Patents by Inventor Alexander Dreher

Alexander Dreher 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).

  • Patent number: 10663044
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an actuator having a planetary roller screw drive comprising a housing having a cylinder chamber and a fluid reservoir forming one common volume and the housing is filled with a hydraulic fluid. The planetary roller screw drive comprises a spindle having a profiling, which meshes with a plurality of planetary rollers, which are arranged around the spindle and are supported at both ends in a planetary roller carrier. The planetary rollers mesh with an inner profiling of an internal ring gear surrounding the planetary rollers and the planetary rollers are supported in a sleeve surrounding the internal ring gear. According to the disclosure, the planetary roller carrier and/or the sleeve comprise one or more flow ducts connecting the interior and the exterior of a chamber defined radially by the sleeve and axially by the planetary roller carriers to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Peter Greb, Alexander Dreher, Lars Schumann, Lászlo Mán
  • Publication number: 20180340597
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an actuator having a planetary roller screw drive comprising a housing having a cylinder chamber and a fluid reservoir forming one common volume and the housing is filled with a hydraulic fluid. The planetary roller screw drive comprises a spindle having a profiling, which meshes with a plurality of planetary rollers, which are arranged around the spindle and are supported at both ends in a planetary roller carrier. The planetary rollers mesh with an inner profiling of an internal ring gear surrounding the planetary rollers and the planetary rollers are supported in a sleeve surrounding the internal ring gear. According to the disclosure, the planetary roller carrier and/or the sleeve comprise one or more flow ducts connecting the interior and the exterior of a chamber defined radially by the sleeve and axially by the planetary roller carriers to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Peter Greb, Alexander Dreher, Lars Schumann, Lászlo Mán
  • Patent number: 10125851
    Abstract: A spindle drive unit, in particular for an actuator having a planetary screw drive (PWG) for actuating a clutch of a motor vehicle by an actuating element is provided, where the drive unit has an e-motor with a rotor and a stator and where a spindle provided with a pitch is connected non-rotatingly to the rotor and is drivable by the rotor around an axis of rotation. The spindle is designed as a threaded rod and a rotor carrier that holds the rotor is screwed onto the threaded rod, and the rotor carrier is rotationally secured and axially fixed on the spindle by a lock nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Lars Schumann, Lazlo Man, Peter Greb, Alexander Dreher
  • Patent number: 10107308
    Abstract: A piston-cylinder unit (40) for hydraulic actuation of a clutch in a vehicle, including a piston (42), a cylinder (41) and a sealing element (43). The piston cylinder unit is fluidically linked to a fluid circuit (44), the piston (42) is axially displaceable in the cylinder, and the sealing element is arranged sealingly between the piston and the cylinder, characterized in that a sensor is arranged in or on the piston-cylinder unit, by which sensor a pressure can be measured in the interior of the piston-cylinder unit and/or in the fluidically linked fluid circuit. A method for operating the piston-cylinder unit is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Alexander Dreher, Marco Treder
  • Publication number: 20170108056
    Abstract: A modular concept is proposed for an actuator, in particular a clutch and/or transmission actuator. An electric motor is provided with a universal flange. Through this flange it is possible to connect an electrohydraulic or electromechanical actuating link. A clutch and/or a transmission setting device can then be actuated by means of the resulting actuator. In particular, for use for an electrohydraulic actuator, the motor housing may also have a receptacle for a pressure sensor. This receptacle may already be closed, or may be closed for the connection to a mechanics module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventors: Peter Greb, Lászlo Mán, Lars Schumann, Alexander Dreher
  • Publication number: 20160290455
    Abstract: A spindle drive unit, in particular for an actuator having a planetary screw drive (PWG) for actuating a clutch of a motor vehicle by an actuating element is provided, where the drive unit has an e-motor with a rotor and a stator and where a spindle provided with a pitch is connected non-rotatingly to the rotor and is drivable by the rotor around an axis of rotation. The spindle is designed as a threaded rod and a rotor carrier that holds the rotor is screwed onto the threaded rod, and the rotor carrier is rotationally secured and axially fixed on the spindle by a lock nut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co., KG
    Inventors: Lars Schumann, Lazlo Man, Peter Greb, Alexander Dreher
  • Publication number: 20160195112
    Abstract: A piston-cylinder unit (40) for hydraulic actuation of a clutch in a vehicle, including a piston (42), a cylinder (41) and a sealing element (43). The piston cylinder unit is fluidically linked to a fluid circuit (44), the piston (42) is axially displaceable in the cylinder, and the sealing element is arranged sealingly between the piston and the cylinder, characterized in that a sensor is arranged in or on the piston-cylinder unit, by which sensor a pressure can be measured in the interior of the piston-cylinder unit and/or in the fluidically linked fluid circuit. A method for operating the piston-cylinder unit is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Alexander Dreher, Marco Treder
