Patents by Inventor Andreas Birkheim

Andreas Birkheim 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: 11801883
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a steering system for a motor vehicle, which is designed as a steer-by-wire steering system and comprises a rack, an electric drive for longitudinal displacement of the rack, a worm gear and a drive shaft which is in toothed engagement with the rack. The electric drive is connected to the drive shaft by the worm gear so as to transmit torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Automotive Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Richard Büker, Andreas Birkheim
  • Publication number: 20220177023
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a mounting unit for mounting a steering shaft in an associated mounting sleeve, which unit comprises a mounting body, at least two first mounting arms and at least two second mounting arms for radially supporting the mounting unit within the mounting sleeve. A roller bearing is provided on a radially inner side of the mounting body, the mounting body forming an outer ring of the roller bearing on which rolling elements roll. In addition, the disclosure relates to a steering column assembly in which a steering shaft is mounted radially within a mounting sleeve by such a mounting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Richard Büker, Andreas Birkheim
  • Patent number: 11338840
    Abstract: A clamping device for a longitudinally adjustable and/or vertically adjustable steering column of a vehicle, has an actuating lever, an actuating component, a tie bolt and a mating component, wherein the actuating component is assigned to the actuating lever, and the mating component is assigned to the tie bolt, and wherein the actuating component is movable relative to the mating component between a release position and a fixing position. A solid damping element is provided for damping a relative movement between the actuating component and the mating component. An adjusting device is furthermore shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: ZF Automotive Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Birkheim
  • Publication number: 20210276607
    Abstract: A clamping device for a longitudinally adjustable and/or vertically adjustable steering column of a vehicle, has an actuating lever, an actuating component, a tie bolt and a mating component, wherein the actuating component is assigned to the actuating lever, and the mating component is assigned to the tie bolt, and wherein the actuating component is movable relative to the mating component between a release position and a fixing position. A solid damping element is provided for damping a relative movement between the actuating component and the mating component. An adjusting device is furthermore shown.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2020
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: ZF Automotive Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Birkheim
  • Patent number: 11066094
    Abstract: A steering column assembly for a vehicle, with a vehicle-fixed storage element and on which a storage element is stored, wherein the receiving element is in operative connection with a steering wheel arrangement, an energy absorption device, an effective connection with the storage element and the receiving element and which provides for at least one elongated absorption member as well as at least one reduction member with a passage for the absorption member, through which the absorption member extends and which at least partially has a smaller Q1 cross section compared to a Q2 cross section compared to a cross section of at least one portion of an end-section of the absorption member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: ZF Automotive Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Birkheim, Stephan Hänisch
  • Publication number: 20190375445
    Abstract: A steering column assembly for a vehicle, with a vehicle-fixed storage element and on which a storage element is stored, wherein the receiving element is in operative connection with a steering wheel arrangement, an energy absorption device, an effective connection with the storage element and the receiving element and which provides for at least one elongated absorption member as well as at least one reduction member with a passage for the absorption member, through which the absorption member extends and which at least partially has a smaller Q1 cross section compared to a Q2 cross section compared to a cross section of at least one portion of an end-section of the absorption member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Applicant: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Birkheim, Stephan Hänisch
  • Patent number: 9969375
    Abstract: A brake booster device for a braking system of a vehicle includes: a booster body to which a brake-boosting force is exertable by an actuator device; a first piston rod component to which the brake-boosting force is at least partially transmittable via a first contact with the booster body, the first piston rod component contacting the booster body at a first contact surface such that the first piston rod component is at least partially adjustable; and a second piston rod component to which the brake-boosting force is at least partially transmittable via a second contact with the booster body, the second piston rod component contacting the booster body at a second contact surface such that the second piston rod component is adjustable together with the first piston rod component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Reinhard Weiberle, Karl-Heinz Willmann, Andreas Birkheim, Matthias Kistner
  • Publication number: 20140345270
    Abstract: A brake booster device for a braking system of a vehicle includes: a booster body to which a brake-boosting force is exertable by an actuator device; a first piston rod component to which the brake-boosting force is at least partially transmittable via a first contact with the booster body, the first piston rod component contacting the booster body at a first contact surface such that the first piston rod component is at least partially adjustable; and a second piston rod component to which the brake-boosting force is at least partially transmittable via a second contact with the booster body, the second piston rod component contacting the booster body at a second contact surface such that the second piston rod component is adjustable together with the first piston rod component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Reinhard Weiberle, Karl-Heinz Willmann, Andreas Birkheim, Matthias Kistner
  • Patent number: 8857923
    Abstract: A brake system for a vehicle includes a main brake cylinder which has a first chamber which is hydraulically connected to at least one wheel brake cylinder for braking a wheel of the vehicle; an activating device for the driver to mechanically act on a piston of the main brake cylinder in order to pressurize hydraulic fluid in the first chamber of the main brake cylinder; and a pressure generating device which is hydraulically connected to the first chamber of the main brake cylinder, and which for activating the wheel brake cylinder supplies the wheel brake cylinder with hydraulic fluid through the first chamber of the main brake cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Birkheim
  • Publication number: 20120193974
    Abstract: A braking system is described for a vehicle, including: a master brake cylinder having at least one chamber, which is hydraulically connected to at least one wheel brake cylinder for braking a wheel of the vehicle; a hydraulic actuating device, which actuates a piston of the master brake cylinder in order to thereby pressurize hydraulic fluid in the chamber; an accumulator, which stores hydraulic fluid under pressure and supplies it to the actuating device for actuating the piston of the master brake cylinder; and a pump, which, in a first operating mode of the braking system, conveys hydraulic fluid from a tank to the accumulator and, in a second operating mode of the braking system, pumps hydraulic fluid from the wheel brake cylinder to the master brake cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventor: Andreas Birkheim
  • Publication number: 20120061192
    Abstract: A brake system for a vehicle includes a main brake cylinder which has a first chamber which is hydraulically connected to at least one wheel brake cylinder for braking a wheel of the vehicle; an activating device for the driver to mechanically act on a piston of the main brake cylinder in order to pressurize hydraulic fluid in the first chamber of the main brake cylinder; and a pressure generating device which is hydraulically connected to the first chamber of the main brake cylinder, and which for activating the wheel brake cylinder supplies the wheel brake cylinder with hydraulic fluid through the first chamber of the main brake cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventor: Andreas Birkheim