Patents Assigned to ZF Friedrichshafen
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Patent number: 8413533Abstract: An operating device for a gear-changing transmission operated by shift-by-wire is disclosed. The operating device includes an operating element, rotatably or pivotally supported in a bearing position having a position sensor device, and a device for producing force-feedback. The force-feedback device includes an adjustable counterforce element acting on the operating element, wherein the counterforce element comprises a fluid having controllably variable viscosity. The operating device including the counterforce element is produced by a bearing gap of the bearing position of the operating element, with the bearing gap being filled with the fluid. A space-saving integration of the counterforce element of a force-feedback device is enabled into the joint of an operating lever. Thus, the cost, structural complexity, and installation space required for an operating device having force-feedback is significantly reduced. The haptics of a mechanical operating lever can be realistically emulated.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2010Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Ludger Rake, Andreas Giefer
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Patent number: 8414439Abstract: A transmission device (1) for a vehicle having a variator (3) that has an axially longer length that the variator (3) is wider and deeper. The variator (3) comprises a planetary gear set (4), a manual gearbox unit (9) and a hydraulic system having an oil sump. Following installation in the vehicle, a longitudinal extension of the variator (3) is oriented at least approximately horizontally.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2008Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Gerhard Bailly, Thomas Ratzmann, Karl Grad, Juergen Pohlenz
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Publication number: 20130082886Abstract: A radio switch, in particular a snap-action switch, having an antenna, a transmitter assembly and a generator, wherein the antenna is electrically connected to the transmitter assembly in order to emit a signal which is generated by the transmitter assembly, wherein the transmitter assembly is accommodated on a circuit mount which is in the form of a panel, wherein the antenna is held in the radio switch on a mount substrate which is separate from the circuit mount.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2011Publication date: April 4, 2013Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventor: Eduard Ruff
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Publication number: 20130085030Abstract: A hydrodynamic coupling arrangement, particularly torque converter, comprises a housing arrangement (12) which is filled or fillable with fluid, an impeller (20), a turbine (28), a lockup clutch (54), a torsional vibration damping arrangement (42) with an input region (52) and an output region (82), wherein a first torque transmission path (46) and parallel thereto a second torque transmission path (48) and a coupling arrangement (50) for superposing the torques transmitted via the torque transmission paths (46,48) are provided between the input region (52) and the output region (82), wherein the torsional vibration damping arrangement (42) further includes at least in the first torque transmission path (46) a phase shifter arrangement (56) for generating a phase shift of rotational irregularities transmitted via the first torque transmission path (46) relative to rotational irregularities transmitted via the second torque transmission path.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2010Publication date: April 4, 2013Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Thomas Dögel, Ingrid Hoffelner, Michael Kühner, Mathias Kopp
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Patent number: 8410788Abstract: A method of diagnosing an electronic display device (1) having a screen (3) and a graphics memory (2) in which image data (14), of an image displayed or to be displayed on the screen (3), are one of stored or changed. A measured value (15) characterizes a current consumption or the change in current consumption of the screen (3) or display device (1) while a reference value (16) characterizes the current consumption or the change in current consumption of the screen (3) or display device (1) on the basis of the image data (14) or the change in image data (14). The method compares the reference value (16) to the measured value (15) to determine any malfunction or error in the electronic display device (1).Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2008Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Ralf Hartrampf, Ludger Rake, Andreas Giefer
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Patent number: 8403806Abstract: A transmission oil pump for an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle. The speed of the oil pump can be shifted by a transmission (2), that is arranged between the drive motor of the motor vehicle and the transmission oil pump, to a fast-running mode or a slow-running mode so that the oil pump can be operated at two different speed levels.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2010Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Josef Haupt, Christian Popp, Thilo Schmidt, Georg Gierer
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Patent number: 8403116Abstract: A protective pipe for a piston-cylinder unit comprises a pipe body having at one end a bottleneck-shaped base which is axially and radially supported at least indirectly at a piston rod of the piston-cylinder unit. A surface region of the bottleneck-shaped base has an accumulation of material which increases radially inward starting from its outer edge.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2008Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Günther Handke, Alexander Miller
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Patent number: 8403803Abstract: A multi-stage transmission comprising planetary gearsets (P1, P2, P3, P4), shafts and shift elements. The sun gear of gearset (P1) couples drive shaft (1). The carrier of gearset (P1) couples shaft (3) which can couple housing (G) via brake (03), shaft (1) via clutch (13), which couples the carrier of gearset (P4), and shaft (6), via clutch (36). Shaft (6) couples the ring gear of gearset (P2) and the sun gears of gearsets (P3, P4). Shaft (7) couples the ring gear of gearset (P1) and the carrier of gearset (P2). The sun gear of set (P2) couples shaft (4), which can couple housing (G) via brake (04). The ring gear of gearset (P3) couples shaft (5), which can couple housing (G) via brake (05) and output shaft (2) operatively couples the ring gear of gearset (P4), is connected to the carrier of gearset (P3).Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2010Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Gerhard Gumpoltsberger, Christian Sibla, Stefan Beck, Josef Haupt, Gert Bauknecht, Peter Ziemer
