Patents Assigned to ZF Active Safety GmbH
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Patent number: 11745709Abstract: The invention relates to a signal-processing device (402) for a vehicle having an ABS unit (404) and multiple wheels, each of which is assigned a sensor (S1, S2, S3, S4) for wheel signal generation. The signal-processing device (402) is designed to detect (602) a failure of a wheel signal, to form (604) a substitute signal for the failed wheel signal using the wheel signal of at least one sensor assigned to a wheel that is not affected by the failure, and to supply (606) the substitute signal to the ABS unit (404). The invention also relates to an ABS system (400) having the signal-processing device (402) and an ABS unit (404), a vehicle having the ABS system (400), a signal-processing method for a vehicle having an ABS unit (404), a computer programme having computer code for carrying out the signal-processing method, as well as a control unit containing the computer programme.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2018Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbHInventor: Andreas Passmann
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Patent number: 11692602Abstract: Brake apparatus for a motor vehicle with a restoring apparatus, comprising a brake support body, a brake lining, a restoring apparatus for the brake lining, and a wear compensation means, the restoring apparatus being connected via the wear compensation means to the brake lining, the restoring apparatus having a lever arm which comprises a spring section, a supporting bearing and a lever bearing, the lever bearing being arranged between the spring section and the supporting bearing.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2020Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbHInventors: Paul Wecker, Marco Becker, Guido Zenzen, Lukas Madzgalla, Joerg Knieper, Florian Roessinger, Peter Mäurer, Philipp Schwenzer
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Patent number: 11691606Abstract: A brake system includes a first functional unit having at least one first hydraulic pressure generator, which is designed to build up a hydraulic pressure at a wheel brake, and a first hydraulic fluid reservoir, from which the first hydraulic pressure generator can draw in hydraulic fluid. The brake system furthermore comprises a second functional unit having at least one second, electric hydraulic pressure generator, which is controllable in order to build up a hydraulic pressure at the wheel brake, a check valve and at least one second hydraulic fluid reservoir, having an outlet, via which the second, electric hydraulic pressure generator can draw in hydraulic fluid, and an inlet, relative to which the check valve is arranged upstream in such a way that it has a blocking effect toward the inlet in respect of a flow direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2019Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbHInventor: Heinrich Plewnia
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Patent number: 11667263Abstract: An actuator for an electric parking brake, EPB, is described. The actuator comprises a motor configured to actuate an actuating member of the EPB, as well as a reception interface configured to receive an enablement code. An enablement code is assigned to the EPB actuator which individualizes the EPB actuator against other EPB actuators. The actuator further comprises an evaluation unit configured to verify the received enablement code on the basis of the enablement code allocated to the EPB actuator and to enable a control of the motor in case of a positively verified enablement code. There is further provided a control device for the EPB actuator, an electric parking brake and a vehicle having the EPB actuator and corresponding operating methods.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2018Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbHInventors: Andreas Kubb, Jens-Peter Kohrt, Ralf Kinder, Stefan Grieser-Schmitz
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Patent number: 11643061Abstract: A pedal simulation device, comprising: a housing; an abutment region that is coupled with the housing in a substantially rigid manner; a piston that is received in the housing and can be moved in a direction of actuation by passing through successive first and second actuation phases; and a return device that is configured to exert a resetting force on the piston that acts counter to the displacement of the piston in the direction of actuation.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2018Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbHInventors: Carlos Erviti, Jorge Trobajo, Ana Maisterra, Omayra Zapata
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Patent number: 11639165Abstract: The gear assembly can be operatively connected on the input side to a drive machine and on the output side preferably to an actuating element of the electrically operable brake and comprises at least one gear stage. The at least one gear stage comprises at least two intermeshing gear wheels, of which at least one gear wheel is rotatably mounted on an axle element by engagement of the axle element in a receptacle of the at least one gear wheel. The receptacle and the axle element have mutually corresponding peripheral surfaces, of which, in the axial direction, at least one peripheral surface has an outwardly curved contour and the other peripheral surface has a contour designed such that the peripheral surfaces roll against one another on the contours in order to bring the at least one gear wheel and the axle element into an oblique position relative to one another.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2018Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbHInventor: Jan Niklas Baer
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Patent number: 11590957Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for testing a brake fluid sensor of a vehicle braking system, wherein the brake fluid sensor can indicate the fluid level in the fluid reservoir, wherein the method has the following steps: (1) Altering the fluid level in at least one region of the at least one fluid reservoir by means of at least one braking force generating device; and (2) Detecting whether the at least one brake fluid sensor emits a signal indicating the modified fluid level in the at least one region of the at least one fluid reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2020Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbHInventor: Heinrich Plewnia
