Patents Assigned to ZF Friedrichshafen
  • Patent number: 8424185
    Abstract: A method for riveting two structural component parts arranged with their inner sides facing one another and with their outer sides facing away from one another at a distance from one another by at least one spacer rivet element. Positioning the at least one spacer rivet element at the two structural component parts such that rivet element end areas extend through rivet openings provided in the structural component parts to be associated with the rivet element end areas. Supporting a rivet element end area at the outer side of one of the structural component parts. Supporting the other of the structural component parts at its inner side. Applying a riveting force to the other rivet element end area to deform at least one rivet element end area and to form a rivet head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Christian Wickel
  • Publication number: 20130096792
    Abstract: A method of controlling the driving mode of a motor vehicle, having a largely automated drive-train including a drive motor, a transmission and a separator clutch arranged between the motor and transmission, such that while driving, if certain operating conditions exist and a speed profile calculated with reference to topographical data and vehicle parameters for a road section lying ahead is suitable, the drive-train is disengaged and driving continues in a coasting mode until the occurrence of a termination signal. To enable coasting operation, the calculated speed profile for the case of immediate opening of the drive-train is determined continually at equidistant successive travel points along the driving stretch and is, in each case, evaluated in relation to lower and upper speed limits. Coasting is only enabled if, for a specified minimum number of successive travel points, the evaluation result is in each case positive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Alexander Maier, Maik Wurthner, Joachim Staudinger, Johannes Kemler
  • Publication number: 20130093540
    Abstract: An induction generator for a radio switch having a magnet element as well as an induction coil with a coil core wherein the coil core is U-shaped, wherein a first rest position and a second rest position are in each case defined for the magnet element, in contact with the limbs of the coil core, and a flux direction reversal takes place in the coil core, whenever a change takes place between these positions, wherein a movement path for the magnet element is predetermined for a movement between the rest positions, wherein the induction generator has a first mechanical energy storage device which is operatively connected to the magnet element and first of all stores energy in the course of forcing a movement from a rest position and, after reaching an intermediate position, which is defined along the movement path and corresponding to which the magnetic forces on the coil core suddenly decrease, emits this energy to the magnet element in order to mechanically accelerate the movement of the magnet element to the
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: Eduard Ruff
  • Publication number: 20130092273
    Abstract: A device for storing fluid, of a transmission hydraulic system, having at least one storage chamber that is defined by a housing and a delimiting device, which can be connected with the hydraulic system. The volume of the chamber depends on operation of the delimiting device and/or the housing. The delimiting device and/or housing can be set such that the storage chamber has a defined volume, in opposition to a restoring effort of the housing and/or delimiting device, starting from an operating condition which differs from the operating condition equivalent to the minimum volume of the storage chamber toward their operating condition equivalent to the minimum storage chamber volume. When the holding device is actuated, the operating conditions of the delimiting device and/or the housing assembly vary between operating conditions in which the storage chamber volume is either a maximum or corresponds to the defined storage chamber volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
  • Publication number: 20130094948
    Abstract: An intake charged pump for pumping liquid and which has an intake duct that extends to the suction area of the pump. The pump has a duct through which a jet stream flows to the suction area. A nozzle arrangement in the intake duct accelerates the liquid which is returned via the jet stream and supports the suction of a suction stream of the liquid from a storage container. A nozzle of the nozzle arrangement leads into the mixing chamber at an acute angle in a such way that the jet stream, leaving the nozzle, creates a common mixing stream with the suction stream from the storage container, and through which partial streams having essentially the same pressure and energy content, can be delivered to the front and back suction pockets of the double chamber pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
  • Patent number: 8418821
    Abstract: Piston-cylinder unit includes a piston rod guided with freedom of axial movement in a cylinder, where at least part of the piston rod is enclosed by a piston rod protector, which is designed with at least limited axial elasticity. At least one retaining surface of the piston rod protector enters into a positive connection with at least one stop surface on the cylinder side, and an auxiliary assembly bevel allows the piston rod protector to buckle over a certain stroke range of the piston rod during the installation of the protector, so that the retaining surface snap-locks onto the stop surface on the cylinder side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Robert Henneberg, Frank Partosch, Simon Strack, Andreas Zietsch
  • Patent number: 8419582
