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).

  • Publication number: 20100294060
    Abstract: A double clutch transmission with two clutches connected to a drive shaft and to one of two transmission input shafts. Fixed gears are coupled to the input shafts and engage idler gears. Several coupling devices connect the idler gears to a countershaft which have an output gear that couples to an output shaft such that forward and reverse gears can be shifted. Two dual gear planes each comprising two idler gears, each supported by a respective countershaft, and one fixed gear. In each dual gear plane, at least one idler gear wheel can be used for at least two gears. Two single gear planes each comprise an idler and a fixed gear such that a winding-path gear is shifted by disengaging an output gear wheel coupling device on the first countershaft. Another winding-path gear is shifted by disengaging an output gear wheel coupling device on the second countershaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Gumpoltsberger, Juergen Wafzig, Matthias Reisch, Wolfgang Rieger, Ralf Dreibholz
  • Patent number: 7836988
    Abstract: A method for operating a parallel hybrid drive train of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, an electric engine and an output. The electric engine being located in the power drive between the output and the internal combustion engine. A second shifting element is located between the internal combustion engine and the electric engine and a first shifting element between the electric engine and the output. Output torque driving the output can be adjusted according to the transmitting capacities of the first and second shifting elements and according to the input torque of the electric engine and/or internal combustion engine. These adjustments are corrected according to standards derived from divergences found in parameters during operation of the drive train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ralf Dreibholz, Johannes Kaltenbach, Michael Gromus, Stefan Blattner, Bernd Allgaier, Stefan Kilian, Peter Schiele, Friedrich Tenbrock, Gerd Frotscher
  • Publication number: 20100242646
    Abstract: A double clutch transmission with two clutches that have inputs connected to a drive shaft and outputs which are each connected to one of first and second transmission input shafts. Fixed gears are coupled to the input shafts and engage idler gears. Several coupling devices connect the idler gears to a respective countershaft which have an output gear that couples with an output shaft such that forward and reverse gears can be shifted. First and second dual gear planes each comprise two idler gears supported by a respective countershaft, and one fixed gear. In each of the first and the second gear planes, at least one idler gear is used for two gears. First and second single gear planes each comprise an idler gear and a fixed gear such that at least one winding-path gear can be shifted via at least one, non-engaged coupling device, assigned to one of the output gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Gumpoltsberger, Juergen Wafzig, Matthias Reisch, Wolfgang Rieger, Ralf Dreibholz
  • Publication number: 20100218628
    Abstract: A double clutch transmission with two clutches connected to a drive shaft and to one of two transmission input shafts. Fixed gears are coupled to the input shafts and engage idler gears. Several coupling devices connect the idler gears to a countershaft which have an output gear that couple gears of an output shaft such power shift forward gears and a reverse gear can be shifted. Two dual gear planes each comprising one fixed gear which is supported by an input shaft and two idler gears which are supported by a respective countershaft. In each dual gear plane at least one idler gear wheel can be used for at least two gears. Two single gear planes each comprise an idler gear wheel and a fixed gear wheel, so that at least one winding-path gear can be shifted via the shifting device and one winding-path gear via another shifting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Gumpolsberger, Juergen Wafzig, Matthias Reisch, Wolfgang Rieger, Ralf Dreibholz
  • Publication number: 20100218629
    Abstract: A double clutch transmission with two clutches connected to a drive shaft and to one of two transmission input shafts. Fixed gears are coupled to the input shafts and engage idler gears. Several coupling devices connect the idler gears to either first or second countershafts which each have an output gear that couple gears of an output shaft such that forward and reverse gears can be shifted. A shifting device couples gears to engage power shift forward and reverse gears. Two dual gear planes each comprising one fixed gear and two idler gears which are supported by a respective countershaft. In each dual gear plane, at least one idler gear wheel can be used for at least two gears. Two single gear planes each comprise an idler and fixed gear such that at least one power shift winding-gear is engaged by a shifting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Gumpoltsberger, Juergen Wafzig, Matthias Reisch, Wolfgang Rieger, Ralf Dreibholz
  • Publication number: 20100212441
    Abstract: A dual clutch transmission having countershafts, idler gears and input shafts with gears which engage with the idler gears. The countershafts have a power take-off gear that is coupled to an output shaft. Shift elements connect gear wheels to engage forward and reverse gears. The transmission has two dual gear planes and two single gear planes, one idler gear of the countershafts being respectively associated with a fixed gear of one of the transmission input shafts in each of the dual gear planes. An idler gear in each dual gear plane is utilized for two gears and one idler gear of one countershafts associating with an input shaft fixed gear to shift at least one winding path gear via at least one shift element on each countershaft, and at least one winding path gear can be shifted with a coupling device associated with the take-off gear of the first countershaft and is disengaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Gumpoltsberger, Juergen Wafzig, Matthias Reisch, Wolfgang Rieger, Ralf Dreibholz
  • Publication number: 20100206107
