Patents Assigned to ZF Active Safety GmbH
  • Publication number: 20210053546
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Applicant: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventor: Heinrich Plewnia
  • Publication number: 20210031741
    Abstract: A hydraulic motor vehicle braking system includes a first sensor device, a first functional unit, a second functional unit and a switching device. The first functional unit comprises at least one first electrical brake pressure generator, by means of which a brake pressure can be generated on respective wheel brakes, and a first control system which is designed to control the at least one first electrical brake pressure generator on the basis of a sensor signal of the sensor device. The second functional unit comprises at least one second electrical brake pressure generator, by means of which a brake pressure can be respectively generated on a subset of the wheel brakes, and a second control system which is designed to control the at least one second electrical brake pressure generator on the basis of the sensor signal in the event of a failure of the first functional unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Applicant: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventors: Nicholas Alford, Andreas Marx
  • Publication number: 20210010554
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Applicant: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventors: Paul Wecker, Marco Becker, Guido Zenzen, Lukas Madzgalla, Joerg Knieper, Florian Roessinger, Peter Mäurer, Philipp Schwenzer
  • Publication number: 20200406876
    Abstract: A vacuum brake booster includes: at least one movable wall, which separates a working chamber and a vacuum chamber in the vacuum brake booster from one another, and a control valve unit, which is coupled to the at least one movable wall, the control valve unit comprising a guide sleeve and an actuation piston guided displaceably in the control valve unit, which actuation piston is actuatable by way of a force input member which can be coupled in particular to a brake pedal, the actuation piston having at least one first valve seat, which in the open state is used to connect the working chamber to the ambient atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Applicant: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventor: Jaroslav Kolar
  • Publication number: 20200377067
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Applicant: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventors: Carlos Erviti, Jorge Trobajo, Ana Maisterra, Omayra Zapata
  • Publication number: 20200369159
    Abstract: A method for controlling a hydraulic brake system during a regenerative braking process where a displacement of a hydraulic fluid in the direction of a wheel brake is performed by means of a brake cylinder and at least one volume fraction of the hydraulic fluid is conducted via a pressure dissipation valve, which is situated in an open position, into an accumulator. In the method, furthermore, the pressure dissipation valve is adjusted in the direction of a closed state, in order to realize an increase of a hydraulic braking torque effected by the wheel brake, if an overall braking torque which is made up of the hydraulic braking torque and a generator braking torque effected by an electric machine is lower than a braking torque demand, and if the generator braking torque lies below a braking torque limit of the electric machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Applicant: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Marx
  • Publication number: 20200369249
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling a hydraulic brake system during a regenerative braking process. In the method, a hydraulic fluid is displaced in the direction of a wheel brake by means of a brake cylinder. In the method, furthermore, at least a volume fraction of the hydraulic fluid is conducted via a pressure dissipation valve into an accumulator, an isolation valve is adjusted in the direction of a closed state in order to at least partially hydraulically isolate the wheel brake from the brake cylinder, and at least a volume fraction of the hydraulic fluid is conveyed out of the wheel brake by means of a pump. The present disclosure furthermore comprises a hydraulic brake system for a motor vehicle, a computer program product, a control unit and a motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Applicant: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Marx
  • Publication number: 20200369248
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling a hydraulic brake system during a regenerative braking process. In the method, a displacement of a hydraulic fluid in the direction of a wheel brake is performed by means of a brake cylinder. The method comprises the step whereby an isolation valve which is assigned in terms of flow to the wheel brake and which is situated in a flow path of the hydraulic fluid is adjusted in the direction of a closed state in order to set a pressure difference between a region positioned upstream of the isolation valve in terms of flow and a region positioned downstream of the isolation valve in terms of flow. The present disclosure furthermore comprises a hydraulic brake system for a motor vehicle, a computer program product, a control unit and a motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Applicant: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Marx
  • Publication number: 20200369158
    Abstract: A method for controlling a hydraulic brake system where a hydraulic fluid is displaced in the direction of at least two-wheel brakes by means of a brake cylinder. One of the at least two-wheel brakes is at least partially hydraulically isolated from the brake cylinder in order to adapt the at least two-wheel brakes with regard to their hydraulic braking force to an incipient or present wheel load distribution. In addition or alternatively, in the method, it is furthermore the case that at least one volume fraction of the hydraulic fluid is displaced between the at least two wheel brakes in order to adapt the at least two wheel brakes with regard to their hydraulic braking force to a changing wheel load distribution over the course of the braking process and/or to a changing generator braking torque over the course of the braking process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Applicant: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Marx
  • Publication number: 20200369160
    Abstract: A method for controlling a hydraulic brake system during a regenerative braking process which utilizes a generator braking torque effected by an electric machine is provided. A hydraulic fluid is displaced in the direction of a wheel brake by means of a brake cylinder, and at least a volume fraction of the hydraulic fluid is conducted into an accumulator. The method comprises the step whereby at least a volume fraction of the hydraulic fluid is conveyed from the accumulator in the direction of the wheel brake by means of a pump, in order to realize an increase of a hydraulic braking torque effected by the wheel brake, if a braking torque demand is higher than a braking torque limit of the electric machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Applicant: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Marx
  • Patent number: 10814854
    Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly for a vehicle brake system, which comprises at least one brake cylinder and an electromechanical brake booster, having a drive arrangement for driving at least one actuating device designed for actuating a brake cylinder, wherein the drive arrangement has at least one electric motor and a gear mechanism for coupling the electric motor to the at least one actuating device, wherein at least one fastening device is provided for fastening the assembly to a vehicle, said fastening device defining a fastening plane. According to the invention the rotary shaft of the electric motor is arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the actuating device and at an angle of between 60° and 120° to the fastening plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignees: ZF Active Safety GmbH, ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Kurt Wingender, Martin Hofmann, Boris Koeth, Jose Manuel Calvo Martinez, Jens Sparfeld, Stefan Kammers, Paul Warkentin, Ingo Decker, Klemens Humm, Detlef Baasch
