Patents by Inventor Thomas Raich

Thomas Raich 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: 20240149936
    Abstract: A steering column for a motor vehicle, including a casing unit, in which a steering spindle is mounted so as to be rotatable about a longitudinal axis (L) running in the longitudinal direction, and which has at least one inner casing telescopically adjustable in the longitudinal direction in an outer casing tube, comprising a roller guide having at least one bearing support, which is radially supported and movable on the inner casing, and in which at least one roller is mounted so as to be rotatable about a roller axis which is transverse to the longitudinal axis (L).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2023
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Applicants: thyssenkrupp Presta AG, thyssenkrupp AG
    Inventors: Thomas RAICH, Simon BLAETTLER, Robert GALEHR
  • Patent number: 11873021
    Abstract: A steering column may include a casing unit in which a steering spindle is mounted rotatably about a longitudinal axis extending in a longitudinal direction, and casing tubes that are adjustable telescopically relative to one another in the longitudinal direction. A roller guide with at least one bearing support can be displaced radially on a first of the casing tubes, and in which at least one roller is mounted rotatably about a roller axis that is transverse to the longitudinal axis. The roller can roll via its outer circumference in the longitudinal direction on a second of the casing tubes. A pretensioning device interacts with the bearing support to pretension the roller against the second casing tube. The bearing support may be guided on the first casing tube with an oblique inclination relative to the longitudinal axis, and the pretensioning device may apply an axial force to the bearing support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignees: thyssenkrupp Presta AG, thyssenkrupp AG
    Inventor: Thomas Raich
  • Publication number: 20230365183
    Abstract: A steering column for a motor vehicle comprises an actuating unit. A steering spindle is mounted rotatably about a longitudinal axis extending in the longitudinal direction. A supporting unit is connectable to a motor vehicle body and in which the actuating unit is held so as to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction. An energy absorption device, which is incorporated between the supporting unit and the actuating unit, has an elongate energy absorption element fastened to the actuating unit or to the supporting unit via a fastening. A deformation member, which interacts with the energy absorption element, is attached to the supporting unit or to the actuating unit. In the event of a crash with a relative displacement of actuating unit and supporting unit, the deformation member brings about an energy-absorbing plastic deformation of the energy absorption element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Applicants: thyssenkrupp Presta AG, thyssenkrupp AG
    Inventor: Thomas RAICH
  • Publication number: 20230242173
    Abstract: A steering column may include a casing unit in which a steering spindle is mounted rotatably about a longitudinal axis extending in a longitudinal direction, and casing tubes that are adjustable telescopically relative to one another in the longitudinal direction. A roller guide with at least one bearing support can be displaced radially on a first of the casing tubes, and in which at least one roller is mounted rotatably about a roller axis that is transverse to the longitudinal axis. The roller can roll via its outer circumference in the longitudinal direction on a second of the casing tubes. A pretensioning device interacts with the bearing support to pretension the roller against the second casing tube. The bearing support may be guided on the first casing tube with an oblique inclination relative to the longitudinal axis, and the pretensioning device may apply an axial force to the bearing support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicants: thyssenkrupp Presta AG, thyssenkrupp AG
    Inventor: Thomas RAICH
  • Patent number: 11492032
    Abstract: A steering column for a motor vehicle may comprise a guide box in which a steering spindle is mounted so as to be rotatable about a longitudinal axis and which guide box is adjustably held by a support unit that is able to be connected to the body of the motor vehicle, a pivot bearing in which the guide box in a front region is mounted so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis that lies horizontally so as to be transverse to the longitudinal axis, and an actuation lever that is mounted in a first lever bearing in a rear region of the guide box and in a second lever bearing of the support unit. To increase stiffness and resonance frequency, the pivot bearing may be mounted so as to be displaceable transversely to the pivot axis in a displacement plane parallel to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignees: thyssenkrupp Presta AG, thyssenkrupp AG
    Inventors: Thomas Raich, Zhengjie Xue
  • Patent number: 11473617
    Abstract: A plain bearing for a steering spindle of a steering column for a motor vehicle. The bearing includes an inner ring with an axially continuous bearing opening for slidably receiving the steering spindle. A prestressing element is configured to exert a prestressing force on the inner ring to clamp the inner ring on the steering spindle and thereby to assign a defined, uniform braking torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventors: Markus Domig, Thomas Raich
  • Patent number: 11285987
