Patents Assigned to ZF Sachs AG
  • Patent number: 6749177
    Abstract: Damping valve for a shock absorber includes a damping valve body with at least one valve seat surface for a valve disk which is loaded in the lifting direction by a flow of damping medium. At least one support disk arranged on the valve disk determines, by its contour, a lever arm up to an effective surface to which pressure is applied by a damping medium in the lifting direction, and this support disk is pretensioned in direction of the valve disk by a tensioning plate, wherein the damping valve body forms a line of tensioning with the valve disk, support disk and tensioning plate, wherein at least one of the contact surfaces within the line of tensioning is profiled, so that there is a contact circle at the support disk, and the radius of the contact circle matches the provided reference dimension for the contour of the support disk determining the lever arm length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Günther Handke, Günther Braun, Peter Wirth, Gerald Fenn
  • Publication number: 20040108181
    Abstract: A dual clutch comprises two clutch areas, each with a pressure plate which can be moved by a force-exerting arrangement toward an abutment arrangement, where the abutment arrangement is to be connected by a connecting plate arrangement to a drive element, also comprising a starter gear ring connected to the abutment arrangement for rotation in common, where the starter gear ring has a first connecting area for connection to the abutment arrangement and a second connecting area for connection to the connecting plate arrangement
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Andreas Orlamunder, Sebastian Vogt
  • Publication number: 20040109770
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic torque converter which has a hydrodynamic circuit including at least one pump wheel and one turbine wheel, wherein each of these rotors is provided with an outer shell which accepts a set of vanes which form flow chambers, the inner edges of the vanes being connecting to an inner shell, which acts as part of an internal torus. For the sake of production, each of these vanes, before it is installed in the rotor in question, forms part of a vane plate, from which material is removed by industrial processing operations to create open areas in the plate. In addition, each vane has a curved zone and a flat zone, where the curved zone has at least one plane of curvature, which proceeds from a trailing flow edge of the vane toward the leading flow edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Hermann Schleicher, Jurgen Ackermann
  • Publication number: 20040107698
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic torque converter which has at least a hydrodynamic circuit including at least one pump wheel and one turbine wheel, wherein each of these wheels is provided with an outer shell to accept a set of vanes which form flow chambers, the inner edges of the vanes away from the outer shell being connected to an inner shell, which acts as part of an internal torus. At least the vanes of the turbine wheel have connecting elements both on the inner edges and on the outer edges, which connecting elements pass through openings in the shells to fasten the vanes to the shells, being provided for this purpose with a predetermined minimum overhang with respect to the edge of the associated vane, this minimum overhang making it possible for the connecting elements to be plastically deformed in such a way that they can grip the rear surfaces of the shells, i.e., the surfaces facing away from the vanes, and thus fasten the vanes to the shells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Hermann Schleicher, Jurgen Ackermann
  • Patent number: 6745884
    Abstract: A housing arrangement for a friction clutch, especially for a multi-disk clutch, where the housing arrangement is designed approximately in the shape of a cup and is provided with a bottom area and an edge area for connection to a flywheel. At least one air through-opening is provided in the bottom area, each opening being bounded by a front edge and a rear edge with respect to the direction of rotation, the front edge being axially offset toward the interior of the housing with respect to said rear edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Wolfram Hick, Frank Hirschmann, Klaus Steinel, Erwin Ziegler, Reinhold Weidinger, Norbert Lohaus, Joachim Lindner
  • Patent number: 6745876
    Abstract: A piston-cylinder assembly includes a cylinder, in which a piston rod with a piston is guided axially by a piston rod guide. A distance detection system is used to determine the position of the piston in the cylinder. The distance detection system includes a sensor and a transmitter. The sensor is mounted on the piston or on the bottom of the cylinder. Upon axial displacement of the piston, the transmitter travels a distance different from that traveled by the piston, the difference between the two distances being used to determine the position of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventor: Hubert Beck
  • Publication number: 20040104089
    Abstract: A torque transmission system for the transmission of torque between a prime mover and a gearbox in a vehicle includes an input shaft, which can rotate around a first axis of rotation; at least one output shaft, which can rotate around a second axis of rotation transversely offset from the first axis of rotation; and a first clutch arrangement with an output area, which is or can be connected nonrotatably to the output shaft, and an input area, which can be connected as desired to the output area for the transmission of torque. A drive arrangement connects the input shaft to the input area so that the input area can be caused to rotate by the input shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Applicant: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Markus Heiartz, Sebastian Bindig