  • Patent number: 10814851
    Abstract: The invention relates to a brake master cylinder arrangement for a motor vehicle brake system, comprising at least one piston arrangement with: a pressure piston unit that can be moved along a movement axis (V) and, together with a housing arrangement of the brake master cylinder arrangement, defines a pressure chamber; and a force input member that can be moved according to the actuation of the brake pedal and is coupled, or can be coupled, to the pressure piston unit so as to move therewith, the brake master cylinder also comprising: a position transmitter element that can be moved according to the actuation of the force input member; a detection unit designed to detect a movement of the position transmitter element; and a coupling arrangement designed to couple the position transmitter element to at least one element of the piston arrangement in a substantially rigid manner, along the movement axis (V), the coupling arrangement also being designed to allow a rotation of the at least one element of the pist
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Geider
  • Patent number: 10814852
    Abstract: A method for characterizing an electromechanical actuator unit for a vehicle brake, the electromechanical actuator unit comprising an electric motor and an actuator coupled to the electric motor. The actuator can be moved over a first area of movement without generation of a brake force and over a second area of movement with modification of a brake force. The method is carried out when the actuator moves within the first area of movement, and comprises the following steps: a) a voltage applied to the electric motor is interrupted, b) at least one parameter is determined while the electric motor runs in the generator mode, and c) at least one value is determined for a motor constant of the electric motor on the basis of the at least one parameter. The invention also relates to a vehicle brake, as well as to a computer program and a control unit for implementing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Bast, Benedikt Ohlig, Steve Scherer, Thomas Puetz
  • Publication number: 20200331449
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Applicant: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Noll, Dennis Wagner, Soeren Lehmler
  • Publication number: 20200332850
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Applicant: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventors: Guido Zenzen, Marco Becker, Lukas Madzgalla, Peter Mäurer, Philipp Schwenzer, Paul Wecker, Jörg Knieper, Florian Roessinger
  • Patent number: 10800391
    Abstract: An actuation device for an electromechanically actuatable vehicle brake, comprising an electric motor, at least one multistage transmission that has at least one intermediate transmission unit and at least one output transmission unit. The rotational axis of the output transmission unit extends through the at least one output shaft section and parallel to the rotational axis of the intermediate transmission unit and the rotational axis of the electric motor. One of the rotational axes of the electric motor, the intermediate transmission unit and the output transmission unit lies outside of a plane defined by two respective rotational axes of the rotational axes of the electric motor, the intermediate transmission unit and the output transmission unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventor: Gregor Poertzgen
  • Patent number: 10794947
    Abstract: A ground loss detection circuit identifies a faulty ground connection in a vehicle electrical system including a pair of redundant ground lines connected between a vehicle battery/chassis ground and an electronic control unit (ECU). In particular, a first ground line is connected between the battery/chassis ground and a first ECU ground connection, while a second ground line is connected between the battery/chassis ground location and a second ECU ground connection. The ECU includes a common ground associated with selected electronic components included in the ECU. A first shunt component is connected between the first ECU ground connection and the common ground, and a second shunt component is connected between the second ECU ground connection and the common ground. The currents through the first and second shunt components are monitored to identify a current imbalance to detect a faulty ground connection in one of the first and second ground lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignees: ZF Active Safety US Inc., ZF Active Safety GmbH, ZF Automotive Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Antonio Romero, Johannes Orth, Erik Hermann, William J. Lindeman
  • Publication number: 20200307541
    Abstract: A method for brake lining wear detection is disclosed. The method comprises detecting a wear state of a brake lining installed in the area of a wheel housing and producing a state signal that indicates the wear state. The method also comprises coupling the state signal into at least one electrical line that leads to an evaluation unit for the state signal. The at least one electrical line also transmits at least one other signal from or to at least one other device installed in the area of the wheel housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventors: Erwin Michels, Benedikt Ohlig, Lutz Muders, Matthias Fuchs
  • Publication number: 20200276975
    Abstract: A device for wheel slip control on a motor vehicle having at least one front axle and at least one rear axle is specified, wherein the front axle is assigned at least one front actuator for influencing at least one linear front wheel speed, and the rear axle is assigned at least one rear actuator for influencing at least one linear rear wheel speed. The device comprises at least one interface, which is designed to receive the following parameters: at least one first parameter indicating the at least one linear front wheel speed; at least one second parameter indicating the at least one linear rear wheel speed; and at least one third parameter indicating a vehicle speed, wherein the at least one third parameter is different from the at least one first parameter and the at least one second parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Applicant: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Passmann, Christian Hachenberg
  • Publication number: 20200269902
    Abstract: A method for operating a steering system includes the steps of: (1) acquiring a variable at least during the partially automated driving; (2) determining whether or not the driver wishes to control the vehicle manually using a variable; (3) ending the partially automated driving and converting steering movements applied by the driver into steering movements of the motor vehicle via a front-axle actuator unit irrespective of the current rotational angle of the steering wheel, if the driver wishes to control the vehicle manually. The variable acquired during partially automated driving may be any of the following: a driver gripping force applied to the steering wheel, a driver torque applied to the steering wheel, deflection of the steering wheel, a gradient of the driver gripping force to the steering wheel, a gradient of the driver torque applied to the steering wheel, and deflection gradient of the steering wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventor: Heinz-Dieter Heitzer