  • Patent number: 8220606
    Abstract: The invention relates to a dual clutch transmission with two friction clutches and a method for controlling it, where the two friction clutches are actuated utilizing electromechanical disengaging units. To counteract lockup of the dual clutch transmission in the event of a failure of an electric motor, the functional capability of the electric motors is monitored. If the function of an electric motor is deficient, a signal is generated in the control device that brings about in the program sequence of the transmission control system a disengagement of all of the gears that are situated in a sub-drivetrain whose friction clutch is actuated by the affected electric motor. In this way it is possible to prevent lockup of the dual clutch transmission during a malfunction of an electric motor during a state in which torque is being transmitted to the sub-drivetrain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Alexander Dreher
  • Patent number: 8201679
    Abstract: An actively closed friction clutch actuated by a lever actuator and having an adjusting means, the lever actuator taking the form of a roller displaced radially by a spindle, which roller acts on a unilaterally suspended lever, the latter being displaced axially and acting axially on a clamping means such as a lever, lever spring or diaphragm spring. The adjusting means for compensating friction lining wear is enabled by an end stop position widened axially relative to a stop position of the lever, which end stop position is enabled by means of an engageable/disengageable stop. To distinguish the two stop positions, the force/travel characteristic line of the lever actuator is detected by the controller of the lever actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dirk Burkhart, Alexander Dreher
  • Patent number: 8100812
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for controlling an automated friction clutch with a wear adjustment device that adjusts extended clutch stroke by a discrete magnitude through the wear of friction lining at maximum transmittable torque of the friction clutch. To guarantee safe self-adjustment, also during a long operation period under the maximum clutch torque, under specified preconditions, for instance, during the start of the internal combustion engine and without gear engagement, the friction clutch is closed for maximum clutch torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Laszlo Man, Alexander Dreher, Dirk Burkhart
  • Publication number: 20090258757
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for controlling an automated friction clutch with a wear adjustment device that adjusts extended clutch stroke by a discrete magnitude through the wear of friction lining at maximum transmittable torque of the friction clutch. To guarantee safe self-adjustment, also during a long operation period under the maximum clutch torque, under specified preconditions, for instance, during the start of the internal combustion engine and without gear engagement, the friction clutch is closed for maximum clutch torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: LUK LAMELLEN UND KUPPLUNGSBAU BETEILIGUNGS KG
    Inventors: Laszlo Man, Alexander Dreher, Dirk Burkhart
  • Publication number: 20090223772
    Abstract: An actively closed friction clutch actuated by a lever actuator and having an adjusting means, the lever actuator taking the form of a roller displaced radially by a spindle, which roller acts on a unilaterally suspended lever, the latter being displaced axially and acting axially on a clamping means such as a lever, lever spring or diaphragm spring. The adjusting means for compensating friction lining wear is enabled by an end stop position widened axially relative to a stop position of the lever, which end stop position is enabled by means of an engageable/disengageable stop. To distinguish the two stop positions, the force/travel characteristic line of the lever actuator is detected by the controller of the lever actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Dirk Burkhart, Alexander Dreher
  • Publication number: 20090186742
    Abstract: The invention relates to a dual clutch transmission with two friction clutches and a method for controlling it, where the two friction clutches are actuated by means of electromechanical disengaging units. To counteract lockup of the dual clutch transmission in the event of a failure of an electric motor, the functional capability of the electric motors is monitored. If the function of an electric motor is deficient or lacking, a signal is generated in the control device that brings about in the program sequence of the transmission control system a disengagement of all of the gears that are situated in a sub-drivetrain whose friction clutch is actuated by the affected electric motor. In this way it is possible to prevent lockup of the dual clutch transmission during a malfunction of an electric motor during a state in which torque is being transmitted to the sub-drivetrain, even if the disengaging device is of self-holding design or is locked up during the malfunction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventor: Alexander Dreher