Patents Assigned to Stabilus GmbH
  • Patent number: 8382076
    Abstract: A support column with a vertical tube has a coaxially installed gas spring including a cylinder divided by a piston into first and second working chambers. A piston rod passes through the second working chamber in a sealed manner to the outside, where it is attached to a bottom support piece of the vertical tube. The cylinder projects out of the vertical tube and is guided with freedom to slide back and forth in a guide sleeve installed in the end of the vertical tube opposite the bottom support piece. A connection between the first and second working chambers can be blocked by a manually actuatable valve. A second valve between the chambers, which is closed when the gas spring is under load, can be switched to the open position after the load on the gas spring has been absent for a certain period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Etzkorn, Manfred Metzdorf, Thomas Müller
  • Patent number: 8375814
    Abstract: A drive device includes a first fastening device (5), for connection to a stationary base part, especially a vehicle body, or to a movable part, especially a vehicle (hinged) lid or door; a second fastening device (24), for connection to the movable part or to the stationary base part; a spindle drive (17), which includes a threaded spindle (16) and a spindle nut (19) mounted on the threaded spindle (16) and capable of moving the first and the second fastening devices (5, 24) axially relative to each other; and a rotary drive (9), which rotates the spindle drive (17) by way of an overload safety device, wherein the nonrotatable connection between the two components can be released when a certain torque is exceeded, and wherein the overload safety device is formed by a clutch device (15), which comprises an inner part (32) connected to the rotary drive (9), which inner part rotates an intermediate part (34) by way of a damping element (33) and, by way of the intermediate part (34), rotates an outer part (36) c
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Jörg Hillen, Andreas Ritter
  • Patent number: 8365652
    Abstract: An adjusting element with a closed first end, a cylinder, a piston displaceably arranged in the cylinder that divides the cylinder into a first work space remote of the first end and a second work space in proximity to the first end, and a piston rod which is arranged at one side of the piston and which projects through the first work space and is guided out of the cylinder concentric to or center longitudinal axis of the cylinder at a second end opposite from the first end so as to be sealed by a guiding and sealing device. The adjusting element has a device for detecting the piston rod position and/or the extended length of the adjusting element. The device for detecting the piston rod position includes a microswitch arranged at the cylinder and at least one switching element cooperating with the microswitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Ehre
  • Publication number: 20120292477
    Abstract: Apparatus for moving a display appliance, for example a television set, or a display apparatus of the display appliance between a display position and a standby position, with a remote control for operating the display appliance, with a drive unit for moving the display appliance or the display apparatus thereof between the display position and the standby position, and with a control unit for actuating the drive unit. The control unit includes a detection device for detecting the operational state of the display appliance. The control unit actuates the drive unit depending on output signals from the detection device such that the drive unit moves the display appliance or the display apparatus thereof into the display position when said display appliance is switched on and moves the display appliance or the display apparatus thereof into the standby position when said display appliance is switched off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventor: Ralph HUBER
  • Patent number: 8286518
    Abstract: A drive device for a lid of a motor vehicle includes a first fastening element connectable to a stationary component or to a movable component, and a housing tube located at the end of the drive device opposite the first fastening element and is free to move axially relative thereto. The housing tube includes, at the end opposite the first fastening element, a second fastening element connectable to the movable component or to the stationary component. A spindle drive including a threaded spindle and a spindle nut mounted on the threaded spindle is actuatable by a rotary device to move the first fastening element and the housing tube axially relative to each other. A stroke position of the first fastening element can be detected by a magnetic field sensor which senses longitudinal movements of a permanent magnet of the spindle along a sensitivity area of the stationary magnetic field sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventor: Marian Bochen
  • Patent number: 8286545
    Abstract: A piston-cylinder unit for pivoting a flap with respect to a motor vehicle body includes a cylinder having an open end with a seal, a closed end, and an interior space between the ends; a piston unit axially movable in the cylinder, the piston unit dividing the interior space into a first working space and a second working space; a piston rod connected to the piston unit and extending through the first working space and the seal; and flow connections connecting the first working space to the second working space. A switch element arranged outside the cylinder is switched in response to movement of the piston with respect to the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Marian Bochen, Thomas Ehre
  • Publication number: 20120256146
    Abstract: An adjusting drive 2, according to the invention, for adjusting a first structural component part relative to a second structural component part has a linear drive 6 and a piston-cylinder unit 8 which is connected in parallel with the linear drive for drive purposes. According to the invention, control means are provided for controlling the adjusting speed of the adjusting drive 2 depending upon the adjusting path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Jörg ARNOLD, Gerd Mülhöfer
