Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm David & Bujold, P.L.L.C.
  • Patent number: 8109856
    Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle drive train during a coasting operation. The drive train has an internal combustion engine, an electric machine, a transmission, and a shift element, with a variable transmission capacity, located between the electric machine and a drive wheels. The electric machine is located in the flow of power between the combustion engine and the transmission. The output torque to be delivered to the wheel is a function of the delivery capacity of the shift element which is adjusted in a controlled manner. During the process of shutting down the combustion engine, the speed of the electric machine is adjusted while maintaining at least a partial engagement of the shift element and the speed of the combustion engine is reduced to zero with the electric machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Johannes Kaltenbach
  • Patent number: 8062177
    Abstract: A method of selecting a neutral position of an automatic or automated transmission and a parking gear to immobilize a motor vehicle. The neutral position and parking device can be set or activated, depending on a gear selected by the driver with a selector device and depending on other vehicle operating parameters. Only when the motor vehicle is at least substantially stationary, an ignition circuit acting on the drive motor vehicle is electrically interrupted and a “Neutral” (N) gear is selected by a selector device occur simultaneously, can an N-holding phase, in which the transmission is in a friction-free neutral position, be activated by a separate control device provided in addition to the selector device, as long as an energy management system of the motor vehicle allows activation of the N-holding phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Walter Hecht, Armin Gierling, Klaus Steinhauser, Frank Worms, Bernd Zänglein, Stéphane Klein
  • Patent number: 8020654
    Abstract: A drivetrain is proposed for a hybrid motor vehicle, which comprises an electric machine arranged between the vehicle's transmission (2) and a differential (8) of a driven axle in order to drive the axle via a Cardan shaft (7) or another shaft capable of torque transfer in which a transmission (10) made as a reducing gear system is arranged in the force flow direction behind the electric machine in order to produce the necessary speeds and torques and transfer them to the Cardan shaft or to the other shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Thorsten Muller, Markus Hoher, Linus Eschenbeck
  • Patent number: 8002100
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for actuating a diaphragm spring clutch (20) for vehicles by means of a pneumatic, hydraulic or electric actuator (24), comprising a controller connected upstream of the actuator (24), whose output control variable actuates the actuator (24). To compensate for the strong nonlinearity of the releasing force over the releasing stroke that is typical of diaphragm springs, a controller is used, whose characteristic curve is plotted in such a way that this nonlinear curve of the releasing force is at least approximately compensated via a correspondingly coordinated actuation of the actuator (24), so that it remains essentially identical over the releasing stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Peter Herter, Franz Bitzer
  • Patent number: 7892137
    Abstract: The transmission includes input and output shafts, gearsets (RS1, RS2, RS3, RS4), shafts (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8), and elements (A, B, C, D, E). A carrier of gearset (RS4) couples the input shaft forming shaft (1). A carrier of gearset (RS3) couples the output shaft forming shaft (2). Sun gears of gearsets (RS1, RS4) couple forming shaft (3). Ring gears of gearsets (RS1, RS2) respectively form shafts (4, 8). A carrier and sun gear respectively of gearsets (RS2, RS3) couple forming shaft (5). A carrier and ring gear respectively of gearsets (RS1, RS3) couple forming shaft (6). Sun and ring gears respectively of gearsets (RS2, RS4) couple forming shaft (7). In the power flow, elements (A, B) are respectively between (3, 4) and a housing, element (C) between (1, 5), element (D) between either (2, 8) or (6, 8), shifting element (E) between two of (5, 7, 8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Michael Kamm, Gabor Diosi, Josef Haupt, Gerhard Gumpoltsberger, Peter Ziemer, Martin Brehmer
  • Patent number: 7559966
    Abstract: An exhaust gas filter comprises an outer tube, a plurality of center-closing filter units each having an isolation plate; and a plurality of center-opening filter units having an annular isolation plate, two kinds of filter units being arranged alternately in the outer tube. The isolation plate and annular isolation plate are enclosed by flammable fibers. When a contaminated gas goes through the flammable fibers, it can be filtrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Anest Iwata Corporation
    Inventors: Youhei Midorikawa, Satoshi Miki, Tetsuya Abe, Takashi Arai, Masahiro Nemoto, Seiji Hiroki
  • Patent number: 7526975
    Abstract: A gearshifting unit for a vehicle transmission (6) comprising a main transmission part (10) manually shifted by the vehicle driver using a gearshift lever (16) and one range change group transmission (14) shifted by valves (44, 46). The gearshifts are manually preselectable by the vehicle driver using a gearshift lever (16), the same as a power assistance device (74) for shifting the gear steps in the main transmission part (10) and one electronic control device (20) which actuates the valves (44, 46). In a method for reducing the power assistance, a neutral position is detected in the manually shifting main transmission part (10) and once the neutral position is determined, the gearshift begins in the range change group transmission part (14) and the power assistance is engaged with a delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Dieter Fischer, Klaus Späth
