Patents Assigned to ZF Friedrichshafen AG
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Patent number: 11791699Abstract: A rotor arrangement (1a, 1b) for an electric machine of a vehicle. The rotor arrangement (1a, 1b) comprises a rotor lamination stack (4) and the rotor arrangement further comprises a rotor support (2a, 2b). The rotor support (2a, 2b) carries the rotor lamination stack (4), which is arranged on the radially outer side (6a, 6b) of the rotor support (2a, 2b). A retaining element is arranged on the outer side (6a, 6b) of the rotor support at the end on the rotor lamination stack (4). The retaining element is a one-piece, closed retaining ring (5a, 5b) with an axial ring width (SR) and with at least a first ring diameter (R1). The first ring diameter (R1) is smaller than or equal to the rotor support diameter (TR), so that the rotor laminate stack (4) is secured axially in a rotationally fixed manner. The invention also relates to two production methods.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2021Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Rayk Gersten, Stefan Spühler
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Patent number: 11787428Abstract: A diagnostic method for an automated vehicle includes monitoring data from a first vehicle subsystem of a plurality of vehicle subsystems to establish a current operating zone for the first vehicle subsystem, transmitting a master diagnostic message with an anomalous status for the first vehicle subsystem in response to the current operating zone for the first vehicle subsystem being outside of an anomalous behavior boundary of a normal operating zone for the first vehicle subsystem for at least a predetermined period of time, the common master diagnostic message being transmitted to each vehicle subsystem of the plurality of vehicle subsystems, and adjusting operation of at least a second one of the plurality of vehicle subsystems in response to receiving the master diagnostic message with the anomalous status for the first vehicle subsystem. A related diagnostic system is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2021Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Ananda Pandy, Daniel Williams, Shreyas Chaudhari
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Patent number: 11789113Abstract: An evaluation device for obtaining a segmentation of an environment from a radar recording of the environment, that has an input interface configured to obtain initial training data, where the initial training data comprise radar data of the radar recording and initial characteristics of objects located in the environment recorded with a radar sensor that generates the radar recordings, and where the evaluation device is configured to forward propagate an artificial neural network with the initial training data to obtain second characteristics of the objects determined with the artificial neural network in the forward propagation, and to obtain weighting factors for neural connections of the artificial neural network through backward propagation of the artificial neural network with the differences between the second characteristics and the initial characteristics, in order to obtain the segmentation of the environment through renewed forward propagation with these radar data.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2019Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Benjamin Sick, Michael Walter
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Patent number: 11787325Abstract: A navigational system for guiding a boat onto a trailer comprising at least a portion of a tow vehicle which forms a natural marker for the navigation system. A camera is located on the boat to assist the navigational system with aligning a longitudinal axis of the boat with a longitudinal axis of the trailer. A central vertical (mid) axis of the camera is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the boat. An image processing unit receives and processes images from the camera. The image processing unit, based upon a determination of a position of the central vertical (mid) axis of the camera relative to a target area of the detected natural marker, generating guidance commands to assist a user with alignment of the longitudinal axis of the boat with the longitudinal axis of the trailer and thereby facilitate proper loading of the boat onto the trailer.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2021Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignees: ZF Friedrichshafen AG, ZF Marine Propulsion Systems Miramar, LLCInventors: Stefan Traub, Gabriela Jager, Lars Hoffmann, Andrew Orvieto
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Publication number: 20230325640Abstract: A system for rendering an explanation output for users regarding an anomaly predicted by an anomaly detection module on the basis of high frequency sensor data or values derived therefrom in an industrial production process, wherein the anomaly detection module predicts the anomalies when the anomaly detection module classifies sensor data or ranges of sensor data that describe a state of a machine, a component, and/or a product of the production process as different from the data that are normally expected, wherein the system is configured to send an optimized explanation mask as a rendering of the explanation output for a user, wherein the user can identify which sensor data, ranges of sensor data, or values derived therefrom are responsible for the anomaly predicted by the anomaly detection module based on the optimized explanation mask.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2023Publication date: October 12, 2023Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Nicolas THEWES, Georg SCHNEIDER
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Publication number: 20230323937Abstract: The invention relates to a gearwheel (1, 11, 31) with a three-part structure consisting of an outer toothed rim (2), a connecting element (3), and a hub element (4). The outer toothed rim (2) has a plurality of teeth (5) and is made of a plastic material injection-molded onto an outer edge (16) of the connecting element (3). The connecting element (3) has a central through-going opening (7) and the hub element (4) is arranged in the said through-going opening (7). To enable a lighter and/or inexpensive structure, the gearwheel (1, 11, 31) is characterized in that the thickness of the connecting element (3) is less than that of the hub element (4), and the connecting element (3) has a plurality of reinforcing structures (17, 24).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2023Publication date: October 12, 2023Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Marcel Pleyer, Remt Blankenspeck, Thorsten Kamphaus
