Patents Assigned to ZF Friedrichshafen
  • DETECTION OF KINETOSIS
    Publication number: 20230037952
    Abstract: Treating kenosis may comprise the following steps: measuring the electrodermal activity of a person by means of an EDA sensor; assessing, on the basis of the electrodermal activity measured, whether the person is currently affected by kinetosis; generating electrical pulses at an electrode in contact with the person's skin in order to treat the kinetosis on the basis of the assessment as to whether the person is currently affected by kinetosis. The sensor and the electrode may be integrated in a device that can be worn on the person's body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Mohamad Alayan, Florian Nicola
  • OPERATING DEVICE, VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20230040561
    Abstract: An operating device for a vehicle comprises an outer unit that can be rotated manually, a detection device configured to detect the movement of the outer unit and generate a control signal using a value that characterizes the movement to control a vehicle function, and an actuator unit that contains a magnetorheological medium, which can be or is coupled to the outer unit and is configured to exert a retaining force on the outer unit based on the viscosity of the magnetorheological medium. The operating device also comprises a sensor unit located in the outer unit and configured to generate a hand signal indicating the absence of a user's hand on the outer unit, and a manipulating device for manipulating the control signal on the basis of the hand signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Vitali FRIBUS, Ludger RAKE
  • SYNTHETIC MODULAR HOUSING WITH EMBEDDED COOLING BODY
    Publication number: 20230040852
    Abstract: The invention relates to a module housing made of plastic, in particular a thermosetting polymer, with an embedded cooling element and at least one screw sleeve, which has a collar with an exposed mounting surface with which the module housing can be mounted on a support functioning as an external heat sink. The cooling element and the at least one screw sleeve form a monolithic element with which heat can be conducted from the cooling element to the support via at least the mounting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Michael Singer, Oliver Küpfer, Thomas Schober
  • OPERATING DEVICE, VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20230038816
    Abstract: An operating device includes a first operating element with which a user can select one or numerous main functions of a vehicle and that can rotate about an axis of rotation and has at least one predefined fixed rotational position. A second operating element with which a user can adjust subfunctions of the main function can rotate about the axis of rotation and also comprises an actuator unit that comprises a magnetorheological medium configured to exert a retaining force on the second operating element based on a viscosity of the magnetorheological medium. The actuator unit is configured to set the viscosity on the basis of the main function selected with the first operating element, and on the basis of a rotational position of the second operating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Vitali FRIBUS
  • Electric machine with an extended surface cooler
    Patent number: 11575297
    Abstract: An electric machine includes a stator (1) and a rotor (2), which are arranged in a housing (3). A liquid cooling jacket is configured for cooling the stator (1). At least one extended surface cooler (10), which is connected to the liquid cooling jacket via a housing wall, is provided in an interior of the housing (3) for direct cooling of components arranged in the interior of the housing (3). Moreover, an axle drive of a vehicle may include the electric machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Martin Lang, Thomas Auer, Sebastian Paulik, Harald Wendl, Gerhard Obermaier, Maria Lang
  • Transmission for a motor vehicle, motor vehicle powertrain, and method for operating a transmission
    Patent number: 11571961
    Abstract: A transmission (G) for a motor vehicle includes an electric machine (EM1), a first input shaft (GW1), a second input shaft (GW2), an output shaft (GWA), two planetary gear sets (P1, P2, P3), and at least five shift elements (A, B, C, D, E). Different gears are implementable by selectively actuating the at least five shift elements (A, B, C, D, E) and, in addition, in interaction with the electric machine (EM1), different operating modes are implementable. A drive train for a motor vehicle with the transmission (G), and to a method for operating the transmission (G) are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Johannes Kaltenbach, Matthias Horn, Uwe Griesmeier, Thomas Martin, Fabian Kutter, Michael Wechs, Jens Moraw, Gerhard Niederbrucker
  • Transmission shaft and method and device for the production thereof
    Patent number: 11571765
    Abstract: A transmission shaft of a countershaft-type manual transmission is constructed from a plurality of hollow shaft portions which are butt press welded to one another, at least two of which hollow shaft portions are provided in each instance with at least one helical toothing of a fixed wheel of a spur gear stage. The hollow shaft portions provided with a helical toothing are connected to the respective adjacent hollow shaft portion in each instance so as to be rotated by a correction angle (??) around their center axis in proportion to a deviation (?x) from their axial target position, wherein the ratio between the correction angle (??) and the axial deviation (?x) corresponds to the pitch (s) of the helical toothing (??/?x=s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: Bernard Hunold
