Patents Represented by Attorney Davis & Bujold, P.L.L.C.
  • Patent number: 8167105
    Abstract: A pressure medium-actuated control device of an automated step-by-step variable speed transmission. The device having a control valve for controlling an actively engaged disconnectable type clutch which is disposed along a power flow path between a motor and a transmission input shaft, and a self-retaining valve located in the pressure supply of the clutch control valve for a rotational speed-dependent emergency actuation of the disconnectable type clutch. An electrical switch-off actuator is connected to the self-retaining valve such that the valve piston, of the self-retaining valve, can be moved into an idle position to lock the pressure supply of the clutch control valve in a powered state of the switch-off actuator, and into an operating position determined by the applied control pressures in the power-off state of the switch-off actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Markus Herrmann, Thomas John
  • Patent number: 8167218
    Abstract: A support including a rail (10) that preferably has an I-shaped section and is provided in a slot (2) filled with concrete (4). During the manufacture of the rail, the rail is partially coated, substantially along its entire length, with a filler material (8) which defines at least one side extension (16) and bears on the concrete. A side groove (9) is formed in the coating of filler material (8) for the passage of a guiding or rolling wheel. The rail is directly maintained by the concrete such that an intermediate device, for additional maintenance of the rail, is not required. The rail can be bent and curved at the time of installation to conform to the curves of the track without any independent or additional bending step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Lohr Industrie
    Inventor: Jean-Luc Andre
  • Patent number: 8166847
    Abstract: A multi-group transmission (1) is proposed, comprising a gearbox actuator, in which an exhaust channel (3) is provided in the gearbox housing (2), said channel extending from a gearbox compartment (4) provided on the gearbox housing (2) for the installation of the gearbox actuator, to the output sensor (5), whereby the gearbox compartment (4) also serves as a collecting chamber for exhaust air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: SF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Josef Bader, Stefan Renner
  • Patent number: 8166842
    Abstract: A dual-clutch transmission comprising clutches with input sides coupled to an input shaft and output sides respectively coupled to two transmission input shafts. Toothed idler gearwheels are mounted to rotate on countershafts while toothed fixed gearwheels are connected to the first and the second transmission input shafts and engage with the idler gearwheels. Coupling devices are provided for connecting the idler gearwheels to the countershaft, and drive output gearwheels are fixed to the countershafts and couple an output shaft, while a shifting element couples the input shafts such that eight forward gears and at least one reverse gear can be engaged. Four wheel planes are arranged in the transmission such that at least one winding gear can be engaged by the shifting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Rieger
  • Patent number: 8162796
    Abstract: A method for operating an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle, in particular a variable-speed automatic transmission. The automatic transmission has five shift elements and for transferring torque or force in a forward gear and in a reverse gear at least three of the five shift elements are engaged. In a neutral position of the automatic transmission, to prevent torque or force flow at least one of the shift elements that are engaged in the respective forward or reverse gear is fully disengaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Christian Popp, Klaus Steinhauser, Peter Schiele, Bernd Allgaier, Thilo Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8162799
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a hydraulic or pneumatic transmission control system, which comprises a pressure supply unit with a conduit directing a pressure medium under a supply pressure, and an actuating member for a clutch control element of a friction clutch. The actuating member has a pressure space which can be connected by a clutch control valve to the conduit, and in which the supply pressure is determined by a pressure sensor that can be connected to the conduit. The method includes the steps of determining the supply pressure by the pressure sensor, given that briefly opening the clutch control valve produces a pressure increase and/or a pressure gradient of the control pressure in the pressure space, and the currently existing supply pressure can be calculated from the control pressure, the pressure increase and/or the pressure gradient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Rupert Kramer, Marcus Gansohr, Johannes Kemler, Franz Bitzer, Rainer Petzold, Peter Herter
  • Patent number: 8161836
    Abstract: A multi-step transmission having at least a reverse drive gear, several forward drive gears, a main shaft (1) and two counter shafts. The power flow in forward drive can be split up and be distributed to both counter shafts and further transferred to the main shaft (1). The forward drive gears each include two counter shaft gears and one idle gear which is supported on the main shaft (1). In contrast, only one of the two counter shafts (2) is assigned and associated with a reverse gear (3) such that the flow of power, in a reverse drive gear (3), is transferred through a single counter shaft (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Jürgen Rauter, Martin Lamke