  • Publication number: 20040104630
    Abstract: A drive system which has a drive unit with a drive shaft; a centrifugal mass arrangement, which is mounted on the drive shaft; and an electrical machine, comprising a stator arrangement and a rotor arrangement, where the rotor arrangement is mounted on the centrifugal mass arrangement, and where the stator arrangement and the rotor arrangement are adjacent to each other in the radial direction. So that optimum use can be made of the space available inside the drive unit, and so that the overall length of the drive unit required in the axial direction relative to the axis of rotation (A) can be kept as short as possible, the centrifugal mass arrangement has a contour such that, relative to the axis of rotation (A), a receiving space (71) is formed radially inside the electrical machine. The receiving space is bounded on at least one side by the centrifugal mass arrangement, and at least one additional component of the drive unit is installed in the receiving space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Applicant: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Armin Denner, Knut Welke, Klaus Steinel, Joachim Lindner, Frank Hirschmann
  • Patent number: 6742637
    Abstract: A lock-up clutch for a hydrodynamic torque converter has at least one friction area on a first converter component, which area can be brought into working connection with at least one opposing friction area on a second converter component by an engaging movement of this converter component or which can be separated from this opposing friction area by a disengaging movement in the direction opposite that of the engaging movement. On at least one of the two converter components, a pump device acting in either the friction area or in the opposing friction area is present, which, as a result of its geometric shape, has the effect of building up a pressure gradient, by means of which a forced flow of hydraulic fluid through at least one predetermined section of the friction area and/or of the opposing friction area is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventor: Jürgen Ackermann
  • Publication number: 20040099499
    Abstract: A dual clutch includes a first clutch area with a housing arrangement connected to an abutment plate; a first pressure plate arrangement; and a force-exerting arrangement, which is supported against the housing arrangement and the pressure plate arrangement, and which can press the pressure plate arrangement toward the abutment plate. A second clutch area includes second pressure plate arrangement and a force-transmitting arrangement, which extends axially across the abutment plate and can exert force on the second pressure plate arrangement. The housing arrangement and the abutment plate are connected to each other by the production of a press fit, and a first force-transmitting element and a second force-transmitting element of the force-transmitting arrangement are also connected to each other by the production of a press fit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Applicant: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Andreas Orlamunder, Sebastian Vogt
  • Patent number: 6736248
    Abstract: A transport-securing arrangement for a pressure plate assembly of a multi-disk clutch including a housing arrangement connectable to a flywheel, a pressure plate coupled to the housing arrangement for common rotation therewith, a stored-energy device having one side supported on the housing arrangement and another side supported on the pressure plate arrangement. The pressure plate assembly also includes an intermediate plate connected to the housing arrangement for common rotation therewith and a first clutch disk with a friction surface area positioned between the pressure plate and the intermediate plate. The transport-securing arrangement comprises a plurality of connecting elements, preferably bolt elements, for tightly connecting the intermediate plate to the housing arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Erwin Ziegler, Reinhold Weidinger, Frank Hirschmann, Klaus Steinel, Wolfram Hick, Norbert Lohaus, Joachim Lindner
  • Publication number: 20040084275
    Abstract: A friction clutch includes a housing having an axis of rotation; a pressure plate connected to the housing for rotation in common; a force exerting arrangement supported against the housing and the pressure plate; an actuator mechanism which acts on the force exerting arrangement to load the pressure plate axially with respect to the housing; and a bearing arrangement for supporting the actuator mechanism axially with respect to the housing so that it is prevented from moving in either axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Applicant: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Andreas Orlamunder, Olaf Pagels, Christoph Kleuker, Markus Heiartz, Sebastian Vogt
  • Publication number: 20040079606
    Abstract: A double clutch assembly includes a first clutch area with a first pressure plate, which can be moved by a first force-exerting assembly toward an abutment assembly; a second clutch area with a second pressure plate, which can be moved by a second force-exerting assembly toward an abutment assembly; and a connecting assembly for connecting the abutment assembly to a drive element. The connecting assembly includes a connecting plate assembly with a first, radially outer connecting section, which extends over an outer circumferential surface of the abutment assembly and is attached thereto by a plurality of connecting elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Applicant: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Andreas Orlamunder, Sebastian Vogt