    Abstract: A double clutch transmission with two clutches connected to a drive shaft and to one of two transmission input shafts. Fixed gears are coupled to the input shafts and engage idler gears. Several coupling devices connect the idler gears to a respective countershaft which have an output gear that couple gears of an output shaft such that forward and reverse gears can be shifted. Three dual gear planes each comprise two idler gears, each supported by a respective countershaft, and one fixed gear. In each dual gear plane, at least one idler gear wheel can be used for implementing at least two gears so that at least one winding-path gear can be shifted via a shifting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Gumpoltsberger, Juergen Wafzig, Matthias Reisch, Wolfgang Rieger, Ralf Dreibholz, Markus Maier
  • Publication number: 20100206106
    Abstract: A double clutch transmission with two clutches connected to a drive shaft and to one of two transmission input shafts. Fixed gears are coupled to the input shafts and engage idler gears. Several coupling devices connect the idler gears to a countershaft which have an output gear that couple gears of an output shaft such power shift forward gears and a reverse gear can be shifted. Three dual gear planes each comprising one fixed gear which is supported by an input shaft and two idler gears which are supported by a respective countershaft. In each dual gear plane at least one idler gear wheel can be used for at least two gears such that at least one winding-path gear is engaged by engagement of a disengaged output coupling device assigned to one of the output gear wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Gumpoltsberger, Juergen Wafzig, Matthias Reisch, Wolfgang Rieger, Ralf Dreibholz
  • Publication number: 20100206108
    Abstract: A double clutch transmission with two clutches connected to a drive shaft and to one of two transmission input shafts. Fixed gears are coupled to the input shafts and engage idler gears. Several coupling devices connect the idler gears to a countershaft which have an output gear that couple with gears of an output shaft such that forward and reverse gears can be shifted. Two dual gear planes each comprise two idler gears, each supported by a respective countershaft, and one fixed gear. In each dual gear plane, at least one idler gear is used for two gears. Two single gear planes each comprise an idler gear and a fixed gear such that at least one winding-path gear is shifted via a shifting device on the second countershaft, and at least one winding-path gear is shifted via a non-engaged coupling device, assigned to an output gear wheel on the first countershaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Gumpoltsberger, Juergen Wafzig, Matthias Reisch, Wolfgang Rieger, Ralf Dreibholz
  • Patent number: 7762922
    Abstract: A method is described for operating a parallel hybrid device train (1) of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine (2), an electric engine (3) and an output (5) wherein the electric engine (3) is disposed in the power train between the output (5) and the internal combustion engine (2) and both between the internal combustion engine (2) and the electric engine (3) and between the electric engine (3) and the output (5) is respectively provided a frictionally engaged shifting element (7, 8). In addition, a nominal output torque abutting on the output (5) can be adjusted according to the transmitting capacity of the first shifting element (8) located between the electric engine (3) and the output (5). According to the invention, the transmitting capacity of the first shifting element (8) is adjusted under control according to the nominal input torque required so that the first shifting element (8) has a transmitting capacity needed for producing the nominal output torque on the output (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ralf Dreibholz, Johannes Kaltenbach, Michael Gromus, Stefan Blattner, Bernd Allgaier, Stefan Kilian, Peter Schiele, Friedrich Tenbrock, Gerd Frotscher
  • Patent number: 7744502
    Abstract: A method for driving a parallel hybrid drive train of a motor vehicle with at least one internal combustion engine, one electric motor and an output. The electric motor is arranged in the drive train between the output and the internal combustion engine. A shifting element is arranged between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor. A hydrodynamic torque converter is arranged between the electric motor and the output. A target output torque applied at the output is subject to the slip hydrodynamic torque converter, is produced by at least the internal combustion engine and the electric motor, and is determined with reference to at least the required target output torque, an actual turbine speed of the hydrodynamic torque converter, or a an equivalent speed of the parallel hybrid drive train, and the actual speed of the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ralf Dreibholz, Alexander Banerjee
  • Publication number: 20100071497
    Abstract: A transmission device (1) having a switching element, which is actuated by at least one electric component (5, 17) which is part of an actuator (4). The electric actuator component is linked to a countershaft (3) of the transmission and rotates at the speed of countershaft (3) during operation, and is functionally connected through an electric transformer rotary transformer device (15) with further enclosure mounted components of the transmission device (1). Via the transformer device (15), electric energy and/or data can be exchanged, through collector ring contacts, using inductive or capacitive coupling between the enclosure mounted components of transmission device (1) and at least one electric actuator component (5, 17) which is linked with the countershaft (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Matthias Reisch, Mark Mohr, Ralf Dreibholz
  • Publication number: 20100043586
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Mark Mohr, Matthias Reisch, Ralf Dreibholz
  • Patent number: 7645209
