Patents Assigned to ZF Lemforder Metallwaren AG
  • Patent number: 6739788
    Abstract: A ball pivot (1) of a ball-and-socket joint for motor vehicles with a joint ball (2) and with a pivot (3) connected to the joint ball (2) is presented, in which a substantial part (3.1) of the pivot (3) is made nonround for preventing the ball pivot from rotating. A wheel suspension is also disclosed in which a nonround ball pivot is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventors: Jörg Hagemes, Martina Beyer
  • Patent number: 6735997
    Abstract: A process is provided for manufacturing a ball-and-socket joint housing by cold forming from a blank (R), which is preferably produced from a bar or wire material and is prepared for forming. A first axial depression (1) with a diameter (D1) is first prepared by reverse cup extrusion. A second axial depression (2) with a comparatively larger diameter (D2) is subsequently prepared in the axial depression (1) by reverse cup extrusion. A diameter reduction (D3) also of the first axial depression (1) is formed in some sections by the deformation of the material during the second reverse cup extrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventors: Klaus Rosenberger, Markus Thölking, Detlef Schellack
  • Patent number: 6733019
    Abstract: A two-joint arrangement is presented for the articulated connection of guide elements, preferably of a motor vehicle linkage with a common articulated part. Each of the two joints has a joint housing that is connected to a guide element each and a bearing shell that is accommodated within the joint housing, in which a pivot part which is rigidly connected to the common articulated part is accommodated in a rotatable and pivotable manner. In a first embodiment variant, a pivot part (26) of a joint (4) has an opening (24) running in the pivot part longitudinal axis, which the pivot part (17) of the other joint (5) having a screw bolt area (23) located thereon penetrates whereby a clamping nut is arranged on the free end of the screw bolt area (23) facing away from the pivot part (17) of the other joint (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventors: André Diener, Reinhard Buhl
  • Patent number: 6708581
    Abstract: A shifting device for transmitting shift commands to an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle is provided with a shifting device body or housing, a selector axis and a said shift axis, which are arranged at right angles to one another, and with a gearshift lever. The gear shift lever is mounted pivotably in relation to its neutral position within at least one outer right-hand shift gate and an outer left-hand shift gate. A device for transmitting shift commands based on a movement of the gearshift lever to the automatic transmission is also provided. At least two separate locking levers are provided, pivotable around an auxiliary axis each, which is a rigid part of the housing. The at least two separate locking levers can be engaged by the gearshift lever indirectly or directly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Jörg Meyer
  • Patent number: 6702502
    Abstract: A ball-and-socket joint, preferably for motor vehicles, in which a joint ball formed on a pivot pin is mounted movably in a bearing shell consisting of a plastic, is presented. The bearing shell has recesses accommodating lubricant on its inner jacket surface facing the joint ball and is itself inserted into a housing. According to the present invention, the recesses may be grooves as a structural system with groove sections or depressions of microscopic size extending obliquely in relation to the central longitudinal axis of the ball-and-socket joint. Due to this novel design, a pumping effect is achieved during movements of the joint ball over the groove sections, and this pumping effect draws the lubricant present in the groove sections into the gap between the joint ball and the bearing shell, so that improved lubrication of the ball-and-socket joint compared with the state of the art is guaranteed under all operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventors: Jürgen Gräber, Werner Stehr
  • Patent number: 6701798
    Abstract: An automatic transmission of a motor vehicle is provided that can be in at least one secured state and one unsecured state has a pivotable selector lever for selecting different gears and/or gear selections and has a first blocking mechanism, which can block the pivoting movement of the selector lever. The first blocking mechanism has a displaceable blocking element and a stationary blocking contour for engaging the blocking element and can prevent the selector lever from being pivoted by the blocking element engaging the blocking contour. A second blocking mechanism has a toggle lever, which is in contact with a stop in a stretched-out blocking position and prevents the release of the first blocking mechanism and makes possible the unlocking of the first blocking mechanism in the release position. A release mechanism releases the toggle lever from the stretched-out blocking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventor: Jörg Meyer
  • Patent number: 6694838
    Abstract: A shifting device for the electronic selection and/or control of the gears of a vehicle transmission is provided with a shift knob and at least one shifting mechanism. The shifting mechanism has a gear selection device. The shifting mechanism is mounted pivotably around at least one axis. A converting device converts the mechanical shifting movements into optical and/or electric and/or hydraulic signals (shift commands). A transmitting device transmits the signals. A bracket (8) is provided for the stationary positioning of the shift knob (1) in the interior of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventor: Metin Ersoy
