Patents by Inventor Armin Gierling
Armin Gierling 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).
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Patent number: 11746901Abstract: A device for operating a parking lock (34) of a transmission (3) includes an engagement spring (345) for engaging the parking lock (34), a hydraulic actuator (340) for disengaging the parking lock (34), an electrohydraulic control unit (35) for hydraulically actuating the actuator (340), and an electronic control unit (36) for electrically actuating the actuator (340) and the electrohydraulic control unit (35). The actuator (340) includes a hydraulic piston (341) operatively connected to the parking lock (34), is actuatable by system pressure (P_sys) of the electrohydraulic control unit (35) via a pressure line (347) upon disengagement of the parking lock (34), and is mechanically interlockable by an interlocking device (342). A choke unit (353) includes an orifice (353) and a non-return valve (354) and is installed in the pressure line (347) downstream from the hydraulic piston (341).Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2022Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Tobias Rolser, Christian Popp, Thilo Schmidt, Armin Gierling
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Patent number: 11719338Abstract: A lever (3) for the temporary disengagement of a parking lock (2) of a vehicle drive unit (1). The lever (3) comprises a fixing piece (31) for fitting the lever (3) onto a parking lock shaft (26), which extends inside the vehicle drive unit (1) and serves to actuate the parking lock (2). The lever (3) is a hand lever with a gripping handle (32). The gripping handle (32) is designed to enable a user to apply a manual force for manual actuation of the lever (3). When the lever (3) is fitted on the parking lock shaft (26) and moved, the parking lock shaft (26) is moved from an engagement position to a disengagement position. In the disengagement position, by further movement of the gripping handle (32) into a locking position, the lever (3) is blocked against a reverse movement out of the disengagement position.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2021Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Berthold Schraff, Horst Leichsenring, Frank Sauter, Andreas Jauch, Armin Gierling
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Patent number: 11708900Abstract: A parking lock includes a locking pawl (2) and an interlocking element (6) arranged on a connecting bar (5) to a selector lever (4). The end of the connecting bar (5) facing away from the interlocking element (6) is articulatedly connected to the selector lever (4). A hydraulically actuatable actuator (10) includes two pistons (11, 12) provided for disengaging the parking lock. During normal operation, a detent device (13), which is actuatable by an electromagnet (13a), locks the first piston (11) in a piston position corresponding to an engaged condition (P_ein) or a disengaged condition (P_aus). Without requiring activating the electromagnet (13a) to release the detent device (13), the parking lock, during normal operation, is manually disengagable with an emergency disengagement device (15) acting upon the second piston (12) and is manually engagable with an emergency engagement device (16) acting upon the detent device (13).Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2020Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Florian Weinl, Sebastian Deeg, Dirk Leutheuser, Tobias Miller, Arthur Strehlau, Julia Klein, Matthias List, Armin Gierling
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Patent number: 11428317Abstract: A parking lock arrangement with an actuating device for engaging and disengaging a parking pawl (10) for interlocking and releasing a parking interlock gear (20) includes an axially movable actuating rod (30) with an axially displaceable actuating element (40) on an end facing the parking pawl (10). During the engagement and disengagement of the parking lock, an actuating contour (41) of the actuating element (40) is in contact with an actuating zone (13) of the parking pawl (10) and with a support contour (51) of a housing-affixed guide element (50). The actuating contour (41) is designed to be rotationally symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal axis (42) of the actuating element (40) and extends along this longitudinal axis (42). The actuating contour (41) is a circular arc as viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis (42) of the actuating element (40).Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2020Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Matthias List, Bernd Austermann, Juergen Igelmaier, Tobias Miller, Armin Gierling
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Publication number: 20220235862Abstract: A device for operating a parking lock (34) of a transmission (3) includes an engagement spring (345) for engaging the parking lock (34), a hydraulic actuator (340) for disengaging the parking lock (34), an electrohydraulic control unit (35) for hydraulically actuating the actuator (340), and an electronic control unit (36) for electrically actuating the actuator (340) and the electrohydraulic control unit (35). The actuator (340) includes a hydraulic piston (341) operatively connected to the parking lock (34), is actuatable by system pressure (P_sys) of the electrohydraulic control unit (35) via a pressure line (347) upon disengagement of the parking lock (34), and is mechanically interlockable by an interlocking device (342). A choke unit (353) includes an orifice (353) and a non-return valve (354) and is installed in the pressure line (347) downstream from the hydraulic piston (341).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2022Publication date: July 28, 2022Inventors: Tobias Rolser, Christian Popp, Thilo Schmidt, Armin Gierling
