Patents Assigned to Mannesmann Sachs
  • Patent number: 6053295
    Abstract: A torsional vibration damper having an input part, an output part, and a plurality of coupling members coupling the input part with the output part. The input part and the output part are tiltable relative to one another so that when a wobbling movement of at least one of the parts occurs, this wobbling movement is not compulsorily or positively transmitted to the other part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventors: Andreas Orlamunder, Reinhard Feldhaus
  • Patent number: 6050382
    Abstract: A clutch disk having a load torsion oscillation damper and an idling torsion oscillation damper with friction device. At least a part of the idling friction device has an inner toothing for rotationally fixed and play-free engagement with an outer toothing of an inner hub which is designed to be extended in the axial direction with a reduced diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventors: Barbara Ester, Helmuth Weissenberger, Achim Link
  • Patent number: 6050380
    Abstract: A friction clutch for a motor vehicle is embodied with a centrifugal mass device, which has at least one mass-bearing compensating system. At least one component of the centrifugal mass device is equipped, to form the compensating system, with at least one chamber that holds, to a predetermined degree of fullness, a fluid medium, whose position in the chamber changes when a torsional vibration occurs. The effect resulting from this position change depends on the density and viscosity of the medium, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, on the arrangement of the chamber, which determines the vibrational behavior of the medium, the shape of the chamber, which determines the movement resistance, and its degree of fullness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventors: Bernd Peinemann, Reinhard Feldhaus, Matthias Fischer
  • Patent number: 6047804
    Abstract: A torsional vibration damper having a first damper element and a second damper element, which are connected to each other for the purpose of torque transmission by a first damping spring device. The first damping spring device has at least one damping spring arrangement with at least one damping spring. One of the damper element has a support on which the damping spring arrangement is supported in its respective end areas in approximately the circumferential direction via support elements. Further, a displacement surface is embodied on the first damper element for each support element. On the other damper element, there are carriers for each support element. Upon a relative rotation between the first and second damper elements, the carrier serve to take along the respective support elements and press them in the direction of the displacement surface for the purpose of movement along the associated displacement surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventors: Reinhard Feldhaus, Jurgen Kleifges, Andreas Orlamunder
  • Patent number: 6047806
    Abstract: A lock-up clutch-for a hydrodynamic torque converter has a piston connectable to a converter housing through at least one friction lining and the piston is capable of a deflection movement in the axial direction. In the friction lining and in one of the piston or the converter housing, at least one depression is embodied for the passage of hydraulic fluid from the converter circuit. Associated with at least one of these depressions is an inflow and outflow, the former opening radially outside into the converter circuit and the latter opening radially inside into a chamber between the converter housing and the piston. The inflow depression and the outflow depression are both provided in one converter components, while a passageway depression is active in the adjacent converter component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventor: Christoph Sasse
  • Patent number: 6044949
    Abstract: A pressure plate component group having, a manually operable wear readjustment device with an operating section embodied for interaction with a readjustment tool and also a readjustment section that interacts with a wear compensation device to compensate for wear that occurs, during clutch operation, on the friction linings of a clutch disk that are clamped or clampable between a pressure plate and a flywheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventor: Kraus Georg
  • Patent number: 6042133
    Abstract: An index shifter for a bicycle transmission, which index shifter is mounted on a part of a bicycle and has a casing, a locking element with notches which is connected to a rotary hand grip, and a winding drum for actuating a cable pull. The casing has a ring-shaped recess disposed therein, in which recess a detent spring is arranged. The detent spring is braced by two feet against the casing and has a lug which engages with the locking ring. Inside the casing is a casing projection with which one foot of the detent spring can be fixed to achieve a small amount of shift play. This permits small amounts of shift play, in particular for shifting hub gears on bicycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventors: Berndt Leiter, Bernhard Johanni, Max Rumpel, Klaus Konig, Klaus Stuhler, Markus Arbeiter
  • Patent number: 6041692
