Patents Assigned to ZF CV Systems Europe BV
-
Patent number: 12377829Abstract: A method is for controlling an ABS brake system. A trailer control pressure is transmittable via a trailer control valve to a trailer to trigger trailer wheel brakes as a function of the trailer control pressure. The trailer control pressure for implementing a stretch brake function or an auxiliary brake function is delivered as a function of a position of an operating element. The method includes: determining a position of the operating element; determining a trailer target pressure as a function of the position; generating and delivering a trailer control pressure corresponding to the trailer target pressure to the control valve; determining an actual towing vehicle deceleration; reading a minimum deceleration associated with the determined position; and triggering brakes of the towing vehicle when the actual deceleration falls below the minimum deceleration read, such that the trailer control pressure does not change and the actual towing vehicle deceleration increases.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2023Date of Patent: August 5, 2025Assignee: ZF CV Systems Europe BVInventors: Florian Schwagmeyer, Henrik Wiechert
-
Patent number: 12379008Abstract: A brake actuator (1, 1?) includes a casing (10), an electric motor for providing a driving torque, a cam disc (20) rotatably mounted to the casing (10) and operatively coupled to the electric motor, and a push rod (30) received in the casing (10), and configured to reciprocate in a longitudinal direction (100) between a retracted position (300) and an extended position (400). The push rod (30) and the cam disc (20) are operatively coupled such that a rotational movement of the cam disc (20) causes a linear movement of the push rod. A guiding member (40), in particular a bushing, is mounted to the casing (10), wherein the guiding member (40) guides the movement of the push rod (30) in the longitudinal direction (100).Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2020Date of Patent: August 5, 2025Assignee: ZF CV Systems Europe BVInventors: Bartlomiej Tomala, Peter Beier
-
Patent number: 12359701Abstract: A mechanical wear gauge for detecting a brake liner wear and a brake disc wear of a disc brake for vehicles, in particular for utility vehicles, includes a brake liner wear detection mechanism and a brake disc wear detection mechanism. Brake liners and brake discs are subjected to a wear so that the brake liner thickness and the brake disc thickness decrease with an increasing period of use. A base member includes an arm member having a pincer leg. A first sliding member having a pincer leg is slidable relative to the base member and arm member to detect brake disc wear. A second sliding member, extending parallel to the first sliding member, is slidable relative to the base member to detect brake liner wear.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2022Date of Patent: July 15, 2025Assignee: ZF CV Systems Europe BVInventors: Jannis Hecker, Bernward Redemann, Vitalij Scherer
-
Patent number: 12344208Abstract: A foot brake module of an electropneumatic brake system of a motor vehicle has at least two pneumatic brake circuits. The foot brake module is operated by a brake pedal and has a pneumatic section with a pneumatic brake control valve and an electrical section with an electrical switch and at least one electronic travel sensor. The electrical switch is activated in a contactless manner. The foot brake module may have two travel sensors that each have a separate power supply and are connected to different electronic control devices.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2020Date of Patent: July 1, 2025Assignee: ZF CV Systems Europe BVInventors: Krzysztof Adamski, Dirk Müntefering, Robert Otremba, Karl-Heinz Riediger-Janisch, Pawel Lesik
-
Patent number: 12311900Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for monitoring a brake component temperature of a brake of a vehicle. The method includes measuring a wheel end temperature at a wheel end of a vehicle via a temperature sensor at the wheel end; determining whether the measured wheel end temperature is above a threshold representative of a critical temperature of the brake component; and, outputting a warning signal when the determined wheel end temperature is above the threshold. The disclosure further relates to temperature modeling of the brake component temperature. The methods and systems according to the disclosure enable an anti-lock braking system to monitor brake components for mechanical issues via temperature sensors.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2022Date of Patent: May 27, 2025Assignee: ZF CV Systems Europe BVInventor: Mehmet Yilmaz
-