  • Patent number: 6725993
    Abstract: A connecting arrangement for a clutch-release mechanism which is concentric with respect to a longitudinal axis of a clutch arrangement includes a connecting line, which can be connected to the clutch-release mechanism for the purpose of control, and a fastening device for the detachable connection of the clutch-release mechanism to a support element by relative rotation between the clutch-release mechanism and the support element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventor: Hans Fliege
  • Publication number: 20040075350
    Abstract: Spring support having at least one axially moveable spring plate, an actuator with a rotor producing a rotational movement relative to its stator, which is converted into an axial movement of the spring plate, and a torsional locking element which prevents torsional movement of the spring plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Applicant: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventor: Joachim Kuhnel
  • Patent number: 6722640
    Abstract: A U-type bellows air spring is supported on one side relative to the vehicle frame and on the other side relative to the axle or a longitudinal control arm guiding the latter. The lower end of the U-type bellows is fastened on the longitudinal control arm side in a pressure-tight manner to a flange of a supporting element, and a vibration absorber protrudes through the supporting element. A piston cylinder of the vibration absorber is connected to the longitudinal control arm via a joint, and a piston rod on the longitudinal axis of the air spring is supported relative to the vehicle frame. To keep the amount of sealing for the air spring small even if it is not used very much, the supporting element for the lower end of the U-type bellows is arranged rigidly with respect to the piston cylinder of the vibration absorber. A preferably cylindrical circumferential surface for the U-type bellows to roll along during the compression and rebound action extends from the flange toward the longitudinal control arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Georg Memmel, Wolfgang Kolb, Roland Berghaus, Burchard Michels, Bernd Rhein
  • Publication number: 20040069588
    Abstract: A diaphragm spring for a friction clutch includes a ring-like body area and a plurality of spring tongues arranged in a row in the circumferential direction and extending radially inward from the body area. A stiffening rib formed in at least one of the spring tongues extends radially into the body area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Applicant: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Martin Pahrisch, Ronald Beck, Alfred Schraut, Erwin Ziegler, Frank Hirschmann
  • Publication number: 20040069587
    Abstract: A pressure plate assembly for a friction clutch comprises a housing arrangement; a pressure plate, which is inside the housing arrangement and which can rotate along with it around an axis of rotation; a force-exerting arrangement, preferably a force-storing device, supported against the housing arrangement and the pressure plate; and a wear take-up device in the path of force transmission between the force-exerting arrangement and the pressure plate. At least one wear take-up element can be moved in order to compensate for wear, and an adjusting element is able to make an adjusting movement which causes the minimum of one wear take-up element to move and thus to compensate for wear, where the adjusting element can be caused to execute its adjusting movement by the action of centrifugal force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Applicant: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventor: Reinhold Weidinger
  • Publication number: 20040069589
    Abstract: A diaphragm spring for a friction clutch includes a ring-like body area and a plurality of spring tongues arranged at the inner edge in a row in a circumferential direction and extending radially inward from the body area. Openings are formed between adjacent spring tongues, each opening having a radially outer base area, at least one of the openings being limited in the circumferential direction by a wall area having a curvature which increases as the wall proceeds from the base area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Applicant: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Martin Pahrisch, Ronald Beck, Alfred Schraut, Erwin Ziegler, Frank Hirschmann
  • Publication number: 20040060793
    Abstract: A bridging clutch is installed in a fluid medium-filled housing of a hydrodynamic coupling device located between a drive shaft and a transmission input shaft, the coupling device also containing a pump wheel and a turbine wheel. The bridging clutch is provided with a piston, which, when moved into a first axial position, brings at least one friction element into working connection with at least one friction surface, and, when moved into a second axial position, at least partially releases this working connection, and with a torsional vibration damper, which is designed with at least one drive element and with at least one takeoff element, at least one of which has openings for circumferential springs and actuating areas for these springs. At least one of the takeoff elements acts a carrier element for the turbine wheel, which is held otherwise without radial support in the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Jurgen Dacho, Peter Frey, Ralf Ronnebeck, Georg Mencher, Bernd Schoder, Horst Breier, Hermann Schleicher