    Abstract: Disclosed is a pressure medium cylinder, especially a hydraulic input cylinder, located on the chassis of a motor vehicle and operated by means of a pedal, whereby the tappet for operating the piston in the cylinder housing can be attached to different lever lengths, so that different requirements for the power/displacement ratio can be met with one and the same input cylinder. It is advantageous that the same components are used, in particular, a changeably-mounted joint head that produces different lever lengths for the attachment of the articulated part in the pedal arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Grosspietsch, Angelika Ebert
  • Patent number: 6040768
    Abstract: An arrangement for monitoring the wear status of a friction clutch in the drivetrain of a motor vehicle driven by an internal combustion engine includes a wear detection circuit that responds to speed information representing the instantaneous input speed of the friction clutch supplied by a first speed sensor and to information supplied by a movement sensor representing the beginning of a starting process. The wear detection circuit supplies, as a measurement for the loading of the friction clutch during a starting process, load information which is a predetermined monotonic function of a value of the first speed information following the beginning of movement after a predetermined time interval. The monotonic function could also be of a mean value from a plurality of values of the first speed information succeeding one another at predetermined time intervals following the beginning of movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventor: Hans-Jurgen Drexl
  • Patent number: 6035986
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a plate clutch with a housing having a front cover and axially projecting feet. The feet are provided with longitudinal bores through which fastening screws are guided. The fastening screws are constructed as expansion screws with a middle region which is reduced in diameter. The feet are provided with radial ventilation openings in the reduced diameter region of the fastening screws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventors: Klaus Hofmann, Thomas Rudolf, Horst Friedrich, Claus Orth, Werner Selzam, Jurgen Loibersbeck
  • Patent number: 6032961
    Abstract: A piston-cylinder unit for a hydropneumatic suspension system of a vehicle having a fluid-filled cylinder in which a piston having damping valves and connected to a piston rod is axially movable. The piston rod runs axially in a piston rod guide at the piston-rod exit of the cylinder and is sealed toward the outside by means of a piston rod seal. A spring surrounding the piston rod is in mounted between a first support part attached to the cylinder and a second support part attached to either the piston rod or a vehicle-fixed part. The spring, which interacts with an axially adjustable support part, can be lifted off one of the support parts. During compression of the piston-cylinder unit, the first and second support parts begin compression of the spring at the functional point of the compression. The functional point is adjustable in a predetermined position range by an adjustment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventors: Robert Pradel, Gerald Fenn
  • Patent number: 6033342
    Abstract: A drive train arrangement for a motor vehicle driven by an internal combustion engine. The engine output or torque of the internal combustion engine (1) is controllable by means of an engine output control (11) via a user-operated accelerator pedal (15). A friction-gearshift clutch (3) is arranged in the torque transmission path of the internal combustion engine (1). To allow the friction-gearshift clutch (3) to be designed for reduced transmission reliability, a slip control (39) reduces the engine output or torque of the internal combustion engine (1) for a time-limited period via the engine output control (11) when the friction-gearshift clutch (3) slips in its fully engaged state. To this end, the slip control (39) responds to a clutch position sensor (41) that detects the engagement position of the friction-gearshift clutch (3), and to speed sensors (43, 45) that detect the input and output speeds of the friction-gearshift clutch (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventors: Klaus Steinel, Hans-Jurgen Drexl, Gerhard Tebbe
  • Patent number: 6032933
    Abstract: A self-pumping hydropneumatic spring strut that continuously regulates the pressure in the low- and high-pressure work cavities of the work cylinder to control the height of the vehicle body during all vehicle operation situations. According to the present invention, a valve is provided between the high-pressure work cavity and the pump cylinder. The valve is movable axially within the pump cylinder and advantageously blocks a first nonreturn valve between the pump cylinder and the low-pressure work cavity when spring strut is caused to elongate, and unblocks this first nonreturn valve when the spring strut is caused to compress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventor: Hubert Beck
  • Patent number: 6029979
    Abstract: A sealing arrangement for providing a seal between a component and a cylinder in which the component is inserted includes a sealing ring supported in the axial direction in a circumferential slot on the component. The sealing ring has at least one static and one dynamic sealing lip. The sealing lips rest radially on corresponding sealing surfaces of the component and the cylinder. To reduce the noise generated during movement of the component in the cylinder, the geometrical shape of at least of one of the sealing lips is asymmetrical in the axial and/or radial direction with respect to a longitudinal axis of the component or a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the component, or cavities are distributed around a circumference of a base body portion of the sealing ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Grosspietsch, Thomas Otto, Gottfried Mader, Olaf Pagels, Thomas Riess, Volker Stampf
