Patents Assigned to TRW Automotive GmbH
  • Patent number: 8256775
    Abstract: A stabilizer assembly unit for a motor vehicle, having a first fluid pressure actuator and a second fluid pressure actuator which are associated with opposite ends of an antiroll bar, characterized in that exactly one pressure fluid connection is provided on each of the fluid pressure actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Dirk Kesselgruber
  • Publication number: 20120170969
    Abstract: The invention relates to a ball joint, including a joint housing having a recess, a ball stud having a ball head, a sealing bellows having a sealing seat on the housing side and a sealing seat on the stud side in the form of a bellows mouth which is adapted to be brought into contact with the ball stud, a bellows body of the sealing bellows extending between the sealing seat on the housing side and the bellows mouth, and further including a joint socket, the ball head being accommodated for swiveling motion within the joint socket, and the joint socket being inserted in the recess of the joint housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Uwe Forthaus, Alexander Paul, Ulrich Mette, Harald Walter
  • Publication number: 20120155952
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a bearing shell assembly for a ball joint includes the following steps: a) a bearing shell having a plastic extension is produced; b) a spring element is arranged in a region of the plastic extension; and c) the spring element is fastened to the bearing shell by deformation of the plastic extension. The invention further relates to a bearing shell assembly for a ball joint, including a bearing shell and a spring element, the spring element being non-detachably connected with the bearing shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Sven-Helgi Orend
  • Patent number: 8204650
    Abstract: The invention relates to an active chassis stabilization system including a hydraulic pressure supply unit, a hydraulic stabilizer assembly which is associated with a front axle, a hydraulic stabilizer assembly which is associated with a rear axle, and a control unit. The active chassis stabilization system is a two-channel system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Kesselgruber, Harry A. Hunnicutt
  • Publication number: 20120111132
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rack-and-pinion steering, including a toothed rack having a longitudinal axis, a toothed rack housing in which the toothed rack is guided for axial displacement between two end stops, and an end stop damping assembly which includes at least one stop ring and at least one elastic compression body, the compression body surrounding the toothed rack, and its spring/damping section having an axial length in a non-loaded condition. The stop ring has a continuously surrounding axial guide extension which is located radially inside in relation to the compression body and which has an axial length that is smaller than the axial length of the spring/damping section of the compression body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Lothar Schaumann
  • Publication number: 20120107038
    Abstract: The invention relates to an elastomeric joint, comprising a housing with a through-opening which extends axially along the longitudinal axis of the elastomeric joint, a pivot pin which extends through the through-opening of the housing, an elastomeric body which is fastened to the pivot pin and is arranged radially between the pivot pin and the housing, and with at least one supporting ring which is fastened to the elastomeric body on one end face of the through-opening, wherein a wire ring locks the supporting ring with respect to the housing, with the result that the pivot pin is held in the housing in an axially secured manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Cengiz Erdogan, Richard Partyka
  • Publication number: 20120091679
    Abstract: The invention relates to an active chassis stabilization system including a hydraulic actuator, a pump for acting upon the actuator with a hydraulic pressure, a reservoir for receiving hydraulic fluid, and a return line for a fluid flow from the actuator to the reservoir. Provided in the return line is a check valve which blocks the fluid flow from the reservoir to the actuator and allows the fluid flow from the actuator to the reservoir as of a predeterminable return pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Keiwan Kashi, Stephan Walentowski, Dirk Nissing
  • Patent number: 8157323
    Abstract: A seat occupancy detection unit (10) has at least one sensor (12) which has a reed switch (14) and a magnet (22) movable relative thereto in a switching direction (z). The seat occupancy detection unit (10) can be inserted in the seat padding of a vehicle seat, It is used to produce a warning signal for the wearing of a seat belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Buntz, Soeren Lemcke
  • Patent number: 8151464
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a bearing shell assembly for a ball joint includes the following steps: a) a bearing shell having a plastic extension is produced; b) a spring element is arranged in a region of the plastic extension; and c) the spring element is fastened to the bearing shell by deformation of the plastic extension. The invention further relates to a bearing shell assembly for a ball joint, including a bearing shell and a spring element, the spring element being non-detachably connected with the bearing shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Sven-Helgi Orend
  • Patent number: 8146852
    Abstract: A rotation damper, particularly for damping the rotary movement of a belt retractor shaft of a vehicle safety belt, has a housing which delimits a working space filled with a damping medium, and an element which is rotatable relative to the housing. Several pins serving as resistance elements, which extend into the working space, are provided on the element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Biller, Oliver Gross, Bernd Gentner
  • Patent number: 8123249
    Abstract: A gas generator has an elongated outer housing, the wall of the outer housing surrounding at least one gas carrying inner chamber. An axially extending end section of the wall of the outer housing, which is separated from the inner chamber of the gas generator with regard to flow, is constructed as a fastening section and has at least one fastening structure for connecting the gas generator with a carrier part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Gerd Zischka
  • Publication number: 20120029774
