Patents by Inventor Steffen Hummel

Steffen Hummel 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: 11420513
    Abstract: A hybrid drivetrain for a hybrid-driven vehicle, having a transmission, which can be shifted by shifting elements into different transmission steps, and which is connectable via an internal combustion engine shaft to an internal combustion engine, via an electric machine shaft to an electric machine, and via an output shaft to at least one vehicle axis. The internal combustion engine shaft and a pinion shaft, which can be connected with respect to drive to the output shaft, are connectable via spur gearwheel sets, which can be shifted by means of shifting elements and which each form wheel levels, of which at least one hybrid wheel level is additionally connectable to the electric machine shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Steffen Hummel
  • Patent number: 11420511
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a drive device for a vehicle axle, especially a rear axle, of a two-track vehicle, wherein the vehicle axle includes an axle differential, which can be connected at the input end to a primary drive machine and at the output end to flange shafts arranged on either side with vehicle wheels of the vehicle axle, wherein the vehicle axle is associated with a shiftable superimposing gear, which can be shifted to a torque distribution mode by a torque distribution shift element, in which a drive torque generated by an additional drive machine in a first load path can be coupled to one of the flange shafts in order to change a torque distribution on the two vehicle wheels, and the drive torque generated by the additional drive machine can be coupled to the input side of the axle differential in a second load path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Udo Pinschmidt, Steffen Hummel, Christian Wirth
  • Patent number: 11305632
    Abstract: A hybrid drivetrain for a hybrid powered vehicle, having an electric machine and a combustion engine, whose power output shaft acts in alternating manner either on a first input shaft or on a coaxial second input shaft of a dual clutch transmission across two separating clutches of a dual clutch, wherein a respective first and second subtransmission can be activated using the input shafts, and wherein fixed and idler gearwheels are arranged in wheel planes on the two input shafts and a common axially parallel driven shaft, said fixed and idler gears being combined into gear sets which form gear stages, in which the idler gearwheels can be coupled to the shafts by means of gear-shifting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Steffen Hummel
  • Patent number: 11192434
    Abstract: A drive device for a vehicle axle, in particular a rear axle, of a two-track vehicle with an electric drive, wherein an electric machine is associated with every vehicle wheel of the vehicle axle, the electric machine shafts of which electric machine can be drivingly connected, by a first and a second shifting element, to a first and a second flange shaft of the vehicle wheels, and wherein in a first transmission gear, the first and the second shifting element are shifted and the electric machine shafts output directly to the flange shafts of the vehicle wheels via the first and the second shifting element. The vehicle axle has a transverse differential which, on the output side, outputs to the flange shafts of the vehicle wheels and, on the input side, can be drivingly connected to the electric machine shafts by means of a third and a fourth shifting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Steffen Hummel
  • Patent number: 11187304
    Abstract: A change-speed transmission for a motor vehicle. The transmission has a first and second subtransmission, which each have a plurality of shiftable gearwheel sets associated therewith. The subtransmissions each have an input shaft and have a joint output shaft. Each of the input shafts are activated alternatingly by, respectively, a first and a second powershift clutch. A reduction gearing effectuating a transmission change is associated with one of the subtransmissions, and the subtransmissions are alternatingly connected by way of a third powershift clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Steffen Hummel
  • Patent number: 11117459
    Abstract: A hybrid drivetrain for a hybrid-drive vehicle, including an electric motor and an internal combustion engine, the force output shaft of which alternatingly acts either on a first input shaft or on a coaxial second input shaft of a dual clutch transmission via two separating clutches of a dual clutch, wherein a respective first and second sub-transmission can be activated using the input shafts, and wherein fixed and idler gears are arranged in wheel planes on the two input shafts and a common axially parallel output shaft and are combined into gear sets which form gear stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Steffen Hummel
  • Patent number: 11110789
    Abstract: A drive device for a vehicle axle, in particular a rear axle, of a two-track vehicle, wherein the vehicle axle includes an axle differential, which is connectable on the input side to a primary drive machine and is connectable on the output side via flanged shafts arranged on both sides to vehicle wheels of the vehicle axle, wherein an additional drive machine and a shiftable superimposed transmission are associated with the vehicle axle, which transmission is shiftable into a torque distribution gear step, in which a drive torque generated by the additional drive machine is generated, in dependence on the dimension and rotational direction of which a torque distribution on the two vehicle wheels is changeable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Udo Pinschmidt, Steffen Hummel, Christian Wirth