Patent number: 12275285Abstract: A mechanically suspended vehicle has a travel measurement device (9), a control unit (10) and an algorithm stored in the control unit (10). The algorithm performs a method for determining an axle load. In a first test routine a level signal of a travel measurement device is acquired and evaluated, wherein, in a loading operation of the vehicle, a loading curve (F_i) is determined, and, in an unloading operation of the vehicle, an unloading curve (F_u) is determined. The values of the two curves are used to calculate an averaged load-travel characteristic curve (F_m) to be stored in the control unit. After each start of the vehicle, an axle load determination routine is repeated cyclically, and axle load values are continuously determined with the averaged load-travel characteristic curve (F_m). An axle load average value is calculated from the axle load values and displayed as the current axle load value.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2020Date of Patent: April 15, 2025Assignee: ZF CV Systems Europe BVInventors: Johann Lucas, Andreas Thimm, Sebastian Jermis, Britta Warnecke
-
Patent number: 12270446Abstract: The disclosure relates to a compressor assembly for an air supply unit of a vehicle. The compressor assembly includes: a compressor for providing pressurized air and having a compressor housing, at least one mounting bracket, wherein the at least one mounting bracket is fixed to the compressor housing, and, for each mounting bracket, one bearing for connecting the compressor assembly to a housing structure of the air supply unit. The bearing includes a flexible, hollow bellow, adapted to receive a gaseous medium, wherein the bellow includes at least one mounting feature, in particular recess, adapted to receive the mounting bracket, and the bellow is adapted to be pneumatically charged from an unpressurized state into a pressurized state, wherein the mounting feature is adapted to mechanically connect the bellow to the mounting bracket in a pressurized state via a positive lock.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2023Date of Patent: April 8, 2025Assignee: ZF CV Systems Europe BVInventor: Katarzyna Golda
-
Patent number: 12259016Abstract: A brake caliper for a vehicle disc brake including a pair of brake pads, and brake a disc positioned in between the brake pads is provided. The brake caliper includes a thrust piece that is configured to move at least one of the brake pads relative to the brake disc, an adjuster unit in threaded engagement with the thrust piece, and a spring unit operatively coupled to the adjuster unit and the thrust piece. The spring unit has a latching element and the adjuster unit has a corresponding latching interface, wherein the latching element is arranged to engage the latching interface when the adjuster unit is in threaded engagement with the thrust piece, and the spring unit further has a mounting element in engagement with the thrust piece to provide a resistance against a rotational movement the adjuster unit relative to the thrust piece.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2019Date of Patent: March 25, 2025Assignee: ZF CV Systems Europe BVInventor: Wieslaw Strzala
-
Patent number: 12257868Abstract: A plug-in connector device for a vehicle for transmitting data includes a first interface for connection to a vehicle and a second interface for connection to a connecting line, wherein the first interface and/or the second interface is/are formed as a connecting element, in particular formed as a plug or a socket, for establishing a connection according to an industry standard. A data interface for connection to a data line is electrically connected to the first interface in order to transmit electrical signals and/or data between the data interface and the second interface. The first interface is electrically connected to the second interface to transmit electrical signals and/or data between the first interface and the second interface. A connecting line is configured for connection to a second interface of the plug-in connector device. A vehicle includes a system having the plug-in connector device, and a vehicle has such a system.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2019Date of Patent: March 25, 2025Assignee: ZF CV Systems Europe BVInventors: Andelko Glavinic, Andreas Goers
-
Patent number: 12246571Abstract: A valve arrangement of a vehicle's air suspension system has a pressure generator with a two-stage compressor drivable by an electric motor, an air dryer, and a switchover valve. A main line is connected to the pressure generator and branches into at least two first axle lines. Two bellows lines per vehicle axle each branch off from one of the first axle lines and lead via a shutoff valve to an air bellows. The pressure generator has a second connection connected to a delivery line of the pressure generator between two compressor stages of the compressor. A second main line is connected to the second connection. The second main line branches into at least two second axle lines downstream of a shutoff valve. These second axle lines are each connected to one of the branching points of the first axle lines at the axles, each via one shutoff valve.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2023Date of Patent: March 11, 2025Assignee: ZF CV Systems Europe BVInventor: Helge Westerkamp