  • Patent number: 6029788
    Abstract: A friction clutch having a housing which is connectable with a flywheel of an internal combustion engine so as to be fixed with respect to rotation relative to the flywheel. A pressure plate is arranged in the housing and is acted upon by a spring for pressing a clutch disk provided with friction facings against the flywheel. A compensation device, that includes at least one element which is changeable along its axial dimension, serves to compensate for the change in position of the pressure plate brought about by wear of the friction facings. A feeler is arranged so that it cannot change position relative to the pressure plate. The contact pressing force of the spring acts on the pressure plate via the compensation device. The feeler is arranged in the housing and a spring, which is fastened to the pressure plate and exerts an axial force on the compensation device, contacts the feeler at its free end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventors: Reinhold Weidinger, Michael Weiss
  • Patent number: 6029789
    Abstract: A actuating device for a friction clutch which is arranged in the drivetrain of a motor vehicle in a housing cover between an internal combustion engine and a transmission. The actuating device includes a release bearing arrangement and a positioning servo arrangement for the release bearing arrangement. The positioning servo arrangement has a pressure medium power cylinder arrangement and a control valve connected with a pressure medium source. The control valve includes a valve arrangement which is switchable between at least two control states depending on an actual quantity representing the axial position of the release bearing arrangement and on a control quantity representing a reference position of the release bearing arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventors: Joachim Lindner, Jorg Willert, Thomas Otto
  • Patent number: 6026940
    Abstract: A lockup clutch at a hydrodynamic torque converter is constructed with a torsional vibration damper which has a drive-side transmission element and a driven-side transmission element which is rotatable relative to the latter. Both of the transmission elements are provided with driving devices for driving elastic elements of a damping device. A carrier for a compensation flywheel mass is associated with the driven-side transmission element, wherein the carrier is connected with the turbine wheel on the one hand and with the driven-side driving device of the elastic elements on the other hand so as to be fixed with respect to rotation relative thereto and is provided at least with a cutout for receiving the compensation flywheel mass. The cutout has a guide path at least in its area of contact with the compensation flywheel mass, which guide path allows a movement of the compensation flywheel mass with at least one component perpendicular to the radial direction at the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventor: Jorg Sudau
  • Patent number: 6026710
    Abstract: A torsional vibration damper is equipped with a drive-side transmission element and an output-side transmission element deflectable relative thereto. A friction device is connected between the transmission elements. The friction device has a friction element with at least two different friction areas. The friction element is arranged in a circumferential opening having circumferential ends in one of the transmission elements. As long as the friction element is movable within the circumferential opening relative to the ends of the circumferential opening, only a first friction area of the friction element is active. When the friction element contacts one of the circumferential ends of the circumferential opening, only a second friction area of the friction element is active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventors: Andreas Orlamunder, Reinhard Feldhaus, Bernd Peinemann, Jurgen Kleifges
  • Patent number: 6024195
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic torque converter with a lockup clutch in which links are provided at turbine blades for engagement of a driver provided at a piston. The transmission of torque from the converter housing via the piston is conducted via the driver to the link of the turbine blade and in turn to the outer torus of the turbine blade and via a turbine hub, to a driven shaft. A torsional vibration damper is arrangeable between the piston and the link of the turbine blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventor: Rudiger Hinkel
  • Patent number: 6021875
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic torque converter has a converter circuit having at least a pump wheel and a turbine wheel, wherein each of these wheels has a blade amazement to form flow chambers, each of these blades being provided at its free end with a stiffener acting as part of a toroid. A choke element is provided which can move by a predetermined depth into the associated blade arrangement and serves to regulate the through-flow cross section for the hydraulic fluid of the converter circuit which is supplied in that it is connected via a line system to a supply arrangement. The choke element is arranged in the toroid and is provided with at least one choke projection which penetrates into a corresponding cutout in the toroid and can move into at least one associated flow chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventor: Christoph Sasse