    Abstract: A steering column for a motor vehicle has an actuating unit that encloses a steering shaft that is rotatable about a rotation axis and which by way of the rear end region thereof that faces the rear of the vehicle is disposed so as to, by means of a first motorized drive, be vertically pivotable by way of an articulated pivot lever on a holding unit which is fastened to the vehicle chassis. The cost-effective attachment of the front end region of the steering column is improved in that the actuating unit in the front end region that faces the front of the vehicle is provided with an elastic bracket element which is fixedly connectable to the vehicle chassis and on account of an elastic deformation permits vertical pivoting as well as axial displacement of the actuating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventors: Robert Galehr, Thomas Raich
  • Publication number: 20220055679
    Abstract: A steering column for a motor vehicle may comprise a guide box in which a steering spindle is mounted so as to be rotatable about a longitudinal axis and which guide box is adjustably held by a support unit that is able to be connected to the body of the motor vehicle, a pivot bearing in which the guide box in a front region is mounted so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis that lies horizontally so as to be transverse to the longitudinal axis, and an actuation lever that is mounted in a first lever bearing in a rear region of the guide box and in a second lever bearing of the support unit. To increase stiffness and resonance frequency, the pivot bearing may be mounted so as to be displaceable transversely to the pivot axis in a displacement plane parallel to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Applicants: thyssenkrupp Presta AG, thyssenkrupp AG
    Inventors: Thomas RAICH, Zhengjie XUE
  • Patent number: 10974757
    Abstract: A steering column for a motor vehicle, having a column jacket for rotatably mounting a steering shaft, and a guide part that engages around the column jacket, in which the column jacket is mounted such that it is telescopically displaceable in the direction of the rotational axis of the steering shaft by means of a motorized longitudinal adjustment drive. The steering column achieves mounting of the column jacket, which mounting is from as low-play as possible to play-free, with low structural complexity and a small installation space, by virtue of the fact that the guide part has a slot, the slot width of which can be varied by means of a clamping screw, such that a play between a bearing surface of the guide part which mounts the column jacket and an outer lateral surface of the column jacket can be set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignees: thyssenkrupp Presta AG, thyssenkrupp AG
    Inventor: Thomas Raich
  • Publication number: 20200377140
    Abstract: A steering column for a motor vehicle has an actuating unit that encloses a steering shaft that is rotatable about a rotation axis and which by way of the rear end region thereof that faces the rear of the vehicle is disposed so as to, by means of a first motorized drive, be vertically pivotable by way of an articulated pivot lever on a holding unit which is fastened to the vehicle chassis. The cost-effective attachment of the front end region of the steering column is improved in that the actuating unit in the front end region that faces the front of the vehicle is provided with an elastic bracket element which is fixedly connectable to the vehicle chassis and on account of an elastic deformation permits vertical pivoting as well as axial displacement of the actuating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Applicants: thyssenkrupp Presta AG, thyssenkrupp AG
    Inventors: Robert GALEHR, Thomas RAICH
  • Patent number: 10773746
    Abstract: An adjustable steering column assembly includes a lower jacket, a rake bracket, a rake guide, and a fastener coupling each. The lower jacket has an attachment portion with an end, and a passage extends from that end at least partially through the attachment portion. The attachment portion end has upper and lower seating faces extending into the passage. The rake bracket has a base portion and an arm with an aperture. The rake guide has upper and lower ends and a hole. The upper and lower ends respective have configurations complementary to configurations of the upper and lower seating faces, and the rake guide is positioned in the end of the lower jacket attachment portion such that the rake guide upper end mates with the upper seating face and such that the rake guide lower end mates with the lower seating face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventors: Helmut Kirmsze, Sascha Fricke, Thomas Raich
  • Publication number: 20200101999
    Abstract: An adjustable steering column assembly includes a lower jacket, a rake bracket, a rake guide, and a fastener coupling each. The lower jacket has an attachment portion with an end, and a passage extends from that end at least partially through the attachment portion. The attachment portion end has upper and lower seating faces extending into the passage. The rake bracket has a base portion and an arm with an aperture. The rake guide has upper and lower ends and a hole. The upper and lower ends respective have configurations complementary to configurations of the upper and lower seating faces, and the rake guide is positioned in the end of the lower jacket attachment portion such that the rake guide upper end mates with the upper seating face and such that the rake guide lower end mates with the lower seating face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Helmut Kirmsze, Sascha Fricke, Thomas Raich
  • Publication number: 20190390709
