Patents Assigned to ZF Friedrichshafen AG
  • Patent number: 12264736
    Abstract: A lubricant device is configured for supplying lubricant to a planetary carrier of a planetary gearset. A planetary bolt passes through and extends beyond an opening in the planetary carrier to form an axially projecting end area. A collecting tray is configured for guiding lubricant to flow along the collecting tray to the planetary bolt during use. The collecting tray has an annular intermediate element fixed to the collecting tray when assembled, and which faces axially toward the planetary carrier. The intermediate element has first and second radial projections that are spaced axially. At its projecting end area, the planetary bolt has corresponding spaced first and second fixing contours, enabling the first radial projection to be latched into the first fixing contour and the second radial projection to be latched into the second fixing contour to form an axially secure arrangement of the collecting tray and the planetary bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Alfred Junk
  • Patent number: 12264738
    Abstract: A method for adaptively setting a shift point of a multi-speed powershift transmission of a working machine that includes an electric drive system and a control device. The electric drive system has a battery and an electric motor. The multi-speed powershift transmission is connected to the electric drive system. The control device is connected to the electric drive system and the multi-speed powershift transmission in a signal-effective manner. The method includes specifying a tractive force which must be present during shifting operations of the multi-speed powershift transmission, determining a state variable of the electric drive system, and determining based on the state variable and the specified tractive force, a driving speed at which the specified tractive force is essentially maintained during the shifting operation. The method includes setting the shift point at the determined driving speed and carrying out the shifting operation at the shift point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Rico Glöckner, Jan Döring
  • Patent number: 12264725
    Abstract: A device for transmitting torque and axially securing a first torque-transmitting component (1) and a second torque-transmitting component (2) is provided. The first component (1) includes axially projecting first projections (3) distributed over the circumference and have first gaps (4) arranged therebetween. The second component (2) includes radially projecting second projections (5) having second gaps (6) arranged therebetween. Each second projection (5) on the second component (2) protrudes into a respective first gap (4) in the first component (1). At least two of the second projections (5) include a section (8) that projects axially in the direction of the first component (1) and is configured in each case such that, when the device is installed, the section rests axially via an end face (9) against the first component (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Hagen Doepfert, Matthias Reisch
  • Patent number: 12264739
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for operating an interlocking shifting element of a transmission of a vehicle, the interlocking shifting element having shifting element halves which can be moved relative to one another when opening and closing the interlocking shifting element. An electric actuator is arranged to about the relative movement between the shifting element halves when the interlocking shifting element is opened and/or closed. After recognizing a tooth-on-tooth position in the interlocking shifting element, a target torque to be applied at the transmission input is determined as a function of an electric current strength through the electric actuator of the interlocking shifting element, where the target torque is sufficient to resolve the tooth-on-tooth position in the interlocking shifting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Wilhelm Moser, Alain Tierry Chamaken Kamde
  • Publication number: 20250105689
    Abstract: An assembly for cooling a rotor for an electric machine in a housing, wherein the rotor shaft is hollow and supports a coaxial drive shaft such that a radial gap is formed over the length of the rotor shaft between the inner diameter of the rotor shaft and the outer diameter of the drive shaft, wherein a first end of the rotor shaft has a dedicated stationary oil injection sleeve connected to an oil supply in the housing with which oil is injected axially into the radial gap where it is transported toward the second end of the rotor shaft. A vehicle that is or can be powered electrically, which has such an assembly, is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2023
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Moritz Stenger, Marcel Müller, Mario Gudlin
  • Publication number: 20250100314
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for providing a digital emergency card, the method including a user creating (S1) the digital emergency card for a building (2) and storing (S2) the created emergency card in a storage medium (4) of the building (2). In addition, the method includes reading (S3) the stored emergency card from the storage medium (4) and transmitting (4) the emergency card, once read. Furthermore, a system is disclosed which consists of a storage medium (4), a terminal (6), and a transmission and receptions device (8), the system being designed to carry out steps of such a method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2024
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Stefan Traub
  • Publication number: 20250102056
    Abstract: A transmission housing (1) for a motor vehicle, the transmission housing (1) defining an inside space (2) for accommodating moving transmission components and having a venting arrangement (3) for venting the inside space (2) relative to a surrounding atmosphere. The venting arrangement (3) has a venting duct (8) with a venting duct inlet (12) on the inside-space side. The venting arrangement (3) has a collection space (9) upstream from the venting duct inlet (12) with a collection space outlet (11). Also disclosed is a motor vehicle with moving transmission components and a transmission housing (1) of the type described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2024
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ronny Hoppe, Hermann Lanz, Frank Sauter, Andreas Reisch
  • Patent number: 12259001
    Abstract: An inner sliding surface for a radial plain bearing, including four circle arcs in at least one cross section. A first arc and a second arc of the four circle arcs lie on different sides of a longitudinal sectional plane which intersects a third arc of the four circle arcs, a fourth arc of the four circle arcs and a common center point of the third arc and the fourth arc. The first arc and a center point of the first arc lie on different sides of the longitudinal sectional plane, and the second arc and a center point of the second arc lie on different sides of the longitudinal sectional plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignees: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG, ZF WIND POWER ANTWERPEN N.V.
