Patents Assigned to ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
  • Patent number: 7853379
    Abstract: A control method is for controlling a control angle and an output torque of a superposition angle actuator of a superimposed steering system of a motor vehicle. At least the control of the control angle occurs with the aid of a nonlinear compensation controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Willy Klier, Reinhard Grossheim
  • Patent number: 7845915
    Abstract: A rotary pump for producing a pressure medium flow for a consumer, includes a pump housing in which a curved ring is inserted. A rotor is rotatably borne on a drive shaft in the curved ring. The rotor carries displacement elements at a tangential distance to one another which form a pump chamber between the rotor and the curved ring with a suction opening. A pressure medium-activated adjusting device is operable for changing the eccentricity of the curved ring relative to the rotor, and includes a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber fluidically and tangentially distanced from the first pressure chamber The pressure in the first and second pressure chambers is controlled by a flow control valve, the low pressure chamber of which communicates with a first control line on a downstream side of a metering orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Johann Merz
  • Publication number: 20100260448
    Abstract: Disclosed is a radially movable floating bearing for a shaft of a gear of a steering system, comprising a bushing or an inner ring or a rolling bearing, which is supported in a seat of a frame or housing of the gear. The inner ring or the bushing or the rolling bearing is held by at least one support element made of material having elastomeric properties which is inserted into a gap between the seat and the inner ring, the support element being designed as a pivot bearing. In order to provide a radially movable floating bearing for a steering system gear shaft, which is low-noise, easy to pivot and highly resilient, the pivot bearing cooperates with a damping stop disposed tangentially at a distance thereto, the stop being disposed at a radial distance from the inner ring or the seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Jens-Uwe Hafermalz, Dennis Fuechsel
  • Publication number: 20100236860
    Abstract: An electric power steering system, and in particular a power-assisted steering system for a vehicle, comprises a steering transmission housing and a housing cover which forms an axial closure of the steering transmission housing and which is penetrated by an axially displaceable component of the steering transmission. In order to provide an electric power steering system which is easy to assemble and is not susceptible to wear, in an axially outer region of the housing cover, a first guide bushing for the axially displaceable component is integrated in the housing cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Hoersh, Arthur Rupp, Andreas Kruttschnitt, Jochen Nussbaumer, Wolfgang Runge
  • Patent number: 7793753
    Abstract: In a power-assisted steering system or power steering system having an electric motor, which drives a worm gear mechanism that has a composite gear wheel in the form of a worm wheel, the worm wheel includes a ring gear connectible to a hub via a first disk, and an annular projection of the first disk axially engages with the ring gear. In order to improve the centering of the component parts of the composite gear wheel in the tangential direction, and in order to render the power transmission in the gear wheel uniform, the annular projection on the first disk is provided with one or more depressions in the axial direction to form tooth-like projections, which form a drive-type toothed section and engage with depressions on an axial side face of the ring gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Bernhard, Oliver Hetzel, Joachim Fischer, Olaf Beutler, Achim Ottenstein, Richard Kaisser, Reinhold Schuster, Wolf-Ingo Ratzel
  • Patent number: 7753383
    Abstract: A device for exposing an opening in a housing part of a steering gear in a vehicle steering system has a closure element that closes the opening and a component that, when it comes into contact with a liquid, changes at least one of its properties such that, after the component cooperates with the closure element, the closure element exposes the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Bareis, Martin Budaker, Reiner Kunz, Wolfgang Reuter, Oliver Hetzel, John Hasenclever
  • Patent number: 7735508
    Abstract: A rotary slide valve, in particular for speed-dependent power steering systems in motor vehicles, has a torsion bar, a rotary slide, and a control bushing. The control bushing is pressed onto a pinion and the torsion bar is inserted into a torsion bar bore of the pinion. The control bushing is connected rotation-fast to the pinion by shaping. The torsion bar has teeth that are pressed into the torsion bar bore of the pinion and that connect the torsion bar to the pinion rotation-fast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Ertle, Karl-Heinz Urban, Joachim Ilg
  • Patent number: 7735595
    Abstract: A hydraulic power steering system for a vehicle includes a first, hydraulic actuator for making available steering power or auxiliary steering power for adjusting the steering angle of one or more steered wheels of the vehicle, and with a second electric actuator for making available a steering power or auxiliary steering power for adjusting the steering angle of the steered wheel. For a power steering system, for which the power dissipated is reduced and the operating temperature lowered, the first hydraulic actuator can be taken out of operation while the vehicle is being driven as a function of the trip and/or vehicle parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Kogel, Andreas Braun
  • Publication number: 20100116125
    Abstract: A power steering device for a vehicle which is disposed in the transmission path between a steering handle and a steerable vehicle wheel, comprises a servo cylinder having two pressure chambers, which are separated by a working piston and are each connected to a pressure supply unit. A valve plunger, which seals a bypass channel between the pressure chambers, is movably disposed on the working piston. Furthermore, an adjustment bushing comprising an adjustment section is disposed in the servo cylinder, the valve plunger being moved against this section upon approaching an axial limit position, thereby opening the bypass channel. The adjustment bushing is clamped into the servo cylinder, yet held displaceably, wherein, on the adjustment bushing, a sealing section is provided, which is to be moved into a sealing position with the working piston so as to interrupt the flow connection between the pressure chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Linde, Michael Haegele
  • Patent number: 7686126
    Abstract: An electromechanical steering device for a motor vehicle having at least one electric motor and power electronics for controlling the electric motor includes at least one temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the power electronics and/or the ambient temperature of the power electronics and switching times of the power electronics are variable as a function of the measured temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Walz
  • Patent number: 7686515