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Publication number: 20220034401Abstract: A lever (3) for the temporary disengagement of a parking lock (2) of a vehicle drive unit (1). The lever (3) comprises a fixing piece (31) for fitting the lever (3) onto a parking lock shaft (26), which extends inside the vehicle drive unit (1) and serves to actuate the parking lock (2). The lever (3) is a hand lever with a gripping handle (32). The gripping handle (32) is designed to enable a user to apply a manual force for manual actuation of the lever (3). When the lever (3) is fitted on the parking lock shaft (26) and moved, the parking lock shaft (26) is moved from an engagement position to a disengagement position,. In the disengagement position, by further movement of the gripping handle (32) into a locking position, the lever (3) is blocked against a reverse movement out of the disengagement position.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2021Publication date: February 3, 2022Inventors: Berthold SCHRAFF, Horst LEICHSENRING, Frank SAUTER, Andreas JAUCH, Armin GIERLING
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Publication number: 20210116026Abstract: A parking lock includes a locking pawl (2) and an interlocking element (6) arranged on a connecting bar (5) to a selector lever (4). The end of the connecting bar (5) facing away from the interlocking element (6) is articulatedly connected to the selector lever (4). A hydraulically actuatable actuator (10) includes two pistons (11, 12) provided for disengaging the parking lock. During normal operation, a detent device (13), which is actuatable by an electromagnet (13a), locks the first piston (11) in a piston position corresponding to an engaged condition (P_ein) or a disengaged condition (P_aus). Without requiring activating the electromagnet (13a) to release the detent device (13), the parking lock, during normal operation, is manually disengagable with an emergency disengagement device (15) acting upon the second piston (12) and is manually engagable with an emergency engagement device (16) acting upon the detent device (13).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2020Publication date: April 22, 2021Inventors: Florian Weinl, Sebastian Deeg, Dirk Leutheuser, Tobias Miller, Arthur Strehlau, Julia Klein, Matthias List, Armin Gierling
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Publication number: 20200362965Abstract: A parking lock arrangement with an actuating device for engaging and disengaging a parking pawl (10) for interlocking and releasing a parking interlock gear (20) includes an axially movable actuating rod (30) with an axially displaceable actuating element (40) on an end facing the parking pawl (10). During the engagement and disengagement of the parking lock, an actuating contour (41) of the actuating element (40) is in contact with an actuating zone (13) of the parking pawl (10) and with a support contour (51) of a housing-affixed guide element (50). The actuating contour (41) is designed to be rotationally symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal axis (42) of the actuating element (40) and extends along this longitudinal axis (42). The actuating contour (41) is a circular arc as viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis (42) of the actuating element (40).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2020Publication date: November 19, 2020Inventors: Matthias List, Bernd Austermann, Juergen Igelmaier, Tobias Miller, Armin Gierling
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Patent number: 10428909Abstract: An automatic transmission with housing, input shaft, output shaft, four planetary gear sets, and six shift elements. Second element of second planetary gear set forms first shaft; second element of third planetary gear set forms second shaft; first elements of first and second planetary gear sets form third shaft; third element of third planetary gear set forms fourth shaft; second element of first planetary gear set and third element of second planetary gear set form fifth shaft; third element of first planetary gear set forms sixth shaft; first elements of third and fourth planetary gear sets form seventh shaft; and third element of fourth planetary gear set forms eighth shaft.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2017Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Stefan Beck, Armin Gierling