  • Patent number: 8240440
    Abstract: Apparatus for lifting a hatch which can pivot around a pivot axis, especially a hatch of a motor vehicle, by means of a piston-cylinder unit. The piston-cylinder unit has a closed cylinder filled with a pressurized fluid, the interior of the cylinder 6 being divided by a piston into a first working chamber and a second working chamber. A piston rod passes through the second working chamber and is guided to the outside through a seal at the end of the cylinder and then hinged to the hatch, whereas the other end of the cylinder is hinged to a stationary component. A through-opening leading from the first working chamber to the second working chamber, is provided in the piston. The through-opening can be opened by an electrically actuated valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Massmann, Rolf Mintgen, Kathrin Peifer, Moritz Starkmeth, Udo Wendland
  • Patent number: 8237317
    Abstract: A device for moving a movable structural component with respect to a stationary structural component includes a first fastening element which can be fastened to the movable structural component, and a housing tube having a second fastening element which can be fastened to the stationary structural component. A spindle drive for moving the first fastening element axially relative to the housing between an extended position and a retracted position includes a spindle nut arranged on a threaded spindle. An electric motor arranged in the housing tube drives one of the spindle nut and the threaded spindle in rotation. A power supply for supplying power to the electric motor includes a power output stage arranged in the housing tube, wherein the power output stage is shielded from electrical and magnetic fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Marian Bochen, Rolf Mintgen
  • Patent number: 8205540
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a piston-cylinder unit for a hinged lid, especially a motor vehicle hinged lid, with a closed first end, a cylinder, a piston installed in the cylinder with freedom to slide back and forth, the piston dividing the cylinder into a working chamber remote from the first end and a second working near the first end; and a piston rod, which is attached to one side of the piston, projects through the first working chamber, and passes out of the cylinder concentrically to the central longitudinal axis of the cylinder through a guide and sealing device at the second end opposite the first end, where a first locking element is provided on the piston rod, and a second locking element is provided on the cylinder to establish a mechanical interlock, and where one of the locking elements comprises a sleeve, which cooperates with the other locking element to establish an interlock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Marian Bochen, Rainer Massmann, Mihai Augustin Vidrean
  • Publication number: 20120137803
    Abstract: A driving device having a housing tube connected to a stationary base part or a movable structural component part a protective tube connected to the other respective part a spindle drive which has a threaded spindle and a spindle nut arranged on the threaded spindle by which the housing tube and protective tube are movable axially relative to one another, and a rotary drive that drives the spindle drive via a clutch, a rotationally rigid interconnection thereof can be canceled when a determined torque is exceeded. A magnetic ring having a plurality of north and south poles is rotationally arranged near a stationary sensor element. The magnetic ring is arranged at the clutch that is connected to the threaded spindle, fixed with respect to rotation relative to it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Marian BOCHEN, Michael KNOPP
  • Publication number: 20120137591
    Abstract: A driving device has a housing tube that can be connected to a stationary base part, particularly to a vehicle body, or to a movable structural component part, particularly a vehicle hatch or vehicle door, a protective tube connected to the other respective part, a spindle drive that has a threaded spindle and a spindle nut arranged on the threaded spindle by which the housing tube and protective tube are movable axially relative to one another, and a rotary drive that drives the spindle drive in rotation and includes at least one electric motor. A sensor device conveys the current position in relation to the earth's magnetic field or plumb line and one or more corresponding signals to a control device is arranged in the driving device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Marian BOCHEN, Dave Sabet
  • Patent number: 8156838
    Abstract: A driving device for a hatch in a motor vehicle includes a first fastening element which can be connected to a stationary structural component, a second fastening element which can be connected to a movable structural component, a spindle drive including a threaded spindle having an axis of rotation and a spindle nut arranged on the threaded spindle, and a rotary drive having a driveshaft for rotating spindle to move the first fastening element axially relative to the second fastening element. A stroke detection sensor for continuously detecting the position of the movable structural component includes a rotatable sensor element driven in rotation by the driveshaft and a stationary sensor element for continuously detecting the rotational position of the rotatable sensor element. A gear reduction unit is provided between the driveshaft and the rotatable sensor element so the revolutions of the sensor element are reduced by about 14:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Oleg Batosky, Timo Frieb-Preis, Jörg Hillen, Peter Kohns
  • Patent number: 8127634