  • Method and control unit for operating a hybrid vehicle
    Patent number: 11572055
    Abstract: A method for operating a hybrid vehicle that includes a prime mover (1) with an internal combustion engine (2), an electric machine (3), a transmission (4) connected between the prime mover (1) and a driven end (5), and multiple shift elements, including a separating clutch (7) connected between the internal combustion engine (2) and the electric machine (3), and a starting component (8), is provided. After release of a brake pedal (12) or together with the release of the brake pedal (12) for a driving start or an crawling start, an engagement speed threshold (22) for the starting component (8) is established below an idling speed of the prime mover (1) and a previously disengaged starting component (8) is engaged. A control unit (9, 10, 11) for carrying out such a method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: Tobias Kranepuhl
  • RANDOM SHIFTING OF SWITCHING EDGES OF A CONVERTER PULSE PATTERN
    Publication number: 20230031685
    Abstract: A method for controlling a converter comprises: determining a pulse pattern for the converter, wherein the pulse pattern contains switching transitions at which an output voltage is switched between two levels; shifting switching transitions in the pulse pattern, wherein a random value is added to a point in time at which the output voltage is switched to shift the switching transitions; and applying the pulse pattern with the shifted switching transitions to switch elements in the converter to generate the output voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: MARKUS SCHÄFER
  • Joint, link for a wheel suspension and method for assembling a joint
    Patent number: 11566661
    Abstract: A joint (10) with first and second joint components (12, 26; 19) are movably connected to one another. The first joint component (12, 26) has a spherical joint body (14, 28) and the second joint component (19) rotatably and pivotably holds the joint body (14, 28). A sensor device, for determining the position of the first and second joint components (12, 26; 19) relative to one another, is arranged on the joint (10). The sensor device has at least one sensor element (21, 31) which can be integrated in a housing (18) that is produced by an assembly overmolding process. The joint housing (18) forms the second joint component (19) in which the joint body (14, 28) is directly supported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Philipp Bronswick, Manfred Sieve, Jan Pabst
  • Method for supplying consumers of an oil supply system for a vehicle transmission with oil
    Patent number: 11566699
    Abstract: An oil supply system for a vehicle transmission includes a pump drivable by two drive sources, and a hydraulic control unit including multiple control valves for distributing oil to consumers of the oil supply system. The drive power of the two drive sources are combined by a planetary gear set having an element connected to a pump drive shaft of the pump. A method for supplying the consumers of the oil supply system includes determining an overall oil flow requirement in the oil supply system and an oil flow requirement of consumers in an oil supply circuit of the transmission. The method further includes calculating a drive parameter for at least one of the two drive sources based at least in part on the oil flow requirements. Additionally, the method includes outputting the drive parameter as a specified value for controlling the at least one of the two drive sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: Mario Hasel
  • Measuring arrangement for lubricant
    Patent number: 11566700
    Abstract: A system includes a bearing, a lubricant line, a vessel and a sensor. The lubricant line is designed to introduce lubricant from a bearing gap of the bearing into the vessel. The sensor is designed to measure at least one physical variable of lubricant that is situated in the vessel. The vessel includes an outlet or overflow. The system includes a lubricant sump and a device for introducing lubricant from the sump into the bearing gap of the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Daniel Wolf, Christian Riess, Umit Kutluay, Andreas Vath
  • Method for operating a hybrid powertrain
    Patent number: 11565702
    Abstract: A method for operating a hybrid drive train of a motor vehicle includes: starting the motor vehicle solely with the aid of an electric machine; engaging a torque converter lockup clutch for rotationally fixing an impeller of a torque converter to a turbine wheel of the torque converter, wherein the turbine wheel is rotationally fixed to the electric machine; and engaging a clutch in order to drivingly connect the impeller to a motor vehicle drive unit, in order to start the motor vehicle drive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Florian Petrich, Robert Reiser, Oliver Angele
  • DRIVE UNIT AND VEHICLE WITH A DRIVE UNIT
    Publication number: 20230024621
