Patents by Inventor Ralf Dreibholz
Ralf Dreibholz 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).
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Patent number: 11397191Abstract: An assembly has a rotating element, a sensor, and an evaluation unit; wherein the element has a number a of markings; wherein the markings pass through a region detected by the sensor in cycles when the element rotates; wherein the sensor is configured to send a signal to the evaluation unit; and wherein the evaluation unit is configured to assign a time ti for when each signal is sent, wherein the evaluation unit is configured to calculate a function m(t) over time t as a measure for a gradient of the rotational rate of the element.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2018Date of Patent: July 26, 2022Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Andreas Wendzel, Ralf Dreibholz
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Patent number: 11300202Abstract: A device (5) for selective displacement of a shift element (4) towards a first shift position and/or a second shift position includes an actuator (6) and a spring module (7). The spring module (7) includes an actuator-side force-introduction element, a shift element-side force-introduction element, and a spring arrangement. The spring arrangement includes a first spring end and a second spring end. The actuator-side force-introduction element and the shift element-side force-introduction element each include a first support section and a second support section for supporting the spring ends. The first spring end is associated with the first support section of the shift element-side force-introduction element and with the second support section of the actuator-side force-introduction element. The second spring end is associated with the first support section of the actuator-side force-introduction element and with the second support section of the shift element-side force-introduction element.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2017Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Matthias Reisch, Ralf Dreibholz, Jürgen Wafzig
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Publication number: 20210382083Abstract: An assembly has a rotating element, a sensor, and an evaluation unit; wherein the element has a number a of markings; wherein the markings pass through a region detected by the sensor in cycles when the element rotates; wherein the sensor is configured to send a signal to the evaluation unit; and wherein the evaluation unit is configured to assign a time ti for when each signal is sent, wherein the evaluation unit is configured to calculate a function m(t) over time t as a measure for a gradient of the rotational rate of the element.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2018Publication date: December 9, 2021Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Andreas WENDZEL, Ralf DREIBHOLZ
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Publication number: 20210356039Abstract: A device (5) for selective displacement of a shift element (4) towards a first shift position and/or a second shift position includes an actuator (6) and a spring module (7). The spring module (7) includes an actuator-side force-introduction element, a shift element-side force-introduction element, and a spring arrangement. The spring arrangement includes a first spring end and a second spring end. The actuator-side force-introduction element and the shift element-side force-introduction element each include a first support section and a second support section for supporting the spring ends. The first spring end is associated with the first support section of the shift element-side force-introduction element and with the second support section of the actuator-side force-introduction element. The second spring end is associated with the first support section of the actuator-side force-introduction element and with the second support section of the shift element-side force-introduction element.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2017Publication date: November 18, 2021Inventors: Matthias Reisch, Ralf Dreibholz, Jürgen Wafzig
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Patent number: 9748040Abstract: An electronic control device for controlling at least one rotatably arranged actuator includes electronic components, such as a device for the contact-free reception of electrical energy and the contact-free reception of signals, a device for generating magnetic fields, and a common housing that encloses the electronic components and assimilates them. The control device is rotatable and designed for attaching on or into a component rotating around a rotational axis.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2012Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Matthias Reisch, Ralf Dreibholz
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Patent number: 9470329Abstract: A device is provided for controlling at least one cooling oil flow and/or lubricating oil flow by means of at least one valve (17) for at least one cooling point and/or lubrication point (3, 4) connected to a shaft (1). The valve (17) is connected in an electrically controllable and torque-proof manner to a cooling point and/or lubrication point (3, 4). The electrical energy is able to be supplied for actuating the valve (17) without contact.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2012Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Matthias Reisch, Ralf Dreibholz
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Patent number: 9217506Abstract: An actuating device is provided for actuating at least one shifting element shiftable through a shifting device, whereas the shifting device features a pressure space with a supply for a pressurized medium, along with a shut-off valve. It is proposed that the shut-off valve is connected in an electrically controllable and torque-proof manner to at least one shifting element, and that the electrical energy for the actuation of the shut-off valve is able to be supplied without contact.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2012Date of Patent: December 22, 2015Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Matthias Reisch, Ralf Dreibholz
