Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Davis and Bujold
  • Patent number: 8088033
    Abstract: A transmission having gearsets (P1-P4), shafts (1-8) and shifting elements (03, 04, 05, 48, 67, 78). Shaft (1) couples an input and carrier of gearset (P1), shaft (2) couples the output and carriers of gearsets (P3, P4), shaft (3) couples the ring gear of gearset (P2) and the sun gear of gearset (P1), shaft (4) couples the ring gear of gearset (P3) and the sun gear of gearset (P4), shaft (5) couples the ring gear of gearset (P4), shaft (6) couples the sun gear of gearset (P2) and the ring gear of gearset (P1), shaft (7) is connected to the sun gear of gearset (P3), and shaft (8) is connected to the carrier of gearset (P2). Shafts (3, 4 and 5) can each engage housing (G) by way of respective brakes (03, 04, 05), clutches (48; 67; 78) can couple, respectively, shafts (4, 8; 6, 7; 7, 8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ralf Boss, Gerhard Gumpoltsberger, Hans-Peter Freudenreich
  • Patent number: 8088040
    Abstract: A process for actuating a transmission mechanism having hydraulic shifting elements for changing gear ratios by using electric actuators to adjust the actuating pressures of the shifting elements. Upon a request from an engine start/stop function for shutdown of an engine, the flow of electrical current to the actuators is changed from an operating level to a standby level depending upon the operating pressure of the shifting elements. Upon the request for startup of the engine, the flow or electrical current is changed from the standby level to the operating level. A system pressure in the hydraulic system is zero when the engine is shutdown, and the power consumption in the transmission mechanism is lower at the standby level than the operating level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Peter Schiele, Klaus Steinhauser
  • Patent number: 8088339
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drainage assembly of the type having an upward opening for the draining opening of a new or existing chemical reactor, particularly of the enameled type, characterized in that the outer outlet opening (6) for the drainage is provided in the lower portion thereof with a removable seat part in the form of a planar annual seal (11) having an upper portion with at least one recess (21) used as a seat for the under-face of the head (10) of the valve and as a full flow ramp. The invention is particularly intended for the manufacturers and users of chemical reactors, in particular of the enameled type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: De Dietrich
    Inventors: Roger Glad, Rémy Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8088032
    Abstract: The multi-step transmission including four gear sets, eight shafts, and six shifting elements. The sun gear of gearset (P1) communicates, via shaft (8) and clutch (48), with shaft (4), which communicates, via clutch (14), with shaft (1), that couples the sun gear of the gearset (P4), and communicates, via brake (04), with a housing. The ring gear of gearset (P1) couples shaft (1), and communicates, via clutch (17), with shaft (7), which couples the carriers of the gearsets (P3, P2). The carrier of gearset (P1) is connected, via shaft (6), to a component, which connects the ring gear of gearset (P4) to the sun gear of gearset (P3). The carrier of gearset (P4) communicates, via shaft(3) and brake (03), with the housing. The sun gear of gearset (P2) communicates, via shaft (5) and brake (05), with the housing. The output shaft couples the ring gears of gearsets (P3, P2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Gumpoltsberger, Martin Brehmer, Peter Ziemer, Peter Tiesler, Gabor Diosi, Josef Haupt
  • Patent number: 8088041
    Abstract: A pressure (p_3) setting system (200) with a pressure control valve (1), comprising a valve gate (10) arranged to be displace in a valve bore (12). The valve bore has at least one pressure chamber (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26), in which the valve gate may be axially exposed to a pressure. A first pressure chamber (21) is connected to at least one acceleration-dependent compensation member (203) for full or partial compensation of any pressure (p_3) setting disturbances caused by mass forces (F_a1, F_a2) resulting from the acceleration (a) of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Thilo Schmidt, Christian Popp
  • Patent number: 8083639
    Abstract: A method for wear-free braking of a vehicle having an electrodynamic drive system including an electric machine and a planetary gearset with a crankshaft of the combustion engine being connected with a first element of the gearset, the electric machine connected to a second element of the gearset and a transmission input shaft connected to a carrier of the gearset. The friction clutch serves as a bridging clutch to detachably connect two elements of the gearset such that when the clutch is engaged, the gearset is locked and the combustion engine operating in thrust mode applies braking torque to the drive train, the clutch is disengaged and a transmission input speed exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the speed of the combustion engine is raised to a maximum speed by appropriate control of the electric machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Stefan Wallner, Notker Amann