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Publication number: 20230324257Abstract: The invention relates to a coupling module for a drive train test stand for connecting an articulated shaft to a driveshaft. The coupling module includes a wheel rim and a wheel cap. The wheel rim can be rotationally fixed to the driveshaft. The wheel cap has a base surface and a lateral wall. The wheel cap can be rotationally fixed to the articulated shaft. A vehicle wheel is arranged on the wheel rim, the trad of the wheel being in frictional contact with the inner face of the lateral wall of the wheel cap. Also disclosed is a corresponding output module for a drive train test stand and to a drive train test stand for testing a vehicle drive train.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2021Publication date: October 12, 2023Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventor: Christian Hell
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Patent number: 11780495Abstract: Wheel suspension has a steering knuckle support with two hole openings opposed to one another in an axial direction and form openings of a mounting hole, two axle pins spaced apart axially, extend in axial direction and engage in the mounting hole through the hole openings, and a chassis component supported at axial end portions of the axle pins to be swivelable relative to the steering knuckle. A first contact area at the hole openings has a conical inner circumferential surface. The conical inner circumferential surfaces of the first contact areas narrow in diameter toward one another in axial direction. The axle pins have a second contact area with a conical outer circumferential surface that narrow in diameter toward one another in axial direction and contact the conical inner circumferential surfaces of the first contact areas.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2020Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Günter Reddehase, Janina Altmeppen, Frank Scheper
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Patent number: 11780328Abstract: A drive device for an electrically driven axle of a motor vehicle may include at least one electric machine, a shiftable transmission connected downstream from the at least one electric machine, and a differential coupled to the transmission for distributing drive torque to the axle. The transmission has first and second planetary gear sets connected in series. The at least one electric machine engages with an external toothing of a ring gear of the first planetary gear set. A carrier of the first planetary gear set is rotationally fixed to a sun gear of the second planetary gear set. A sun gear of the first planetary gear set is detachably couplable to a housing. A ring gear of the second planetary gear set is coupled to the housing. A carrier of the second planetary gear set is an output of the transmission. The first planetary gear set is interlockable.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2019Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignees: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG, ZF DRIVETECH (SUZHOU) CO. LTD.Inventors: Frank Seemann, Paul Lenz, Andreas Grossl, Werner Hechberger, Kai Bornträger, Maik Wörl, Marco Di Sarno, Cong Ren
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Publication number: 20230311628Abstract: Disclosed is a drive unit for a drive axle of a vehicle having a first and second electric machines, a differential and a transmission with first and a second transmission input shafts, a transmission output shaft, at least a first planetary gearset. A first shifting unit has three shift positions. In a first shift position, a second element is connected to a rotationally fixed component. In a second shift position two of the three elements of the first planetary gearset are connected rotationally fixed to one another. A second shifting unit has exactly three shift positions. In a first shift position a first transmission input shaft and a second transmission input shaft are connected rotationally fixed to one another. In a second shift position the second transmission input shaft is connected at least indirectly to the second element of the first planetary gearset.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2023Publication date: October 5, 2023Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventor: Niclas Raeder
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Publication number: 20230314279Abstract: A test stand includes a base frame and a bearing housing defining a frustoconical recess. A bearing unit has a bearing sleeve defining a through-going bearing bore coaxial with a rotation axis. A bearing shaft is rotatably mounted in the bearing bore. A contour of an outer conical wall of the bearing sleeve is at least partially identical with a contour of the frustoconical recess, where the bearing unit is detachably arranged in contact with the frustoconical recess. A fixing element on the distal end of the bearing shaft is configured for detachably fixing a test object. A test stand drive is arranged on the base frame and has a test shaft configured to be driven in rotation about the rotation axis, where the test shaft is configured to be connected coaxially to the bearing shaft of the bearing unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2020Publication date: October 5, 2023Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Matthias Juse, Christian Hell
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Publication number: 20230311629Abstract: The invention relates to a drive unit for a drive axle of a vehicle, comprising a first and a second electric machine, a differential with a differential input and two differential output shafts which are designed to be drivingly connected to a respective drive wheel of the drive axle, and a transmission. The transmission comprises a first transmission input shaft for connecting to the first electric machine, a second transmission input shaft for connecting to the second electric machine, a transmission output shaft for connecting to the differential, a first shifting unit with three shifting elements, a second shifting unit with two shifting elements, and two planetary gearsets coupled to one another. The differential is arranged with its axis parallel to the two electric machines and to the transmission, and the transmission output shaft is connected by a first spur gear stage to a differential input.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2023Publication date: October 5, 2023Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventor: Niclas Raeder
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Patent number: 11773969Abstract: Disclosed is a method for operating a multi-gear vehicle transmission having a plurality of shifting elements (A, B, C, D, E) for engaging the gears of the vehicle transmission, where, in a neutral gear an input (AN) and an output (AB) of the vehicle transmission are decoupled from one another, and where, in a driving gear the input (AN) and the output (AB) of the vehicle transmission are coupled to one another in order to propel the vehicle, by closing at least one shifting element (B). When the neutral gear is engaged, at least an actuation condition of a vehicle brake (11) and a transmission condition with elevated drag losses are detected, where, when the neutral gear is engaged, the shifting element (B) for the driving gear is vented if it is recognized that the vehicle brake (11) has been released and the transmission condition with elevated drag losses pertains.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2022Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Jürgen Blaser, Fabian Ley, Jens Winter