  • Patent number: 6692179
    Abstract: A ball sleeve joint with a joint housing has a ball sleeve provided with a preferably spherically designed bearing surface. A bearing shell surrounds the bearing surface and is accommadated in a recess of the joint housing. The joint housing is formed from at least two housing parts. The housing parts have corresponding elastic toothed elements. The toothed elements are locked with one another in the assembled state of the joint housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventors: Manfred Bohne, Klaus Lampe, Stefan Husmann, Franz-Josef Wehri, Stefan Klumpe
  • Publication number: 20040028302
    Abstract: A ball-and-socket joint is disclosed with a housing 1 a bearing shell 2 inserted into same, a ball pivot 3, whose joint ball 3.1 is mounted in the bearing shell movably in all directions, and a sealing bellows 4 between the housing and the ball pivot. A sliding ring 6 receiving the pivot-side edge area 4.1 of the sealing bellows 4 is inserted into a ball race 5 fixed on the ball pivot 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Applicant: ZF Lemforder Metallwaren AG
    Inventors: Olaf Abels, Klaus Broker
  • Patent number: 6688799
    Abstract: A ball-and-socket joint is provided with a joint housing which is open on at least one side with a housing recess, with a joint pin mounted in the housing recess with its joint ball provided with a surface protection. A pin section projects from a housing opening. A bearing shell is arranged between the joint housing and the joint ball. A sealing bellows is provided between the joint housing and the joint pin. A sealing element, which is under elastic pretension in sliding contact with the joint ball, is arranged between the joint housing and the joint ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Lemforder Metallwaren AG
    Inventors: Klaus Bröker, Reinhard Buhl, Wolfgang Kleiner, Martin Rechtien
  • Patent number: 6688448
    Abstract: A device is provided for shifting a mechanical shifter between a first shifting state and at least one second shifting state, especially for engaging and disengaging a parking brake for an automatic transmission. An adjusting member (4) is coupled with the shifter for shifting between the shifting states. A control member (5) is provided that can be coupled with the adjusting member (4). A coupling device (5, 6, 7, 12) can be actuated by an electric signal By this coupling device (5, 6, 7, 12) the adjusting member (4) and the control member (5) can be coupled with one another. The coupling device (5, 6, 7, 12) is designed such that the adjusting member (4) and the control member (5) are uncoupled from one another in case of loss of the electric signal. A drive (8, 9, 10, 11) is coupled with the control member (5) for driving the control member (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Jörg Meyer, Reimund Börgerding, Ludger Rake
  • Patent number: 6688165
    Abstract: A ball-and-socket joint, preferably for vehicle suspensions or steering mechanisms of motor vehicles, has a joint housing and a pivot pin, which is mounted rotatably and deflectably in a spherical bearing surface via a one-part or multipart bearing shell. The bearing shell itself is fixed in the joint housing. The joint housing or the pivot pin is fixed against the vehicle suspension in an electrically insulated manner, in which the joint housing (1) and the pivot pin (2) are connected according to a potential difference-measuring unit (13) via electrical contacts (12, 14). The spherical bearing surface of the pivot pin (2) and its corresponding opposite surface in the joint housing (1) are electrically insulated against each other. The state of wear of a ball-and-socket joint can be determined and the user of the motor vehicle can obtain an indication of the end of the service life of the ball-and-socket joint and the necessary repair in time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Lemforder Metallwaren AG
    Inventor: Manfred Heidemann
  • Patent number: 6688588
    Abstract: A rubber bearing with graduated damping characteristic has essentially a preferably cylindrical or approximately cylindrical inner part, a tubular outer sleeve arranged coaxially around the inner part as well as a pressure body with chambers for a damping agent. The pressure body is arranged in a fixed manner between the inner part and the outer sleeve. A rubber bearing which has a simple design and effectively damps forces introduced in different ranges of the characteristic due to its graduated damping characteristic is provided. The pressure body of the bearing is divided in the radial direction into a plurality of damping areas whose damping characteristics can be adjusted independently from one another by an intermediate sleeve arranged coaxially to the inner part and the outer sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Lemforder Metallwaren AG
    Inventors: Andreas Vossel, Klaus Kramer
  • Patent number: 6684730
    Abstract: A shifting device for an automatic transmission is provided with a shifting mechanism, which is mounted in a housing pivotably around a axis within at least one shift gate. The shift mechanism detects the shift signals electrically, electromagnetically or optically and transmits them. The shift mechanism has a locking device, which is guided with the gearshift lever along a contour of a gate. The contour is associated with the shift positions (P, R, N, D, . . . ). A device is controlled as a function of the speed and can be pivoted between at least two positions (active/inactive) around an axis and can be pivoted against the locking device in at least one shift position, so that the gearshift lever remains in the preselected shift position or is automatically returned into that shift position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Jörg Meyer
