Patents Assigned to ZF Friedrichshafen AG
  • Publication number: 20230400092
    Abstract: An axle drive for a motor vehicle, comprising an electric machine coupled by a rotor shaft to a transmission for the axle drive, wherein a torque can be transferred from the electric machine to an intermediate shaft with a first gear stage and from the intermediate shaft to another gear train, in particular a differential, with a second gear stage, wherein the rotor shaft or a shaft segment coupled to the rotor shaft is supported in a bearing element, wherein a fluid supply is designed to convey a liquid, in particular oil, into an intermediate space between the bearing element and a side shaft on the axle drive through a fluid channel, and from the intermediate space into the rotor chamber in the electric machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Thomas KÖLBL, Stephan BRANDL, Heidi BARTLSPERGER, Nils TRÜMPER, Christina WEBER, Sophia SCHUBERT, Alois BIEREDER
  • Publication number: 20230398862
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrically driveable drive axle (19) for an all-terrain utility vehicle, comprising a first drivetrain (20) with a first electric motor (21), with a first transmission (22) and with a first drive output (23), and comprising a second drivetrain (30) with a second electric motor (31), with a second transmission (32) and with a second output (33), wherein the first drivetrain (20) and the second drivetrain (30) are arranged in a common housing (40) and/or on the common housing (40), and wherein the first drivetrain (20) forms a first torque path and the second drivetrain (30) forms a second torque path. The drive axle (10) according to the invention is characterized in that the first torque path and the second torque path are mechanically separate from one another. The invention furthermore relates to a corresponding vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Maximilian Winkler, Alexander Mühlbauer, Florian Felbinger, Willi Rometsch, Franz Reitinger, Johannes Auburger, Ulrich Solka, Hendrik Frisch
  • Patent number: 11841001
    Abstract: A method for directly determining a theoretical damage of at least one component of a device includes providing load-specific reference data in an evaluation unit, sensing actual load-specific data by a load sensing system, and transmitting the actual, load-specific data to the evaluation unit. The actual load-specific data includes classified load collectives comprising a dwell time of occurring damage variables at defined load levels, a number of load changes of occurring damage variables, and an event count of occurring damage variables. The method further includes scaling the load-specific reference data to the actual load-specific data for calculating the theoretical damage of the at least one component and determining a remaining service life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Johannes Schaefer, Marco Sticker
  • Patent number: 11843288
    Abstract: A rotor (1) for an electric machine (2) includes at least one sensor element (3) configured for detecting at least one condition variable of the rotor (1), a signal processing unit (4) connected to the at least one sensor element (3) and configured for generating measured data from the detected condition variable of the rotor (1) and transmitting the measured data to a control device (5), and at least one induction coil (7) that includes at least one electrical conductor (8), is arranged at least indirectly on an end face of the rotor (1), and is configured for generating electrical energy from a magnetic front stray field (12) rotating in relation to the rotor (1) during the operation of the electric machine (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Kehr, Jochen Eggler
  • Patent number: 11844198
    Abstract: A power module includes at least one power semiconductor element between first and second conductive layers, a first cooling member on the first conductive layer, a second cooling member under the second conductive layer, and at least one snubber capacitor between the first and second conductive layers. Each snubber capacitor has a capacitor core between first and second electrodes and first and second transition layers. The first transition layer is between the first conductive layer and the first electrode and the second transition layer is between the second electrode and the second conductive layer, or the first transition layer is between the first electrode and the capacitor core and the second transition layer is between the capacitor core and the second electrode. The first and second transition layers are conductive. A thermal expansion coefficient of the transition layers is between thermal expansion coefficients of adjacent elements of the snubber capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: Wei Liu
  • Publication number: 20230391032
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for marking a vehicle tyre (20) and a corresponding marking station. In one example, the vehicle tyre is supplied (100) to a marking station (10), the vehicle tyre (20) is aligned and centred (102, 103) in the marking station (10), marking is performed (108) in the marking station in accordance with characteristics of the vehicle tyre (20), and marking is performed (108) using one marking device (12) from a multiplicity of different marking devices (12). The method according to the invention is distinguished by the fact that the marking device (12) for marking the vehicle tyre (20) is positioned (107) at the vehicle tyre (20) by means of a robot arm (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Thomas Dollinger, Andreas Griebl, Florian Stemplinger, Johannes Maier
  • Publication number: 20230391208
