Patents by Inventor Andreas Carlitz

Andreas Carlitz 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: 11267308
    Abstract: Independent wheel suspensions for a motor vehicle are described herein. An example independent wheel suspension includes a link to be pivotably coupled to a vehicle body of the motor vehicle via a first flexible pivot bearing and a second flexible pivot bearing. The first and second flexible pivot bearings form a pivoting axis. The link has a wheel attachment point to which a vehicle wheel is to be coupled. The example independent wheel suspension also includes a spring to be disposed between the link and the vehicle body. The spring is configured to produce a force component on the link that is directed outward along a transverse axis of the motor vehicle and that increases during compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andreas Carlitz, Thomas Schmitz
  • Publication number: 20200164709
    Abstract: Independent wheel suspensions for a motor vehicle are described herein. An example independent wheel suspension includes a link to be pivotably coupled to a vehicle body of the motor vehicle via a first flexible pivot bearing and a second flexible pivot bearing. The first and second flexible pivot bearings form a pivoting axis. The link has a wheel attachment point to which a vehicle wheel is to be coupled. The example independent wheel suspension also includes a spring to be disposed between the link and the vehicle body. The spring is configured to produce a force component on the link that is directed outward along a transverse axis of the motor vehicle and that increases during compression.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Andreas Carlitz, Thomas Schmitz
  • Patent number: 10471793
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a rear wheel suspension including a twist beam axle. The vehicle also includes upper and lower mounts for a spring and each defining a seat. The lower mount is disposed on the axle and the upper mount is disposed at a distance and parallel to the lower mount on a frame member. A first adapter is disposed within the lower mount seat and a second adapter is disposed within the upper mount seat. Each adapter defines a groove to receive an end of the spring, a support extending from the groove within an inner diameter of the spring and a wall disposed along a segment of the groove being configured to maintain a position of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Theo Kueppers, Andreas Carlitz, Jens Glorer
  • Patent number: 9944143
    Abstract: A spring pad arranged between a terminal winding of a helical spring of a vehicle wheel suspension. The winding defines a rolled spring end. A spring plate supports the helical spring. The spring pad having a layered structure having two layers different in their rigidity. The first layer has a higher rigidity than the second layer. The first layer is an outer layer of the layered structure that may engage the terminal winding of the helical spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Juergen Funke, Andreas Carlitz, Paul Godesberg, Jason Paulding
  • Publication number: 20180099538
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a rear wheel suspension including a twist beam axle. The vehicle also includes upper and lower mounts for a spring and each defining a seat. The lower mount is disposed on the axle and the upper mount is disposed at a distance and parallel to the lower mount on a frame member. A first adapter is disposed within the lower mount seat and a second adapter is disposed within the upper mount seat. Each adapter defines a groove to receive an end of the spring, a support extending from the groove within an inner diameter of the spring and a wall disposed along a segment of the groove being configured to maintain a position of the spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Theo KUEPPERS, Andreas CARLITZ, Jens GLORER
  • Publication number: 20170197483
    Abstract: A spring pad arranged between a terminal winding of a helical spring of a vehicle wheel suspension. The winding defines a rolled spring end. A spring plate supports the helical spring. The spring pad having a layered structure having two layers different in their rigidity. The first layer has a higher rigidity than the second layer. The first layer is an outer layer of the layered structure that may engage the terminal winding of the helical spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2017
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Juergen Funke, Andreas Carlitz, Paul Godesberg, Jason Paulding
  • Patent number: 9421844