  • Patent number: 6662924
    Abstract: A shifting device for a powerless or non mechanical transmission of shift commands to an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle includes a shift gate, a gearshift lever mounted pivotably with respect to the shift gate, a detection device for detecting the position of said gearshift lever, and a powerless or non mechanical i.e., by wire) signal transmission device for transmitting shift commands to the automatic transmission. The detection device and/or the transmission device are operated at least partially electrically/electromagnetically. A brake unlocking device is provided for unlocking the parking brake of the automatic transmission. The brake unlocking device includes a mechanical coupling between said gearshift lever and said automatic transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Jörg Meyer
  • Patent number: 6659437
    Abstract: A rubber bearing, preferably a simple rubber bearing, is provided with an essentially cylindrical inner part (1), a tubular outer sleeve (2) coaxially surrounding the inner part (1), as well as a pressure body, which is an elastomer (3). The elastomer (3) is arranged between the inner part (1) and the outer sleeve (2) and is connected to same by vulcanization. Two free grooves (4, 4′) extend, beginning from the axial ends of the bearing, into the interior of the bearing in the axial direction over a complete circle around the bearing axis (5). The axial distance of the free grooves (4, 4′) from the bearing axis (5) and/or whose width continuously changes cyclically, wherein there is a phase shift between the two free grooves (4, 4′) in terms of their course, which is determined by the change in the radial distance from the bearing axis (5) and/or the width and which course preferably follows the same cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventor: Alfred Tatura
  • Patent number: 6651965
    Abstract: A rubber bearing with axial damping includes a multipart bearing inner part (1), an elastomer (9, 9′), which surrounds the bearing inner part (1) in some sections and is connected thereto by vulcanization, chambers (5, 5′) for accommodating a damping agent, a channel carrier (11) with at least one damping agent channel (12), which makes possible the circulation of the damping agent between the chambers (5, 6, 7), as well as an essentially cylindrical bearing sleeve (10), which accommodates the above-mentioned bearing parts. The bearing inner part (1) has a section (2, 3) of increased diameter compared with a middle area (4) of the bearing inner part (1) at the respective axial ends of the bearing. A channel carrier (11) with chambers 5, 5′ for the damping agent is arranged between the sections (2, 3) of increased diameter of the bearing inner part (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventors: Andreas Vossel, Frank Meyerink
  • Patent number: 6644634
    Abstract: A controllable hydraulic bearing, especially for motor vehicles, with a working chamber and an equalizing chamber arranged annularly around the working chamber. The chambers are filled with an electrorheological fluid and are connected to one another via an annular gap-like overflow channel. The overflow channel has two mutually opposite electrodes for generating a high-voltage field in the overflow channel. The overflow channel (8) extends helically in its longitudinal extension around the said working chamber (1) between the working chamber (1) and the equalizing chamber. The wall of the overflow chamber (8) comprises an electrically insulating carrier layer provided on both sides with conductive cover layers forming electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventors: Metin Ersoy, Frank Meyerink
  • Patent number: 6637762
    Abstract: An axle suspension for rigid axles of vehicles, especially air-cushioned utility vehicles includes a twistable fur-point connecting rod (4) connected above the vehicle axle (3) to the (vehicle axle (3). The twistable four-point connect rod (4) is connected to the vehicle chassis (1a, 1b, 2a, 2b) via two said joints (5, 6, 7, 8) each, which are arranged at spaced locations from one another in the longitudial direction of the vehicle. At least one spring assembly unit (19, 20) per vehicle side is located for spring suspension between the vehicle axle (3) and the vehicle chassis (1a, 1b, 2a, 2b). An axle strut (21) for axle guiding, extends approximately in the middle of the vehicle in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and connects the vehicle axle (3) to the vehicle chassis (1a, 1b, 2a, 2b) in a vertically movable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventors: Holger Bublies, Reinhard Buhl, Uwe Cossmann, Reinhard Richter, Werner Schmudde
  • Patent number: 6615684
    Abstract: A brake pedal mechanism (4) for motor vehicles with a pedal block(5), which is fastened to the body of the motor vehicle and accommodates a mount (18) for the pivot axis (17) of a rotatably mounted actuating pedal (6). The pedal (6) is provided with a pedal surface (9), wherein an actuating element (7) is articulated to the actuating pedal (6) for a brake power booster (1) with a main brake cylinder (2). The pivot axis (17) mounted on the pedal block (5) is arranged on the actuating pedal (6) between the pedal surface (9) and the articulation point (8) of the actuating element (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventor: Metin Ersoy