  • Patent number: 11065955
    Abstract: A drive device for a vehicle axle, especially a rear axle, of a two-track vehicle, wherein the vehicle axle includes an axle differential, which can be connected at the input end to a primary drive machine and can be connected at the output end across flange shafts arranged on either side to vehicle wheels of the vehicle axle, wherein the vehicle axle is associated with an additional drive machine and a shiftable superimposing gear, which can be shifted to a torque distribution gear in which a drive torque is generated by the additional drive machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Udo Pinschmidt, Steffen Hummel, Christian Wirth
  • Patent number: 11059364
    Abstract: A drive device for a vehicle axle, especially a rear axle, of a two-track vehicle, wherein the vehicle axle comprises an axle differential, which can be connected at the primary end to a primary drive machine and can be connected at the output end across flange shafts arranged on either side to vehicle wheels of the vehicle axle, wherein the vehicle axle is associated with an additional drive machine and a shiftable superimposing gear, which can be shifted to a torque distribution gear in which a drive torque is generated by the additional drive machine, depending on the magnitude and direction of rotation of which a torque distribution on the two vehicle wheels can be changed, and shifted to a hybrid mode in which the drive torque generated by the additional drive machine can be coupled to both flange shafts of the vehicle wheels, evenly distributed across the axle differential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Udo Pinschmidt, Steffen Hummel, Christian Wirth
  • Publication number: 20210170856
    Abstract: A drive device for a vehicle axle, in particular a rear axle, of a two-track vehicle, wherein the rear axle has an axle differential, which can be connected to a primary drive unit on its input side, and can be connected to the vehicle wheels of the vehicle axle on its output side by means of flanged shafts arranged on both sides, wherein the vehicle axle is associated with an additional drive unit and a switchable superposition gearbox which can be switched into a torque-distribution gear stage, in which a drive torque generated by the additional drive unit is generated, wherein a torque distribution to the two vehicle wheels can be changed depending on the torque and its rotational direction, and said superposition gearbox can be switched into a hybrid mode in which the drive torque generated by the additional drive unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Udo PINSCHMIDT, Steffen HUMMEL, Christian WIRTH
  • Patent number: 10995840
    Abstract: A drive device for a vehicle axle, especially a rear axle, of a two-track vehicle, wherein the vehicle axle includes an axle differential, which can be connected at the input end to a primary drive machine and can be connected at the output end across flange shafts arranged on either side to vehicle wheels of the vehicle axle, wherein the vehicle axle is associated with an additional drive machine and a shiftable superimposing gear, which can be shifted to a torque distribution gear in which a drive torque is generated by the additional drive machine, a torque distribution on the two vehicle wheels can be changed depending on the magnitude and direction of rotation of the drive torque, and shifting can be done to a hybrid mode in which the drive torque generated by the additional drive machine can be coupled to both flange shafts of the vehicle wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Udo Pinschmidt, Steffen Hummel, Christian Wirth
  • Patent number: 10882387
    Abstract: A hybrid drive train for a hybrid-drive vehicle. A transmission which can be shifted to different gear ratios by shifting components, and which can be drivingly connected to an internal combustion engine via an internal combustion engine shaft, to an electric motor via an electric motor shaft, and to at least one vehicle axle via an output shaft. The internal combustion engine shaft and a power takeoff shaft that is drivingly connected to the output shaft can be connected via spur gear wheel sets, which can be selected by the shifting components and each of which forms a gear plane. The gear planes include a first and a second hybrid gear plane, each of which can additionally be drivingly connected to the electric motor shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Steffen Hummel
  • Patent number: 10883574
    Abstract: A hybrid drive train for a hybrid-driven vehicle. A transmission which can be shifted into different transmission stages by shifting elements and which can be drivingly connected to an internal combustion engine via an internal combustion engine shaft, to an electric machine via an electric machine shaft, and to at least one vehicle axle via an output shaft. The internal combustion engine shaft and a takeoff shaft, which is drivingly connected to the output shaft, can be connected together via spur gear sets which can be shifted by means of the shifting elements, each spur gear set forming a gear plane, of which at least one hybrid gear plane can additionally be connected to the electric machine shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Steffen Hummel
  • Patent number: 10864814