-
Patent number: 12240286Abstract: An air suspension control system is for a vehicle with a first and a second axle. The system has an auxiliary control unit connected to a main control unit via a data link. The auxiliary unit has a pressure sensor associated with the first axle for determining pressure measurements of the first axle as pressure sensor signals and an input for receiving height sensor signals. The input can be connected to a first height sensor on the first axle for receiving first height signals and to a second height sensor on the second axle for receiving second height signals. The auxiliary unit is adapted to transmit the first and/or second height sensor signals and/or the pressure sensor signals to the main unit. The main unit is adapted to carry out weighing for the first and/or second axle in dependence on the first and/or second height signals and/or the pressure signals.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2022Date of Patent: March 4, 2025Assignee: ZF CV Systems Europe BVInventor: Johann Lucas
-
Patent number: 12241489Abstract: A pneumatic device (1) has at least one venting path (10) for venting the pneumatic device (1) in an outflow direction (R1). The venting path (10) includes a first volume (12), through which a flow can pass, a first compressed-air passage (14), and a sealing mechanism (18). The first compressed-air passage (14) pneumatically connects the first volume (12) to a pressurized part (16) of the pneumatic device (1). The sealing mechanism (18) changes between a normal state (Z1) and a sealing state (Z2). In the normal state (Z1) a flow can pass through the first compressed-air passage (14) both in the outflow direction (R1) and in an oppositely directed inflow direction (R2). In the sealing state (Z2) a flow can pass through the first compressed-air passage (14) only in the outflow direction (R1).Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2021Date of Patent: March 4, 2025Assignee: ZF CV Systems Europe BVInventors: Ingo Fuhrmann, Karl-Heinz Riediger-Janisch, Jan Weinacht
-
Patent number: 12227154Abstract: An electromechanical brake actuator (102, 202, 302, 402) for a brake has a cam disc (108, 108?, 108?, 208, 308, 408) and a brake plunger (114, 214, 314) for actuating a brake lever (358). The cam disc (108, 108?, 108?, 208, 308, 408) and the brake plunger (114, 214, 314) have contact surfaces in contact with one another for directly transmitting a drive torque. The contact surface of the cam disc (108, 108?, 108?, 208, 308, 408) extends at a distance r about the pivot point D, which is defined as a function r(?) with a change rate r?(?) and depends on the angular position ? of the cam disc (108, 108?, 108?, 208, 308, 408). The contact surface is configured to effect non-linear transmission between the drive torque of the cam disc (108, 108?, 108?, 208, 308, 408) and the force transmitted to the brake plunger (114, 214, 314).Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2020Date of Patent: February 18, 2025Assignee: ZF CV Systems Europe BVInventors: Peter Beier, Arne Reiners, Jan Reiners, Christoph Moritz
-
Publication number: 20250050857Abstract: A method is provided for operating a brake system of a commercial vehicle having a service brake system, an auxiliary brake system, and braking devices for vehicle wheels. At least one associated service brake actuator is actuated in the service brake system in normal operation when a brake actuating device is actuated, via which a respective associated braking device is actuated. In the auxiliary brake system, a control unit actuates at least one braking device. In the auxiliary brake system, the control unit actuates the at least one braking device by activating at least one auxiliary brake actuator, where the auxiliary brake actuator is accessed by the control unit during emergency operation when actuating the at least one brake actuating device is detected. In this case, the control unit uses the auxiliary brake actuator to set actuation of the at least one braking device to a degree of actuation.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2022Publication date: February 13, 2025Applicants: ZF Friedrichshafen AG, ZF CV Systems Europe BVInventors: Martin Sagmeister, Michael Haverkamp
-
Patent number: 12214761Abstract: An electropneumatic parking-brake valve unit for an electronically controlled pneumatic brake system has a first supply connection to a compressed air source. A spring brake connection connects to a spring brake cylinder of a vehicle. A parking-brake valve arrangement has a bistable valve switchable between switching states wherein a spring brake pressure can be controllable in dependence upon the switching state. A pneumatically switchable holding valve has a holding-valve connection for a first control pressure and the holding valve is connected between the first supply connection and the bistable valve. The holding valve is under a spring load into a first switching position wherein the bistable valve is connected to a deaerator. The bistable valve switches into a second switching position when the first control pressure exceeds a first threshold value. The bistable valve is connected to the first supply connection.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2022Date of Patent: February 4, 2025Assignee: ZF CV Systems Europe BVInventors: Fabian Schuppert, Rudolf Dückmann, Hauke Kraus