    Inventors: Maarten Ooms, Koen Krieckemans, Michel Goovaerts, Dennis Witter
  • Patent number: 12251972
    Abstract: A vibration damper with a damper piston which is arranged in a main tube with hydraulic medium and can be moved to and fro in an axial direction relative to the main tube. The main tube is arranged in a container tube, wherein an intermediate tube is arranged between the main tube and the container tube. The main tube, the intermediate tube and the container tube are arranged coaxially in a three-tube damper. The damper piston is attached at one end of a piston rod. The three-tube damper is equipped with a hydraulic end-position damping and at its end opposite the piston rod, has a central valve block with two damper valve devices. The central valve block is partially fitted with an air spring resting on an axial support ring which is connected by a single main weld seam to the container tube and central valve block by substance bonding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignees: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft, ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Swen Zschocke, Robert Schreiber, Rainer Beilner
  • Patent number: 12255525
    Abstract: A method for actuating a circuit arrangement for power semiconductors of an inverter with at least one phase, having at least two semiconductor switches, each of which has at least two power semiconductors consisting of different semiconductor materials and connected in parallel with one another, wherein the method includes switching over between the at least two power semiconductors of different semiconductor materials within a clock period in each of the phases in each case at a first or last switching time of a switchover between the at least two semiconductor switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Fabian Hohmann, Michael Meiler
  • Patent number: 12253145
    Abstract: A transmission includes an input shaft, two output shafts, at least three bearings and a differential. A first planetary gear set includes multiple gear set elements, and a second planetary gear set includes multiple gear set elements and is operatively connected to the first planetary gear set. A first output torque is at least indirectly transmittable onto the first output shaft by the first planetary gear set. One of the three bearings is arranged between the second output shaft and a stationary component and delimits the axial position of the second output shaft with respect to the stationary component at least in one axial direction. The second gear set element of the first planetary gear set is axially fixed at least in one axial direction on the first output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Philip Dötschel, Tamas Gyarmati, Matthias Reisch
  • Patent number: 12253150
    Abstract: A transmission (1) for a drive train of a vehicle (100) includes an input shaft (2), a first output shaft (3), a second output shaft (4) and a differential arranged in power flow between the input shaft (2) and the two output shafts (3, 4). A first output torque is transmittable onto the first output shaft (3) by the first planetary gear set (5). A support torque of the first planetary gear set (5) is convertible in the second planetary gear set (6) such that a second output torque is transmittable onto the second output shaft (4). The second planetary gear set (6) is axially adjacent to the first planetary gear set (5), and the planet gears (5.4) of the first planetary gear set (5) do not axially overlap the planet gears (6.4) of the second planetary gear set (6). A second gear set element in the first planetary gear set (5) is a ring gear (5.2) and is connected to a first gear set element in the second planetary gear set (6), which is a sun gear (6.1), for conjoint rotation. The sun gear (6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Tamas Gyarmati, Philip Dötschel, Matthias Reisch
  • Patent number: 12246702
    Abstract: A method for stabilizing a vehicle (100) in which the vehicle (100) has a roll stabilizer (120), which is designed to stabilize a first axle (101) and a second axle (102) as a function of a roll torque distribution between the first axle (101) and the second axle (102). The method comprises a step of determining a sideslip angle index from a difference between a transverse acceleration calculated from a yaw rate of the vehicle (100) and a speed of the vehicle (100), and a detected transverse acceleration of the vehicle (100). The sideslip angle index is related to a sideslip angle of the vehicle (100). The method also comprises a step of generating a control signal (160) using the sideslip angle index. The control signal (160) is suitable for adjusting the roll torque distribution of the roll stabilizer (120) as a function of the determined sideslip angle index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Axel Bolta, Michael Beller
  • Publication number: 20250079407
    Abstract: A power electronics module includes first and second printed circuit boards, each having an upper and lower layer made of an electrically conductive material and a middle layer made of a non-conductive material, a high-side assembly having a power semiconductor forming a high-side switch, and a low-side assembly having a power semiconductor forming a low-side switch, wherein the first printed circuit board is placed opposite the second printed circuit board such that the upper layers face one another, wherein the upper layer of the first printed circuit board forms an AC-phase connection, and wherein the upper layer of the second printed circuit board forms a DC? and DC+ connection, and AC connections of the power semiconductors point toward and contact the upper layer of the first printed circuit board, and the DC connections for the power semiconductors point toward and contact the upper layer of the second printed circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2024
    Publication date: March 6, 2025
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ake Ewald, Stefan Hain
  • Publication number: 20250079932