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Patent number: 10253851Abstract: An automatic transmission includes first shaft, second shaft, four planetary gear sets, and six shift elements for forming different gear ratios between the first and second shafts. The first, third and fourth planetary gear sets are negative planetary gear sets and the second planetary gear set is a positive planetary gear set. The planetary gear carriers of the first, second, and fourth planetary gear sets are connected and form the first shaft. The planetary gear carrier of the third planetary gear set forms the second shaft. First shift element is between a third shaft and the housing; second shift element is between a fourth shaft and the housing; third shift element is between second and eighth rotatable shafts; fourth shift element is between fourth and sixth rotatable shafts; fifth shift element is between fifth and seventh rotatable shafts; and sixth shift element is between sixth and the seventh rotatable shafts.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2017Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Stefan Beck, Armin Gierling
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Publication number: 20180073612Abstract: An automatic transmission with housing, input shaft, output shaft, four planetary gear sets, and six shift elements. Second element of second planetary gear set forms first shaft; second element of third planetary gear set forms second shaft; first elements of first and second planetary gear sets form third shaft; third element of third planetary gear set forms fourth shaft; second element of first planetary gear set and third element of second planetary gear set form fifth shaft; third element of first planetary gear set forms sixth shaft; first elements of third and fourth planetary gear sets form seventh shaft; and third element of fourth planetary gear set forms eighth shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2017Publication date: March 15, 2018Inventors: Stefan Beck, Armin Gierling
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Publication number: 20180073611Abstract: An automatic transmission includes first shaft, second shaft, four planetary gear sets, and six shift elements for forming different gear ratios between the first and second shafts. The first, third and fourth planetary gear sets are negative planetary gear sets and the second planetary gear set is a positive planetary gear set. The planetary gear carriers of the first, second, and fourth planetary gear sets are connected and form the first shaft. The planetary gear carrier of the third planetary gear set forms the second shaft. First shift element is between a third shaft and the housing; second shift element is between a fourth shaft and the housing; third shift element is between second and eighth rotatable shafts; fourth shift element is between fourth and sixth rotatable shafts; fifth shift element is between fifth and seventh rotatable shafts; and sixth shift element is between sixth and the seventh rotatable shafts.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2017Publication date: March 15, 2018Inventors: Stefan Beck, Armin Gierling
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Patent number: 8197388Abstract: A method of automatically engaging a parking lock or an automatic or automated gearbox of a motor vehicle, which can be engaged depending on a drive position selected by the driver of the motor vehicle, by way of a selector device and depending on other operating parameters. In order to achieve as little restriction of the drivability of the motor vehicle as possible, without neglecting the safety of the driver and surroundings, two different complex embodiments of an Auto_P function for automatically engaging the parking lock are proposed, if the motor vehicle is at least approximately stopped and, at the same time, an ignition circuit acting on the drive motor of the motor vehicle is electrically interrupted.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2011Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Armin Gierling, Walter Hecht
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Patent number: 8128530Abstract: A method of automatically controlling a neutral position and parking lock of an motor-vehicle transmission to immobilize the vehicle depending on a drive position of the transmission selected by the driver with a selector device and subject to other operating parameters of the motor vehicle. Only when simultaneously the vehicle is essentially stationary, an ignition circuit is electrically interrupted and the selector device is in a “Neutral” position, can an Neutral-holding phase be activated, in which the transmission is in a non-frictionally engaged neutral position as long as the parking lock of the transmission has not yet been engaged. If the Neutral-holding phase has not been activated, the transmission remains non-frictionally connected in the Neutral position until the driver at least intends to exit the vehicle, at which time the parking lock of the transmission is automatically engaged.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2008Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Walter Hecht, Armin Gierling, Klaus Steinhauser, Frank Worms, Bernd Zänglein, Stéphane Klein
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Patent number: 8121762Abstract: A method of automatically engaging a parking lock of an automatic or automated transmission of a motor vehicle, which can be engaged by way of a selector device depending on a drive position selected by the driver of the motor vehicle and depending on other operating parameters. In order to achieve as little restriction of the drivability of the motor vehicle as possible, without neglecting the safety of the driver and the surroundings, five different variation of an Auto-P function are proposed for automatically engaging the parking lock: two of these variations are associated with an electrically interrupted ignition circuit of the motor vehicle; two variations are associated with an electrically closed ignition circuit and a simultaneously stopped vehicle drive motor and one variations is associated with an electrically closed ignition circuit and a simultaneously operating drive motor.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2008Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Armin Gierling, Walter Hecht
