Patents Assigned to ZF Friedrichshafen AG
  • Patent number: 7052436
    Abstract: A motor vehicle for controlling an automatic gearshift stepped variable speed transmission that can be driven by a drive engine, in which, depending on an accelerator pedal position and an engine speed, upshifts or downshifts between the gear steps are triggered automatically and in which a kick-down switch is present. In a first speed range below a first boundary speed (n1) actuation of the kick-down switch triggers a downshift. For one or more upper gear steps in a second engine speed range above a second boundary speed (n_KD_Schw), even at high loads, no downshifts is triggered and an upshift is only triggered by actuation of the kick-down switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Bernd Döbele
  • Patent number: 7053504
    Abstract: A switching system, preferably for use in the power supply of motor vehicles, and having one chargeable energy memory of a specific voltage level and consumers situated in the circuit of the energy memory is further developed so that a significant power load is thoroughly prevented even in the case of a high momentary power requirement of the electric consumers. The energy memory is designed for this purpose as power-limiting primary memory (1) to ensure the operation of a first group of consumers (2). The switching system further has a secondary energy memory (4) chargeable proceeding from the primary energy memory (1) which makes energy available to a second group of consumers (5) so that during energy delivery from the secondary energy memory (4) to the consumers (5) of the second group a feedback to the primary energy memory (1) is thoroughly prevented even during loading of the same by consumers (2) of the first group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Karl-Hermann Ketteler
  • Patent number: 7051833
    Abstract: In a gantry axle for low-platform vehicles, the gantry transmission consists of one input spur gear (2) operatively connected with a first intermediate spur gear (3) non-rotatably connected with a second intermediate spur gear (4) operatively connected with an output spur gear (5). The vertical distance of the axis of rotation (10) of the input spur gear to the ground (11) is smaller than the vertical distance of the intermediate spur gears (9, 4) to the ground (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Rudolf Neumüller, Stefan Häubler
  • Patent number: 7044889
    Abstract: A control system, method for control, and control software for operating a startup shift element of an automated motor vehicle transmission or automatic transmission capable of electro-hydraulic or electro-pneumatic actuation with an electronic transmission control device, whereby the startup shift element may be shifted hydraulically or pneumatically in emergency mode even if the electronic control device fails. The control system includes a transmission-independent control module, and a emergency-operation mode shift valve capable of electrical triggering, that controls the hydraulic or pneumatic actuation device of the startup shift element. If the transmission-independent control module fails during transmission emergency-mode operation, the startup shift element is capable of actuation by means of the electrical triggering of the emergency-operation mode shift valve via the transmission-independent control module. This may particularly control a motor-vehicle startup procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Dirk Habeck
  • Patent number: 7044279
    Abstract: To achieve precise control of a clutch arranged inside a converter housing (1) and which connects the converter housing (1) to a pump impeller wheel (3), the converter's internal pressure, which acts on a piston (9) of the actuation device of a clutch (2), is determined by a pressure sensor (12) and the actuation pressure, which acts on the piston (9) in the opposite direction, is adjusted accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Fritz Leber
  • Patent number: 7040472
    Abstract: A transfer case (1) with controllable clutch (5) for a motor vehicle, especially for a motor vehicle with part-time four-wheel drive, for distributing a driving torque coming in via a drive shaft (2) to at least two output shafts (3, 4). Hereby the output shaft (4) can be connected to the drive shaft (2) via the clutch (5), and the clutch (5) can be actuated via an electric motor (9) and a drive converter device (10) that is arranged between the electric motor (9) and the clutch (5) for converting a rotatory motion of the electric motor (9) into a translatory actuating motion for the clutch (5). The electric motor (9) is hereby designed as an induction motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ünal Gazyakan, Detlef Baasch, Christoph Pelchen, Barbara Schmohl
  • Patent number: 7032730
    Abstract: A vehicle gearbox (2) comprises a centrally operating device (28) for releasing the clutch (6), which is provided between the clutch disc and the clutch bell housing of the gearbox (2). A transmission control unit (22) provided on or in the gearbox (2) is both electrically connected directly with the device (28) and the medium for actuating the clutch (6) is received directly from the transmission control unit (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Wilhelm Härdtle
  • Patent number: 7029409
    Abstract: A hydraulic system of a CVT transmission of a motor vehicle is proposed, which has an oil pump for conveying oil from an oil sump to a variator comprising a first pulley set and a second pulley set. In each case, a valve mechanism is provided for controlling a pressure acting on the pulley set concerned. Between the valve mechanisms associated with the respective pulley sets is arranged a pressure selector valve, whose position determines which of the the valve mechanisms controls a main pressure to be delivered by the oil pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Stefan Sommer, Andreas Piepenbrink
  • Patent number: 7029421
    Abstract: A method is described for operating an automatic transmission in which a command for changing a current ratio of the automatic transmission is generated when achieving preset operating states of the vehicle automatically or by manual input in a manual shifting mode, the activated manual shifting mode being preferred to an automatic shifting mode. The manual shifting mode is quit when a current vehicle speed is less than a threshold value, or when a longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle is within a defined range, a lateral acceleration is less than a threshold value and a driver type evaluation counter is less than a limiting value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Markus Henneken, Friedemann Jauch, Franz-Josef Schuler, Thomas Mauz, Michael Kiefer
  • Patent number: 7028820
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic clutch arrangement is provided with at least a pump wheel and a turbine wheel to form a hydrodynamic circuit in a clutch housing, the drive-side wall of the housing being connected on the side facing the drive unit, such as an internal combustion engine, to the drive unit, a clutch device being provided to bring the housing into or out of working connection with the pump wheel. The clutch device is located inside the clutch housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Herbert Johann, Herbert Schmid, Fritz Leber