  • Patent number: 7494142
    Abstract: A swing arm with impact dampener, includes a swing arm having a pivoting coupling end and a non-pivoting coupling end. An impact dampening assembly is positioned at the non-pivoting coupling end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Lehman Trikes U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventor: Karl Wolter
  • Patent number: 7144254
    Abstract: An underwater writing tablet/instrument apparatus comprising a writing tablet having a perimeter edge. A resilient protective border is secured to the perimeter edge of the writing tablet for protecting perimeter edge. A resilient elongate member has opposed first and second ends with the first end attached to the protective border while the second end has a writing instrument receiving component for retaining a desired writing instrument. The elongate member has an normal, unexpanded state and an expanded state in which the coil member is resiliently expanded to facilitate a diver writing on the writing tablet with the writing instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Inventor: Kurt E. Meyerrose
  • Patent number: 7137869
    Abstract: A manufacturing cell for the treatment of grinding of gear wheel flanks, in particular by bevel pinions, and suggested for the wheel set testing, which includes a grinding machine (1), an unreeling test equipment (2), a laser inscription unit (3) with a time band (5) and a robot-supported load system (4), which are concatenated with one another and controllable that the process of pinion loops/wheel set examining/marking and the correction of the grinding machine attitude as a function of the results of the unreeling examination is feasible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Klaus Sattelberger, Klaus Stuchlik
  • Patent number: 7101303
    Abstract: A multiple stage transmission in planetary design comprises three planetary gear sets (P1, P2, P3), at least six rotatable shafts (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6), at least six shifting elements (03, 04, 13, 16, 45, 56), the drive shaft (1) is permanently connected with the spider of the first planetary gear set (P1) and, via one clutch (16), with the shaft (6) which is connected with the sun gears of the second planetary gear sets (P2) and connectable, via the clutch (56), with the, the driven shaft (2) being connected with the spider of the third planetary gear set (P3), the shaft (3) is permanently connected with the sun gear of the third planetary gear set (P3) and the ring gear of the second planetary gear set (P), via one clutch (13) connectable with the drive shaft (1) and, via one brake (03), attachable to the housing (G) and the sun gear of the first planetary gear set (P1) being non-rotatably connected via one shaft (0) with the housing (G).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Peter Tiesler, Gerhard Gumpoltsberger
  • Patent number: 7056664
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the electrochemical detection of sequence-specific nucleic acid oligomer hybridization events. To this end single DNA/RNA/PNA oligomer strands which at one end are covalently joined to a support surface and at the other, free end, covalently linked to a redox pair, are used as hybridization matrix (probe). As a result of treatment with the oligonucleotide solution (target) to be examined, the electric communication between the conductive support surface and the redox pair bridged by the single-strand oligonucleotide, which communication initially is either absent or very weak, is modified. In case of hybridization, the electric communication between the support surface and the redox pair, which is now bridged by a hybridized double-strand oligonucleotide, is increased. This permits the detection of a hybridization event by electrochemical methods such as cyclic voltametry, amperometry or conductivity measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Fritz Biochem Gesellschaft für Bioanalytik mbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Hartwich, Adam Heller
  • Patent number: 7052362
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying a blasting media, comprised of at least first and second separate types of particles, to a surface to be treated. Each type of particle may comprise a core coated with a desired component, e.g. abrasive, absorptive, polishing, etc., and the components are selected so as to minimize the density variation of different types of media being combined with one another for the surface treatment. The different types of particles are mixed with one another prior to application to a surface to be treated. The mixing may occur in a mixing tank prior to use, in the media supply conduit prior to the nozzle, at the discharge outlet of the nozzle, or just prior to contacting the surface to be treated. By employing different types of particles, cleaning and reuse of the media is facilitated while also minimizing the amount of media consumed per unit area of wall to be treated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Inventor: William R. Lynn
  • Patent number: 7040670