  • Patent number: 8082815
    Abstract: An arrangement of a hydraulically actuated shift actuator including a shift cylinder (3), arranged outside the hydraulic control unit of a transmission. The shift cylinder (3) of the shift actuator is fixed on a flat or circular machined area (2) on the inside of a housing (1). The side of the housing (1) facing away from the shift cylinder (3) has a flat surface (4) on which the hydraulic control unit (5) is fixed in a hydraulically leak-proof manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Michael Drabek
  • Patent number: 8086381
    Abstract: A method for emergency actuation of an automated dual-clutch transmission of a vehicle with electrohydraulic control via a transmission control device. The method includes disengaging one clutch of the dual-clutch transmission, in order to realize emergency operation of the transmission and applying pressure on the other clutch after an error signal is transmitted indicating a malfunction of the transmission and/or the transmission control device. In order to keep the complexity of the hardware of the hydraulic system low, both clutches are disengaged, when an error signal occurs, and adjusted to a safe initial state, and an actuating pressure is only re-applied to one of the two clutches after the initial state is reached. In addition to the already existing elements of the hydraulic system, only one device or software is required which detects and selects the clutch that is more advantageous for continued driving operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Anton Fritzer, Markus Herrmann, Thilo Schmidt, Christian Popp, Georg Gierer
  • Patent number: 8083044
    Abstract: A clutch actuator (6), as well as a method for operating a clutch (3), between the drive motor and the transmission (1) of a motor vehicle. The clutch actuator includes a cylinder with a piston (14) and an actuator (15), such that a clutch release bearing (4), arranged co-axially to the central axis of the clutch, may be operated to apply an axial pre-tensioning force on the clutch release bearing and conduct an operating medium into the clutch actuator for axially displacing the piston and/or the clutch release bearing. To simplify a clutch actuator of this type and enhance its utilization, the clutch actuator is configured and used for generating the pre-tensioning force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Rainer Petzold, Franz Bitzer
  • Patent number: 8083641
    Abstract: A method for operating an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle, in particular a variable-speed transmission. The automatic transmission includes at least five shift elements and to transfer torque or force transfer in a forward gear and a reverse gear at least three shift of the at least five elements are engaged. When shifting the automatic transmission from a neutral position to a forward or a reverse gear, at least one of the three shift elements of the automatic transmission that are engaged in the respective forward or reverse gear, is engaged in a controlled manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Christian Popp, Klaus Steinhauser, Peter Schiele, Bernd Allgaier, Thilo Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8081574
    Abstract: A monitor device includes a packet communication device, a report data transmitting device, a communication status determination device, and a transmission error history storage device. The report data transmitting device transmits report data for reporting an error of a broadcast radio wave retransmission system to an external monitoring center through the packet communication device. The communication status determination device determines whether or not transmission of the report data is successfully performed by the report data transmitting device. The transmission error history storage device stores an error in the report data transmission, when the communication status determination device determines that an error occurs in transmission of the report data, as a transmission error history in a storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Masprodenkoh Kabushikikaisha
    Inventor: Michinari Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8078370
    Abstract: A hydraulic or pneumatic control device for an automated shift transmission including actuating devices with actuating cylinders (15, 16) having pressure spaces (19a, 19b; 20a, 20b). The pressure spaces (19a, 19b; 20a, 20b) of the actuating cylinders (15, 16) can be connected by a respective control valve (22a, 22b; 32a, 32b) to a pressure line (26), which can be selectively connected to or cut off from a main pressure line (8) by a main shut-off valve (45a). At least one additional main shut-off valve (45b) is arranged in parallel with the first main shut-off valve (45a) between the main pressure line (8) and the pressure line (26) to improve the control characteristics and increase the operational reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Rainer Petzold, Mario Steinborn, Markus Deeg, Friedbert Roether
  • Patent number: 8074529