    Abstract: An inverter device for providing a drive voltage for a drive motor (110) for an electric vehicle (100). The inverter device (108) has a battery interface (130) for connecting the inverter device (108) to a vehicle battery (104) of the electric vehicle (100), a drive interface (116) for connecting the inverter device (108) to the drive motor (110), and an auxiliary interface (118) for connecting the inverter device (108) to an auxiliary drive (112). The inverter device (108) further has an inverter (140) to convert a DC voltage applied to the battery interface (130) into an AC voltage and to provide the latter either at the drive interface (116) or at the auxiliary interface (118) using a control signal (132).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Frank SEEMANN, Andre EHRSAM, Martin MACH, Zbynek STEPAN, Vladimir DVORAK, Gabriel SCHERER, Rico GLOCKNER
  • Patent number: 11837923
    Abstract: A rotor (1) for an electric machine (2) operated with a pulsed voltage, the rotor (1) having at least one sensor element (3) for detecting at least one condition variable of the rotor (1), and a signal processing unit (4) connected to the at least one sensor element (3), the signal processing unit (4) generating measured data based on the at least one condition variable of the rotor (1) and transmitting the measured data to a control device (5). The rotor (1) further having at least one induction coil (7) at least indirectly supported on an end face of the rotor (1), the at least one induction coil (7) being tuned to a modulation of a fundamental wave field of a magnetic front stray field (12) formed during operation of the electric machine (2) with pulsed voltage to generate electrical energy from the fundamental wave field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Kehr, Jochen Eggler
  • Patent number: 11835599
    Abstract: A printed circuit board assembly may have a printed circuit board with at least one electric component. A magnetic field sensor for measuring a magnetic field may be included, where an amperage of a current conducted in the electric component is determined on the basis of the magnetic field. The assembly may also include a magnetic conductor for conducting the magnetic field, which is then measured by the magnetic field sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Alfons Neuner
  • Publication number: 20230382227
    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: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Frank SEEMANN, Andre EHRSAM, Martin MACH, Zbynek STEPAN, Vladimir DVORAK, Gabriel SCHERER, Matthias ENGICHT
  • Publication number: 20230382219
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrically operable drive train (10), having a first transfer case (11), a first electric motor (12), and a first axle (13, 13?) as well as a second transfer case (14), a second electric motor (15, 15), and a second axle (16, 16?). The first transfer case (11) has a first input (17), a first axle output (18), and a first coupling output (19). The second transfer case (14) has a second input (20), a second axle output (21), and a second coupling output (22). The first coupling output (19) can be coupled with the second coupling output (22) by way of a coupling shaft (23). The drive train (10) according to the invention is distinguished in that the first transfer case (11) further has a first power take-off (24). The invention relates further to a corresponding vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Pfeffer, Franz Reitinger, Alexander Mühlbauer, Tobias Brilka
  • Patent number: 11831719
    Abstract: A signal interface for a vehicle has a sensor unit and a main control unit connected via a wiring harness. The sensor unit includes a sensor chip configured to carry out a SENT protocol and has outlets for a supply voltage line, a data transmission line, and a ground connection. A voltage regulator and a filter with ESD/EMC protection are connected to the supply voltage line, where overvoltage protection is upstream of a data line filter and ESD/EMC protection is downstream of the data line filter. The main control unit includes a voltage regulator, ESD/EMC protection, and a module configured to switch off the ground supply in the event of a current derived from the overvoltage protection. A pull-up device and a transceiver are connected to the data transmission line. The control unit has separate sender and receiver paths for controlling the transceiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Jochen Menz
  • Patent number: 11832399
    Abstract: An electronics module for a transmission control unit may including one or more of the following: a printed circuit board populated with electronic components that are attached to an upper surface and/or a lower surface of the printed circuit board, and electrically connected thereto, and a media-tight protective layer, which covers one or more electronic components and connecting points between the one or more electronic components and the printed circuit board, where there is a cooling element for cooling the electronic components on one side of the printed circuit board, where the cooling element is connected to the printed circuit board and houses the electronic components that are to be cooled, and where the media-tight protective layer covers a transition region between the printed circuit board and the cooling element along the entire periphery of the cooling element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Josef Loibl, Hermann Josef Robin
  • Patent number: 11828932
    Abstract: A lens assembly includes a lens, a lens barrel, and a heater element. The lens has an inner surface and an outer surface. The lens barrel supports the lens and defines an optical axis, the lens arranged along the optical axis such that the inner surface of the lens is within the lens barrel and the outer surface of the lens is outside the lens barrel. The heater element is in intimate mechanical communication with the inner surface of the lens and has a heater element electrical lead extending radially therefrom to provide power to the heater element. Lens heating methods are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Anthony Rivas, Thomas E. Blake, III, Jeffrey Dudek, Robert Newton