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Patent number: 8403121Abstract: A device for sealing a double clutch transmission of a motor vehicle, with a transmission housing, in which are arranged a clutch chamber with clutch oil and a double clutch, a transmission chamber with transmission oil and a double clutch transmission wheel set and two co-axial drive shafts disposed, one inside the other. One drive shaft is an interior central shaft which extends inside the transmission chamber from the end of the second hollow drive shaft. The two drive shafts each have a sealing element to seal the clutch chamber from the transmission chamber. A mounting component is situated inside and fixed to the transmission housing to support two adjacent sealing elements. A first sealing element forms a seal radially on the hollow drive shaft and a second sealing element forms a seal radially on the central drive shaft to provide a reliable seal and offer a simple ventilation and leakage detection.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2006Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignees: ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AGInventors: Dieter Kraxner, Peter Höbel, Markus Rettenmaier, Jens Patzner
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Publication number: 20130072338Abstract: A wet clutch arrangement includes a housing arrangement which is filled or fillable with fluid, a first friction surface formation which is rotatable with the housing arrangement around an axis of rotation and a second friction surface formation which is rotatable with a driven member around the axis of rotation and which can be brought into frictional engagement with the first friction surface formation by a piston pump. At least a portion of a torsional vibration damping arrangement is provided in a torque transmission path and includes an input region and an output region. The torsional vibration damping arrangement further includes at least in a first torque transmission path a phase shifter arrangement for generating a phase shift of rotational irregularities transmitted via the first torque transmission path relative to rotational irregularities transmitted via a second torque transmission path.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2011Publication date: March 21, 2013Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Thomas Dögel, Michael Kühner, Ingrid Hoffelner
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Publication number: 20130068580Abstract: A hydrodynamic coupling arrangement, particularly torque converter, includes a housing arrangement which is filled or fillable with fluid, an impeller, a turbine, a lockup clutch, a torsional vibration damping arrangement with an input region and an output region, wherein a first torque transmission path and parallel thereto a second torque transmission path and a coupling arrangement for superposing the torques transmitted via the torque transmission paths are provided between the input region and the output region. The torsional vibration damping arrangement further includes at least in the first torque transmission path a phase shifter arrangement for generating a phase shift of rotational irregularities transmitted via the first torque transmission path relative to rotational irregularities transmitted via the second torque transmission path.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2010Publication date: March 21, 2013Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Thomas Doegel, Michael Kühner, Ingrid Hoffelner, Mathias Kopp
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Publication number: 20130072076Abstract: A method and device for maneuvering a yacht via a control device which is designed as a joystick (7). The joystick (7) is tilted in the direction of a longitudinal axis (y) and a transversal axis (x) of the yacht, to initiate forward or backward movement and transverse movement, and the joystick (7) is rotated to initiate yaw movement of the yacht around its longitudinal axis (zj). The yacht (1) has a single drive which is designed as a pivotable drive (6) which has a pivotable thrust vector around a vertical axis. The steering movements of the joystick (7) are transferred to the pivotable drive (6) in a matched manner.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2011Publication date: March 21, 2013Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Andrea Pellegrinetti, Adriano Zanfei
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Publication number: 20130071175Abstract: A ball joint with a ball pin and a steel ball pin with a joint ball. The ball joint and ball pin are suitable for use when, for example, solid-on-solid friction predominates under high static pre-loading or high operational loads and with small joint movements. A portion of the surface of the ball pin has surface layer hardening in order to increase a fatigue strength of the ball pin. The ball pin and the ball joint, on portion of the ball pin without the any surface layer hardened, includes a nitrided layer as wear protection. The ball pin and the ball joint provide an advantageous combination of high fatigue strength, good corrosion protection and high wear-resistance. The nitrided layer of ball joints, previously only regarded as improving corrosion protection, also functions as a wear protection. Thus, these ball pins overcome the mutual exclusion between surface layer hardening and nitriding.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2012Publication date: March 21, 2013Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Dirk Adamczyk, Wolfgang Kleiner, Klaus Pape, Wolfgang Eulerich, Martin Rechtien, Thomas Wiegmann, Manfred Heidemann, Jochen Kruse, Johannes Tabor, Rainer Jasper, Ulrich Schefzyk