  • Patent number: 8161837
    Abstract: An emergency release device for manual actuation of the parking lock of a shift-by-wire transmission. The emergency release device comprises a mechanical transfer device located between an emergency release actuator and the transmission and engages a pivoting lever mechanism arranged on a transmission shifting shaft. A characterizing feature of the emergency release device is that the pivoting lever mechanism comprises a primary pivoting lever connected to the transfer device, a secondary pivoting lever connected to the transmission and a unidirectional coupling element located between the primary and the secondary pivoting levers. The advantage of this device relates to reduced susceptibility to corrosion, wear and noise emission and easier correct adjustment of the transfer device during assembly, while a separate prestressing mechanism for the cable of the emergency parking lock release can be omitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Ludger Rake
  • Patent number: 8162793
    Abstract: A planetary gearset (2) consisting of a planetary gear carrier (4) that holds planetary gears (5) with a first and a second carrier plate (4b, 7), each having respective bores (4d, 7a) to receive planetary gear bolts (6) that can be fixed axially. It is proposed that the planetary gear carrier is connected in a rotationally fixed manner by the second carrier plate to a torque-transmitting component (8) of an adjacent shift element (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Gabor Diosi, Josef Haupt, Martin Brehmer
  • Patent number: 8165762
    Abstract: A method of operating a valve system of a transmission comprising part of the vehicle drive train through a valve unit and said valve unit's electro-magnetic activator configuration. In a transmission's hydraulic system and is part of the vehicle drive train, its hydraulic pressure value (p_EDS) can be employed and adjusted through a valve unit configuration by applying a pulse-width-modulated current signal (i_EDS) to the electro-magnetic activator system. The pulse-width modulated current signal (i_EDS) and its amplitude (A) and/or its pulse duration (pw1) will periodically change, during the applied Dither-Modulation, by maintaining the required pressure value (p_EDS) at the same time, whereby a lengthwise movable anchor, which is attached a valve shaft of the valve system, receives hereby an imposed vibrating oscillation. According to the invention, the Dither-Modulation is activated or deactivated during pre-defined operating conditions of the vehicle drive train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Christian Popp, Thilo Schmidt, Klaus Steinhauser, Christoph Braun
  • Patent number: 8165323
    Abstract: A capacitive transducer includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface. The first surface of the substrate defines a first plane. The substrate has a cavity with an interior peripheral edge. The cavity extends between the first surface and the second surface. A body is provided that has an exterior peripheral edge. The body is parallel to the first plane and at least partially blocking the cavity. The body is connected to the substrate by resilient hinges such that, upon the application of a force, the body moves perpendicular to the first plane. A first set of comb fingers is mounted to the substrate. The first set of comb fingers is connected to a first electrical connection. A second set of comb fingers is mounted to the body and extends past the exterior peripheral edge of the body. The second set of comb fingers is connected to a second electrical connection that is isolated from the first connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Inventor: Tiansheng Zhou
  • Patent number: 8165766
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicles drivetrain including an engine and automatic transmission, such that transmission ratios are shifted within a range of transmission ratios in a continuous and/or stepped manner as function of preset target speeds that are adjustable via a vehicle speed control and actual vehicle inclinations in relation to the vehicles longitudinal axis. When the actual speed of the vehicle differs from a preset threshold speed, a request to change an actual ratio of the transmission is generated, if it has been determined that the output torque is smaller than a threshold value or an output torque required to adjust the preset threshold speed of the vehicle. The ratio of the transmission is shifted so the torque applied to the output is modified toward the output torque required to adjust the threshold speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Norbert Müller, Franz-Josef Schuler, Clemens Kuhn
  • Patent number: 8165763
    Abstract: A method for controlling gear shifts in an automated stepped gear transmission of a motor vehicle in which operating parameters of the motor vehicle are continuously determined and evaluated for initiating and carrying out a shift from a currently engaged gear to a target gear such that, before a shift, the shift speed for initiating the shift and the target gear are determined. For better adaptation of the shift, in particular the determination of the shift speed and the target gear, to the current driving and operating conditions of the motor vehicle, the shift types “shift-speed-orientated shift” and “target-speed-orientated shift” are provided and, immediately before a shift operation, it is decided, as a function of at least one of the operating parameters in which, of the two shift types, the shift is to be carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Werner Wolfgang, Maik Wurthner, Ingo Sauter