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Patent number: 11590958Abstract: A method for detecting undesirable vibrations of an actuator of an electromechanical brake includes the steps of: (1) providing an electrical signal comprising at least one piece of information about a current consumption of the actuator or a parameter correlated with the current consumption; (2) monitoring an operation of the actuator on the basis of the gradient of the electrical signal in such a way that after switching on the actuator and preferably after a subsequent delay time, which includes determining: whether the amount of an initial instantaneous value of the gradient exceeds the amount of a threshold and whether a subsequent second instantaneous value of the gradient has an inverted sign compared to the first instantaneous value; (3) evaluating the results to ensure that an undesirable vibration is assessed as detected the aforementioned conditions are met.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2020Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbHInventors: Andreas Müller, Ralf Kinder
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Patent number: 11590945Abstract: An electrohydraulic vehicle braking system is provided, comprising an electrically controllable first hydraulic pressure generator and an electrically controllable second hydraulic pressure generator. The braking system further comprises a first valve device for each wheel brake, having at least one first valve, wherein in an electrically uncontrolled state the first valve device separates its associated wheel brake from an output of the first hydraulic pressure generator, and in an electrically controlled state connects it to the output of the first hydraulic pressure generator. In addition, a second valve device for each wheel brake is provided, having a second valve between an output of the second hydraulic pressure generator and its associated wheel brake, as well as a third valve between this wheel brake and a first hydraulic fluid reservoir. The first valve device and the second valve device are arranged in parallel to one another.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2019Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbHInventors: Frank Einig, Blaise Ganzel, Nicholas Alford
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Patent number: 11590946Abstract: A method and device for a vehicle having wheels which are each assigned a sensor for generating wheel signals. The unit determines whether a wheel is affected by a failure of the corresponding wheel signal. The unit acquires wheel signals which are assigned to the wheels, and for a wheel affected by a wheel signal failure, the corresponding wheel signal is acquired in the form of a substitute signal. The unit calculates a target brake pressure for a wheel at which an increase in brake pressure is necessary. The increase in brake pressure takes place in accordance with the wheel signal which is obtained for the wheel and in accordance with the determination as to whether the wheel is affected by a wheel signal failure. The unit further determines a slip threshold for an anti-lock brake control operation applied to the wheel affected by the wheel signal failure.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2018Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbHInventor: Andreas Passmann
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Patent number: 11542628Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electrode for eloxing a component, in particular a component of a vehicle brake system, comprising an electrolyte inlet for feeding an electrolyte into the electrode, an inlet channel, which connects the electrolyte inlet to an electrolyte outlet opening formed in the region of an outer surface of the electrode, an electrolyte inlet opening formed in the region of the outer surface of the electrode at a distance from the electrolyte outlet opening, an electrolyte flow path, which runs between the electrolyte outlet opening and the electrolyte inlet opening along the outer surface of the electrode and is designed to bring a surface portion of the component, which surface portion is to be eloxed, into fluid contact with the electrolyte flowing through the electrolyte flow path, an outlet channel, and an electrolyte outlet.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2019Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbHInventor: Dennis Monpetit
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Patent number: 11535228Abstract: A filling level sensing device for a liquid reservoir, in particular for a compensation tank of a vehicle brake system, includes at least one float, at least one sensor element connected to the at least one float, and at least two sensors for detecting the position of the at least one sensor element. The float may be designed to come into contact with the liquid in the liquid reservoir. At least one of the two sensors may sense a change in the filling level of the liquid reservoir depending on the position of the at least one sensor element relative to the at least two sensors.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2020Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbHInventors: Daniel Noll, Dennis Wagner, Soeren Lehmler
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Patent number: 11536331Abstract: The invention relates to a disc brake, comprising a brake carrier, a brake caliper, brake shoes, and an actuating piston. The brake carrier has at least one mounting point for mounting on a vehicle. The actuating piston is displaceably accommodated on the brake caliper and is actuatable for carrying out a service brake function of the disc brake. At least one further actuating piston is provided, which in the direction of its longitudinal axis is displaceably accommodated on the brake caliper. For carrying out the service brake function, the at least two actuating pistons are actuatable, and for carrying out a parking brake function, one of the actuating pistons is actuatable. The invention further relates to a disc brake system and a parking brake system.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2018Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbHInventors: Guido Zenzen, Frank Wilhelm Madzgalla, Christian Schroeter
