Patents by Inventor Thomas RUPFLIN

Thomas RUPFLIN 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: 11279190
    Abstract: An axle strut for a vehicle having a shaft and two bearing regions. The axle strut has a supporting profile and two load-introducing elements. The supporting profile is formed from fiber reinforced plastics composite material. A first load-introducing element and a second load-introducing element are arranged at respective bearing region, and the supporting profile is arranged spatially between the two bearing regions. The supporting profile has a first connection area facing the first bearing region and a second connection area facing the second bearing region. Every load-introducing element has a receptacle. The supporting profile is connected by its first connection area and by the receptacle of the first load-introducing element to the first load-introducing element by an adhesive connection, and the supporting profile is connected by its second connection area and by the receptacle of the second load-introducing element to the second load-introducing element by a further adhesive connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Thomas Rupflin, Thomas Schwarz, Andre Stieglitz, Philipp Bauer, Ingolf Müller, Manfred Bürgmann
  • Publication number: 20200139776
    Abstract: An axle strut for a vehicle having a shaft and two bearing regions. The axle strut has a supporting profile and two load-introducing elements. The supporting profile is formed from fiber reinforced plastics composite material. A first load-introducing element and a second load-introducing element are arranged at respective bearing region, and the supporting profile is arranged spatially between the two bearing regions. The supporting profile has a first connection area facing the first bearing region and a second connection area facing the second bearing region. Every load-introducing element has a receptacle. The supporting profile is connected by its first connection area and by the receptacle of the first load-introducing element to the first load-introducing element by an adhesive connection, and the supporting profile is connected by its second connection area and by the receptacle of the second load-introducing element to the second load-introducing element by a further adhesive connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas Rupflin, Thomas Schwarz, Andre Stieglitz, Philipp Bauer, Ingolf Müller, Manfred Bürgmann
  • Publication number: 20190329619
    Abstract: A bearing device (7) for a leaf spring assembly (1) of a wheel suspension, having a leaf spring (2) and a connection device, which serves for the installation of the leaf spring (2) at the vehicle body. The connection device has a bolt. The leaf spring (2) is fabricated from a fiber composite material and has a recess that passes through the leaf spring, in a transverse direction, and through which the bolt (10) extends in order to provide the bearing device (7) with a compact construction and a low manufacturing cost and effort.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas RUPFLIN, Peter HOFMANN
  • Publication number: 20190309815
    Abstract: A leaf spring device (1, 101) for a vehicle with a spring leaf (2, 102) made from a fiber-enforced plastic. In order to realize the stiffness and/or a progressive suspension of the leaf spring device (1, 101) during increasing spring stress, the spring leaf is has an inner space (5, 6, 105, 106), which is at least partially or completely filled with an elastic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Marcel PLEYER, Thomas RUPFLIN, Sami Uddin SIDDIQUI, Clemens HACKER
  • Publication number: 20190309814
    Abstract: A leaf spring device (1) for a vehicle having a first spring leaf (2) made of a fiber reinforced plastic and at least one further spring leaf (3). The first spring leaf (2) and the further spring leaf (3) interact with one another to implement a progressive suspension. The first spring leaf (2) has a receiving space (4) and the further spring leaf (3) is arranged in the receiving space (4) so as to implement the progressive suspension and/or to increase stability when using such a leaf-spring device (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Marcel PLEYER, Thomas RUPFLIN, Sami Uddin SIDDIQUI, Natalie WIEBER, Melanie BRAUN, Remt BLANKENSPECK
  • Patent number: 10343475
    Abstract: A bearing mechanism for a transverse leaf spring can be fitted in the area of a vehicle axle and has a holding device for holding the transverse leaf spring and a connecting device via for connecting the holding device to the vehicle. The holding and connecting devices and the transverse spring are designed such that when the transverse spring is in its installed position a cross-sectional plane of the transverse spring, that extends in the vertical and longitudinal directions of the vehicle, can pivot in the area of the mounting fixture during jouncing and rebound of the transverse spring, about a rotational axis that extends in the longitudinal direction. The holding and connecting devices, in the area of the mounting fixture, are designed such that the rotational axis of the cross-sectional plane of the transverse spring is vertically spaced from the neutral fiber of the transverse spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Matthias Moeller, Volker Wagner, Thomas Rupflin
  • Patent number: 9724975
    Abstract: A holding element for a spring, having a spring fastening area (10) for fastening the leaf spring (2) to the holding element (5) and a wheel carrier fastening area (9) for fastening a wheel carrier (4) to the leaf spring (2). The holding element (5) has a deformation zone (23) through which webs and openings extend for transmission of forces from the spring fastening area (10) to the wheel carrier fastening area (9), such that the webs (S2.1, S2:2, S3.1, S3.2) and the openings (A1, A2, A3) are formed mirror-symmetrically relative to the longitudinal axis (L) of the holding element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Stefan Krahn, Thomas Rupflin
  • Publication number: 20160207370
    Abstract: A bearing mechanism for a transverse leaf spring can be fitted in the area of a vehicle axle and has a holding device for holding the transverse leaf spring and a connecting device via for connecting the holding device to the vehicle. The holding and connecting devices and the transverse spring are designed such that when the transverse spring is in its installed position a cross-sectional plane of the transverse spring, that extends in the vertical and longitudinal directions of the vehicle, can pivot in the area of the mounting fixture during jouncing and rebound of the transverse spring, about a rotational axis that extends in the longitudinal direction. The holding and connecting devices, in the area of the mounting fixture, are designed such that the rotational axis of the cross-sectional plane of the transverse spring is vertically spaced from the neutral fiber of the transverse spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Matthias MOELLER, Volker WAGNER, Thomas RUPFLIN
  • Publication number: 20160207369
    Abstract: A holding element for a spring, having a spring fastening area (10) for fastening the leaf spring (2) to the holding element (5) and a wheel carrier fastening area (9) for fastening a wheel carrier (4) to the leaf spring (2). The holding element (5) has a deformation zone (23) through which webs and openings extend for transmission of forces from the spring fastening area (10) to the wheel carrier fastening area (9), such that the webs (S2.1, S2:2, S3.1, S3.2) and the openings (A1, A2, A3) are formed mirror-symmetrically relative to the longitudinal axis (L) of the holding element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Stefan KRAHN, Thomas RUPFLIN