    Abstract: A method for operating a parallel hybrid powertrain (1) of a motor vehicle with multiple drive units (2, 3) and with a single output side (5) is described. At least one internal combustion engine (2) and one electric motor (3) are provided and the at least one electric motor (3) is arranged in the powertrain between the output (5) and the at least one internal combustion engine (2). A first friction-locking shifting element (7) is provided between the internal combustion engine (2) and the electric motor (3), while a coupling element (8A) with rotational speed dependent recognition and at least one second friction-locking shifting element (30) are arranged between the electric motor (3) and the output side (5). A target output torque to be applied at the output (5) is a function of the power transmission capacity of the second shifting element (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ralf Dreibholz, Johannes Kaltenbach
  • Publication number: 20090301243
    Abstract: A device (1) for transmitting torque from a first shaft (2) to a second shaft (3) of a transmission device, in particular a counter shaft transmission. The device (1) has a first gear (5) supported on the first shaft (2) by a bearing device (4) and which, in an assembled state, engages a second gear (6) arranged on the second shaft (3). The first gear (5) can be shifted into an activated state in which the first gear is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the first shaft (2). A supporting mechanism (18) is associated with the first gear (5), next to the bearing device (4), via which tilting moments present and acting on the first gear (5), at least in a connected state, are transmitted to and supported by the first shaft (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Matthias Reisch, Mark Mohr, Ralf Dreibholz, Gerhard Gumpoltsberger
  • Publication number: 20090232673
    Abstract: A method and a device for controlling the oil supply of an automatic transmission (gearbox) and to a starting element. The method can guarantee a sufficient supply of oil to a hydraulic control unit of the automatic transmission and/or the starting element, in particular an oil-cooled friction clutch, both during the operation of the internal combustion engine (4) and when the latter is at a standstill with the aid of an oil pump (2) that can be mechanically driven by the internal combustion engine (4) and a second oil pump (3) that can be electrically driven. In addition, the cooling oil supply of the starting element is guaranteed by the provision of a low-pressure oil by way of the electrically driven oil pump (3), at least during the starting operation, the stream cooling the starting element (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2006
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Matthias Reisch, Ralf Dreibholz, Gerhard Gumpoltsberger
  • Publication number: 20090205454
    Abstract: A transmission device has at least two change-under-load shift elements with transmission capacities that are varied an actuation device. A method for operating a drive train including transmission and drive engine includes a step that when the transmission is shifted, one of the shift elements, which is engaged in the force flow, is disengaged by the actuation device and the other shift element, which is engaged, is disengaged. The actuation device includes an actuator which applies an actuating force to actuate the shift elements and a coupling device by which the actuator communicates with the shift elements to actuate them, such that an actuating force of the actuator, which is actuating the shift element to be disengaged, can be reduced, while an actuating force of the actuator, which is actuating the shift element to be engaged can simultaneously be increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Ralf DREIBHOLZ, Matthias REISCH
  • Patent number: 7563193
    Abstract: A method for actuating the transmission of a motor vehicle having a hybrid drive mechanism, especially for the case when an electric accumulator is loaded via the internal combustion engine and the selector lever (1) is locked electronically or via a mechanical selector lever locking device during the loading operation. Regarding the selector lever actuation, the driver's wish is detected by way of a sensor device (3) and when it is determined that the drive is going to activate a running step by the sensor device (3), the loading operation of the electric accumulator is immediately discontinued, via the internal combustion engine, and an operating state is adjusted which allows a safe activation of a transmission running step and subsequently the lock of the selector lever (1) is released or the selector lever locking device (2) is unlocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Friedrich Tenbrock, Ralf Dreibholz
  • Patent number: 7469169
    Abstract: A method for controlling and regulating the input power distribution of prime movers in a power train (1) of a motor vehicle which has one internal combustion engine (2), at least one electric machine (6, 14), at least one clutch (4, 11), the same as one transmission (12), and in which there is at least one control and regulation unit which, on the basis of predetermined, measuring and calculated values, controls and regulates the input power distribution between the internal combustion engine (2) and at least one electric machine (6, 14) with regard to power dynamics of the vehicle, the same as its energy consumption, its emission and its driving comfort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignees: ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ralf Dreibholz, Friedrich Tenbrock, Gerd Frotscher, Johannes Kaltenbach, Markus Kaindl, Jürgen Gebert, Joachim Fröschl
  • Patent number: 7448975
    Abstract: A transmission device (3) for a vehicle with an electric machine (26) that is arranged in a housing (11) is described. The electric machine (26) can be placed in active connection with a rotating component (13, 28) that can be guided in the power flow of the transmission device such that a level of torque that can be generated by the electric machine (26) can be transmitted to the component (13, 28). At least one electric component (45; 45Y) that comprises power electronics for the electric machine (26) is arranged in a cross-sectional area inside the housing (11) that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the electric machine (26) and is located directly adjacent to the electric machine (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Matthias Reisch, Martin Grumbach, Ralf Dreibholz, Wolfgang Schön, Jürgen Kett