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a torsion beam axle for a vehicle. The torsion beam axle comprises two longitudinal swing arms connected by a torsion profile and two bearing arrangements. Each bearing arrangement is configured to attach a respective longitudinal swing arm to a body of the vehicle. Each bearing arrangement has a rotational axis, and the rotational axes of the bearing arrangements run in parallel to or are aligned with one another. Each of the bearing arrangements has a bearing core, which is connected to one of the longitudinal swing arms, and at least one bearing arm which is coupled to the bearing core. The bearing arm comprises a supporting section, which is coupled to the bearing core, and an elastic bending section with a connecting region, via which the bearing arm can be at least indirectly attached to the body of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Andreas Carlitz, Eric Leonard Branger, Gunter Wuersig, Thomas Schmitz
  • Publication number: 20150076782
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a torsion beam axle for a vehicle. The torsion beam axle comprises two longitudinal swing arms connected by a torsion profile and two bearing arrangements. Each bearing arrangement is configured to attach a respective longitudinal swing arm to a body of the vehicle. Each bearing arrangement has a rotational axis, and the rotational axes of the bearing arrangements run in parallel to or are aligned with one another. Each of the bearing arrangements has a bearing core, which is connected to one of the longitudinal swing arms, and at least one bearing arm which is coupled to the bearing core. The bearing arm comprises a supporting section, which is coupled to the bearing core, and an elastic bending section with a connecting region, via which the bearing arm can be at least indirectly attached to the body of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Andreas CARLITZ, Eric Leonard BRANGER, Gunter WUERSIG, Thomas SCHMITZ
  • Patent number: 8684380
    Abstract: The invention concerns a wheel suspension system for the non-steered wheels (16) of a motor vehicle, with a twist beam axle (2) which comprises two wheel-supporting trailing arms (3, 13) pivotably mounted on a motor vehicle body (15) and a cross member (6) connecting the trailing arms (3, 13) together, and a Watt linkage (8) also connecting the trailing arms (3, 13) together, at least one articulated holder (10) being integrated in each trailing arm (3, 13) itself for articulated coupling of the Watt linkage (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Zandbergen, Andreas Carlitz, Theo Kueppers
  • Publication number: 20120306176
    Abstract: The invention concerns a wheel suspension system for the non-steered wheels (16) of a motor vehicle, with a twist beam axle (2) which comprises two wheel-supporting trailing arms (3, 13) pivotably mounted on a motor vehicle body (15) and a cross member (6) connecting the trailing arms (3, 13) together, and a Watt linkage (8) also connecting the trailing arms (3, 13) together, at least one articulated holder (10) being integrated in each trailing arm (3, 13) itself for articulated coupling of the Watt linkage (8).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Paul Zandbergen, Andreas Carlitz, Theo Kueppers
  • Publication number: 20110248465
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rear wheel suspension, which has a spring, preferably embodied as a coil spring that has a geometric spring center line and a line of action of force, the coil spring being supported in an upper and a lower spring mount. In order to reduce the forces imposed on structural elements of the rear wheel suspension, the proposal is that the spring be embodied and arranged in such a way that the line of action of force thereof has an amount of tilt during an inward deflection which is different from an amount of tilt during an outward deflection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Andreas Carlitz, Theo Kueppers, Jens Glorer
  • Patent number: 7706947
    Abstract: A forward-control counterweight fork-lift truck has a liftable and tiltable load-lifting device (1), a traction drive and operating drives for the movement of the load-lifting device (1). A calculation model (D) is stored in a control device (SE), to which directly or indirectly acting sensors (S) are connected for detecting the lifting load (L), the lifting height (H), the tilting angle (WM), the load torque (M), the direction of travel (R), the driving speed (V), and the steering angle (WL). The control device (SE) is designed to determine a driving and load state (Z) based on the detected physical variables (L, H, WM, M, R, V, WL) and the stored calculation model (D) and is operatively connected to the traction drive and the operating drives. Depending on the driving and load state (Z) determined, the operating speed, starting and braking acceleration, and driving speed are each reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Linde Material Handling GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Bozem, Andreas Carlitz, Bernhard Götz, Jürgen Roth, Frank Schröder
  • Patent number: 7392978