    Abstract: Disclosed is a drive unit (1) comprising a housing (2), an electric motor (3) disposed inside the housing, and at least one oil chamber (15) which is disposed in the housing (2). The oil chamber (15) comprises an oil region (21) and an air region (22) and is closed off to the outside by a housing cover (35). The housing cover (35) comprises at least one vent opening (36, 37) for venting the oil chamber (15), which is disposed at a distance from a radial outer region of the housing cover (35) and is fluidically connected to an element (32, 38, 47, 48) for venting the oil chamber (15).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Holzlöhner, Vyacheslav Brushkivskyy, Marcel Neurohr
  • DRIVE UNIT AND VEHICLE WITH A DRIVE UNIT
    Publication number: 20230024850
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a drive unit (1) with a housing (2) and an electric motor (3) arranged therein. A transmission (8) is coupled to the electric motor (3). At least one oil chamber (15) is arranged in the housing (2), the oil chamber(s) having an oil zone (21) and an air zone (22), where the air zone (22) is flow-connected by way of an inlet opening (36) to a venting channel (35) that leads to a vent (32) such that the inlet opening (36) is arranged in a central area (40) of the housing (2) of the drive unit (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Holzlöhner, Vyacheslav Brushkivskyy, Marcel Neurohr
  • DRIVE UNIT
    Publication number: 20230022395
    Abstract: Disclosed is a drive unit (10) with a housing (12), an electric motor (14) arranged in the housing with a rotor shaft (26). At least two oil chambers (30) are arranged in the housing (12). In each case the oil chambers include an oil zone (38) and an air zone (40) with an oil capture pocket (46). The oil chambers are flow-connected to one another via an overflow channel (42). Axial end areas of the rotor shaft (26) project into the oil chambers (30), and the rotor shaft defines a connecting channel (34) which flow-connects the oil chambers (30) to one another. A transmission is coupled to one axial end area or the rotor shaft (26) and an impulse disk (32) is coupled to the opposite axial end area, where each axial end area conveys oil to the respective oil capture pocket (46).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Holzlöhner, Vyacheslav Brushkivskyy
  • ELECTRIC MOTOR
    Publication number: 20230025528
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electric motor, in particular for a vehicle drive. In one example, the electric motor has a housing (12) and a rotor shaft (14) which is accommodated in the housing (12) such that it can rotate via bearings (16). The housing (12) and the rotor shaft (14) are electrically connected to one another via a singular electrically conductive contact ring (42) to ground the rotor shaft (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Vyacheslav Brushkivskyy
  • DRIVE UNIT AND VEHICLE WITH A DRIVE UNIT
    Publication number: 20230025606
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drive unit (1) with a housing (2), an electric motor (3) arranged therein, a transmission (8) coupled to the electric motor (3), at least two oil chambers (15, 16) arranged in the housing (2), which have oil zones (20, 21) and air zones (22, 23) and in which the oil zones (20, 21) are flow-connected to one another by an overflow channel (18). A pump (14) is flow-connected on its suction side with an oil zone (20) and passes oil through the oil chambers (15, 16). A pressure-equalization channel (30) opens into the air zones (22, 23) and flow-connects them to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Holzlöhner, Vyacheslav Brushkivskyy, Marcel Neurohr
  • METHOD AND CONTROL APPARATUS FOR OPERATING A MULTIPLE-SPEED VEHICLE TRANSMISSION
    Publication number: 20230023472
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for operating a multi-speed vehicle transmission having a plurality of shift elements (A, B, C, D, E) for engaging the gears of the vehicle transmission. The method includes decoupling between an input (AN) and an output (AB) of the vehicle transmission in a neutral gear, and coupling the input (AN) and the output (AB) of the vehicle transmission in a drive gear for propelling the vehicle by closing at least one shift element (B). At least one transmission state is determined when the neutral gear is engaged, where a shift element (D) for a reverse gear of the vehicle transmission is closed at least partially if the transmission is in a state with increased drag losses when the neutral gear is engaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Fabian Ley, Jürgen Blaser, Sascha Fiesel, Wolfgang Rapp
  • Arrangement for making electrical contact, and current connector
    Patent number: 11563287
    Abstract: An arrangement for electrical contacting of a current connector (3) with a circuit arrangement (1) is provided. The current connector (3) includes at least one contact spring wire (5, 6) with an end contact (5a, 6a), which is configured for spring-loading, and the circuit arrangement (1) includes at least one contact point. The end contact (5a, 6a) and the contact point each form a spring pressure contact, and the end contact (5a, 6a) of the contact spring wire (5, 6) is configured as a bracket with an outer contact surface and at least one cutting edge arranged proximate the contact surface, which is engaged with the contact point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Heinz Reichert, Tobias Nusser, Oliver Küpfer