Patents by Inventor Paul Zandbergen

Paul Zandbergen 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: 11801741
    Abstract: An assembly includes a vehicle frame having a middle section, a front-section vehicle-forward of the middle section, and a rear section vehicle-rearward of the middle section. The middle section has frame rails spaced from each other and cross-beams extending from one frame rail toward the other frame rail. The frame rails each having a vehicle-forward end and a vehicle-rearward end. The assembly includes one or more electric-vehicle batteries. At least one of the batteries is in one of the cross-beams. The assembly includes two front nodes between and directly connected to the middle section and the front section and two rear nodes between and directly connected to the middle section and the rear section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Zandbergen, Rainer Souschek
  • Publication number: 20230062143
    Abstract: An assembly includes a vehicle frame having a middle section, a front-section vehicle-forward of the middle section, and a rear section vehicle-rearward of the middle section. The middle section has frame rails spaced from each other and cross-beams extending from one frame rail toward the other frame rail. The frame rails each having a vehicle-forward end and a vehicle-rearward end. The assembly includes one or more electric-vehicle batteries. At least one of the batteries is in one of the cross-beams. The assembly includes two front nodes between and directly connected to the middle section and the front section and two rear nodes between and directly connected to the middle section and the rear section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Zandbergen, Rainer Souschek
  • Patent number: 11370259
    Abstract: A bearing eye for a leaf spring for sprung support of a vehicle component on a vehicle body of a vehicle may include a through opening and a torsion spring therein, and a first catch. The bearing eye may provide pivotable mounting of the leaf spring on the vehicle body. The torsion spring is twistable relative to the bearing eye and connectable non-rotatably to the vehicle body. The first catch may project radially inwardly into the through opening, and the torsion spring has a second catch that projects radially outwardly into the through opening. The first and second catches may form a locking engagement which, depending on a degree of relative twisting between the bearing eye and the torsion spring, stops the relative twisting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jacopo Palandri, Rainer Souschek, Ralf Hintzen, Alberto Girelli Consolaro, Friedrich Peter Wolf-Monheim, Bjoern Reff, Thomas Gerhards, Paul Zandbergen
  • Patent number: 11072215
    Abstract: A motor vehicle wheel suspension having a wheel carrier connected to the vehicle body or frame. The suspension having a lower transverse link. The wheel carrier connected to the lower transverse carrier at two connection locations. A first connection location on a first side wall of the wheel carrier and second connection location on a second side wall of the wheel carrier. The first connection location including a connector connected to both the lower transverse and the wheel carrier. The second connection location including a connection between the wheel carrier and the lower transverse link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Drotar, Ralf Hintzen, Daniel Mainz, Paul Zandbergen, Friedrich Peter Wolf-Monheim
  • Publication number: 20210155064
    Abstract: A bearing eye for a leaf spring for sprung support of a vehicle component on a vehicle body of a vehicle may include a through opening and a torsion spring therein, and a first catch. The bearing eye may provide pivotable mounting of the leaf spring on the vehicle body. The torsion spring is twistable relative to the bearing eye and connectable non-rotatably to the vehicle body. The first catch may project radially inwardly into the through opening, and the torsion spring has a second catch that projects radially outwardly into the through opening. The first and second catches may form a locking engagement which, depending on a degree of relative twisting between the bearing eye and the torsion spring, stops the relative twisting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Jacopo Palandri, Rainer Souschek, Ralf Hintzen, Alberto Girelli Consolaro, Friedrich Peter Wolf-Monheim, Bjoern Reff, Thomas Gerhards, Paul Zandbergen
  • Patent number: 11007835
    Abstract: The disclosure concerns a spring assembly with a leaf spring. The leaf spring extends in a vehicle longitudinal axis, supports a vehicle axle and is connected at least indirectly to a vehicle superstructure at a front end and at a rear end. In order to provide a wheel suspension with advantageous springing and damping behavior that is optimized with regard to weight and complexity, according to the disclosure it is provided that at least one damping region, which is at least partially fluid-filled, is integrated in the leaf spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ralf Hintzen, Daniel Mainz, Rainer Souschek, Thomas Gerhards, Paul Zandbergen, Alberto Girelli Consolaro, Friedrich Peter Wolf-Monheim
  • Patent number: 10940729
