, Manuel Bauer, Stefan Brachmeier, Daniela Wagner, Peter Haselberger, Daniel Dudek, Klaus Alesch, Horst Sigl, Alexander Enderl
  • Patent number: 10179478
    Abstract: An axle assembly for a drive device for the road wheels of a vehicle includes: a stationary housing having a housing interior at least partially filled with a lubricating liquid; axle housings connected to the stationary housing and configured to permit axles of the vehicle to pass towards the road wheels; a venting bore in one of the axle housings configured to allow pressurized air to escape from the stationary housing; and at least one rib sized and positioned in the housing interior of the stationary housing so as to prevent migration of the lubricating liquid out of the venting bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Manuel Bauer, Rudolf Neumüller, Paul Lenz, Peter Haselberger, Horst Sigl, Daniel Dudek, Matthias Kobler, Daniela Wagner, Rainer Hildebrand, Stefan Brachmeier
  • Publication number: 20180372204
    Abstract: A differential bearing arrangement is provided for supporting a differential cage, having a final drive housing, at least one bearing support and at least one fastening screw with a screw head and a cylindrical screw body that is provided with an external thread and fixedly connects the bearing support to the final drive housing. The bearing support has a blind hole with an internal thread and the fastening screw is arranged such that the screw head thereof comes to bear against an outer surface of the final drive housing, and the screw body extends through a through-recess formed in the final drive housing and is at least partially received by the blind hole formed in the bearing support. The internal thread of the blind hole cooperates with the external thread of the fastening screw.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Rainer HILDEBRAND, Paul LENZ, Peter HASELBERGER, Horst SIGL, Manuel BAUER, Stefan BRACHMEIER
  • Publication number: 20180154770
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a portal axle for low-slung vehicles, comprising a portal housing 1, 1? into the interior 2 of which is guided proceeding from an axle bracket side a drive shaft 17 on which a drive wheel 3 is arranged so as to be fixed with respect to rotation relative to it, with intermediate wheels 4 which are rotatably mounted on bearing pins 12 in the portal housing 1, 1? and which can be rotatably driven by the drive wheel 3 and by means of which an output wheel 5 which is arranged in the portal housing 1, 1? on an output shaft so as to be fixed with respect to rotation relative to it can be rotatably driven, this output wheel 5 projecting into a hub carrier 6 which can be fixedly connected to the portal housing 1, 1?. The drive shaft 17 and the output shaft extend so as to be axially offset, and a brake caliper of a disk brake is arranged radially adjacent to the portal housing 1, 1?.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Rudolf NEUMÜLLER, Paul LENZ, Manuel BAUER, Stefan BRACHMEIER, Daniela WAGNER, Peter HASELBERGER, Daniel DUDEK, Klaus ALESCH, Horst SIGL, Alexander ENDERL