    Abstract: An arrangement for reducing rattling in a transmission of counter shaft design having first countershafts (3, 4) and a load-equalizing main shaft (7) in which each transmission ratio step comprises a loose wheel (6), arranged on the main shaft (7), and a respective fixed wheel (5) arranged on each of the first and second countershafts (3, 4) which are in active engagement with one another. Activation of the transmission ratios occurs by actuating a shift element (8) such that the respective loose wheel can be connected, in a rotationally fixed manner, to the main shaft (7). In this arrangement the oil pump (13) of the transmission is mounted on the main shaft (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Rayk Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 8075436
    Abstract: A hybrid gear train of a motor vehicle that has an internal combustion engine with a drive shaft, an electric motor with a rotor that operate as a motor and a generator, a transmission with two input shafts and an output shaft, as well as a differential transmission. At least one of the input shafts can be connected, via an assigned de-coupler, to the drive shaft, both of the input shafts can be connected by alternately assigned gearwheel sets of different ratios and in each case one assigned gear clutch to the output shaft. The differential transmission is designed as a simple planetary gearset that is coaxial with the first input shaft. The ring gear of this transmission is rotationally fixed to the one input shaft. The planet carrier is rotationally fixed to the second input shaft, and the sun gear is connected to and drives the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen, AG
    Inventor: Max Bachmann
  • Patent number: 8074652
    Abstract: A method of forming a cannula from a cannula mandrel assembly comprising a pair of mouthpiece/nasal mandrels and a mating facepiece mandrel. The facepiece mandrel has a pair of conical holes, in an intermediate section thereof, for receiving a leading end of one mouthpiece/nasal mandrel. The conical holes allow the facepiece mandrel to slide along the mouthpiece/nasal mandrels until the conical holes abut with respective mating tapering conical sections and prevent further sliding movement along the mouthpiece/nasal mandrels. Following assembly, the assembly is heated, at least one coating of a polymeric material is applied thereto and heat from the assembly at least partially cures the polymeric material on the assembly. Following curing, the facepiece mandrel and formed cannula are slide along the mouthpiece/nasal mandrels until the facepiece mandrel and formed cannula are removed therefrom. Lastly, the facepiece mandrel is removed from the formed cannula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Salter Labs
    Inventors: James N. Curti, Peter W. Salter
  • Patent number: 8074532
    Abstract: A drive arrangement for a motor vehicle, in particular for a low-floor bus (31) with a rear axle (33) and having a drive motor (34) positioned transverse to the direction of travel (X) and integrally built-in to a rear section (32) of the low-floor bus. The motor, via the gear train, is connection with a first, motor-sided bevel gear stage (36) and a second, axle-sided bevel gear stage (38) leading to a driving connection with the rear axle. The motor-sided bevel gear stage possesses an input driving bevel gear (36a) aligned co-axially to a transversely positioned motor shaft (34a), which is in meshed gear engagement (36a/b) with an output driving bevel gear (36b). The meshed gear engagement is placed behind the motor shaft when seen in the direction of travel (X).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Otwin Zirkl
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8074533
    Abstract: A servo-assistance device (10) for a shift mechanism of a motor vehicle transmission, with which a characteristic curve can be produced which, as a function of a manual shifting force or a shift phase, has ranges of different gradients or proportionality to the manual shifting force. The servo-assistance device (10) includes an element (20) which is acted upon by the manual shifting force to be assisted. To produce the characteristic curve, the servo-assistance device (10) has components (42, 44, 50, 52) that are actuated by a servo-pressure (60) in such manner that the element (20) maintains its current position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Dieter Fischer, Klaus Spath
  • Patent number: 8070636
    Abstract: An electrohydraulic control device (1) of an 8-speed transmission having several electrically controllable pressure control valves (6-12) for hydraulically actuating five switching elements (A-E) and an electric gear control unit via which different operating states of the transmission may be adjusted. Three of the switching elements are connected in the force flow of the transmission for representing a gear ratio (“1” to “R”) of the transmission. When the gear control unit is de-activated and the power supply to the solenoid valve and pressure control valves is interrupted, and when the transmission is in the operating state, in which a gear ratio (“1”; “2”; “3”; “4”; “5”; “6”; “7”; “8”; “R”) is engaged, a predefined emergency transmission (“6”; “R”) is represented by three simultaneously hydraulically connected switching elements (C, D, E, A, B, D).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Georg Gierer, Thilo Schmidt
  • Patent number: D650655
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Beaver Plastics Ltd.
    Inventor: David Wester