    Abstract: A motor vehicle multi-link axle having wheel suspension including a lower transverse link and an upper transverse link. A leaf spring extending transversely to a direction of travel of the vehicle and below the upper transverse link. A link element connects an end of the leaf spring to the upper transverse link. The link element having a first connection, connected to the upper transverse link, and a second connection, connected to the leaf spring. The link element adjustable to vary the distance between the first connection and the second connection. The multi-link axle may also include a connecting element that connects the second connection point of the link element to a connection point of the leaf spring, with the connecting adjustable to vary the distance between the second connection point of the link element and the connection point of the connecting element to the leaf spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christoph Meier, Alberto Girelli Consolaro, Paul Zandbergen, Ivica Papic
  • Patent number: 10933919
    Abstract: A mount located in a wheel housing of a motor vehicle, the mount receiving an upper end of a shock absorber. The mount has a plurality of upper receiving points each mounting point for allowing a different shock absorber orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ralf Hintzen, Friedrich Peter Wolf-Monheim, Daniel Mainz, Timothy Drotar, Paul Zandbergen, Nicole Zandbergen
  • Patent number: 10933708
    Abstract: A longitudinal leaf spring device for suspending a motor vehicle body or chassis on a vehicle axle thereof. Leaf spring device including an elongated leaf spring unit, a coupling device connecting the leaf spring unit to the vehicle axle, and suspension unit arranged in a substantially vertical direction between a chassis and the axle. The suspension unit including suspension elements providing a spring-back force in the vertical direction and producing an active connection between the chassis and the axle when the distance between the chassis and axle exceeds a predetermined first deflection depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wolfgang David, Paul Zandbergen, Thomas Gerhards, Ralf Hintzen, Marc Simon, Friedrich Peter Wolf-Monheim
  • Patent number: 10894455
    Abstract: A motor vehicle rear suspension includes left and right trailing links mounted, at respective forward ends thereof, to a vehicle body for pivoting movement about a transversely-extending axis. The trailing links extend rearward from the axis, and each has a wheel carrier attached thereto adjacent a rear end thereof. Left and right leaf springs are fixed, at respective forward ends thereof, to the vehicle body and extend rearward therefrom alongside and generally parallel with their respective trailing links. Rear ends of the leaf springs contact their respective trailing links and applying spring-force thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Gerhards, Ralf Hintzen, Daniel Mainz, Rainer Souschek, Friedrich Peter Wolf-Monheim, Paul Zandbergen
  • Patent number: 10807426
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-link rear suspension for a motor vehicle, having at least one transverse leaf spring arranged on the motor vehicle to extend in the transverse vehicle direction and having ends which operatively act on left and right wheel carriers to cushion a vehicle structure of the motor vehicle with respect to the wheel-carriers. The transverse leaf spring also serves as a stabilizer, thereby replacing dedicated stabilizer. In order to provide a multi-link rear suspension which is optimized in terms of structural space and which is lightweight, the multi-link rear has exclusively transverse links for guiding the wheel-carriers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alberto Girelli Consolaro, Paul Zandbergen, Daniel Mainz, Friedrich Peter Wolf-Monheim, Thomas Gerhards, Ralf Hintzen, Rainer Souschek, Brian Chen
  • Publication number: 20200282788
    Abstract: Vehicle integral bushing rear suspension systems are disclosed. An example rear wheel suspension includes a wheel carrier configured to mount a wheel of a vehicle, the wheel rotatable about a rotational axis, a lower transverse control arm coupled to the wheel carrier below the rotational axis, the lower transverse control arm including a first joint to be disposed on a vehicle structure and a second joint to be disposed on the vehicle structure, the second joint displaced from the first joint along a longitudinal axis, a camber transverse control arm coupled to the wheel carrier above the rotational axis, and a track transverse control arm coupled to the wheel carrier in front of the rotational axis, wherein the lower transverse control arm, the camber transverse control arm and the track transverse control arm couple the wheel carrier to the vehicle structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Inventors: Friedrich Peter Wolf-Monheim, Timothy Drotar, Ralf Hintzen, Daniel Mainz, Paul Zandbergen, Steve Scott Allen
  • Patent number: 10744835
    Abstract: A suspension for a wheeled vehicle includes a leaf spring extending longitudinally relative to the vehicle and having first and second lugs protruding downward therefrom. The lugs are spaced from one another a length of the leaf spring to define a pocket therebetween. An axle passes perpendicularly beneath the leaf spring such that a portion of the axle is disposed in the pocket and is clamped between the lugs. The lugs may be fabricated integrally with the leaf spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ralf Hintzen, Paul Zandbergen, Thomas Gerhards, Rainer Souschek, Daniel Mainz, Friedrich Wolf-Monheim, Alberto Girelli Consolaro