    Abstract: A dual-clutch group transmission having splitter, main and range groups. The range group is a planetary transmission with a ring gear, a sun gear and planetary gears that are supported by a carrier. Inner and outer transmission input shafts are connected to a respective first and second clutch. A main transmission shaft and shifting elements for engaging gears or forming frictional connections. Power-gearshifts, involving a shift of the range group, are enabled because the inner input shaft can be directly connected, via a shift element, to the main shaft. A hollow shaft extends coaxially over the main shaft and supports a loose wheel of a forward gear of the main group. The wheel can be rotationally fixed, via a shift element, to the hollow shaft which can be connected to the main shaft and the carrier by respective shifting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Stefan Renner
  • Patent number: 8418575
    Abstract: Method for shifting a neutral state of an automatic multi-stage transmission of a motor vehicle, where, to engage and to disengage gear stages of the transmission, shift couplings, at least one of which is equipped with a synchronizing device, can be actuated by a transmission actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Hans-Jürgen Schneider, Thomas John, Mario Bühner
  • Patent number: 8419587
    Abstract: A multi step transmission comprising planetary gearsets (P1, P2, P3, P4), shafts and shift elements. The sun gear of gearset (P1) couples shaft (4) which couples housing (G) via brake (04). The carrier of gearset (P1) couples shaft (3), which couples housing (G) via brake (03), drive shaft (1) via clutch (13), and shaft (6) via clutch (36). Shaft (6) couples the ring gear of gearset (P2) and the sun gear of set (P4), and, via clutch (68), shaft (8), which couples the sun gear of gearset (P3). Shaft (1) couples the sun gear of gearset (P2) and the carrier of set (P3). Shaft (7) couples the ring gear of set (P1) and the carrier of gearset (P2). The ring gear of set (P4) couples shaft (5) which couples housing (G) via brake (05). Output shaft (2) couples the ring gear and carrier of gearsets (P3, P4) respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Gumpoltsberger, Christian Sibla, Stefan Beck, Josef Haupt, Gert Bauknecht, Peter Ziemer
  • Patent number: 8423230
    Abstract: An method for controlling a parallel hybrid drive-train of a vehicle comprising an automatic transmission and a combustion engine which is connected, via a first shifting device, to an electrical machine, which is connected, via a drive shaft, a starting clutch positioned in the transmission. To guarantee safety and high drive comfort of the vehicle during failure of the starting clutch, shifting failures of the starting clutch are monitored. If a shifting failure is recognized, predetermined contingency procedures are initiated and executed in which either continued drive of the vehicle or slowing down of the vehicle to a stop is possible. A device comprises a monitor with a sensor and parts for analyzing and recognizing shifting failures of the starting clutch. Control parts initiate and execute contingency procedures such that a continued drive operation or slowing down of the vehicle to a stop is possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Klaus Steinhauser, Michael Sohler, Falko Platzer, Peter Schiele
  • Patent number: 8419579
    Abstract: A transmission device, for a motor vehicle, with at least two drive output shafts and two multi-shaft planetary gearsets in active connection with one another. A shaft of a planetary gearset is actively connected with an output shaft and is shifted, between first and second power paths, such that in the first power path, torque of an electric machine is transmitted in equal parts and with the same sign to the output shafts, and in the second power path, torque is transmitted in equal parts but with different signs. One of the two planetary gearsets is made as a four-shaft, reduced coupling transmission with two sun gears and a common planetary gear carrier with radially inner and outer planetary gears that mesh with one another, and which are engaged, on the one hand, with the sun gears and, on the other hand, with a rotationally fixed ring gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Thomas Rosemeier, Bernd-Robert Hohn, Christoph Pelchen
  • Patent number: 8418450
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic torque converter, having a housing arrangement is filled with fluid and an impeller with a plurality of impeller vanes successively arranged in circumferential direction around an axis of rotation, a turbine in a housing interior, the turbine has a plurality of turbine vanes successively arranged in circumferential direction around the axis of rotation, and a stator with stator vanes successively arranged in circumferential direction around the axis of rotation. The impeller, the turbine and the stator form a fluid circulation torus with a torus diameter Td considered radially with respect to the axis of rotation, an outer radius Ra with respect to the axis of rotation, and a torus width considered in direction of the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Christoph Sasse, Georg Mencher, Gregor Sueck
  • Publication number: 20130087018
    Abstract: A method of shifting at least one of a speed increasing stage (H) and/or a speed reductions stage (L) in a claw shifted transfer gear box (VG) in a drive train of a vehicle having a drive engine and a load shiftable shift transmission (SG). The transfer gearbox (VG) is shifted into the neutral position (N) and, after the synchronization, is shifted into the speed increasing stage (H) or the speed reductions stage (L). During synchronization, the shift transmission (SG) is decelerated or accelerated, by activating at least an additional shift element, so that the output rotational speed (n_SG) of the shift transmission (SG) is matched to the output rotational speed (n_VG) of the transfer gearbox (VG), multiplied by the target gear ratio in the transfer gear box (VG).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: Markus Maurer
  • Publication number: 20130090209
    Abstract: A method of operating a drive-train comprising an auxiliary output on the engine side that can be coupled to the combustion engine via a continuously variable transmission and a generator such that when the engine is running, the generator can be driven at a constant rotational speed regardless of the speed of the engine, such that a condition parameter of the auxiliary output is regulated between a pair of limit values. The condition parameter is regulated as a function of its current actual value, the limit values of the condition parameter and also as a function of a current and/or anticipated driving situation such that parameters are determined, in the regulator, for the energy input into the auxiliary output as a function of these input data, and hence for a corresponding energy uptake from the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Alexander Banerjee, Bernard Hunold