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Patent number: 9182013Abstract: A power-shiftable transmission, in particular an automatic transmission for a vehicle, which comprises a plurality of frictional shifting elements and at least one interlocking shifting element (A, B, C, D, E) and a plurality of gearwheels which can be engaged in a power flow by the shifting elements (A, B, C, D, E). In order to engage a gear step, at least two associated shifting elements (A, B, C, D, E) are engaged and at least one interlocking shifting element (B), as a shifting element (B) to be engaged, is associated with a gear step to be engaged with a supporting gear.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2011Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Gerhard Gumpoltsberger, Bernhard Sich, Matthias Reisch, Manuel Goetz, Mark Mohr, Ralf Dreibholz, Peter Ziemer, Gert Bauknecht
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Patent number: 9032823Abstract: A dual clutch transmission designed as a reduction gearing which has concentric central and hollow transmission shafts, exactly one layshaft, and two power shift elements. A hollow shaft is provided coaxially on the layshaft, which can be rotatably fixed to the layshaft, via one shift device, and to which at least two gears of the gear stages are rotatably fixed. A further hollow shaft is provided coaxially on either the central or the hollow transmission shaft, which can be connected, via one of the shift devices, with the central or the hollow transmission shaft and to which at least two further gears of the gear stages are rotatably fixed. At least three transmission ratios are obtainable as a result of engaging the shift element into the power flow in three of the gear stages, by which one transmission ratio results from engaging only one shift element into the power flow.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2011Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Ralf Dreibholz, Juergen Wafzig, Michael Wechs, Markus Renninger, Thomas Rosemeier, Johannes Kaltenbach, Rudolf Kauffeldt
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Patent number: 9021906Abstract: A double clutch transmission of countershaft design having a central shaft and a concentric hollow transmission shaft, one countershaft, and two power-shift elements. Two hollow shafts are disposed on the countershaft coaxially to the countershaft, each of which can be fixed, via one shift device, to the countershaft, and to which at least two gearwheels are fixed. A further hollow shaft is coaxially provided on either the central or hollow transmission shafts and can be connected, via a shift device, to the central or hollow transmission shaft, and to which at least two further gearwheels of the gear stages are fixed. At least three transmission ratios are possible by engaging three of the gear stages on the shift-element side into the power flow, thereby enabling one transmission ratio to be at least partially implemented by a respective sole engagement on the shift-element side into the power flow.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2011Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Ralf Dreibholz, Juergen Wafzig, Michael Wechs, Markus Renninger, Thomas Rosemeier, Johannes Kaltenbach, Rudolf Kauffeldt
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Patent number: 8851260Abstract: The invention relates to a positively engaging shifting element which can be hydraulically or pneumatically actuated, comprising a hydraulically or pneumatically actuatable piston (I) having a piston compartment (2) containing a hydraulic medium or pressure medium, a jaw (3) having a dog-type gearing (4) and a mating jaw (5) with which the dog-type gearing (4) meshes when engaged. The engaging speed of the jaw (3) can be increased by decoupling the jaw (3) from the hydraulic or pneumatic volume flow when the jaws (3) and (5) are in a tooth butt position in relation to each other and by pretensioning the jaw (3) by means of a mechanical device (6) that is actively connected to the piston (I). The gap between the jaws, i.e. the window into which the jaw (3) can be engaged is maintained as narrow as possible in order for a tooth butt position of the jaws (3) and (5) in relation to each other being highly probable when the shift element is applied.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2009Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Matthias Reisch, Ralf Dreibholz, Gerhard Gumpoltsberger, Mark Mohr, Manuel Götz
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Publication number: 20140264112Abstract: The invention relates to a device for controlling at least one cooling oil flow and/or lubricating oil flow by means of at least one valve (17) for at least one cooling point and/or lubrication point (3, 4) connected to a shaft (1). It is proposed that the valve (17) is connected in an electrically controllable and torque-proof manner to a cooling point and/or lubrication point (3, 4), and that the electrical energy is able to be supplied for actuating the valve (17) without contact.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2012Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Matthias Reisch, Ralf Dreibholz
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Publication number: 20140239737Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic control device (28) for controlling at least one rotatably arranged actuator, comprising electronic components, such as a device (30) for the contact-free reception of electrical energy and the contact-free reception of signals, a device (27a) for generating magnetic fields and a common housing (39) that encloses the electronic components (27a, 30) and assimilates them, whereas the control device (28) is rotatable and designed for attaching on or into a component rotating around a rotational axis (a).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2012Publication date: August 28, 2014Inventors: Matthias Reisch, Ralf Dreibholz
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Publication number: 20140230591Abstract: The invention relates to an actuating device for actuating at least one shifting element (3, 4, 5) shiftable through a shifting device (6, 7, 8), whereas the shifting device (6, 7, 8) features a pressure space (6a, 7a, 8a) with a supply (26) for a pressurized medium, along with a shut-off valve (17). It is proposed that the shut-off valve (17) is connected in an electrically controllable and torque-proof manner to at least one shifting element (3, 4, 5), and that the electrical energy for the actuation of the shut-off valve (17) is able to be supplied without contact.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2012Publication date: August 21, 2014Inventors: Matthias Reisch, Ralf Dreibholz