  • Patent number: 7025703
    Abstract: A multi-stage automatic transmission possesses an input drive shaft (AN), an output drive shaft (AB), three single planetary gear sets (RS1, RS2, RS3) as well as five shifting elements (A to E), by means of the pairwise selective closure of which, an entry speed of rotation of the input drive shaft (AN) can be transmitted to the output drive shaft (AB) without group shifting. A sun gear (SO3) of the third planetary gear set (RS3) can be set motionless by the first shifting element (A) on the transmission housing (GG). The input drive shaft (AN) is bound to a sun gear (SO2) of the second planetary gear set (RS2) and by means of the second shifting element (B) can be connected with a sun gear (SO1) of the first planetary gear set (RS1) and/or by means of the fifth shifting element (E) with a spider (ST1) of the first planetary gear set (RS1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Gabor Diosi, Josef Haupt, Martin Brehmer
  • Patent number: 7021170
    Abstract: In an automated multi-group transmission consisting of one front-mounted group, one main group and one range group and in which the front-mounted group transmission and the range group transmission comprise a first shifting position for a low-speed total transmission ratio, a second shifting position for a high-speed total transmission ratio and a third shifting position as neutral position for interrupting the torque transmission, in a gear-shifting method for gear change, the range group transmission and the front-mounted group transmission are simultaneously brought to their respective neutral shifting position, which makes it possible to shift a deceleration of the main transmission. With the start of the gear-shifting process in the neutral positions, there also begins the control of the engine rotational speed to the total ratio of the target gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Bernd Döbele
  • Patent number: 7022044
    Abstract: To reduce the structural volume of a drive engine (1) in a drive train of a mobile vehicle, in particular a working machine such as a wheel loader, a continuously adjustable transmission gear is arranged between the drive engine (1) and a hydraulic pump (5) for the working hydraulic system, which can be adjusted as a function of the load condition of the drive engine (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Jürgen Legner, Wolfgang Rebholz
  • Patent number: 7021441
    Abstract: A distributor gear (1) with an adjustable coupling device (5) for a vehicle, in particular for a vehicle with a shiftable all-wheel drive is described for the distribution of an incoming drive torque via a drive shaft (2) to at least two output shafts (3, 4). It is moreover provided that an output shaft (4) can be connected via the coupling device (5) with the drive shaft (2) and that the coupling device (5) can be actuated via an electric motor (9) and a drive converter device (10) located between the electric motor (9) and the coupling device (5) for the conversion of rotary movement of the electric motor (9) into a translatory actuation movement for the coupling device (5). The electric motor (9) is incorporated into a gear (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Claus Granzow, Karl-Hermann Ketteler, Ünal Gazyakan, Detlef Baasch, Christoph Pelchen, Barbara Schmohl
  • Patent number: 7021168
    Abstract: A selector transmission with countershaft design is described which comprises one input shaft (2), one output shaft (3), one main shaft (4) situated therebetween and one countershaft (5) interacting with the main shaft (4), shiftable gear wheel pairs being located upon the main shaft (4) and the countershaft (5). The main shaft (4) and the countershaft (5) are disposed at an angle (?) to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Rolf Bürkle, Hermann Lanz, Martin Lamke
  • Patent number: 7021605
    Abstract: A control valve (1) comprises a housing (2) manufactured by a pressure die casting process, whose housing edges of upper semicircular bore hole are located exactly vertically above housing edges of lower semicircular bore hole and for this reason, the mold slide that forms the control edges (21) no longer has any contact point with the housing (2) and, as a consequence, symmetrical control edges (21) arise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Otto Lutz
  • Patent number: 7018319
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-step gear, comprising a drive shaft (1) linked with a front-mounted gear train (VS), an output shaft (2) linked with a rear-mounted gear train (NS), and maximally seven shift elements (A, B, C, D, E, D?, A?) through the selective shifting of which at least seven forward gears can be shifted without group shifts. The front-mounted gear train (VS) is formed by a front-mounted planetary gear (VS1) or maximally two non-shiftable front-mounted planetary gears (VS2) coupled with the first front-mounted planetary gear (VS1). The rear-mounted gear train (NS) is configured as a two-stage/four-shaft transmission with two shiftable rear-mounted planetary gears (NS1, NS2) and four free shafts. The first free shaft of said two-stage/four-shaft transmission is linked with the first shift element (A), the second free shaft with the second and third shift elements (B, C), the third free shaft with the fourth and fifth shift element (D, E) and the fourth free shaft with the output shaft (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Peter Ziemer
  • Patent number: 7017722
    Abstract: To control one clutch (2) in a hydrodynamic torque converter, the pressure acting upon one first piston area (4) is supplied to a control unit which, depending on the pressure, adjusts the pressure acting upon a second piston area (5). It is possible to exactly adjust the piston force acting upon a clutch (2) even in the presence of changing pressure ratios within the hydrodynamic torque converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Fritz Leber
  • Patent number: 7014583
    Abstract: The invention concerns a continuously variable belt-drive transmission, especially for motor vehicles. In the pressure less state of the transmission, the axially displaceable cone pulley of the input shaft is loaded with an axial force by a spring system in a manner such that the contact pressure increases on the belt-drive mechanisms and the ratio of the transmission is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Gabor Diosi, Michael Kamm
  • Patent number: 7014028
    Abstract: A drive device comprises a first switchgear (9) and a second switchgear (11) which can be actuated respectively hydraulic pressure in an opening direction and via spring force in a closing direction, and which are provided with a device (26) by which the first switchgear (9) and the second switchgear (11) are to be actuated in the opening direction when the switchgears are actuated in the closing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Buck, Helmut Eymüller, Siegfried Stützle