  • Patent number: 8413784
    Abstract: An operating device for a vehicle with an automated transmission and an electrically actuated parking brake system. The device includes a mechanical actuating element for inputting operating commands from the user and a control unit for converting the operating commands into control signals for the transmission and the parking brake system. The actuating element has at least first and second successive stable positions, a neutral position and a return position. In the first stable position, an operating command is generated for the parking brake system to actuate the parking brake device and, in the second stable position, an operating command is generated for the transmission to actuate the parking lock device. The actuating element combines two different actuating elements into an operating device which enables the driver to choose whether, besides activation of the parking brake system, he wishes to additionally engage the parking lock system associated with the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Jorg Meyer, Ludger Rake
  • Patent number: 8413534
    Abstract: A shifting device is provided for a vehicle transmission with a selector lever pivotable within a shifting device housing about at least one axis of rotation for selecting gears defined within the vehicle transmission. A shift position of the selector lever is assigned to at least one gear. A locking device for the individual shift positions of the selector lever can be released as a function of given general data of the state of motor vehicle components such as the pedal mechanism and the engine. The locking device has a locking element displaceable by the selector lever analogously to the individual shift positions of the selector lever. The locking element has a plurality of locking devices, which correspond to the individual shift positions and which can be brought into a locking position and an unlocking position by at least one actuating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Jörg Meyer
  • Patent number: 8413536
    Abstract: An actuating device for selection on shift steps of a gear changing transmission. The actuating device comprises a flexible gear selection device (1) with at least two drive step positions, a park lock position and an additional park lock-actuating device (4) for activation of the park lock. When the gear selector device (1) moves out of the park lock position, the gear selector device (1) becomes disengaged while movement of the gear selector device (1) from one of the drive step positions into the park lock position, or beyond the previous park lock position, does not engage the park lock. Engagement of the park lock is only achieved by actuating the additional park lock-actuating device (4). This improves the safety and provides intuitive shifting between the different drive step positions without the need to view the gear selector device. The unintended engagement of the park lock is precluded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Jorg Meyer, Ludger Rake
  • Patent number: 8413750
    Abstract: A device for a vehicle drive train for generating and transmitting drive torque to components of the drive train. The device comprises a shaft which is connected to the components of the drive train, at least first and second bearings which support the shaft and an electric motor for generating the transmitted drive torque. The electric motor comprises a stator and a rotor which is fixed to the shaft. The rotor is supported by one or more bearing surfaces. The device also comprises elements disposed on the shaft via which drive torque can be transmitted to the components of the drive train while introducing transverse force into the shaft. The rotor of the drive motor is positioned on the shaft such that the bearing surface is located in the region of maximum deflection caused by the transverse force in the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Martin Lamke, Rayk Hoffmann, Oliver Schell
  • Patent number: 8414447
    Abstract: A transmission device for distributing drive torque between two output shafts. The device comprises three planetary gearsets (2, 3, 11). An input shaft is connected to a first element of gearsets (2, 3). The output shafts each couple a second element of gearsets (2, 3). A third element of gearset (2) couples a first element of gearset (11) and is connectable, via brake (14), to the housing. A third element of gearset (3) is connectable, via brake (17), to the housing and, via a claw shifting element (24), to a second element of gearset (11). A third element of gearset (11) couples the housing. Claw shifting elements (24, 18) couple the brakes (14, 17) such that, to engage brakes (14, 17), the claw shifting elements are first coupled to the first element of gearset (11) or the third element of gearset (3), and then the brakes are engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Thomas Rosemeier
  • Patent number: 8414446
    Abstract: A multi-stage transmission (1) having a housing (9), a drive shaft (AN), an output shaft (AB), four planetary gear sets (RS1, RS2, RS3, RS4) each having first, second and third elements, at least eight rotatable shafts (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8), six shift elements, comprising four clutches (K1, K2, K3) and two brakes (B1, B2, B3). Selective engagement of the clutches and brakes results in different transmission ratios between the drive shaft (AN) and the output shaft (AB) so that up to nine forward gears can be implemented. The multi-stage transmission is delimited by the connections of the individual elements to each other and in that exactly three of the six shift elements are engage for gear step of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Gerhard Gumpoltsberger, Hans-Peter Freudenreich