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of detecting external impacts in vehicle steering systems (12) which include a rotatable steering shaft (16) and a servomotor (22) for generating a steering assist torque, the method including the steps of: (a) continuously measuring a first characteristic; (b) continuously measuring a second characteristic; (c) forming tuples of characteristics at least from a measured value of the first characteristic and a simultaneously picked up measured value of the second characteristic; (d) comparing the tuples of characteristics of step (c) with a predetermined normal operating range (36) of a multidimensional characteristic diagram (34) which is defined at least by the first characteristic and the second characteristic; and (e) storing a tuple of characteristics of step (c) and/or triggering an alarm signal if this tuple of characteristics from step (c) is outside the normal operating range (36).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Dieter Fehlings, Marcus Weser
  • Patent number: 8091821
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electric belt retractor (16) which has an electric motor (20) which can drive a belt spool (18) in a belt band retraction direction and/or in a belt band withdrawal direction, and a blocking catch which is able to be guided into blocking teeth in order to block a rotation of the belt spool (18) in the belt band withdrawal direction, comprises the following steps: Operating the electric motor (20) in belt band retraction direction for tensioning the belt band (26); Detecting a possible belt band withdrawal; Determining a stable vehicle state; and Re-operating the electric motor (20) in belt band retraction direction only when a belt band withdrawal is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Burkart, Thomas Busch
  • Patent number: 8091921
    Abstract: A gas generator has an outer housing with a gas outlet section having an outer wall. The gas outlet section has a first and a second outflow area. Each outflow area has a net thrust outflow direction. The net thrust outflow direction of the first outflow area has a first component in the lengthwise direction of the gas generator and the net thrust outflow direction of the second outflow area has a second component in the lengthwise direction of the gas generator. The first component is oriented opposite to the second component. The gas generator is arranged in an airbag module in a way that gas from the first and second outflow areas is guided into different inflatable sections of a gas bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Heigl, Gerd Zischka
  • Patent number: 8095274
    Abstract: A device for protection of a vehicle occupant (14) in a motor vehicle (10) comprises a means for detecting a maloperation during use of a seat belt system by the vehicle occupant (14). The detection means includes means for characterizing the vehicle occupant (14) and individually checks operation of the seat belt system by taking into account the characterization. A method for protecting a vehicle occupant (14) in a motor vehicle (10) with a seat belt system comprises the following steps: characterization of the vehicle occupant (14), and individual check of operation of the seat belt system for a maloperation by taking into account the characterization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Guenter Burkhardtsmaier
  • Patent number: 8083261
    Abstract: A positioning device has a deformable load-bearing element (10), a shaped part (12) coupled to the load-bearing element (10), and a holder (24). The load-bearing element (10) is adapted to be shifted from a first position in which the shaped part (12) is held in a first shape by the holder (24), into a second position in which the shaped part (12) is at least partially no longer held by the holder (24) and takes a second shape which is transmitted to the load-bearing element (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Hermann Grau, Wolfgang Holbein, Karsten Kortschack, Wolfgang Spindler, Alexander Seibold, Jonas Mueller
  • Patent number: 8042835
    Abstract: A belt tensioner for a safety belt system has a drive unit and a power transmission element, which engages on a drive element when the drive unit is activated. The power transmission element is a non-rigid medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Wilfried Bieg, Thomas Moedinger, Dominik Seitz, Oliver Gross
  • Patent number: 8041481
    Abstract: A power steering system is disclosed herein that includes an electronic control unit that determines a set-point value for a damping moment in the power steering system. The system also includes a first sensor connected to the control unit and operable to determine a sign of a steering angle. The sign of the steering angle refers to a clockwise angle from dead center being designated as positive or negative and a counter-clockwise angle from dead center being assigned the other designation. The system also includes a second sensor connected to the control unit and operable to determine the sign of a steering wheel angular velocity. The sign of the steering wheel angular velocity refers to movement of the steering wheel in the clockwise direction being designated as positive or negative and movement in the counter-clockwise direction being assigned the other designation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Roth
  • Patent number: 7997657
    Abstract: An assembly to attach a belt buckle (12) to a vehicle, especially to a vehicle body part (16), has an attachment fitting (14) which is fixed in place directly at the belt buckle (12), is made in one piece, and is movable together with the belt buckle (12), the attachment fitting (14) being adapted to assume an initial position, an attachment member (22) and a spring member (28) which urges the attachment fitting (14) that is movable relative to the vehicle into the initial position. The attachment member (22) fixes the attachment fitting (14) in place directly at the vehicle body part (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Haas, Ralf Knoedl
  • Patent number: 7997374
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant safety system has at least one restraint device having at least one adjustable parameter, a vehicle seat having at least one seat sensor detecting the sitting position of a vehicle occupant, a seatbelt system having at least one belt extension sensor detecting the belt extension length, and a control unit determining from the values from the seat sensor and from the belt extension sensor whether a vehicle occupant is in a forward-leaning position. The control unit then specifies the value of the adjustable parameter of the restraint device as a function of a forward-leaning position of the vehicle occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Ernst Eschbach