    Abstract: A coaxial electric drive device includes a hollow motor shaft and a speed reducer drivingly connected to the motor shaft, two ends of the motor shaft being rotatably supported by a pair of bearings, and an output shaft of the speed reducer being coaxially arranged with clearance within the motor shaft, a flow channel for communicating the outside with an annular clearance between the output shaft and the motor shaft provided in the output shaft; a pair of seals provided in the annular clearance at positions corresponding to the bearings, and a pair of through holes directed to the bearings provided at portions of the motor shaft close to seals. The medium enters the annular clearance from the flow channel to lubricate and cool the motor shaft, and can flow to the bearings through the through holes of the shaft to lubricate and cool the bearings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2024
    Publication date: March 6, 2025
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Jiabin Sun, Ningzhong Fei
  • Publication number: 20250079264
    Abstract: A semiconductor power module including a plurality of inverter units, each including power chips, an AC terminal, a DC positive terminal, and a DC negative terminal, an upper surface of the AC terminal being connected to the power chips and having first heat dissipation columns arranged on a lower surface, an upper surface of the DC positive terminal being connected to the power chips and having a second heat dissipation columns arranged on a lower surface; and a liquid tank having a groove for containing a coolant. The AC terminal and DC positive terminal lower surfaces face the groove, the first and second heat dissipation columns extending into the groove, and the coolant being an insulating liquid. Heat from the semiconductor power module is not transferred through the insulating layer, but is directly transferred to the coolant through the terminals, which provides an advantage of high heat dissipation efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2024
    Publication date: March 6, 2025
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Shaozhi Yuan, Qing Xu
  • Patent number: 12241547
    Abstract: A transmission is between a drive aggregate and a drive output of a vehicle drivetrain and includes a hydrodynamic starting element and a powershiftable main transmission having a plurality of forward gears and at least one reversing gear. The main transmission has frictional shifting elements, where in each gear a first number of shifting elements are closed and a second number of shifting elements are open. A downstream range group is connected downstream from the main transmission and has at least one interlocking shifting element that can be shifted between first a second driving ranges. With the drive aggregate running, the motor vehicle at a standstill or nearly so, and the main transmission in neutral, a shift request to change the downstream range group is received. The shifting elements of a reversing gear are at least partially closed, and the driving range of the downstream range group is then changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ulf Lang, Jürgen Blaser
  • Patent number: 12240320
    Abstract: A method for controlling a driving dynamics function of a working machine with at least two vehicle axles. A current actual wheel rotational speed of at least one wheel is detected and sent to a control unit for comparison with an acceptable wheel rotational speed of the same wheel and wheel slip is calculated from that comparison. The control unit emits a control signal to lock at least one differential gear system if the wheel slip has an unacceptable value. For the differential gear system (4, 5, 6, 7, 8) concerned, an unlocking control signal is periodically emitted and the wheel rotational speeds are compared afresh. A control signal to lock the differential gear system concerned is emitted again if the value of the wheel slip is still unacceptable, and a trajectory is detected with reference to detection elements, along which the value of the wheel slip of the at least one wheel has been unacceptable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Rebholz, Matthias Längle, Joachim Sauter
  • Patent number: 12244247
    Abstract: A half-bridge having semiconductor switch elements embedded in a modular layer system that comprises a contact plane and a metal plating for establishing contact with the semiconductor switch elements, wherein the signal connections and power connections are located on a first surface of the substrate, wherein the modular layer system, signal connections and power connections are cast in a casting compound, wherein external sections of the power connections and/or signal connections formed in the conductor frame each extend from the casting compound, from a second surface that is orthogonal to the first surface, wherein the external sections each have an end that is perpendicular to the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ivonne Trenz, Manuel Raimann, Thomas Bosch, Ruben Bärenweiler
  • Patent number: 12240329
    Abstract: Apparatus (102) for providing an operating energy (110) for an auxiliary drive (106) for an electric vehicle (100). The apparatus (102) has a battery interface (112) for connecting the apparatus (102) to a vehicle battery (104), a bidirectional inverter (114) having a first terminal for connecting the inverter (114) to the battery interface (112) and a second terminal. The inverter (114) is formed to convert a DC voltage into an AC voltage and back. A switch with a terminal which the switch to the second terminal, to an auxiliary interface (116) for connecting the apparatus (102) to the auxiliary drive (106) and to a charge interface (212) for feeding electrical energy (214) into the apparatus (102). The switch connects the charge interface to the switch and to the auxiliary interface (116). The apparatus (102) has a control device for providing the boost signal and the charge signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Frank Seemann, Andre Ehrsam, Martin Mach, Zbynek Štepán, Vladimir Dvorak, Gabriel Scherer, Matthias Engicht