  • Patent number: 8165764
    Abstract: A method of controlling an automatic transmission arranged in a vehicle between a drive motor and an axle drive of a drive axle or a transfer box such that the current road inclination is determined and, after driving onto a downhill stretch of road, to increase a braking action of the drive motor and/or a permanent brake, a shift to a lower gear is carried out and after a transition to a traction operation or after driving onto level ground, a shift to a higher gear is carried out. To improve transmission shifting behavior, when transitioning between a downhill stretch and level ground, it is provided that a function for detecting a downhill run-out is started and if a downhill run-out is detected, and a shift to a higher gear is carried out while still in a thrust operation before driving onto the level ground and/or before the transition to traction operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Werner Wolfgang, Maik Wuerthner
  • Patent number: 8161835
    Abstract: An automated multi-group standard transmission, for a utility vehicle, and a process for changing gears in the multi-group transmission. The multi-group transmission includes at least two multi-speed transmission groups arranged one after the other, such that a multitude of gears can be shifted. A transmission input shaft that can be connected to an engine, via a startup element, is associated with a first transmission group and a second transmission main shaft is associated with a second transmission group. Load shifting mechanisms produce a temporary direct connection between the transmission input shaft and the transmission main shaft such that an intermediate gear can be shifted during a gear change from an original gear into a target gear. The load shifting mechanism enables gear changes that are virtually free of interruptions in load transfer during a gear change from a lower to a higher gear, thus increasing a high operational comfort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Kai Bornträger
  • Patent number: 8158552
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying catalyst exhibiting high purification performance in the Hot range is provided. The exhaust gas purifying catalyst has a catalyst substrate and a catalyst coating layer formed on the catalyst substrate. The catalyst coating layer has a layered structure including an inside layer a containing the component (a-1) and the component (a-2) described below, and an outside layer b containing the component (b-1) and the component (b-2) described below. Component (a-1) and component (b-1): noble metals. Component (a-2): a compound oxide of (i) Ce, (ii) Zr and (iii) an element selected from the group consisting of rare earth elements, alkaline earth elements and Y, having a ratio of (ii) to (i) within the range of more than 40/100 but not more than 100/2 in terms of the weight ratio between CeO2 and ZrO2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Cataler Corporation
    Inventors: Asuka Hori, Akimasa Hirai, Keiichi Narita
  • Patent number: 8156796
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement (1) for a clutch device (22) comprising a housing (2) and a sensor part (5, 5?) with at least one sensor (17) for detecting the position of a movable part (3) of the clutch device (22). The housing (2) has a recess (6) for the sensor part (5, 5?) and the sensor part (5, 5?) is fastened to a stationary part (2, 20). The sensor part (5, 5?) may be positioned on the clutch device (22) from the outside through the recess (6) of the housing and detachably fastened to the stationary part (2, 20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Kim Fuhrer
  • Patent number: 8151672
    Abstract: A groove cutting assembly comprising a cutter housing, a cutter assembly with a cutting edge, and the cutter assembly being accommodated by the cutter housing, and a drive mechanism, coupled to the cutter assembly, for indexing the cutter assembly one of radially inward and radially outward relative to the cutter housing upon rotation of the cutter assembly past an indexing member. The drive mechanism comprises a barrel assembly, engaged with the cutter assembly, and a feed member which threadedly engages with the barrel assembly. Rotation of the feed member, in a first rotational direction, indexes the cutter assembly radially outwardly away from the cutter housing, while rotation of the feed member, in an opposite rotational direction, indexes the cutter assembly radially inwardly toward the cutter housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Inventor: Thomas Esslinger
  • Patent number: RE43315
    Abstract: The invention concerns a multi-step transmission with at least 7 forward gears, with which transmission on the input drive shaft (1), two non-shiftable input-side gear sets (RS1, RS2) are provided, which, on their output-side produce two speeds of rotation (n1, n2), which, besides the speed of rotation of the input drive shaft (1), by selective closure of the shift elements (A, B, C, D, E) are shiftable in such a manner to one of the output-side planetary gear sets (RS3, RS4) which upon the output drive shafts (2), that for the shifting from one into the respective next following higher or lower gear of the two activated shift elements, respectively, only one shifting element must be open and a further element closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Peter Ziemer
  • Patent number: D658235
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Inventor: Chi Fat Au-Yeung