Patents by Inventor Alan Dittrich

Alan Dittrich has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230306798
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for registering items of equipment (103) for a vehicle. In each case an ID code is assigned to the items of equipment (103) and wherein the items of equipment (103) comprise in each case at least one transmission means (105). The ID codes are transmitted by the transmission means (105) concerned to the recording means (101) and registered by the recording means (101).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Stefan Traub, Alan Dittrich
  • Patent number: 9068636
    Abstract: A multi-group transmission of a vehicle having a motor connected to an input shaft of the transmission, via a starting element, and the transmission comprises a splitter group, a main group and a main transmission shaft, on the drive output side. A powershift unit can couple the input shaft to the main transmission shaft for engaging an intermediate gear during a gearshift. The powershift unit and a shifting device for engaging gear constants of the splitter group are an integrated unit. During operating the transmission, with the starting element at least partly engaged during intermediate gear engagement, the powershift unit operates in a slipping mode and supports torque of the motor at the main transmission shaft while rotation of the motor is synchronized with a target gear. After which, an original gear is disengaged while free from load, the target gear is engaged when synchronized, and the intermediate gear is again disengaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Alan Dittrich, Rayk Gersten
  • Patent number: 8069742
    Abstract: A motor vehicle transmission having at least two transmission groups and a method for operation of the transmission in which a mechanism is provided for maintaining traction force during gearshifts. A first friction clutch is an intermediate-gear clutch connected to a driveshaft of the motor and to a main transmission shaft which is connected with a transmission output shaft, the second friction clutch is a change-under-load clutch connected to the driveshaft and to a loose wheel of a second gear constant of a splitter group, and the third friction clutch is a change-under-load clutch connected with the driveshaft and with a loose wheel of a first gear constant of the splitter group. A direct connection can be formed in the transmission between the driveshaft and the main transmission shaft by way of the intermediate-gear clutch and the gear constants of the splitter group can be shifted, under load, by the change-under-load clutches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Alan Dittrich, Rayk Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 8066606
    Abstract: A multi-group transmission of a vehicle is arranged in a drivetrain and includes traction force support during gearshift operations. A clutch mechanism, including a frictional clutch and two shifting clutches is arranged between a drive motor with a driveshaft and a transmission input shaft, such that the driveshaft can be connected to the transmission input shaft by one shifting clutch in a first shift position in combination with the frictional clutch or in a second shift position with bridging of the frictional clutch, such that the driveshaft can be directly connected to a main transmission shaft by the other shifting clutch in a shift position in active combination with the frictional clutch. In a method for operating the transmission, the frictional clutch is controlled and operated in combination with the first shifting clutch as a starting clutch and with the second shifting clutch as an intermediate-gear clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Alan Dittrich, Rayk Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20110072923
    Abstract: A multi-group transmission of a vehicle having a motor connected to an input shaft of the transmission, via a starting element, and the transmission comprises a splitter group, a main group and a main transmission shaft, on the drive output side. A powershift unit can couple the input shaft to the main transmission shaft for engaging an intermediate gear during a gearshift. The powershift unit and a shifting device for engaging gear constants of the splitter group are an integrated unit. During operating the transmission, with the starting element at least partly engaged during intermediate gear engagement, the powershift unit operates in a slipping mode and supports torque of the motor at the main transmission shaft while rotation of the motor is synchronized with a target gear. After which, an original gear is disengaged while free from load, the target gear is engaged when synchronized, and the intermediate gear is again disengaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Alan Dittrich, Rayk Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20090325763
    Abstract: A transmission of a vehicle and a method for its operation. The transmission has a range group arranged downstream from a main group. The main group output couples a sun gear and a transmission output to a planetary gear carrier of the range group, with a starting element and a change-under-load device, which is integrated in the range group for engaging a traction-force-supporting direct intermediate gear during a gearshift, to connect the transmission input and output shafts. An input component of the change-under-load device is connected to the transmission input shaft and an output component of the change-under-load device is connected to the planetary gear carrier. To increase the efficiency of drive during gearshifts at least one change-under-load device is provided for engaging at least one gear of the main group and/or at least one constant positioned upstream from the main group, which enables shifting under at least partial load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Alan DITTRICH, Rayk HOFFMANN