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an alternative pipe coupling apparatus, to conventional tapered screw threads usually used to join ends of pipe sections to fixtures. The invention utilizes a bayonet style interlocking arrangement having a male element and a female element which join together and are opposingly biased against one another by a spring-like retaining ring to ensure an appropriate rigid and leak-proof connection between two elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Parker & Harper Companies, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth Madden
  • Patent number: 6597978
    Abstract: A method is proposed for controlling an automatic transmission driven by a prime mover in which a shift from a first transmission ratio to a second transmission ratio occurs in the form of a pull upshift or push downshift or a pull downshift or push upshift by a first clutch opening and a second clutch closing and an electronic transmission control device controls, via electromagnetic valves, the pressure curve of the first and of the second clutch during the shifting operation. The shifting operation is divided into various shifting phases, an engine intervention taking place in the load-transfer (LÜ) of the gradient-setting phase (GE), the sliding phase (GL), the gradient-reduction phase (GA) and the closing phase (S), an engine torque and/or a characteristic value that determines the engine torque being transferred from the transmission control device to an engine control device of the prime mover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ralf Dreibholz, Hans-Jörg Domian
  • Patent number: 6542803
    Abstract: In a method for controlling the multiplication for a continuously variable transmission with electrohydraulic control by means of a control loop having a linear PID controller with the specified multiplication of the variator iv_soll as command variable, the actual multiplication iv as regulating variable and the multiplication changing speed as correcting variable, the correcting variable delivered by the PID controller is limited to limiting values determined by the design for an upshift and downshift wherein said limiting values are calculated form the limits determined by construction and from the operating-point dependent limits determined by volume flow and the intersection of both admissible intervals determined by construction and by volume flow is defined as admissible multiplication changing speed range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: ZF Batavia L.L.C.
    Inventors: Ralf Vorndran, Wolfgang Danz, Friedrich Reiter, Andreas Piepenbrink, Andreas Schwenger
  • Patent number: 6532410
    Abstract: A method for application of the operating behavior of a device for actuating in particular a transmission. Actuators of this device defined by data elements and stored in a constant memory value are controlled by an electronic control unit. It is proposed to optimize the operating behavior of the transmission resulting here as consequence of predefined initial data elements of the correcting parameters by associating, as needed, new data elements with individual correcting parameters. The basic structure of the initial data elements is here copied, then the new data elements are as needed written in the copy of the basic structure of the initial data elements and at the same time corresponding address reference is entered in the data section of the initial data elements which points to the new data elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Peter Sigg, Sven Diebold, Hugo Schmid
  • Patent number: 6527084
    Abstract: A ladder stabilizer includes a substantially planar rigid frame having two legs depending in spaced apart relation with a fixed angular relationship to the frame. The frame has a first end and a second end, with remote ends of the two legs defining the second end. A pivot bar is provided which is secured to a selected rung of a ladder. Pivot bar retention brackets are secured to the frame in spaced relation adjacent to the first end. The ladder stabilizer described can be attached to a ladder without drilling bolt apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Inventor: Viorel Hrincu
  • Patent number: 6250180
    Abstract: A traveling mechanism having a driving motor (24) which drives a feed pump (25) and a hydrostatic variable displacement pump (2), a zero fluctuating hydrostatic variable displacement motor (1) which forms with the hydrostatic variable displacement pump (2) a hydrostatic circuit and a hydrostatically driven 2-speed gear mechanism (11) which is engaged when the torque to be transmitted is minimal and the hydrostatic variable displacement motor (1) is at zero displacement capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Jürgen Legner, Egon Mann, Siegfried Stützle
  • Patent number: RE37832
    Abstract: The chain of an electromotive chain saw is quickly stopped by the combined use of an electric brake and a mechanical brake when a trigger member is turned off. The rear end of a brake band disposed to tighten a brake drum by operating a hand guard is secured to a bent rod. When the trigger member is released, the brake band is normally tightened around the outer periphery of a brake drum by the urging force of a coil spring. When the trigger member is released, a circuit provided with a brake winding is closed, thereby applying a dynamic braking force. When the dynamic brake force is applied, a centrifugal clutch is released quickly and the speed of stopping the brake drum is accelerated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Makita Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuya Nakamura, Makoto Mizutani, Masaki Kondo