    Abstract: A driving device with a first and second fastening device which can be connected to a stationary base part, particularly a vehicle body, or can be connected to a movable structural component part, particularly a hatch or door of a vehicle, a spindle drive which has a threaded spindle and a spindle nut arranged on the threaded spindle and by which the first fastening device and the second fastening device are movable axially relative to one another, and a rotary drive which drives the spindle drive in rotation by an overload protection device, and the rotationally rigid connection thereof can be canceled when a determined torque is exceeded. The overload protection device is a ring element arranged on a driveshaft of the rotary drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Reif, Klaus Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8128053
    Abstract: A vertically adjustable item of furniture with a vertical pipe, a supporting base arranged at a first end of the vertical pipe, a guide bush fastened to a second end of the vertical pipe opposite to the supporting base, a cylinder which is arranged coaxially in the vertical pipe a piston which divides the cylinder into a first work chamber and a second work chamber, a piston rod fastened by its first end to the piston extends through the second work chamber and a connection between the first work chamber and the second work chamber which can be blocked by a valve actuatable by an actuating device. The valve is controllable electromagnetically. The furniture item comprises a sensor or switch which generates a signal causing the valve to close when the piston reaches a position in the cylinder near the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventor: Matthias Etzkorn
  • Publication number: 20110297471
    Abstract: A spring device at a swivelable hatch of a motor vehicle, having a gas spring and a helper spring between the body of the motor vehicle and the hatch. The hatch is a front hood which can be raised into a pedestrian protection position prior to an impact of a pedestrian on the front hood, by an actuator activated by a sensor device. The helper spring is preloaded with a preloading force which, in case of a malfunction in which the gas spring has no gas pressure or a reduced gas pressure, is sufficient to adjust the front hood into the raised pedestrian protection position and to hold the front hood in the raised pedestrian protection position prior to the impact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Koestler, Arne Koehler, Christoph Ulrich, Nadja Kaiser
  • Publication number: 20110290575
    Abstract: A gas spring with a center longitudinal axis including a cylinder includes a piston in the cylinder that divides the cylinder into a first cylinder chamber and a second cylinder chamber. A piston rod is arranged at the piston guided out of the cylinder at a second end opposite the first end. A connection element with a socket housing is arranged at each of the first end and the free end of the piston rod for receiving a ball head. At least one of the two socket housings comprises a ball socket with a longitudinal extension and a transverse dimension, the longitudinal extension is greater than the transverse dimension. A catch element having a spring tongue is arranged at the first end for insertion together with the catch element into a cover tube that locks into a recess associated with it in the cover tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Nadja Kaiser, Axel Knopp, Gerhard Stein, Jörg Wolf
  • Publication number: 20110290576
    Abstract: Spring-and-damper assembly articulated at a front hood and body of a motor vehicle and has, in a cylinder, a gas pressure damper with a damping piston, a piston rod outwardly loaded by the gaseous medium through an axial opening in the cylinder and assists opening of the front hood. An actuator activated by a sensor device to adjust the front hood into a raised pedestrian protection position. The piston rod or the cylinder or a structural component part is axially adjustable relative to a supporting part supporting the assembly to be limited between stops. The structural component part or supporting part is a ball head supported in a joint socket or a joint head having a joint socket for a ball head connected at least indirectly to the piston rod or to the cylinder. The joint socket is formed so as to be groove-shaped in axial direction so that the ball head is axially adjustable in the joint socket in a limited manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich KOESTLER, Arne KOEHLER, Nadja KAISER, Gerhard STEIN
  • Publication number: 20110271776
    Abstract: A driving device for a hatch in a vehicle with a first housing part connectable to a stationary base part or a movable structural component part, a second housing part connectable to the other, of the movable structural component part and the stationary base part, a spindle drive by which the first and second housing parts are movable axially relative to one another, a rotary drive that drives the spindle drive in rotation including a motor and a gear unit accommodated in a gear unit housing, and a braking device. The spindle drive includes a threaded spindle that has a first spindle portion and a braking spindle nut that is axially movable on the first spindle portion and a second spindle portion and a working spindle nut axially movable on the second spindle portion. The braking spindle nut cooperates with the braking device for applying a holding force to the spindle drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas REIF
  • Patent number: 8042301
    Abstract: A drive train for a pivotable flap of a motor vehicle includes a holding device which can hold the flap in at least one open position, a first element which can be driven by a drive motor, and a second element connected to the pivotable flap to pivot the flap in response to movement of the first element. When the second element is moved along a path of motion relative to the first element counter to a specific spring force, a sensor generates a signal indicating relative motion of the elements, and a control device releases the holding device in response to the signal, whereby the flap can be moved manually by applying a force counter to the spring force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Ritter