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Patent number: 11773967Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating a multi-gear vehicle transmission in a motor vehicle during a coasting phase. The coasting phase includes an overrun phase with a driving gear engaged and a freewheeling phase with the neutral gear engaged. It is determined whether the motor vehicle is in the overrun phase of the coasting phase, whether a condition for a transition to the freewheeling phase of the coasting phase is fulfilled, and whether a transmission condition with elevated drag losses exists. If the motor vehicle is in the overrun phase of the coasting phase, if the condition for transition to the freewheeling phase is fulfilled, and if a transmission condition with elevated drag losses exists, then at least one further shifting element (D, E) is closed in addition to the shifting elements (A, B, C) of the driving gear, which are closed during the overrun phase of the motor vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2022Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventor: Ralf Beck
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Patent number: 11773966Abstract: Disclosed is a method for operating a multi-gear vehicle transmission having a plurality of shifting elements (A, B, C, D, E) for engaging gears of the vehicle transmission. In a neutral gear, in which some of the shifting elements (A, B) are already actuated, a transmission input (1) is decoupled from a transmission output (2) of the vehicle transmission. In a driving gear the transmission input (1) is coupled to the transmission output (2) of the vehicle transmission by closing the shifting elements (A, B, C, D, E) associated with the driving gear, in order to propel the vehicle. With the neutral gear engaged a transmission condition is determined, and if a transmission condition with elevated drag losses exists, then in addition to the shifting elements (A, B) actuated in the neutral gear a shifting element (D) associated with a reversing gear of the vehicle transmission is also closed.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2022Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventor: Ralf Beck
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Patent number: 11772212Abstract: The relates to a method for producing and machining a cylindrical hollow body constructed of aluminium or an aluminium alloy and for arranging said hollow body in a motor vehicle transmission. The hollow body is produced by a casting process such that the hollow body has an inner and an outer lateral surface and has teeth in at least one sub-region of the inner lateral surface. For machining, the hollow body is centrally clamped. The hollow body is arranged in the vehicle transmission by tooth flanks of the internal teeth. In the disclosed method according to the disclosure, the hollow body is centrally clamped at a tip diameter of the internal teeth. The disclosure further relates to a corresponding cylindrical hollow body and to a corresponding vehicle transmission.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2020Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Christian Ruhl, Helmut Boehm, Martin Brehmer
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Publication number: 20230306798Abstract: Disclosed is a method for registering items of equipment (103) for a vehicle. In each case an ID code is assigned to the items of equipment (103) and wherein the items of equipment (103) comprise in each case at least one transmission means (105). The ID codes are transmitted by the transmission means (105) concerned to the recording means (101) and registered by the recording means (101).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2023Publication date: September 28, 2023Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Stefan Traub, Alan Dittrich
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Patent number: 11767889Abstract: A cooling oil guiding device for a clutch actuatable by an axially movable piston. The piston is radially inward of the clutch, and separates a pressure space and a compensation space. The compensation space is delimited by an axially stationary compensation space cover and a seal cover coupled to the piston. The compensation space cover and the seal cover axially overlap radially outwardly and are axially movable relative to one another via a sealing element. An overflow opening connects the compensation space to an oil channel in the seal cover between the seal cover and the piston, the oil channel opens radially outward. A control edge is provided at a component part axially immovable relative to the piston, by which an oil flow exiting from the oil channel is guided through the clutch when the clutch is closed and is guided past the clutch when the clutch is open.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2020Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Steffen Matschas, Axel Rohm, Ingo Krafft, Monika Rößner, Angelika Ebert, Julian Larbig
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Patent number: 11767908Abstract: An arrangement includes a first component having a first groove and a second groove. The arrangement further includes a second component and a fluid transfer ring fixed to the second component. The fluid transfer ring engages with a first wall and a second wall in the first groove such that the fluid transfer ring and the first groove form a first cavity. The first component and the second component are rotatable relative to each other. The fluid transfer ring further engages with a third wall in the second groove such that the fluid transfer ring and the second groove form a second cavity.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2019Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignees: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG, ZF WIND POWER ANTWERPEN N.V.Inventors: Stijn Rottiers, Wim De Laet
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Patent number: 11767911Abstract: Disclosed is a method for operating a multi-speed vehicle transmission having a plurality of shift elements (A, B, C, D, E) for engaging the gears of the vehicle transmission. The method includes decoupling between an input (AN) and an output (AB) of the vehicle transmission in a neutral gear, and coupling the input (AN) and the output (AB) of the vehicle transmission in a drive gear for propelling the vehicle by closing at least one shift element (B). At least one transmission state is determined when the neutral gear is engaged, where a shift element (D) for a reverse gear of the vehicle transmission is closed at least partially if the transmission is in a state with increased drag losses when the neutral gear is engaged.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2022Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Fabian Ley, Jürgen Blaser, Sascha Fiesel, Wolfgang Rapp