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Patent number: 11472380Abstract: A force input member for a brake actuating device of a vehicle brake system includes at least one first portion connected to the brake actuating device; at least one second portion connected to a brake pedal; and at least one coupling device. The at least one coupling device couples the first portion and the second portion to one another wherein the at least one coupling device is designed to permit a relative movement between the first portion and the second portion in the case of a force acting on the force input element which is greater than or equal to a predetermined release force.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2020Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbHInventors: Klaus Lemke, Christian Freund, Robert Barnkow
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Patent number: 11472393Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to a coupling device for coupling a fluid reservoir for a brake fluid with a brake actuation device. The coupling device includes at least one coupling extension provided at the fluid reservoir with a first recess, a second recess configured in the area of an edge of the brake actuation device as well as a hole configured in the brake actuation device and open to the second recess, a bridge element crossing the second recess along the edge of the brake actuation device and a coupling element with at least one striker, wherein, when the fluid reservoir is coupled to the brake actuation device, the hole is aligned with the first recess along a central longitudinal axis of the striker and the striker passes through the first recess and engages with the hole. The present disclosure also pertains to a vehicle brake system equipped with such a coupling device.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2019Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbHInventors: Markus Mallmann, Marcus Janson
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Patent number: 11466739Abstract: A brake caliper arrangement includes a housing, a restoring device, a first brake lining arrangement and a second brake lining arrangement. The first brake lining arrangement and the second brake lining arrangement can be moved relative to one another from a respective starting position with a reduction of an initial spacing which exists between them. The restoring device includes first and second restoring elements. The first restoring element may prestress the first brake lining arrangement into its starting position, while the second restoring element may prestress the second brake lining arrangement into its starting position. The first and/or second restoring elements may be supported, on both sides of a central region of the brake lining arrangement, on the associated brake lining arrangement. The first and/or second restoring elements may be twisted elastically at least in sections in order to generate the prestress.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2018Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbHInventors: Guido Zenzen, Marco Becker, Frank Wilhelm Madzgalla, Christian Schroeter, Jörg Knieper, Florian Roessinger, Peter Mäurer
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Patent number: 11448276Abstract: A brake lining restoring device includes at least one clamping limb with at least one first aperture, at least one base limb, and at least one clamping limb. The clamping limb and the one base limb may be connected to one another via at least one spring section. The clamping limb may be moved under elastic deformation relative to the at least one base limb. The brake lining restoring device may include a frictionally locking connection to a holding element which is assigned to the brake lining arrangement can be established via one edge (R) of the first aperture of the clamping limb.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2020Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbHInventors: Guido Zenzen, Marco Becker, Lukas Madzgalla, Peter Mäurer, Philipp Schwenzer, Paul Wecker, Jörg Knieper, Florian Roessinger
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Patent number: 11448275Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for operating a vehicle brake. The vehicle brake includes a hydraulic service brake having an actuating piston, which for generating a first braking force component is movable, under the action of a hydraulic pressure, into an actuating position in which the actuating piston presses a friction lining against a rotatingly supported brake disc, and an electric parking brake, with an actuating element, that is designed to build up a second braking force component that acts on the brake disc. The method includes ascertaining the hydraulic pressure, determining a first braking force component, establishing a second braking force component to be set by means of the parking brake, based on the first braking force component and a desired total braking force, and establishing a position of the actuating element of the parking brake to be set.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2019Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbHInventors: Erwin Michels, Benedikt Ohlig, Michael Bast, Matthias Fuchs
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Patent number: 11312343Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle control unit. The control unit comprises a first processor system, which is designed to control an actuator of an electric parking brake and at least one additional motor vehicle function unit. A second processor system of the control unit is designed to control the at least one actuator in an at least partially redundant manner to the first processor system. Furthermore, there is a changeover device, which is designed to enable an activation of the at least one actuator either via the first processor system or the second processor system.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2017Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbHInventors: Ingo Alfter, Stefan Grieser-Schmitz
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Patent number: 11312346Abstract: A hydraulic motor vehicle braking system comprises an electronic stability control (ESC) system of dual-circuit design, a first brake circuit which acts on one or more first wheel brakes, and a second brake circuit which acts on one or more second wheel brakes. The first brake circuit comprises a first hydraulic pressure generator which is electrically controllable for control interventions, and the second brake circuit comprises a second hydraulic pressure generator which is electrically controllable, independently of the first hydraulic pressure generator, for control interventions.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2018Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbHInventors: Erwin Michels, Benedikt Ohlig, Matthias Fuchs