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Patent number: 8794415Abstract: The invention relates to a positively engaging shifting element which can be hydraulically or pneumatically actuated, comprising a hydraulically or pneumatically actuatable piston (I) having a piston compartment (2) containing a hydraulic medium or pressure medium, a pressure medium supply (6) for the piston (I), a jaw (3) and a mating jaw (4) with which the jaw (3) meshes when engaged. The engaging speed of the jaw (3) can be increased by decoupling the jaw (3) from the hydraulic or pneumatic volume flow when the jaws (3) and (4) are in a tooth butt position in relation to each other and by pretensioning the jaw (3) by means of a hydraulic or pneumatic pressure reservoir (7) that is actively connected to the piston (I) and that is connected to the pressure medium supply (6). The gap between the jaws, i.e.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2009Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Matthias Reisch, Ralf Dreibholz, Gerhard Gumpoltsberger, Peter Ziemer, Mark Mohr, Manuel Götz
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Patent number: 8733195Abstract: An actuating assembly for actuating synchronizing elements of a centrally synchronized dual-clutch transmission having at least a first part-transmission (6) and a second part-transmission (7) such that at least one synchronizing element is associated with each of the first and the second part-transmission (6, 7). A common actuator (1) is provided for actuating at least the synchronizing elements of the two part-transmissions.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2009Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Ralf Dreibholz, Eckhardt Luebke, Matthias Reisch, Juergen Wafzig
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Patent number: 8578801Abstract: A power shift parallel shift transmission with parallel torque transmission branches, the input sides of which have an intermediate element which can be connected by an associated power shift element to a common input element, and the output sides of which can be connected by drive output elements with a common output element and can be connected to the appropriate intermediate element by a transmission ratio step that is engaged by an associated clutch. The transmission ratio steps are sequentially distributed in alternation in the order of their transmission ratios across the intermediate elements and in groups of adjacent transmission ratios across the drive output elements. To simply increase the number of gear steps in a space-saving manner, at least one of the drive output elements is in driving connection with the common output element via at least two alternatively shiftable output transmission ratio steps that have different transmission ratios.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2008Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Gerhard Gumpoltsberger, Matthias Reisch, Ralf Dreibholz, Mark Mohr
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Publication number: 20130196814Abstract: A power-shiftable transmission, in particular an automatic transmission for a vehicle, which comprises a plurality of frictional shifting elements and at least one interlocking shifting element (A, B, C, D, E) and a plurality of gearwheels which can be engaged in a power flow by the shifting elements (A, B, C, D, E). In order to engage a gear step, at least two associated shifting elements (A, B, C, D, E) are engaged and at least one interlocking shifting element (B), as a shifting element (B) to be engaged, is associated with a gear step to be engaged with a supporting gear.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2011Publication date: August 1, 2013Inventors: Gerhard Gumpoltsberger, Bernhard Sich, Matthias Reisch, Manuel Goetz, Mark Mohr, Ralf Dreibholz, Peter Ziemer, Gert Bauknecht
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Publication number: 20130167676Abstract: A dual clutch transmission designed as a reduction gearing which has concentric central and hollow transmission shafts, exactly one layshaft, and two power shift elements. A hollow shaft is provided coaxially on the layshaft, which can be rotatably fixed to the layshaft, via one shift device, and to which at least two gears of the gear stages are rotatably fixed. A further hollow shaft is provided coaxially on either the central or the hollow transmission shaft, which can be connected, via one of the shift devices, with the central or the hollow transmission shaft and to which at least two further gears of the gear stages are rotatably fixed. At least three transmission ratios are obtainable as a result of engaging the shift element into the power flow in three of the gear stages, by which one transmission ratio results from engaging only one shift element into the power flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2011Publication date: July 4, 2013Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Ralf Dreibholz, Juergen Wafzig, Michael Wechs, Markus Renninger, Thomas Rosemeier, Johannes Kaltenbach, Rudolf Kauffeldt
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Patent number: RE46242Abstract: A device (4) for actuating a component mounted to rotate on a shaft (3), preferably a gearwheel (3A to 3D) made as a loose wheel of a transmission device (1). The component can be shifted by an engaging device (4A, 4B) that includes at least one electric actuator (5, 17) to an engaged condition in which the component is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the shaft (3), and such that the component can be acted upon with the actuation force needed for its engagement or disengagement from inside the shaft (3) outwardly. The electric actuator (5, 17) is at least partially arranged inside the shaft (3).Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2013Date of Patent: December 20, 2016Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Mark Mohr, Matthias Reisch, Ralf Dreibholz