  • Publication number: 20090305833
    Abstract: A multi-group transmission of a vehicle is arranged in a drivetrain and includes traction force support during gearshift operations. A clutch mechanism, including a frictional clutch and two shifting clutches is arranged between a drive motor with a driveshaft and a transmission input shaft, such that the driveshaft can be connected to the transmission input shaft by one shifting clutch in a first shift position in combination with the frictional clutch or in a second shift position with bridging of the frictional clutch, such that the driveshaft can be directly connected to a main transmission shaft by the other shifting clutch in a shift position in active combination with the frictional clutch. In a method for operating the transmission, the frictional clutch is controlled and operated in combination with the first shifting clutch as a starting clutch and with the second shifting clutch as an intermediate-gear clutch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Alan DITTRICH, Rayk HOFFMANN
  • Publication number: 20090280955
    Abstract: The invention concerns a multi-group transmission of a motor vehicle with at least two transmission groups (2, 3) and a method for its operation in which means are provided for supporting the traction force during gearshift operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Alan DITTRICH, Rayk HOFFMANN
  • Publication number: 20090280956
    Abstract: A motor vehicle transmission and method of its operation. The transmission has at least two transmission groups including a way of maintaining traction force during gearshifting operations. Two change-under-load clutches and an intermediate-gear clutch enable traction-force-maintaining gearshifts to be carried out on a splitter group. The first change-under-load clutch has an input connected to a drive motor and an output side to a loose wheel of a first gear constant, the second change-under-load clutch has an input connected to the motor and an output to a loose wheel of the second gear constant. The intermediate-gear clutch has an input connected to the loose wheel of the second gear constant and an output to a shaft of the main group, such that a direct gear can be engaged as an intermediate gear, and the gear constants can be shifted under load by the first and second change-under-load clutches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Alan DITTRICH, Rayk HOFFMANN
  • Publication number: 20090272211
    Abstract: A multi-group transmission of a motor vehicle which includes at least two transmission groups arranged in a drivetrain and a way for supporting traction force during gearshifts such that traction-force gearshifts are maintained with improved shifting comfort at comparatively low cost, little design effort and compact installation space demands. At least one electromagnetic clutch is a change-under-load unit by which, bypassing the force flow of at least one main group made as a gear-change transmission, an active connection can be formed between a driveshaft and a main transmission shaft or a transmission output shaft. During a gearshift operation, an active connection is temporarily made between a driveshaft and a main transmission shaft or a transmission output shaft by way of at least one electromagnetic clutch designed as a change-under-load unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Rayk HOFFMANN, Alan DITTRICH
  • Publication number: 20090266190
    Abstract: A multi-group transmission of a motor vehicle and a method of operating the transmission. The transmission has at least two transmission groups in the drive train and a mechanism for engaging an intermediate gear to reduce drive force interruptions during gearshifts. To obtain comfortable, shift operations that are free from drive force interruptions by way of an intermediate gear, a starting element and a shift-under-load element are arranged between a drive shaft, that is actively connected to a motor, and a transmission input, such that by way of the shift-under-load element, an active connection is formed between the driveshaft and a transmission output shaft, via at least one auxiliary shaft made as an intermediate gear shaft, with a drive input gearset and at least one drive output gearset bypassing at least a main group and independent of the engagement or disengagement of the starting element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Alan DITTRICH, Rayk HOFFMANN
  • Publication number: 20090264241
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-group transmission of a motor vehicle with at least two transmission groups (2, 3) arranged in a drive train, in which the means for switching an intermediate gear are provided, in order to diminish or avoid interruptions in tractive force during gear changes. A planetary transmission (41) is arranged between a first transmission group (2) and a second transmission group (3), in order to enable gear changes without interruptions in tractive force with a variably selectable intermediate gear, as well as efficient operation that involves as little wear as possible, whereby a transmission input shaft (17) can be brought into a functional connection with a transmission main shaft (30) via the planetary transmission (41).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Alan DITTRICH, Rayk HOFFMANN