    Abstract: A hybrid drivetrain for a hybrid-drive vehicle, having a transmission, which can be shifted by shifting elements into different transmission steps, and which is connectable with respect to drive via an internal combustion engine shaft to an internal combustion engine, via an electric machine shaft to an electric machine, and via an output shaft to at least one vehicle axis. The internal combustion engine shaft and a pinion shaft, which can be connected with respect to drive to the output shaft, are connectable via spur gearwheel sets, which can be shifted by means of shifting elements and which each form gear planes, of which at least one hybrid gear plane is additionally connectable to the electric machine shaft. A further gear plane, which is free of attachments with respect to the electric machine shaft, directly adjoins the hybrid gear plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Steffen Hummel
  • Patent number: 10837522
    Abstract: A dual clutch transmission for a motor vehicle, with gear wheel sets, which can be engaged via shift elements and which form exactly eight wheel planes, which are associated with respectively a first sub-transmission and a second sub-transmission. Each sub-transmission has a respective input shaft and the two sub-transmissions have an output shaft, which is axis-parallel to the input shafts. The mutually coaxial input shafts can each be activated via a power-shift clutch in alternation and the even forward gears are associated with the first sub-transmission and the odd forward gears are associated with the second sub-transmission, which can be engaged when a gear shift occurs via the shift element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Steffen Hummel
  • Patent number: 10814714
    Abstract: A hybrid powertrain for a hybrid-drive motor vehicle, with a transmission that can be shifted into different gear stages by shifting elements and can be in drive connection with an internal combustion engine via an internal combustion engine shaft, with an electric machine via an electric machine shaft, and with at least one vehicle axle via an output shaft. The internal combustion engine shaft and the electric machine shaft are arranged axially parallel to one another. The transmission is designed as a spur gear unit, in which the internal combustion engine shaft, the electric machine shaft, and the output shaft can be in drive connection with one another via spur gear sets that form gear planes and can be shifted by the shifting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Steffen Hummel
  • Publication number: 20200317041
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a drive device for a vehicle axle, especially a rear axle, of a two-track vehicle, wherein the vehicle axle includes an axle differential, which can be connected at the input end to a primary drive machine and at the output end to flange shafts arranged on either side with vehicle wheels of the vehicle axle, wherein the vehicle axle is associated with a shiftable superimposing gear, which can be shifted to a torque distribution mode by a torque distribution shift element, in which a drive torque generated by an additional drive machine in a first load path can be coupled to one of the flange shafts in order to change a torque distribution on the two vehicle wheels, and the drive torque generated by the additional drive machine can be coupled to the input side of the axle differential in a second load path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Udo PINSCHMIDT, Steffen HUMMEL, Christian WIRTH
  • Patent number: 10792989
    Abstract: A hybrid drivetrain for a hybrid-drive vehicle, having a dual-clutch transmission, which can be shifted by shifting elements into different transmission steps, and which includes spur gearwheel sets which can be shifted via the shifting elements, and which form wheel levels, which are each associated with a first partial transmission and a second partial transmission, of which each partial transmission includes an input shaft, and the two partial transmissions comprise a common output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Steffen Hummel
  • Patent number: 10767743
    Abstract: A differential gearing for a motor vehicle, with a ring gear, which has an external toothing system and which can be driven by a pinion of the motor vehicle, and with a differential unit which can be driven by the ring gear for rotational speed compensation between wheels of the motor vehicle that can be driven by the pinion via the differential unit, wherein the differential unit has an internal gear which can be driven by the ring gear and has an internal toothing system, the wheels being drivable by way of said internal gear. In relation to a torque flow from the ring gear to the internal gear, a coupling device is arranged between the ring gear and the internal gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: René Kockisch, Nico Keller, Udo Pinschmidt, Steffen Hummel
  • Publication number: 20200276897
    Abstract: A drive device for a vehicle axle, in particular a rear axle, of a two-track vehicle, wherein the vehicle axle includes an axle differential, which is connectable on the input side to a primary drive machine and is connectable on the output side via flanged shafts arranged on both sides to vehicle wheels of the vehicle axle, wherein an additional drive machine and a shiftable superimposed transmission are associated with the vehicle axle, which transmission is shiftable into a torque distribution gear step, in which a drive torque generated by the additional drive machine is generated, in dependence on the dimension and rotational direction of which a torque distribution on the two vehicle wheels is changeable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Udo PINSCHMIDT, Steffen HUMMEL, Christian WIRTH