Patents by Inventor Wolfgang Gröner

Wolfgang Gröner 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: 11473633
    Abstract: A method for controlling an automated starter clutch (4) in a drive train of a motor vehicle (1), which drive train has a transmission (3). In at least one first mode, the starter clutch (4) is operated automatically and is transitioned in an event-controlled manner into a second mode, in which the starter clutch (4) can be operated in such a way that upon actuation of the starter clutch (4), at least one jolt-like movement of the motor vehicle (1) is caused. In the second mode, the actuation of the starter clutch (4) is initiated and controlled depending upon operation of an accelerator pedal (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Lutz Müller, Wolfgang Gröner
  • Publication number: 20220003282
    Abstract: A method for controlling an automated starter clutch (4) in a drive train of a motor vehicle (1), which drive train has a transmission (3). In at least one first mode, the starter clutch (4) is operated automatically and is transitioned in an event-controlled manner into a second mode, in which the starter clutch (4) can be operated in such a way that upon actuation of the starter clutch (4), at least one jolt-like movement of the motor vehicle (1) is caused. In the second mode, the actuation of the starter clutch (4) is initiated and controlled depending upon operation of an accelerator pedal (13).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Lutz MÜLLER, Wolfgang GRÖNER
  • Patent number: 8500602
    Abstract: A method of operating a transmission positioned between a drive aggregate and an axle drive, a transmission input shaft is connected, via a clutch, with the drive aggregate, and a transmission output shaft is connected with the axle drive and power can be diverted from the transmission to drive a power take-off. The PTO is activated by an engine intervention, shifting the transmission to neutral and disengaging the clutch. Thereafter, the clutch is partially engaged at either a position dependent or distance dependent clutch speed while monitoring the input rotational speed and drive aggregate rotational speed. When the input rotational speed approximately equals the drive aggregate rotational speed and the idle rotation speed of the drive aggregate, the clutch is no longer being engaged at the position dependent or distance dependent clutch speed, but is fully engaged at a maximum clutch speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Joachim Staudinger, Peter Herter, Wolfgang Groener
  • Patent number: 8078369
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for controlling a standstill circuit of an automatic transmission of the vehicle, comprising a decision unit for selection of the target gear, a low-speed monitoring unit and a standstill circuit, which, when the vehicle is standing still or when its speed falls below a predetermined limit speed, brings about or prepares the activation of a starting gear. The method and the device are intended to enable a vehicle to start up safely even under the influence of considerable tractive resistance. Furthermore, they should be characterized by solutions which are as simple, inexpensive and easy to implement as possible by way of available methods and devices. To this end, the low-speed monitoring unit reads data concerning at least one state of the vehicle and, if necessary, additional data, and, on the basis thereof, as a function of decision rules, renders the standstill circuit ineffective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Reith, Wolfgang Groener
  • Publication number: 20110287890
    Abstract: A method of operating a transmission positioned between a drive aggregate and an axle drive, a transmission input shaft is connected, via a clutch, with the drive aggregate, and a transmission output shaft is connected with the axle drive and power can be diverted from the transmission to drive a power take-off. The PTO is activated by an engine intervention, shifting the transmission to neutral and disengaging the clutch. Thereafter, the clutch is partially engaged at either a position dependent or distance dependent clutch speed while monitoring the input rotational speed and drive aggregate rotational speed. When the input rotational speed approximately equals the drive aggregate rotational speed and the idle rotation speed of the drive aggregate, the clutch is no longer being engaged at the position dependent or distance dependent clutch speed, but is fully engaged at a maximum clutch speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Joachim Staudinger, Peter Herter, Wolfgang Groener
  • Patent number: 7699750
    Abstract: A method for controlling a partially unsynchronized manual transmission, which realizes the increase of a rotational speed of a transmission part to be synchronized during a gear change procedure by connecting one element of the transmission, via a shiftable clutch, to a drive motor and by making available to this drive motor the required rotational speed as well as the necessary torque at its output shaft. It is also provided that when the rotational speed and/or the torque made available by the drive motor is not sufficient to ensure the synchronization of the manual transmission within a fixed time period, a shifting strategy is pursued, which prevents an unintentional holding of the manual transmission in its neutral position or idle position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Reinhard Mertinkat, Rainer Petzold, Andreas Wolf, Gerd Sauermann, Klaus Hensinger, Wolfgang Gröner, Ulrich Reith
  • Publication number: 20080221762
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for controlling a standstill circuit of an automatic transmission of the vehicle, comprising a decision unit for selection of the target gear, a low-speed monitoring unit and a standstill circuit, which, when the vehicle is standing still or when its speed falls below a predetermined limit speed, brings about or prepares the activation of a starting gear. The method and the device are intended to enable a vehicle to start up safely even under the influence of considerable tractive resistance. Furthermore, they should be characterized by solutions which are as simple, inexpensive and easy to implement as possible by way of available methods and devices. To this end, the low-speed monitoring unit reads data concerning at least one state of the vehicle and, if necessary, additional data, and, on the basis thereof, as a function of decision rules, renders the standstill circuit ineffective.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Reith, Wolfgang Groener
  • Patent number: 7395730
    Abstract: A control procedure for an automatic transmission, wherein, via a gear range shifter, a change of the gear range both between the forward travel gear range and the reverse travel gear range and between a fast gear mode and a creeper gear mode can be put into action. A control apparatus selects a transmission gear to be engaged, dependent on data, input by an operator with the aid of a gear range shifter for the manual choice of a driving gear area, whereby the gear range shifter possesses at least a D-shifting position for the selection of a forward travel gear range, an N-position for the selection of an idle running position of the automatic transmission and an R-position for the selection of a reverse travel gear range, and that the automatic transmission can be driven in a fast gear mode as well as in a creeper gear mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Rupert Kramer, Wolfgang Gröner, Stefan Veittinger