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Publication number: 20130071174Abstract: A ball joint with a ball pin and a steel ball pin with a joint ball. The ball joint and ball pin are suitable for use when solid-on-solid friction predominates, for example under high static pre-loading or under high operational loads and with small joint movements. At least in a bearing contact area, between the joint ball and the bearing shell, does not include any nitrided layer. The surface of the ball pin has an oxide layer, provided as wear protection, at least in the bearing contact area of the joint ball. The oxide layer in the ball joints, previously regarded (as part of the nitriding treatment) as only improving corrosion protection functions as a form of wear protection. Thus, the mutual exclusion between increasing the fatigue strength (by surface layer hardening) and improving the wear resistance (by nitriding/oxidation) is overcome with such ball pins.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2012Publication date: March 21, 2013Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventor: Klaus Pape
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Publication number: 20130069451Abstract: An induction generator for a radio switch having a magnet element as well as an induction coil with a coil core, characterized in that the coil core is U-shaped, wherein a first contact position and a second contact position for the magnet element are defined on the limbs of the coil core, with a flux direction reversal taking place in each case in the coil core when a change takes place between said positions, wherein the magnet element is arranged such that it can move in a defined manner linearly between the contact positions on the induction generator in a direction in which the limbs are adjacent to one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2011Publication date: March 21, 2013Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventor: Eduard Ruff
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Patent number: 8397887Abstract: An actuating system for at least first and second coaxially arranged shifting elements of a transmission, in particular, a dual-clutch transmission (1) with at least two coaxially arranged control devices for actuating the associated shifting elements. The control devices comprise at least one rotary drive (4, 5) and at least one control element (6, 7) which are coupled to one another by corresponding gearteeth such that rotational movement, of each rotary drive (4, 5), can be converted into an axial control movement of the associated control element (6, 7). The axial position of the teeth of the geartooth array, of each control element (6, 7), varies in the circumferential direction, at least over a certain range.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2008Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Matthias Reisch, Juergen Wafzig
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Patent number: 8398522Abstract: A multi-stage transmission comprising planetary gearsets (P1, P2, P3, P4), shafts, and shift elements. Gearsets (P1, P2) form a front -mounted gear gearset and gearsets (P3, P4) form a main gearset. The carriers of gearsets (P1, P2) are coupled via shaft (4) which couples a main gearset element. The ring gear of gearset (P1) couples the sun gear of gearset (P2) via shaft (8) that couples drive shaft (1) via clutch (18). The sun gear of gearset (P1) couples housing (G) by shaft (3) via brake (03), and shaft (1) via clutch (13). The ring gear of gearset (P2) couples housing (G) by shaft (5) via brake (05). Shaft (7) couples main gearset element, and, via brake (07), housing (G). Shaft (6) couples another main gearset element and, via clutch (16), shaft (1). The output shaft couples a further main gearset element.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2009Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Gert Bauknecht, Gerhard Gumpoltsberger, Peter Ziemer, Mark Mohr
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Publication number: 20130065728Abstract: A method for operating a drive-train of a motor vehicle with a drive aggregate in the form of a hybrid drive system (3) which comprises at least one electric machine (2), an internal combustion engine (1), a transmission (5), a drive output (4) and a brake system which comprises at least one wear-free permanent brake (6). When a braking torque is required, the braking torque is distributed between the electric machine (2) and the wear-free permanent brake (6). At the beginning of a braking torque demand, the required brake torque is provided exclusively by the electric machine (2). Thereafter, as a function of characteristics of the wear-free permanent brake, the braking torque demand is transferred, in a controlled manner, from the electric machine to the wear-free permanent brake (6) so that the sum of the braking torques provided at the drive output (4) corresponds to the required braking torque.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2011Publication date: March 14, 2013Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Markus Eisele, Yvonne Wiegand, Jurgen Blaser
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Publication number: 20130061701Abstract: A dual clutch transmission for a motor vehicle which comprises at least two part-transmissions each of which has at least one input shaft and an output shaft arranged as the drive output shaft of both part-transmissions. The at least one input shaft and the output shaft are arranged on a main axis and/or a secondary axis and at least one intermediate transmission with at least one countershaft is provided, the at least one countershaft is designed as the secondary axis relative to the main axis, and at least one of the input shafts can be connected to the output shaft by at least two gearwheel planes and/or by way of at least one shifting element. A plurality of shifting elements N in number are provided with N being an integer larger than or equal to two such that N-1 shifting elements are arranged on the main axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2012Publication date: March 14, 2013Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventor: Michael WECHS
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Publication number: 20130061702Abstract: A bevel gear drive (1) comprises a spur bevel gear (2) and a pinion which both mesh with one another. The spur bevel gear and the pinion are arranged within a housing (3). An abutment plate (4) is provided so as to avoid displacement of the spur bevel gear (2), under high operating loads. The abutment plate (4) is integrated in the housing (3) and supports the spur bevel gear (2) when forces, that can cause displacement of the spur bevel gear (2), act upon the spur bevel gear (2).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2012Publication date: March 14, 2013Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Henry SCHWARZ, Thomas KOPPE