    Abstract: A radially movable bearing for a shaft of a gear in a steering system includes a bush or outer ring that is supported in a receiving element of a mount or housing for the gear. In order to create a radially flexible bearing for the shaft of the gear, which movable bearing enables quiet operation for the entire service life of the gear, the outer ring or the bush is held by at least one support element that is inserted in a gap between the receiving element and the outer ring, and that is made of a material with elastomer behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Achim Schust
  • Patent number: 7682086
    Abstract: A roller bearing assembly for supporting a shaft axially and radially in a rack includes a roller bearing with a carrier, a portion of which is supported at the rack with an element with elastomeric properties being interposed between a support for the rack and the portion of the carrier. In order to indicate a roller bearing, which supports the shaft axially and radially, and makes an inclined position of the shaft possible without causing straining of the system of shaft, roller bearing and rack, the element with elastomeric properties, viewed in the tangential (circumferential) direction of the roller bearing, has at least a first region, the stiffness of which is different from that of the remaining tangential (circumferential) region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Lenksystems GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Budaker, Michael Jueschke, Roland Winter, Oliver Hetzel, Michael Hauck, Manfred Weller
  • Patent number: 7683563
    Abstract: A protective device for a power-assisted steering system, such a power-assisted steering system, and a method for protecting a power-assisted steering system are described. Provided in the described power-assisted steering system is a circuit that closes a separation in the neutral point of an electric motor when the rotational speed of the electric motor exceeds a prespecified value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Wilfried Leutner
  • Patent number: 7676308
    Abstract: A method for operating a steering system of a motor vehicle, with a steering handling device for specifying a steering wheel angle (?S) as a measure of a desired steering angle (?Fm) for at least one steerable wheel of the motor vehicle, a steering gear with a pinion, which converts a pinion angle (?G), which depends on the steering wheel angle (?S), into the steering angle (?Fm) of the at least one steerable wheel of the motor vehicle, a superimposing arrangement for generating an additional angle (?M) by means of a control drive, especially an electric motor and for producing the pinion angle (?G) by superimposing the additional angle (?M) on the steering wheel angle (?S) by a superimposing gear mechanism and a control device for carrying out the method for operating the steering system and for triggering the control drive and being carried out by a control device of the steering system. At least one function, on the basis of a model, monitors the dynamics of the control drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Willy Klier
  • Patent number: 7650809
    Abstract: An electrical steering system for a motor vehicle, having an electric motor having a worm gear which is made up of a worm and a worm wheel, coupled to an input shaft, having a ring gear, worm wheel forming one of the two coupling parts, that are to be coupled to each other, of an elastic compensation coupling whose other coupling part is connected, rotatably fixed, to the input shaft. The two coupling parts are coupled to each other only by one or by a plurality of elastic spacers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Bernhard, Friedrich Mayr, Michael Jüschke, Erich Berroth, Marc Kohler
  • Publication number: 20090133485
    Abstract: A device for exposing an opening in a housing part of a steering gear in a vehicle steering system has a closure element that closes the opening and a component that, when it comes into contact with a liquid, changes at least one of its properties such that, after the component cooperates with the closure element, the closure element exposes the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Bareis, Martin Budaker, Reiner Kunz, Wolfgang Reuter, Oliver Hetzel, John Hasenclever
  • Patent number: 7510045
    Abstract: A power-steering system, e.g., for a motor vehicle, having an electric motor, which transmits a steering-assist force via a belt transmission to a ball-screw transmission for displacing vehicle wheels, includes a cam, via which the ball-screw transmission and/or electric motor is supported in a steering-gear housing. The tension of a belt of the belt transmission is adjustable by rotating the cam in the steering-gear housing. The cam has at least one cutout on the circumference, and/or the steering-gear housing has at least one cutout in its inner wall. A locking element may be inserted into the cutout, in order to fix the cam in position with respect to the steering-gear housing. After being inserted, the locking element is operatively connected to the cam and the steering-gear housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Bareis, Martin Budaker, Oliver Hetzel, Michael Hauck
  • Publication number: 20080196964
    Abstract: A method of stabilizing a vehicle combination including a towing vehicle and a trailer, includes determining at least one vehicle state variable describing the state of the vehicle from a comparison with an assigned nominal value. A correcting variable is produced, which is supplied to an actuator in the vehicle. The correcting variable acts upon a steering actuator in order to adjust the wheel steering angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Lundquist
  • Patent number: 7398854
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electrical power steering system for a vehicle includes an electrical servomotor, a steering device for entering a reference value (?S) of a steering angle into a control andlor regulation device, a moment sensor and an angle sensor for the steering device, a device for estimating the moment (Mv) at the steering device and an angle sensor for determining the angle (?A) of a power take-off of the electrical servomotor. In order to control the electrical power steering system, which makes a non-critical behavior possible in the event of a malfunction or failure of a moment sensor at the steering device, provisions are made so that an offset value (??) is constantly formed from the reference value (?S) of the steering angle and the actual value ?I of the steering angle, and a virtual moment (Mv) of the steering device is determined on the basis of the offset value (??) and is used to control the electrical servomotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Arnulf Heilig, Michael Bischofberger
  • Patent number: 7383109
    Abstract: A vehicle power steering system suppresses chattering, i.e., unpleasant noises in the form of mechanical and generally higher frequency oscillations resulting from backlash in a gear connection transmitting the torque from the motor to the steering wheel mechanics, produced under certain driving conditions. A control system is provided which evaluates the rotor rpm of the electric motor, and increases the dynamic response time of the rotor in the event that the evaluation of the rotor rpm indicates an unstable state of the control system. As a result, chattering is suppressed only when a critical driving situation arises in which the control system becomes unstable, while, in the normal state, the steering system exhibits all properties thereof, and is neither delayed nor limited in a dynamic behavior thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Arnulf Heilig, Stephan Hiegler, Michael Bischofberger