    Abstract: A wheel suspension comprising a vehicle body, a wheel movably articulated on the vehicle body via a control arm assembly. A wheel carrier and at least one helical pressure spring which is supported on the vehicle body on the one hand and on the wheel carrier or the control arm assembly on the other hand. The spring stiffness of the vehicle body support referred to the wheel contact point of the wheel can be controlled so as to be variable. Use is made of a helical pressure spring assembly whose force action line deviates from the geometric spring center line. Furthermore, there are provided rotational means for the 3-dimensional adjustment of the force action line relative to the geometric spring center line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Muhr und Bender KG
    Inventors: Andreas Carlitz, Jörg Neubrand, Rolf Hengstenberg
  • Patent number: 7165643
    Abstract: A forward-control counterweight fork-lift truck has a liftable and tiltable load-lifting device (1), a traction drive, operating drives, and a steering drive. A calculation model (D) based on vehicle-specific information is stored in a control device (SE). A plurality of sensors (S) detect physical variables (V, R, H, M, L, WM, WL, BL, BQ, G) relevant to the tipping behavior of the industrial truck. The control device (SE) determines a driving and load state (Z) based on the detected physical variables (V, R, H, M, L, WM, WL, BL, BQ, G) and the stored calculation model (D) and is operatively connected to the traction drive, the operating drives, and the steering drive such that, depending on the driving and load state (Z) determined, corrective interventions (K1, K2) which maintain or increase the tipping stability can be carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellchaft
    Inventors: Gerhard Bozem, Andreas Carlitz, Bernhard Götz, Jürgen Roth, Frank Schröder
  • Publication number: 20060131799
    Abstract: A wheel suspension comprising a vehicle body, a wheel movably articulated on the vehicle body via a control arm assembly. A wheel carrier and at least one helical pressure spring which is supported on the vehicle body on the one hand and on the wheel carrier or the control arm assembly on the other hand. The spring stiffness of the vehicle body support referred to the wheel contact point of the wheel can be controlled so as to be variable. Use is made of a helical pressure spring assembly whose force action line deviates from the geometric spring center line. Furthermore, there are provided rotational means for the 3-dimensional adjustment of the force action line relative to the geometric spring center line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Publication date: June 22, 2006
    Inventors: Andreas Carlitz, Jorg Neubrand, Rolf Hengstenberg
  • Publication number: 20050281650
    Abstract: A forward-control counterweight fork-lift truck has a liftable and tiltable load-lifting device (1), a traction drive, operating drives, and a steering drive. A calculation model (D) based on vehicle-specific information is stored in a control device (SE). A plurality of sensors (S) detect physical variables (V, R, H, M, L, WM, WL, BL, BQ, G) relevant to the tipping behavior of the industrial truck. The control device (SE) determines a driving and load state (Z) based on the detected physical variables (V, R, H, M, L, WM, WL, BL, BQ, G) and the stored calculation model (D) and is operatively connected to the traction drive, the operating drives, and the steering drive such that, depending on the driving and load state (Z) determined, corrective interventions (K1, K2) which maintain or increase the tipping stability can be carried out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2005
    Publication date: December 22, 2005
    Applicant: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerhard Bozem, Andreas Carlitz, Bernhard Gotz, Jurgen Roth, Frank Schroder
  • Publication number: 20050281656
    Abstract: A forward-control counterweight fork-lift truck has a liftable and tiltable load-lifting device (1), a traction drive and operating drives for the movement of the load-lifting device (1). A calculation model (D) is stored in a control device (SE), to which directly or indirectly acting sensors (S) are connected for detecting the lifting load (L), the lifting height (H), the tilting angle (WM), the load torque (M), the direction of travel (R), the driving speed (V), and the steering angle (WL). The control device (SE) is designed to determine a driving and load state (Z) based on the detected physical variables (L, H, WM, M, R, V, WL) and the stored calculation model (D) and is operatively connected to the traction drive and the operating drives. Depending on the driving and load state (Z) determined, the operating speed, starting and braking acceleration, and driving speed are each reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2005
    Publication date: December 22, 2005
    Applicant: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerhard Bozem, Andreas Carlitz, Bernhard Gotz, Jurgen Roth, Frank Schroder