  • Patent number: 11828357
    Abstract: An oil supply system of an automatic transmission includes a reservoir (1) for accommodating and storing a liquid operating medium (6), a volume compensation tank (102), and a valve device (20) for establishing or interrupting a hydraulic connection (3) between the volume compensation tank (102) and the reservoir (1). The volume compensation tank (102), in the installed position of the automatic transmission, is arranged above the reservoir (1). The hydraulic connection (3) between the volume compensation tank (102) and the reservoir (1) is automatically establishable or interruptable by the valve device (20) as a function of a temperature. The valve device (20) is configured such that the temperature at which the valve device (20) is in the open condition is lower than the temperature at which the valve device (20) is in the closed condition and, thereby, the hydraulic connection (3) is at least partially interrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: Florian Pohnlein
  • Publication number: 20230373245
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrically drivable steering axle (10) having an axle housing (11), an electric motor (12), a transmission (13), a differential (14) with a first output shaft (18) and a second output shaft (18?), a first wheel head (15), a second wheel head (16) and a steering linkage (17, 17?, 17?). The electric motor (12) is drive-connected to the first wheel head (15) and to the second wheel head (16) via the transmission (13) and the differential (14). The steering axle (10) according to the invention is distinguished by the fact that the electric motor (12), the transmission (13), and the differential (14) are arranged coaxially with the first output shaft (18) and the second output shaft (18?). The invention additionally relates to a corresponding vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Andreas PFEFFER, Franz REITINGER, Alexander MÜHLBAUER, Tobias BRILKA
  • Publication number: 20230373527
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a planned trajectory of a vehicle, such as a vehicle for highly automated driving. A plurality of different limit data sets are produced for implementing the planned trajectory using at least one drive-dynamical characteristic value of the vehicle and an estimated value for a friction coefficient between the vehicle and a road. Each limit data set contains limit values for a kinematic driving condition of the vehicle. A data set having the lowest limit values with which the planned trajectory can be implemented is selected from the limit data sets produced. The planned trajectory is calculated as a function of current trajectory control data and as a function of the selected limit data set, where the trajectory control data comprise current environment data from an environment sensor of the vehicle and/or current position data from a position sensor of the vehicle. The planned trajectory is adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Eckehard Münch, Stephan Pollmeyer, Katharina Hansen
  • Publication number: 20230373521
    Abstract: A system with which automated vehicles can detect road damage, wherein the automated vehicles have at least one sensor for detecting structure-borne and/or air-borne sounds generated by the vehicle when driving over road damage, wherein the system is configured to detect the road damage on the basis of the data from the at least one sensor. The system also records the position of the automated vehicle when driving over the road damage and stores it. Position and information regarding the road damage are sent to a control unit in the automated vehicle, or other automated vehicles. The control unit determines regulating and/or control signals for an avoidance trajectory with which the road damage is avoided or passed on the basis of the position and information regarding the road damage that is received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Michael HERTKORN, Jens GIESLER
  • Patent number: 11815169
    Abstract: A transmission may include an input shaft, a first output shaft, a second output shaft, a first planetary gearset, and a second planetary gearset connected to the first planetary gearset. The input shaft, the first and second output shafts, and the planetary gearsets may be arranged such that a torque input via the input shaft is converted and distributed in a defined ratio to the two output shafts, and the formation of a combined torque is prevented. At least one element of the first planetary gearset may be connected to at least one element of the second planetary gearset with a shaft for conjoint rotation, and at least one element of the second planetary gearset may be fixed in place on a non-rotating component. A connector may be arranged and configured to passively, and therefore without a control unit and without an actuator, connect the first output shaft and second output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Matthias Reisch, Stefan Beck
  • Patent number: 11815128
    Abstract: A ball joint, in particular a chassis joint, which has a housing and a ball socket that comprises a ball bearing section for receiving a joint ball. An anti-rotation member prevents movement of the ball socket within the housing. To improve operational performance of the ball joint, the anti-rotation member is formed by a connecting element of the housing and a mating connecting element of the ball socket. The connecting elements have corresponding holding profiles so that, in an assembled condition, the connecting elements form a shape-enclosing plug-in connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Michael Hahn, Wolfgang Eulerich, Manfred Heidemann