  • Patent number: 10663023
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a hybrid lightweight brake disk and a method for producing the hybrid lightweight brake disk. The hybrid lightweight brake disk includes a brake chamber and a friction ring with at least one circular, outer friction surface. The method provides a brake chamber that includes a material containing an aluminum-forged alloy and a friction ring having a rapidly solidified aluminum alloy built up on an edge region of the brake chamber by using a laser deposition welding process or a 3D-printing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Zandbergen, Maik Broda, Raphael Koch, Clemens Verpoort
  • Patent number: 10406879
    Abstract: A wheel suspension unit for a motor vehicle having a longitudinal link, having a first end for pivotable vehicle-side connection, a second end for connection to a wheel carrier, and a blade-like link portion resilient in the direction of the transverse axis (Y) and rigid transversely relative thereto. The wheel suspension reduces the number of components by providing a longitudinal link having a resilient portion resilient toward the longitudinal axis (X), wherein the longitudinal link is at least partially produced from a fiber-reinforced plastics material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nicole Zandbergen, Rainer Souschek, Thomas Gerhards, Ralf Hintzen, Daniel Mainz, Paul Zandbergen, Alberto Girelli Consolaro, Friedrich Peter Wolf-Monheim
  • Publication number: 20190176554
    Abstract: A motor vehicle multi-link axle having wheel suspension including a lower transverse link and an upper transverse link. A leaf spring extending transversely to a direction of travel of the vehicle and below the upper transverse link. A link element connects an end of the leaf spring to the upper transverse link. The link element having a first connection, connected to the upper transverse link, and a second connection, connected to the leaf spring. The link element adjustable to vary the distance between the first connection and the second connection. The multi-link axle may also include a connecting element that connects the second connection point of the link element to a connection point of the leaf spring, with the connecting adjustable to vary the distance between the second connection point of the link element and the connection point of the connecting element to the leaf spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christoph Meier, Alberto Girelli Consolaro, Paul Zandbergen, Ivica Papic
  • Publication number: 20190168560
    Abstract: A longitudinal leaf spring device for suspending a motor vehicle body or chassis on a vehicle axle thereof. Leaf spring device including an elongated leaf spring unit, a coupling device connecting the leaf spring unit to the vehicle axle, and suspension unit arranged in a substantially vertical direction between a chassis and the axle. The suspension unit including suspension elements providing a spring-back force in the vertical direction and producing an active connection between the chassis and the axle when the distance between the chassis and axle exceeds a predetermined first deflection depth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wolfgang David, Paul Zandbergen, Thomas Gerhards, Ralf Hintzen, Marc Simon, Friedrich Peter Wolf-Monheim
  • Publication number: 20190160904
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel suspension including a spring unit suspending a vehicle wheel on a vehicle body. The spring unit including a leaf spring portion extending along a Y-axis. The spring unit including a wheel carrier portion receiving a vehicle wheel. The wheel carrier portion at an end or outboard side of the leaf spring portion. The wheel carrier portion extending transversely to the leaf spring portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Gerhards, Ralf Hintzen, Daniel Mainz, Rainer Souschek, Paul Zandbergen, Alberto Girelli Consolaro, Friedrich Peter Wolf-Monheim
  • Publication number: 20190143774
    Abstract: A motor vehicle rear suspension includes left and right trailing links mounted, at respective forward ends thereof, to a vehicle body for pivoting movement about a transversely-extending axis. The trailing links extend rearward from the axis, and each has a wheel carrier attached thereto adjacent a rear end thereof. Left and right leaf springs are fixed, at respective forward ends thereof, to the vehicle body and extend rearward therefrom alongside and generally parallel with their respective trailing links. Rear ends of the leaf springs contact their respective trailing links and applying spring-force thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas GERHARDS, Ralf HINTZEN, Daniel MAINZ, Rainer SOUSCHEK, Friedrich Peter WOLF-MONHEIM, Paul ZANDBERGEN
  • Publication number: 20190118601
    Abstract: A suspension for a wheeled vehicle includes a leaf spring extending longitudinally relative to the vehicle and having first and second lugs protruding downward therefrom. The lugs are spaced from one another a length of the leaf spring to define a pocket therebetween. An axle passes perpendicularly beneath the leaf spring such that a portion of the axle is disposed in the pocket and is clamped between the lugs. The lugs may be fabricated integrally with the leaf spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ralf HINTZEN, Paul ZANDBERGEN, Thomas GERHARDS, Rainer SOUSCHEK, Daniel MAINZ, Friedrich WOLF-MONHEIM, Alberto GIRELLI CONSOLARO