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Publication number: 20110306465Abstract: A method of automatically engaging a parking lock or an automatic or automated gearbox of a motor vehicle, which can be engaged depending on a drive position selected by the driver of the motor vehicle, by way of a selector device and depending on other operating parameters. In order to achieve as little restriction of the drivability of the motor vehicle as possible, without neglecting the safety of the driver and surroundings, two different complex embodiments of an Auto_P function for automatically engaging the parking lock are proposed, if the motor vehicle is at least approximately stopped and, at the same time, an ignition circuit acting on the drive motor of the motor vehicle is electrically interrupted.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2011Publication date: December 15, 2011Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Armin Gierling, Walter Hecht
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Patent number: 8062177Abstract: A method of selecting a neutral position of an automatic or automated transmission and a parking gear to immobilize a motor vehicle. The neutral position and parking device can be set or activated, depending on a gear selected by the driver with a selector device and depending on other vehicle operating parameters. Only when the motor vehicle is at least substantially stationary, an ignition circuit acting on the drive motor vehicle is electrically interrupted and a “Neutral” (N) gear is selected by a selector device occur simultaneously, can an N-holding phase, in which the transmission is in a friction-free neutral position, be activated by a separate control device provided in addition to the selector device, as long as an energy management system of the motor vehicle allows activation of the N-holding phase.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2008Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Walter Hecht, Armin Gierling, Klaus Steinhauser, Frank Worms, Bernd Zänglein, Stéphane Klein
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Patent number: 8062176Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the automatic control of a neutral position and a parking lock of an automatic or automated motor vehicle transmission, such that the neutral position and the parking lock of the transmission provided in order to immobilize the motor vehicle can be engaged as a function of a drive setting selected by the driver of the motor vehicle using a selector device, and as a function of other operating parameters of the vehicle. In addition, the invention concerns a motor vehicle controlled by the method.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2008Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Walter Hecht, Armin Gierling, Klaus Steinhauser, Frank Worms, Bernd Zänglein, Stéphane Klein
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Patent number: 8062180Abstract: A method of automatically engaging a parking lock or an automatic or automated gearbox of a motor vehicle, which can be engaged depending on a drive position selected by the driver of the motor vehicle, by way of a selector device and depending on other operating parameters. In order to achieve as little restriction of the drivability of the motor vehicle as possible, without neglecting the safety of the driver and surroundings, two different complex embodiments of an Auto_P function for automatically engaging the parking lock are proposed, if the motor vehicle is at least approximately stopped and, at the same time, an ignition circuit acting on the drive motor of the motor vehicle is electrically interrupted.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2008Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Armin Gierling, Walter Hecht
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Patent number: 8016719Abstract: A method for selecting a neutral position of a transmission and for selecting a parking device intended for immobilizing a vehicle, wherein the neutral position and the parking device can be engaged or actuated as a function of a position chosen by the driver on a selector device and as a function of other vehicle operating parameters. It is proposed that only if the vehicle has come approximately to a stop and simultaneously an ignition circuit acting on a driving motor of the vehicle is electrically interrupted and simultaneously a “Neutral” position is specified by way of the selector device, an N-holding phase, in which the transmission is in a neutral position having no frictional connection, can be activated by way of a separate control device provided in addition to the selector device, as long as an energy management system of the motor vehicle allows the activation of the N-holding phase.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2008Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Walter Hecht, Armin Gierling, Klaus Steinhauser, Frank Worms, Bernd Zänglein, Stéphane Klein