    Abstract: A plain bearing for a steering spindle of a steering column for a motor vehicle. The bearing includes an inner ring with an axially continuous bearing opening for slidably receiving the steering spindle. A prestressing element is configured to exert a prestressing force on the inner ring to clamp the inner ring on the steering spindle and thereby to assign a defined, uniform braking torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Applicants: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG, thyssenkrupp AG
    Inventors: Markus DOMIG, Thomas RAICH
  • Publication number: 20190329814
    Abstract: A steering column for a motor vehicle, having a column jacket for rotatably mounting a steering shaft, and a guide part that engages around the column jacket, in which the column jacket is mounted such that it is telescopically displaceable in the direction of the rotational axis of the steering shaft by means of a motorized longitudinal adjustment drive. The steering column achieves mounting of the column jacket, which mounting is from as low-play as possible to play-free, with low structural complexity and a small installation space, by virtue of the fact that the guide part has a slot, the slot width of which can be varied by means of a clamping screw, such that a play between a bearing surface of the guide part which mounts the column jacket and an outer lateral surface of the column jacket can be set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Applicants: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG, thyssenkrupp AG
    Inventor: Thomas RAICH
  • Patent number: 9327756
    Abstract: Steering column for a motor vehicle having a column tube for rotatably mounting a steering spindle and having a carrier body which engages around the column tube, at least in certain areas, wherein the column tube is mounted in the carrier body so as to be slidable at least in a longitudinal direction of the steering spindle, wherein the steering column has at least one leaf spring which presses against a cylindrical-column-shaped section of the column tube, in a transverse direction orthogonally with respect to the longitudinal direction of the steering spindle, wherein the leaf spring has at least two support faces which are spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction (10) of the column tube, with which supports faces said leaf spring presses against the column tube directly or with the interposition of at least one bearing body, wherein both during the direct pressing and during pressing with the interposition of the bearing body, the leaf spring presses against the column tube exclusive
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Adrian Rauber, Thomas Raich
  • Patent number: 9145160
    Abstract: In a plain bearing for a steering spindle of a steering column for a motor vehicle having an inner ring for receiving and slidingly mounting the steering spindle, the inner ring is surrounded by an outer ring, and elastic intermediate pieces are arranged between the inner ring and the outer ring . A respective elastic intermediate piece holds the inner ring at the location of the intermediate piece at a spacing from the outer ring in relation to the radial direction in the unloaded state of the plain bearing and can be compressed in the case of a force which acts on the inner ring and is directed outwards in the radial direction, the inner ring bearing against the outer ring if a limiting value of the radial force is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Presta Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Markus Domig, Thomas Raich
  • Publication number: 20150191195
    Abstract: In a plain bearing for a steering spindle of a steering column for a motor vehicle having an inner ring for receiving and slidingly mounting the steering spindle, the inner ring is surrounded by an outer ring, and elastic intermediate pieces are arranged between the inner ring and the outer ring. A respective elastic intermediate piece holds the inner ring at the location of the intermediate piece at a spacing from the outer ring in relation to the radial direction in the unloaded state of the plain bearing and can be compressed in the case of a force which acts on the inner ring and is directed outwards in the radial direction, the inner ring bearing against the outer ring if a limiting value of the radial force is exceeded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Applicant: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Markus Domig, Thomas Raich
  • Publication number: 20150135882
    Abstract: Steering column for a motor vehicle having a column tube for rotatably mounting a steering spindle and having a carrier body which engages around the column tube, at least in certain areas, wherein the column tube is mounted in the carrier body so as to be slidable at least in a longitudinal direction of the steering spindle, wherein the steering column has at least one leaf spring which presses against a cylindrical-column-shaped section of the column tube, in a transverse direction orthogonally with respect to the longitudinal direction of the steering spindle, wherein the leaf spring has at least two support faces which are spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction (10) of the column tube, with which supports faces said leaf spring presses against the column tube directly or with the interposition of at least one bearing body, wherein both during the direct pressing and during pressing with the interposition of the bearing body, the leaf spring presses against the column tube exclusive
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Adrian Rauber, Thomas Raich
  • Patent number: D410335
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Inventor: Thomas Raich