-
Patent number: 12202451Abstract: An electropneumatic trailer control module (1) includes a trailer control connection (6) configured to deliver a trailer control pressure (pTC), an electropneumatic trailer control valve arrangement (20) configured to receive a supply pressure (pS) and to provide the trailer control pressure (pTC) and an electronic trailer control connection (24) for providing trailer braking control signals (STB) such that the trailer control pressure (pTC) can be modulated. The electropneumatic trailer control module (1) is characterized by a protection connection (10) for receiving a pneumatic protection pressure (pPR), and a tractor protection unit (22) configured to switch between a supply state (60) and a protection state (56). The invention further relates to an electropneumatic braking system (100), a vehicle (200) and a method (300) for controlling a trailer supply function of an electropneumatic braking system (100).Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2021Date of Patent: January 21, 2025Assignee: ZF CV Systems Europe BVInventors: Lukasz Drelich, Aleksander Fila, Paulina Kuncewicz, Marek Smardz, Pawel Swiatek
-
Patent number: 12202458Abstract: A method for a utility vehicle, in particular a towing vehicle or a vehicle combination with a utility vehicle, includes the following steps carried out with a control unit of the utility vehicle. A status message is received from an electric drive of the utility vehicle or a trailer vehicle towed by the utility vehicle, which indicates that a braking torque can be provided via the electric drive. An offer message, which indicates an offered braking torque, is then generated depending on the status message. Furthermore, the offer message is sent out to or for at least one further control unit of the utility vehicle. The disclosure includes a braking control unit and a braking system for carrying out the method and a utility vehicle or a vehicle combination with the braking control unit or the braking system. The disclosure includes a computer program product for carrying out the method.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2022Date of Patent: January 21, 2025Assignee: ZF CV Systems Europe BVInventors: Daniel Hanslik, Johannes Heseding, Janik Ricke, Torsten Wallbaum
-
Patent number: 12179540Abstract: An air valve assembly housing, in particular an air valve assembly, is for an air valve assembly of a commercial vehicle air suspension system. The air valve assembly housing includes an air exhaust chamber and an actuator chamber configured to accommodate a pneumatic actuator. The pneumatic actuator has a valve body that is configured to move between a closed position and an open position. The air valve assembly housing includes a fluid passageway that extends from the actuator chamber to the air exhaust chamber such that the actuator chamber and the air exhaust chamber are in fluid communication at least when the valve body is in the open position. A number of radially extending protrusions partially obstruct the fluid passageway.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2024Date of Patent: December 31, 2024Assignee: ZF CV Systems Europe BVInventors: Werner Dreyer, Pawel Wysocki, Wojciech Zabieglo, Przemyslaw Zak
-
Patent number: 12172485Abstract: A module is provided for an air suspension system of a vehicle, the module having a sensor interface for connecting to a sensor, in particular a displacement sensor, a valve, in particular an electropneumatic valve, and a data interface. This sensor interface is configured to receive sensor values from the sensor. The data interface is configured to output sensor values received via the sensor interface to a control device, and to receive control commands for controlling the valve from the control device. Furthermore, the disclosure relates to a control device, an air suspension system, a vehicle, a vehicle trailer, a method for operating an air suspension system, and a computer program product.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2022Date of Patent: December 24, 2024Assignee: ZF CV Systems Europe BVInventors: Stefan Filter, Johann Lucas
-
Patent number: 12158188Abstract: A disc brake includes a pressure piece, an adjusting spindle, and an adjustment unit. The adjusting spindle is guided through an opening, provided with a thread unit, of the pressure piece. The adjusting spindle is guided through the adjusting unit, and the adjusting unit protrudes into the opening. The adjusting spindle has a limitation disposed in a thread turn of the adjusting spindle.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2019Date of Patent: December 3, 2024Assignee: ZF CV Systems Europe BVInventors: Roman-Marius Mittendorf, Martin Stumpf